1998 Sport D-44 SAS Complete!!!

[Skunk]

Climbs pretty good too!!!

 

[cdsl227]

I'll say!

 

[cdsl227]

Did you swap the knuckles or are you running 6-on-5.5 on the front?

 

[Skunk]

no.. still running 2 different lug patterns, need to get adaptors for the rear soon, really tired of luggin 2 full size 35" spares around in the back of the truck, gets to be a bit too top heavy.

 

[cdsl227]

Originally posted by cdsl227
4 less bushings to wear out!

2 for the upper arm, 2 for the lower arm...that equals 8.


only 4 for the leafs!

Geez, sometimes I ought to check my math...

Still 8 bushings, but since I've never in my life had to change bushings in a leaf suspension- hell it equals 0!

By any chance did you locate any closeups of the spring hangers?

I got leafs, RE1454 4.5" Extreme Duty YJ Front Spring - 4.5" Extreme-duty leaf spring YJ front 5 leaf w/2 added leafs, totaling 7...I think they'll hold up.

I'm starting to fabricate (in my head) the front suspension design so I can purchase the raw materials...any info you could shoot this way'd be appreciated.

I like the sq. tube up front and I'm figuring on doing that with mine.

What gauge did you use? 4" x 4" x 1/4"?

What did you use in the rear?

 

[Spas]

Oh, the Flex! lol

 

[NOTAJP]

Originally posted by Spas
Oh, the Flex! lol

That's beautiful! Gotta love those leafs!

 

[cdsl227]

Yeah, maybe if we get enough of these things leaf sprung we can start a movement!

Who wants a truck that rides like a car anyway!

 

[NOTAJP]

Originally posted by cdsl227
Yeah, maybe if we get enough of these things leaf sprung we can start a movement!

Who wants a truck that rides like a car anyway!

I don't know about 2nd Gens but my wife thinks ours rides better with the SAS and leafs. I feel a little bit more of the road, but yes it's a truck and I like the ride of a truck.

 

[cdsl227]

What SOA perches did you use on the front axle and where did you get them?

I ordered the perches for the rear...but the place I ordered from says theirs doesn't take into account the fact that the drivers side perch is integrated with the pumpkin cast...

One more- the square tube up front...what is it?

I was figuring to use a 4x4x1/4...I don't know much about the types of available steel, but I'm assuming the square tube is seamed?? Right?

Do they make square DOM?

Ok, well 3 questions...but they're all related!

Excuse my stupidity in this area...

Thanks!

 

[cdsl227]

Originally posted by lizardtrac
no.. still running 2 different lug patterns, need to get adaptors for the rear soon, really tired of luggin 2 full size 35" spares around in the back of the truck, gets to be a bit too top heavy.

I went looking for 5-on-4.5 to 6-on5.5 adapters...the place I called after searching the Net said they aren't made because they'd have to be 2 piece design.

The 6th lug kills it, in terms of centering the pattern.

Then again if you know where to get a 1 piece stout adapter- educate me!

Then I won't have to swap the knuckles.

 

[Rx4phun]

isnt the dana 44 a 5 on 5.5 and not a 6 on 5.5. I know Rick has a one piece adapter or at least I am pretty sure
Gary

 

[NOTAJP]

Originally posted by Rx4phun
isnt the dana 44 a 5 on 5.5 and not a 6 on 5.5. I know Rick has a one piece adapter or at least I am pretty sure
Gary

The Waggy front Dana 44s are 6 on 5.5. The Ford Dana 44s from the EB and F150s are 5 on 5.5. The only difference is the knuckles out. Somebody had to be different. Rick's adapters are one piece but he only had to convert to 5 on 5.5.

 

[Rx4phun]

well thats good to know which mean I know just slightly more than nothing now. Thanks
Gary

 

[cdsl227]

Question...

Where'd you get your SOA perches for the Waggy Axle?

I called two places and they said they had perches, but didn't even know what I was talking about when I told them the Drivers side was integrated with the pumpkin...

I already got the longer anti-wrap perches for the rear.

BTW- Jeffs Bronco Graveyard quoted me $810 for everything needed to change over to 5-on-5.5...some new, some used parts...I'm tempted to go buy the F-150 axle for $500.

Thanks...

 

[Skunk]

I used a regular set of pirches, however, I used a grinder to grind the drivers side pirch to fit the casing, you will also need to grind the bottom, were the pirch was factory so the U bolts will fit around it. I dont know how experienced you are with welding, but when you weld the prich to the cast casing on the drivers side, be sure to get it either mig'ed by a big ass welder, or if your using a stick welder, use Ni-Rod.

Now, as per $810 for those parts, HOLY $H!T!!!!

they are maybe $200 at the most.... you may want to think about a trip to Harrys you pull it, out here, parts are so damn cheap. dont dare spend $810 on those parts!!

 

[cdsl227]

Thanks!

I was leaning toward buying the F-150 ($500) axle and pulling what I need off that.

I was hoping to get SOA perches that were designed for that axle...but if I gotta grind some... Oh well...

My friend owes me a favor so he is going to give me his 220 Lincoln Arc and run a 220 outlet for me. He never uses it anyway...and complains it's taking up space.

At least now I know what sticks to use.

What size is the box tube you used in the front...I'm guessing 4"x4"? That's not DOM, right...it's seamed...that's all I can find here is seamed box tube.

When it comes to looking for parts- DAMN IT S#CKs to be in NYC!

 

[Skunk]

out here you can pick up a f250 front end for less then then half of 500

yeah, make sure you use Ni-rod for the steel to cast welds, you dont need it for steel to steel tho, just a good 7018 rod will work fine.

the front tube is actually a class 3 trailer hitch cut down with 1/4 plating for the front spring mounts.

 

[cdsl227]

Quick question-

How did you measure for locating the front spring mounts?

I'm assuming spring length eye-to-eye split somewhere down the middle...

I'm curious how you got the axle positioned correctly...

I figure if I get 2 or 3 methods it'll cut down on some the the trial and error.

Thanks!

 

[Skunk]

Well, things are a bit different now, I now know why things went so wrong with the swap, even tho it still came out ok, and is still going great, I think it was because I didnt own her, and that thought in the back of my mind that she could be taken away if I got into severe financial problems..... well, now I own that *****, I get the title this week, and shes goin back into the garage for an extreme overhaul.... and now that I dont have $440/month payments on her, I can sink more $$ into doing the SAS better. Shes already a stong truck..... but soon she will be awsome!!!