Dana 28?

[FutureX]

anyone here still beating the snot out of their D28 and it just keeps going? ive been in search to upgrade my D28 to a D35 TTB (yes im a one of the few TTB Fanboys and if given a chance, i would love for a complete 4 corner IFS on the BII) and the 7.5 to an 8.8.... but my question is, who here is still weilding the power of the might D28.. after all the abuse ive given it hasnt died... i came off Truck Hill Return in Hollister Hills and bent the drag link assembly (its still bent; slight curve in bar), ive locked up the front in rocks and jammed it where u could hear being at the breaking point but by some amazing grace it pops out and still trucks through all with 30x950s wrapped on stock wheels...the lifted jeepers make fun of me until i laugh at them for out wheeling them with a near stock rig...one reason ive not done anything to the truck is that im debating on waiting for the D35, or just continue forth with the D28...





right now i have a 1.5" Susp Lift, Exploder Coils and Beltech 6400's , the ploders are pretty flat, so im going to swap them out with 2" Superlift Coils and full extend the BellTech 6400's to get the complete 2"s .. then throw on some 31x10.50

if i got D35 once the 8.8 gets dropped in, im headed for 35x12.50s on 15x8 or 16x8 or something similar ...


im not into "hardcore" wheeling, im into the moderate stuff, no major rock crawling, however i do get a massive hard on for some mud... something fun about driving down the road flinging globs of mud at the white car behind you and them speed around you cussing u out...

i am a photographer, so the main objective is to make something reliable, yet easy to get in and out of for a model or assistant and gear... another reason ive been hesitant on building the BII or selling it and grabbing a 1st Gent ploder, although i dont know what i would do with the extra wheelbase, ive gotten used to the 98"s of pucker factor.. its fun to have the BII go 70* angle and still get out with out flopping end over end (only by luck, but i still did it and had to change my drawers after since it was filled with seat)

 

[rookieshooter]

The only thing I can say that has happened to my D35 in moderate wheeling is the darn wheel bearings. Now I have 33.5 x12s on 10" rims with stock back spacing.
This puts a tremendous strain on the bearings by having all that unsprung weight outside the centerline of the bearings.
The bearings only set about a 1/4" inch apart. Hardly no lateral support at all.
I have gone through several sets of front bearings including totally destroying the spindle to the point where the front tire was coming off.
Now since your set on a IFS, I won't go into doing a SAS, or should I.
But you can't go wrong going to a D35 coupled to an 8.8 Good Luck.

I'm a big fan of short wheel base $x$s. These east coast forrested trails mandate a shorter wheel base. I love photography too, and when it came to going out for some pictures along the trails, the X would always stay home.

I'll probably miss the nice ride I have now in my B2 once the SAS is finished.

If you do go D35, let me know, I have a spare used front spindle I'll send ya for free.
Ford wants around $300 for a new one, Ouch, don't ask me why I know.

 

[4x4junkie]

The only thing I can say that has happened to my D35 in moderate wheeling is the darn wheel bearings. Now I have 33.5 x12s on 10" rims with stock back spacing.
This puts a tremendous strain on the bearings by having all that unsprung weight outside the centerline of the bearings.
The bearings only set about a 1/4" inch apart. Hardly no lateral support at all.
I have gone through several sets of front bearings including totally destroying the spindle to the point where the front tire was coming off.

Sounds like you're overtightening the preload on them (and it is true, they are finicky about being overtightened). Done right though and they last just fine (I've got about 45,000 miles on mine with 33s, and now 35" tires).

Definitely ditch the D28 though. It's not a matter of if it breaks, but when.

 

[FutureX]

my only frustration is, that my truck will be mostly street pounding since im a photographer, and very light if any wheeling, so im looking to turn it into something will look decent, not stock, but not radical either...

here basically how it sits now ..

but with brown doors off an 85 (had that weird electric ghost where the windows would only work if i opened my door so far, this was easier and cheaper fix, plus there was a removeable door idea at one point)

 

[4x4junkie]

my only frustration is, that my truck will be mostly street pounding since im a photographer, and very light if any wheeling, so im looking to turn it into something will look decent, not stock, but not radical either...

Huh?? That's completely different from what you said above...

i came off Truck Hill Return in Hollister Hills and bent the drag link assembly (its still bent; slight curve in bar), ive locked up the front in rocks and jammed it where u could hear being at the breaking point but by some amazing grace it pops out and still trucks through all with 30x950s wrapped on stock wheels...the lifted jeepers make fun of me until i laugh at them for out wheeling them with a near stock rig...

and

ive gotten used to the 98"s of pucker factor.. its fun to have the BII go 70* angle and still get out with out flopping end over end (only by luck, but i still did it and had to change my drawers after since it was filled with seat)

If all of that was just a bunch of tall exaggerated tales, then I s'pose the D28 could stay (although I still wouldn't try running 35s on it, maybe 33s at the very most).

 

[FutureX]

ive been waying the pros and cons..... if i go D35 , its a snow ball effect... and never ending money pitt.....and which means i will be wheeling more and not getting my work done like i should be (already hard enough to get work done when your work from a pc and you have access to the net lol)

if i stay with the D28 i can somewhat keep myself undercontrol and limited .... however the more im here on EF, the more i want a 2nd Gen Ex

i dunno it all makes my head hurt, the BII has served me well for the 800 i paid for it and continues to perform like a champ.. its time to start putting some work into it and its the decision, do u fix it and keep it, or for what your fixing by the time your done u could of gotten an X lol....


the idea is , to have something decent for the road, but if i want to go wheeling i can, get the idea? but the most part , it has to be reliable for the road, and i need to fit atleast 3 people and gear in (which i can do atm.)

 

[rookieshooter]

I say get the X for work and a DD. And then during any spare time build the B2 at your leisure and then really bash those jeepers.

 

[FutureX]

unfortunately i wont have a place for both rigs....so its either or other..