IFS crossmember, using s10 parts

[2manyprojects]

I found this, looks like a good option. What do you guys think about it? http://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthreads/...338344&fpart=1

[solidaxel]

Sounds like it might work!
My Dodge Dakota looks similar, but its Mopar not a GM!!

[55dude]

solidaxle: that dakota front end looks great! imho if it works i woundn't care if it was from a YUGO!

[dwcsr]

I've been following that thread over there for awhile and it looks like the first "NEW" attempt at an AD suspension in along time. Its built from scratch for the AD using GM parts not an MII make over.

[mr48chev]

I just checked it out and it looks pretty interesting especially if he sticks to close to his original price. The doner cars for those front end pieces are pretty plentiful and cheap around here. It looks like a guy might not have to hack up his inner fender wells to install it too.

[solidaxel]

I have a few concerns,
What is the height of the front end, it looks like the spindel centerline is is way below the bottom of the frame which raises the front end up to the stock height. Do they make 2 or 3" dropped spindles for S-10' ?
The top hats look like they have just a vertical weld attaching them to the frame rail, that seems to put a lot of shear on that hat with all of the weight of the truck on the spring hat.
It is nice to see some more inventions for our AD trucks, I do like the idea of a truck suspension on a truck but it must have rack & pinion that is why I went with the Dodge

[2manyprojects]

Originally Posted by solidaxel

I have a few concerns,
What is the height of the front end, it looks like the spindel centerline is is way below the bottom of the frame which raises the front end up to the stock height. Do they make 2 or 3" dropped spindles for S-10' ?
The top hats look like they have just a vertical weld attaching them to the frame rail, that seems to put a lot of shear on that hat with all of the weight of the truck on the spring hat.
It is nice to see some more inventions for our AD trucks, I do like the idea of a truck suspension on a truck but it must have rack & pinion that is why I went with the Dodge

It will sit way too high for me too. I read somewhere in there, it only drops the truck an inch maybe from stock. The guys on that site are more into stock trucks so I guess that's to be expected. On the other hand S10 lowering parts are inexpensive and plentiful. Spindles, springs, bags, tube control arms, big brakes etc are all available. The top hats concern me also. I'm going to wait until I see the finished product installed, and decide from there. I do like the idea of parts availability, and he is going to use a 4th gen Fbody rack & pinion. I already have lots of basically free S10 parts and a Trans Am R&P. If I don't go with the cross member, I'll do a frame swap. I do like the Dakota set up though, looks good.

[solidaxel]

The Dakota bolt on parts are priced very low also, I have not checked into the aftermarket for spindles but he says it will sit right, he is a hot rodder.

[mr48chev]

I'll agree that it puts the ride height higher than I prefer. I have two complete MII setups out here plus both the proper GM and Ford rotors so that cuts my cost if I use Original MII suspension pieces.

My liking for the GM setup is that a guy wouldn't have to mix and match parts except the rack. No remembering what one piece or the other came from if you have a bearing go out or need pads or a rotor for the brakes. and no one off custom bushings in the suspension.
I have no interest in using air bags as a primary suspension component and don't care for the "laid out" look that seems to be the big thing. Totally personal opinion and the fact that I don't want something on the truck that will cause me to be hung up in the middle of the road if it fails. I push the limits on scrub line and will stay that way. I may use bags on the rear to maintain static ride height in conjunction with the springs I run though as i don't like the looks of the truck when I get my gear loaded in the bed for a road trip. I have pretty soft springs on the back with stiff gas shocks and can't haul any kind of load without it dropping in the back.

I haven't done a lot of checking around here but from what I've seen the Dakotas don't tend to make it to the local wrecking yards in any appreciable number. That and most of the Dakotas around here and most S=10's for that part are four wheel drive.

[Silveradobs]

I've been in communication with Danforth, about making a crossmember for the 55-59 Trucks, however, the last price I saw from him on the AD crossmember was around $800.00, better check with him. For that price (I have a 56) I would go with the Corvette crossmember. Just my two cents. Tom

[robin58]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

I'll agree that it puts the ride height higher than I prefer. I have two complete MII setups out here plus both the proper GM and Ford rotors so that cuts my cost if I use Original MII suspension pieces.

My liking for the GM setup is that a guy wouldn't have to mix and match parts except the rack. No remembering what one piece or the other came from if you have a bearing go out or need pads or a rotor for the brakes. and no one off custom bushings in the suspension.
I have no interest in using air bags as a primary suspension component and don't care for the "laid out" look that seems to be the big thing. Totally personal opinion and the fact that I don't want something on the truck that will cause me to be hung up in the middle of the road if it fails. I push the limits on scrub line and will stay that way. I may use bags on the rear to maintain static ride height in conjunction with the springs I run though as i don't like the looks of the truck when I get my gear loaded in the bed for a road trip. I have pretty soft springs on the back with stiff gas shocks and can't haul any kind of load without it dropping in the back.

I haven't done a lot of checking around here but from what I've seen the Dakotas don't tend to make it to the local wrecking yards in any appreciable number. That and most of the Dakotas around here and most S=10's for that part are four wheel drive.

There's a wealth of dropped parts available from the aftermarket minitruck suppliers for S10's (e.g. DJM, Suicidedoors, etc): e.g. 2" dropped spindles, 3" dropped lower control arms, 2" dropped coils. The amount you'd want to lower it is entirely up to the end user. I personally think it is a smart move to keep the basic installation semi-stock height and then let the owner decide what he wants to put on it to lower it.

BTW DJM makes many of those parts for Dodge Dakotas too.

[solidaxel]

[BTW DJM makes many of those parts for Dodge Dakotas too.[/QUOTE]

Thanks for the tip, After all these years of playing with my toys I have not learned a new language "D o d g e" I will look into DJM.

[mr48chev]

I can probably get one of the local wrecking yards to chop me off a front stub from one of the Metric cars mentined for about 100 bucks and then strip it at home while the Dakota pieces seem a bit hard to come up with in this area and will probably cost three times as much.
probably 70 percent of the Dakotas that were sold new in this area no matter what the year model were four wheel drive trucks. The same goes for the S-10 trucks.