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monka

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Hello everyone, i'm very new to the Durango, but not building big truck., Was and avid off road person, but in day 44's were the rubber to have, but seems they are baby now..hehe

Basically i wanted to get something to sit a few people (family and friends) and from what i understand, the Durango isnt very strong.. i have NO knowledge of IFS at all, was just a dana 60,locker person/ big gears..
i'd like to lift this truck to give a nice look mostly, but would like 5.5 lift and 35's if can, and if not i can alway to body i guess, or if looks nice a flare kit?? (what looks best)
I'd like to have look very nice so nothing butchered to much.. For rubber , i was thinking 35" boggers, but not sure or swapers.
Is the IFS, as weak as i read? or just not to strong? Would i be able to change gears with out weaking to much?
i know i work backwards, but just seems once a start, just continue... i have the smaller V-8 and wondering as dont know, if dodge came with a powerfully diesel? and is it hard to slid in a 1998 durago automatic? (in futrue) wow, seems wide chrome shinny rims are bit of harder to find.
Would there be such thing ase 6lugs to 8 lug set up? So i can add 1 ton rims?
I dont' plan to off road, BUT still like to be able to play once in while if a friend asks, but NOT be hard.. Is there something most would know about strengthening the front? or solid is way?
Im sure it's lots of questions, i have so much running in mind and mostly looking to show bit more so then go, BUT still not be a total week thing..
I havent' even looked, but on my big chevy i have a steering assist i made up, with a sagna sty box, with best thing i did... and would the durango steering box be same as chev? i'm still debating on hood with the two scoops or if tunnel rams would look nice sticking out of hood or if the bottom end power, be compromised to much , definitively like a head turner. hows the transfer case for strength? over all, it's mostly show, and everyday able, just want to make sure not changeing berrings etc to much and if pepy motore bee squeet
 
#2 ·
monka said:
Hello everyone, i'm very new to the Durango, but not building big truck., Was and avid off road person, but in day 44's were the rubber to have, but seems they are baby now..hehe

Basically i wanted to get something to sit a few people (family and friends) and from what i understand, the Durango isnt very strong.. i have NO knowledge of IFS at all, was just a dana 60,locker person/ big gears..
i'd like to lift this truck to give a nice look mostly, but would like 5.5 lift and 35's if can, and if not i can alway to body i guess, or if looks nice a flare kit?? (what looks best)


I'd like to have look very nice so nothing butchered to much.. For rubber , i was thinking 35" boggers, but not sure or swapers.
Is the IFS, as weak as i read? or just not to strong? Would i be able to change gears with out weaking to much?


i know i work backwards, but just seems once a start, just continue... i have the smaller V-8 and wondering as dont know, if dodge came with a powerfully diesel? and is it hard to slid in a 1998 durago automatic? (in futrue) wow, seems wide chrome shinny rims are bit of harder to find.


Would there be such thing ase 6lugs to 8 lug set up? So i can add 1 ton rims?
I dont' plan to off road, BUT still like to be able to play once in while if a friend asks, but NOT be hard.. Is there something most would know about strengthening the front? or solid is way?


Im sure it's lots of questions, i have so much running in mind and mostly looking to show bit more so then go, BUT still not be a total week thing..
I havent' even looked, but on my big chevy i have a steering assist i made up, with a sagna sty box, with best thing i did... and would the durango steering box be same as chev?

i'm still debating on hood with the two scoops or if tunnel rams would look nice sticking out of hood or if the bottom end power, be compromised to much , definitively like a head turner. hows the transfer case for strength? over all, it's mostly show, and everyday able, just want to make sure not changeing berrings etc to much and if pepy motore bee squeet
Click to expand...
FTFY

first, paragraph breaks are our friend :D

second, read through the forums here 90% of your questions will be answered in the first hour of reading.
 
#4 ·
I think if you made a front axle from Taffy it woudl be stronger than the factory axle. While the axle isnt that weak its not really that strong. it seems that even 33s will break the axle easily. Mine broke literally going over a 1 foot berm. It snapped right at the mounting ears. I was gonna do a SFA but decided to get rid of the truck altoghether due to the history of problems. Granted when I sold it it ran great and everythign worked but I wasnt gonna chance it any longer. I jsut chalked it to a badly built vehicle with cheap parts.
 
