Dakota Clip

[cudaboy]

HMMMMMMM, the wheels are turning in my head!! I like this idea. I also like the idea about moving the rear suspension on rhe frame instead of cutting on the frame..
Some of the chassis building guys on here could figure this out. Lot's of guys putting older trucks and streetrod bodies on Dakota frames already.

[soopernaut]

Mopardwh said he has a sweptline on a Dakota frame. He just hasn't posted pictures yet.

[cudaboy]

Looking forward to seeing those.

[mopardwh]

Sorry guys. Lots of life hurdles to jump lately. This weekend at the latest.

[surfnuke9]

The wheelbases look to be within 2-3 inches of various Sweptlines so you might be able to use the entire frame depending on what you have. You would have to compare the frames and track width and see if it is feasable. I would like to see someone figure out if this can be done because I've heard people wonder on several occasions.

isnt that just about the difference between 61-71 centered rear spring perch locations and the offset 72 and up lifestyle era truck spring perches?

maybe you could just use the later model rear springs to set the rear diff back 2 inches.....

[soopernaut]

The wheelbases look to be within 2-3 inches of various Sweptlines so you might be able to use the entire frame depending on what you have. You would have to compare the frames and track width and see if it is feasable. I would like to see someone figure out if this can be done because I've heard people wonder on several occasions.

isnt that just about the difference between 61-71 centered rear spring perch locations and the offset 72 and up lifestyle era truck spring perches?

maybe you could just use the later model rear springs to set the rear diff back 2 inches.....

I'm not quite clear on what you are asking. Putting sweptline era springs on a 72-93 truck moves the axle in the wrong direction. If you are wondering about putting 72-93 springs on a Dakota, I'd have to look up the numbers again. The spring lengths might not be the same and might require remounting the hangers. The axle still might not be under the kick up on the frame and could hit.

[mopardwh]

Sorry about the cell phone pics, I couldn't find the camera. This gives you the idea though. I won't have precise measurements until I get the core tied in (right now the fenders are just hanging out there). But there is roughly 5-6" of space between the sidewall of the tire and the fender. Looks kind of goofy to me.

Hopefully it will look better when I complete the 5 lug swap. I may have to consider special offset wheels and as an absolute last resort, spacers. Hopefully not though.

[soopernaut]

That is pretty far in.

[EarlKann]

Those look like FWD wheels, but yeah, it seems too narrow to me. Bet the Dakota would fit good in a Job Rated or Pilot House though.

[oklamopar]

those wheels have negative offset. maybe a positive offset wheel will fill in the wheel well.

[cudaboy]

. Bet the Dakota would fit good in a Job Rated or Pilot House though.

Look on youtube. There's a guy doing one on there. has 3 posts so far, and is still under construction. Nice project.

[slick]

Any updates on the Dakota front?

[mopardwh]

Any updates on the Dakota front?

Currently I'm training and preparing for deployment, so this truck is going to collect dust for a couple of years.

[slick]

Hey your back right? Lets see some updates!!

[mopardwh]

Hey your back right? Lets see some updates!!

Update... truck is still in a field in Illinois. I sold my house in Indiana and just moved into a rental in east Texas. I don't plan to be in this house for more than a year, so I don't know that I'll be hauling all of my trucks here. I'll start with the crew either way. So sad to say, it will be quite awhile before anything happens.

[slick]

ok...You have any more pics of the swap?

[exline]

I have a 95 Dakota with a 318 and 5 speed short bed. I used to use it all the time to pull a car trailer and car with. it is pretty tough. it has 171,000 miles on it now and the only suspension parts I replaced were he lower ball joints.
if it will fit I would not be afraid to use it under a 1/2 ton sweptline.