rattle_snake
Fuckwits
Quite the project, nice work.
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Ran into a slight issue last weekend. On my radius arms, my passenger side has a removable pin. What I didn't realize was the under alot of flex, the arm can drop down. It gets jammed down, and I had to remove the arm to drive home. So I made a catch plate, so that it can't fall down when unpinned.
rattle_snake
Fuckwits
Cool mod. I have similar setup and assumed I would have to take whole arm off. idea stolen thanks.
Your welcome. I really like it. Connected, drives great on the road. I don't have any sway bars. disconnected, it flexes great
On the pin, I just used the bolt, welded 1/4" round stock for a handle, and drilled for a trailer hitch pin clip.
First time out, it jammed down on top of the lower arm, and was actually holding the truck down a couple of inches. So this should solve it.
Took her out to Glamis sand dunes today. It was a beast out there. Aired down to 11psi. Ended up using low range most of the time. 4.7 just didn't have the oomph to move 6000+ lbs in the sand. Still battling some overheating issues. But it's getting there.
rattle_snake
Fuckwits
Sweet. yes the sand absorbs a lot of power. Going out there in a few weeks with dirt bikes can't wait!
Plan to take my 72 ford out there to see how it does. Some day...
Plan to take my 72 ford out there to see how it does. Some day...
Oh ya, this isnt my first time in the sand in general. Had quads and buggies before the kids. It definitely did better than i thought it would. just under powered, even with 5:38's. But low range it worked good. my 6 pinion planetaries were screaming though.
Found out that my overheating issue is most likely caused by the Eastwood Triple Pass radiator that I have. After further research I am loosing my pressure, and causing the engine to boil over earlier. You need a stout electric water pump to make this thing work. I found a 2 Row aluminum crossflow that is the same thickness, and I think will fit where this one is with minimal fab work. It sucks, cause the front of the truck was built around this radiator..
Some more updates. Found out my thermostat was stuck open after the first time it opened. I installed the Jet 180° thermostat for the 4.7. and installed a lower hose spring to keep the hose from collapsing. Good so far.
I would run the original 195° thermostat. The thinking that a lower temp thermostat will make it run cooler does work, but if you have the factory EFI system, all it does it lock it in warm up mode and it will run rich all the time.
The 180 has been proven to work in these engines. But mine still runs around 205-215 at the desert. The engine has a pretty good drivetrain load on it.
montrose818
Banned
I dig it man. Ready to sell it yet? 
I dig it man. Ready to sell it yet?
Lol. Not yet. Nothing else I can really build to fit my wheeling style. Especially at the cost I have I to this
I found out that I absolutely love the dual cases is this truck. I have 1:1, 2.72:1, and 7.44:1. I originally thought that the 7.44 would be way too low, and was going to change it out later. Nope, the double low is perfect with a manual trans. Have an amazing amount of throttle control.
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Had the truck on the lift today finishing up my sliders. And noticed this hanging out of my inspection port. Time for a new clutch. And since the trans is out, I'll disassemble it since it's been noisy. Yay..
Trans is out. Wasn't bad, took about 2 1/2 hours to get everything out. Going to take a stab at rebuilding the NV3500. Input shaft has groove worn in it from the bad pilot bearing. It's been making some noise and some grinding when shifting. I got an FSM, and am currently figuring out special tools.
Mr. Mindless
Well-known member
I'll bet there's a speedy sleeve for that input snout if it's not too worn and out of round.
Love the truck. You didn't take the shortcuts that I ended up regretting when I did mine. Hopefully with the clutch done you're about out of the New Car Blues stage! Would love to have another again, perfect size platform IMO
End of its life, last trip. On 42s https://www.pirate4x4.com/threads/time-for-a-forced-sas.267639/page-24#lg=thread-267639&slide=1
Love the truck. You didn't take the shortcuts that I ended up regretting when I did mine. Hopefully with the clutch done you're about out of the New Car Blues stage! Would love to have another again, perfect size platform IMO
End of its life, last trip. On 42s https://www.pirate4x4.com/threads/time-for-a-forced-sas.267639/page-24#lg=thread-267639&slide=1
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I'm sure there is, but I wanted to tear the trans apart and see what it looked like. So I'm putting in a new input and bearing. Hopefully after this, most of the bugs are worked out.
ya, I tried to think it through as much as possible while building it. I agree it is a great size, only downfall is my wheelbase so far. But a compromise I'll take for comfort with wife and 2 kids to go wheeling.
