Dually Questions... Can I make a dually??

[dooce]

I will be looking for another project soon, a 73-80 reg cab dually. They seem kinda hard to find, so can I take a regular run of the mill long bed and slap some dually fenders and rear end and on it have a dually? I need to know if the wheelbases are the same from the factory and what problems I may encounter.

[Stitch]

all that will work, you'll also have to change the hubs up front...you could also change the hubs on a srw axle with drw axle hubs as long as it's a 1 ton axle like a D70 or 14 bolt

[Dieselwrencher]

I don't think the inner bud wheels would work if you use a standard srw housing. The drw housings are wider to allow the 2 tires per side.

[Stitch]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

I don't think the inner bud wheels would work if you use a standard srw housing. The drw housings are wider to allow the 2 tires per side.

if you change the rear hubs they will work

[Driveway Dreams]

Just to affirm what you want to do. There were many companies offering dually conversions on trucks in the 80s & 90s. They are still out there, just not as popular for new trucks now. What those conversions did was basically add tires and fenders.

[USSkoval]

Originally Posted by Fat Hoe

if you change the rear hubs they will work

No they won't, that would shove them into the inner tubs even more. The dually d70 axle is much wider, and installing srw hubs will make the track width even wider in that case (just an example to prove my point). Installing dually hubs on a srw 14bolt basically gets you a cab&chassis rear axle, which is narrow because they did not have factory type beds mounted on them to cause a clearance issue.

Also, it would be best to convert a 1ton truck. A drw D70 would bolt right in without having to change spring hangers and shock mounts.

[Stitch]

Originally Posted by USSkoval

No they won't, that would shove them into the inner tubs even more. The dually d70 axle is much wider, and installing srw hubs will make the track width even wider in that case (just an example to prove my point). Installing dually hubs on a srw 14bolt basically gets you a cab&chassis rear axle, which is narrow because they did not have factory type beds mounted on them to cause a clearance issue.

Also, it would be best to convert a 1ton truck. A drw D70 would bolt right in without having to change spring hangers and shock mounts.

didn't know that for 100%...thanks for the clarification...I've done a little research on the topic, because I've been thinking of converting my ccsb 3/4 ton

so you have to have a drw axle...

[Driveway Dreams]

See KIT #300 as an example. And AF-275 Fenders.
http://www.arrowcraft.com/products.php#kits

[USSkoval]

Originally Posted by Fat Hoe

didn't know that for 100%...thanks for the clarification...I've done a little research on the topic, because I've been thinking of converting my ccsb 3/4 ton

so you have to have a drw axle...

I'm not sure, but a 3/4 crew cab may have the 1ton frame and rear spring perch spacing. Can you confirm?

[Stitch]

I'm 99% sure the crew cab has the same frame as the 1 ton ...there was a thread about frame dimensions a while ago...it was in there...

if I took the stock srw axle and put drw hubs on it, would I be able to mount 19.5" semi wheels on my truck stock height with no modification besides adapters...I'm wondering, because that's the look I want to go for if I do the dually...I don't want it lowered and I don't want it jacked to the moon...just stock height with some semi steel wheels...

[Dieselwrencher]

I think the problem with using the srw axle housing will be with the inner tire to spring clearance. The cab chassis trucks have narrower leaf springs to make extra room for clearance. I think the drw D70HD is atleast 3" wider than a D70 srw. The wider axle places the hubs farther out allowing the drw offset wheels to get both wheels in the wheel well.

[USSkoval]

You may want to try it with your stock hubs first, the 19.5 adapters I've seen aren't that thick. Also if you switch hubs, then you have to deal with brake mounting points on the axle tubes.

[Stitch]

I think the offset on the 19.5 is different than the stock 16s also

[USSkoval]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

I think the problem with using the srw axle housing will be with the inner tire to spring clearance. The cab chassis trucks have narrower leaf springs to make extra room for clearance. I think the drw D70HD is atleast 3" wider than a D70 srw. The wider axle places the hubs farther out allowing the drw offset wheels to get both wheels in the wheel well.

All the 1ton trucks have the same narrow spring perch spacing, regardless if they are cab&chassis. I have never seen a srw d70.

[Dieselwrencher]

All the ones I have worked on have had 2" leaf springs and not 2 1/2" like a non cab and chassis is where I am getting at.

[USSkoval]

Originally Posted by Fat Hoe

I think the offset on the 19.5 is different than the stock 16s also

Didn't think of that. Still might work with the stock hubs though, can't hurt to try I suppose.

[USSkoval]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

All the ones I have worked on have had 2" leaf springs and not 2 1/2" like a non cab and chassis is where I am getting at.

I've never heard or seen that, but honestly I haven't payed any attention to them. It would only provide a 1/4 inch more tire clearance, unless they had offset bushings and center pins.

I have seen the 2 1/4 springs used in the vans.

[Dieselwrencher]

Chuck, if it didn't work you could always use a billet spacer to get the clearance you need. I've ran them on my dually before and haven't had any problems with them.

[Stitch]

strange that they would put narrower springs on something with a higher GVWR

I would try it, but if it doesn't work, then I'm out the money for the hubs...and like you said I'd have to figure a way to mount the calipers...

how much do you think a drw axle should run...are there other drw axles besides a d70?

[Stitch]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Chuck, if it didn't work you could always use a billet spacer to get the clearance you need. I've ran them on my dually before and haven't had any problems with them.

oh ok gotcha...I've never really messed with axles before so it's kinda new ground for me...

where could I get the drw front hubs, rotors and calipers from and also the drw hubs and calipers for the rear...

[USSkoval]

Originally Posted by Fat Hoe

strange that they would put narrower springs on something with a higher GVWR

I would try it, but if it doesn't work, then I'm out the money for the hubs...and like you said I'd have to figure a way to mount the calipers...

how much do you think a drw axle should run...are there other drw axles besides a d70?

If you try it with the stock srw hubs (still narrower track than dually) and it doesn't work, you haven't lost any money... just time.

14bolt and d70 hubs are supposed to be interchangeable.

[Stitch]

also, can I use the srw hubs up front also? I think somewhere they said you could it just tucks the wheels in more...

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by Fat Hoe

strange that they would put narrower springs on something with a higher GVWR
I would try it, but if it doesn't work, then I'm out the money for the hubs...and like you said I'd have to figure a way to mount the calipers...

how much do you think a drw axle should run...are there other drw axles besides a d70?

The leaf spring pack has more overall springs than a standard chassis truck.

You should be able to buy a complete D70HD for around $250 I would think. Other dually axles in a dodge are a Dana 80 in 1994-02. Fords also used Dana80's from 99 up and they are expensive in the ford and dodge parts world. Pre 94 they are D70HD's. Fords used sterling 10.25's from 1987-1997. Pre 87 they as well had D70HD's. If I remember correctly the 14bff drw cab and chassis housings were narrower than a stock srw housing. A lot of truck pulling guys use that housing to get their track width on the rear as far inside as they can.

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by Fat Hoe

also, can I use the srw hubs up front also? I think somewhere they said you could it just tucks the wheels in more...

I don't think you would be able to turn very far if you do. The drw front hubs stick past the rotor atleast 3" to get those offset dually wheels in the center of the wheel well. The front hubs should be easy to come up with for a 2wd truck though. Again, you might be able to run spacers there as well.

[Stitch]

I really don't want to run extra spacers, the adapters are already spacers really...I will be pulling a 30 ft travel trailer, so it needs to be right...not that running spacers wouldn't be right...don't get me wrong...I just don't want something to complicate the process