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#5 ·
If your a 60 guy, save yourself the hassle and money and just swap... No use polishing a turd of IFS just to toss it away in the end. As for the Diesel, that's a task and half (check Pirate4x4.com for reference "durango getting 4bt" or something along the lines of that)
 
Discussion starter · #6 ·
Thanks for the reply's everyone!!
Ya, i've been, big power chevy for most life but wanted a nice looking everyday ride.,
I'd 100% like to get a 35" tall swamper boger look, of something crazy aggrestive, more so for looks.. So what i've read seems the 5.5 kit is way to go, and some triming, i like to keep stance low, as on trails when i had my 21" custom lift, on anglels i was NOT enjoying..hehe
i look around for chrome rimes and a 35" combo, but havnt' found much for a 14" width and what size would be nice?
I know i'll start with gears, but uggg, once i get a taste, i'd like to add bit power, i know in winter snow etc can be bad, but really not much i do for playing, what a good idea for the front? would a dana 60 be ok, or even a dana 44? or wright out off ball park? would it be my best intererst to get solid axile?? like i got the lift on way but i stil have to get wheel/rubber, so if not to bad to get of, and if so, is there a truck that has a width that works?

I"m so game for suggestion, and i do hav some skills, bu i think we'll be good, i hink life arrive tomrorow
 
Discussion starter · #8 ·
myrtlebeachbst said:
If you owned a truck with 21" of lift. You would have no need to ask what the best route is to go, You would already know, And you most definitly would not be buying an inferior front suspension lift.:jester:
Click to expand...
I've have to say it was one of the biggest trucks in my area back then, the springs were custom and had to divorse mount the transfer case, with the 60' in front (locker) and corprate 14bolt... i had to make custom steering, ran a jeep sanga steering box with holes drilled and tapped and right spotts to have a ram to help turn the rubber.. my truck was far from Everyday... when i dropped in the LS7 , i just became to much for steet,
I know nothing about dodge, but now own one any yes, like to have a small truck with 35" and see if can get away with the 5.5 lift and even if trimming is nice i'll do, i just dont know what to expect to see with ifs, as i'm only solid axle person, and this is all new.. from BC Canada, and not to fmailular with 4x4 shops, but like to get wheel/rubber/suspension and who knows... never plans, just do... my truck was in the "Red Green Movie) Duct Tape for ever,
So theres' you if i owned, and i should know... i do know, but chev.. i guess not everyone knows all like you;
 
#9 ·
dodge, chevy, ford... a truck is a truck all the same components are there wheels, tires, axles springs driveshafts ectera.... if you've lifted a chebby you can lift a dodge.

No need to psych yourself out thinking that a dodge truck is somehow a completely new and different kind of technology than a chevy or ford :D


For example Dana makes the same axle housing for all big three automobile mfgs, They just change the suppention mounts and axle widths around a bit for different company specifications.
 
Discussion starter · #10 · (Edited)
scentralpirate said:
dodge, chevy, ford... a truck is a truck all the same components are there wheels, tires, axles springs driveshafts ectera.... if you've lifted a chebby you can lift a dodge.

No need to psych yourself out thinking that a dodge truck is somehow a completely new and different kind of technology than a chevy or ford :D


For example Dana makes the same axle housing for all big three automobile mfgs, They just change the suppention mounts and axle widths around a bit for different company specifications.
Click to expand...
Thanks i think this is the problem, i look at the whole picture and just get overwellmed, my old baby had solid axles and i built for show and go... for example when i had the little dana 44, wasn"t TO bad, but soon as added a locker, i was popping axles felt like every week, so swapt in a dana 60. which added all the toys and never broke, and trust me, i beat it..

I just want something i can have family in and looks nice.. not looking to do to much custom work if possible, and NEVER played with IFS ,
Not looking for a mud or trail runner, just something everyday but head turner I guess... all shiny..from all I've been reading, seems 35"s are max id want.. and from being old school.. I'm only used to 15" rims for the smaller and the 8 bolt 16.5 one ton.. for the 44"
Now soo many sizes for rim height..
I'd be happy with 15-18 I guess as would like to have more rubber showing.
Is there such thing as a spacer or something they'd sell, to make your 6 bolt 4.5 pattern to an 8 bolt (one ton look)?

4x4 would mostly be used in winter a bit,
Also is there way to see what's good for you for rim offset? I don't want tire ALL the way in, but good 2-3" out.. to help centre... I know "should" be under, but defiantly want to try out and if any problems I'll fixe accordingly after, with some body stuff. the rim ideally would like would be 12-14" wide but all depend on bolt if I can get 8?and then , after suspension, I'd trim body to look nice..
Sorry , I know seems soo newbie, and I have so much knowledge with chevs, just want to try something different. the 35"s will more likely be a bogger or super swamper... something really aggressive, I've used those all life, but nothing below 42", so this will all be new... I wish I had a picture to show ya's, my old baby.. was fun..
 