Yours looks like it looked good In it's early days.
Mr. Mindless
Well-known member
It really did. East coast trees are a bitch with a rig that long. Built in '05 on 35s with a D44 front, was on 39.5s a year later and got used hard until it was put away in 2015 with ongoing frame issues and a tube chassis replacement.
if a mod catches this, please move this post to my existing and so-far ignored topic on this truck. it's a bit of a hijack from Domer, but I grabbed these pics from a bunch of places and I'm being lazy to gather them a second time and post where it really belongs. Sorry Domer.
https://irate4x4.com/dodge/36170-1998-dakota-sas-2005-2015
if a mod catches this, please move this post to my existing and so-far ignored topic on this truck. it's a bit of a hijack from Domer, but I grabbed these pics from a bunch of places and I'm being lazy to gather them a second time and post where it really belongs. Sorry Domer.
https://irate4x4.com/dodge/36170-1998-dakota-sas-2005-2015
72blazer
Marion Cobretti
Very cool build
my son turns 15 next month and I’ve been on the hunt for a clean XJ that’s reasonably priced....I guess I’m better off finding a unicorn shitting gold. I was getting a little desperate last week. I happened to have a Crawfish boil at my house with friends and family over. Later on that night my dad asked if I had found an XJ and shook my head. He let me know he’d offered my son $1000 to help buy a vehicle or his stock 03 Dakota. My son accept the Dakota. Your build comes at a good time. I’ll be reading it with detail once I get some time.
my son turns 15 next month and I’ve been on the hunt for a clean XJ that’s reasonably priced....I guess I’m better off finding a unicorn shitting gold. I was getting a little desperate last week. I happened to have a Crawfish boil at my house with friends and family over. Later on that night my dad asked if I had found an XJ and shook my head. He let me know he’d offered my son $1000 to help buy a vehicle or his stock 03 Dakota. My son accept the Dakota. Your build comes at a good time. I’ll be reading it with detail once I get some time.
Got everything done. Resurfaced flywheel, I ended up using Hemi ARP flywheel bolts since I couldn't find any for the 4.7. new LUK clutch set. Had to weld a nut to the crank insert for the pilot bearing. It was so wore out the pilot bearing just slid In. Slide hammer took care of that. I took the transmission apart since the input shaft had grooves in it. Everything looked pretty good, no obvious damage. Replaced a few bearings and cleaned everything. Replaced input shaft and reassembled then reinstalled Everything. Ended up pulling all the clutch hydraulics, mounted it in a vise and bled it since I had gotten air in the system.
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Took her out for a good run today with some other trucks. This is Corral Canyon, Broncos Peak in San Diego. It did pretty damn good. Have a few changes I want to make. But overall still happy with the truck.
Unfortunately no good updates on the truck. We are selling our house (San Diego) and going full time RV. I'm retiring in a few years, so trying to buy property out of state and build a house and shop. So both of my trucks are going into long term storage. 40's came off, 33's went on. Gonna miss this truck. We kept our Polaris UTV for a day trips to go to the desert still.
Mad Max
Imagineer
- Joined
- May 19, 2020
- Member Number
- 325
- Messages
- 364
it's all good - gotta do what ya gotta do. Fun reading about the truck. I've been working out multiple gremlins in mine and I'm slowly winning the war - should have it out next year. Look forward to seeing more of yours, and for sure doing a joint play date for our trucks some day 👍 .
- Sam
- Sam
Sam,
We made our move. I'm closer to you now. Southern Idaho. We are going to have to meet in Moab. Sorry to see ya selling BUD again. I love that truck. Should be getting the Dakota repaired and upgraded soon and be back out wheeling.
Mad Max
Imagineer
- Joined
- May 19, 2020
- Member Number
- 325
- Messages
- 364
good to hear man 👍 , and good to hear yer jammin' on the Dak. I am too - dialing in the Sniper and other finishing items. Moab sounds good - maybe in '23!
I love Bud too - we'll see if it sells. If it does, swell, and if not, well that isn't the worst thing either.
Nice crawler hauler! 👍
I love Bud too - we'll see if it sells. If it does, swell, and if not, well that isn't the worst thing either.
Nice crawler hauler! 👍
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