#11 ·
If you plan on using the IFS with 35s and go off road buy a extra front axle to keep as a spare. its a matter of when not if its gonna break. like the other guys say lifting a chevy a ford a nd a dodge is the same. Especially if youre doing a IFS to SAS axle swap. Find a wrecked ford 3/4 ton and take the axles and suspenssion off them and either have them done or look online and do some research. There isa guy on here doing a SAS and hes got some great pics of his build. hell you may get him to make you the bracketry and the instructions for some cash.

35s and the dodge IFS simply just dont mix. if youre gonn deive it on the street for 95% of the time and just some dirt road light wheeling it should be ok for the most part. if you get agressive youll break it.


PS
My axle when it broke was on a completley stock vehicle with stock 31s. That shoudl give you a idea how strong the axle is and I wasnt evcen really doing anything. i was crawling over a 1 foot berm
 
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#12 ·
Rob454 said:
If you plan on using the IFS with 35s and go off road buy a extra front axle to keep as a spare. its a matter of when not if its gonna break.
Click to expand...
You mean keep an extra differential :funny:
Unless you meant just the outer end cut so you can have the diff disengauged .. (spellcheck ftw- i need to go back to school)
 
Discussion starter · #13 · (Edited)
Hello,
Well, i took the plunge, figured i might as well go for it. Decided on the Tuff Country EZ-Ride 5.5" lift kit, and was complete! lol i wasn't expecting the shocks also, but was nice to see..
The rear was a spring over axle set up, which really seemed like a walk in park.. the front end seemed to be the tricky part. The Tuff Country EZ-Ride Suspension Durango 5.5" lift kit had all parts , If i were to make a suggestion, the steel that holds the brake lines could be tad longer, we put 2 together and was perfect.
I have to get used to the front end, but the physical look of it, imo the kitt is perfect, just wish axles were larger, not that it's bad, but just to look at it, i might end up putting an axles truss or something, like cut some 2x3 tubing and plasma cut it, at a friend shop to get some axle strength, (figure if i can do free why not) My kitts in now, but always thinking..plus i think braided break lines also might be sweet.
I'll be painting this bad boy shortly... and then can think about "Horse power" something that looks sweet also.. i like the Hi performance motors when at idle, they have a chug, that is secretly telling all back off.. put a decent stall converter and i'm sure be fun..
Not that i can afford or do this just something in back of head, to open hood and have chrome, hell even a blown motor, lol (that be a fun toy)

Anyways back from my dream. the kitt went on very well. and the 35's were no problems in least. I think that's was a little fear, but I'm sure even 36 could go also on.. now don't think just bolt and drive. i did have to loosen the flares for fender, and then take off the front mud flap, and cut the rubber at the lower back part of fender. Took my rubber mallet and hit back the steel of the inner fender, and then screwed the flare back and really, looked great. Not a hit yet. So far all well... thanks just wanted those to know that the kitts can fit larger rubber. but have to trim or beat fender a bit at back. I'll keep eye on front also, to make sure nothing bad happens..
 
Discussion starter · #14 ·
Hello, did a search but for ME, just cant grasp,
i have a 98 Durango and has 5.5 lift with 35's, (minor fender work...) now thing is, on my old Chevy, 87 PU., i had 21" total life (custom 18" springs and 3"body lift) so i wouldn't use the stock steering set up, i decided to go with a cross steer, and needed and box that went side to side instead of front to back . Ended up getting jeep drop Pittman arm and custom made a drop 2" tubing for the cross arm to passenger side.. i just felt to much pressure at hym joints so decided to add an assist, but didn't know how, and finally seen in a magazine how someone did it years ago.. and I'm great to copy, so just figured out where to tape and/or make a thicker part and added hydraulic lines and a ram to only go as far a turn radios.. it was called Saginaw i believe... will the Durago have same box? some say it's better? better same? or different? as I'd like to add an assist to the truck and I'm sure would turn like butter...
Also and stock 5.5 life front end ideas for beafin up a bit? There's a 5.2L in it and still debating to see what can fit with not to much work...

thanks everyone, boards been great
 
#15 ·
Your post makes my head hurt.

It has the same box, search for my thread and you can see where to tap.

Now that I think about it, why are you even doing this and keeping the IFS? For the cost of that lift you could be on a solid axle. That front end will be destroyed with a ram. I bend the lift brackets bend also.

Kevin
 
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