Cross Over Steering

[DennyB]

Instead of pestering you fellas with a hundred questions that you have probably already answered, Is there a good site with info on setting this up on a Dana-44.
I did a search on the board and didn't find enough info.

I have been building rods for many years (yea, thats right, waaay back before there was dirt. ) , But 4x4s are new to me and I have a lifetime of info I need to sponge up.

Thanks all,
Denny

PS. If I ask a stupid question feel free to slap me about with a large trout

[6869704X4]

I got my steering arm and drag link from shakerbuilt.com
Good guy, good stuff.

[Devil'S Ride]

Pirate4x4.com.....killer tech articles....look there...youll find what you need.

[Beast388]

ColoradoK5

Off-Road Design

[1FaastC10]

careful asking n00be questions at Pirate, they're pretty rough on n00bs. might check out Pavementsucks.com, they seem to be more new guy friendly.

[drink2mny]

Are you looking to buy a kit already made??
or are you looking at what you can get yourself cheaper..

Do you already have a dana 44?? If you do. Does it look like it has a flat top knuckle like these
you can see the difference?
your passenger side knuckle should look like the lower photo before it is drilled and tapped.. if not.
then you would need to get one and usually the matching drivers side knuckle.

This will start ya off.
Feel free to ask away.
Plus another option is Blackbird's Custom Trucks

[6869704X4]

Actually, to answer your first question, this site has a lot of good info, knowledge, and experience on crossover steering. Several of us have done it. If I remember right I spent right around $200 not counting the ball joints and bearings I replaced.
What year D44 you got?

[FRENCHBLUE72]

May want to pm board member pont as he has done the conversion on his 67

[DennyB]

Thanks guys,
Good links and lots of good information.
Still trying to decide if the cross over is for me.

I have a 71-72 Dana 44 1/2 ton axel. It already has flat top knuckles on it.
I already have both 4wd & 2wd PS gears and chassis to work with.

What Im trying to acomplish is a little different so I will try to explain.
Im setting up the chassis for my 56. Making a low riding, good handling, nice riding 4wd.

Perhaps running 1 leaf with bags for a nice ride and adjustability for hauling stuff and pulling my boat.

I was thinking that raising and lowering the front end (with bags) would throw off the alignment with the short drag link - hence the cross over soulution.
Also concerned with bump steer (again, new at this 4wd stuff).
The last straight axel truck I drove was a 46 ford with a 1 ton chassis.
This is not the handling i'm looking for.
My only other option for this conversion would be an S10 chassis.
I've owned a couple of S10s and would like the durability of the open knuckle U-joints over the CVs and torsion bars.

I'm not sure if I can clear the springs yet with the front end sitting low and the cross over tie rod.
Therefore I'm also considering some type of 4-link setup for the front axel.
If I go this route then I will probably just use the 2wd coil chassis and swap in the Dana 44 up front. Heck, I might just use the coil chassis anyway.

Thoughts???

Denny

[DennyB]

No thoughts eh?
Did I puke too much info?
Dang, that took alot of hunt and peck..

So i have the complete body off the leaf spring frame (formally coil) And it looks like I need to shorten the wheel base 14". After eyeing the frame it looks like I can just move the axel forward 14" by moving the spring mounts, bumpers, shock mounts etc..
Of course the carrier bearing brace will be deleted and a new brace fabbed in its place to clear a single drive shaft.
Looks like a simple solution. Is there something Im missing.
The hump in the frame has plenty room 14" forward.

Denny

[drink2mny]

Never looked under that year truck, but as for the crossover steering it may cause a problem with the engine crossmember plus it may not work over your leafsprings. The bar need to go over them from the steering box..
If you really wanted to get tricky with the steering you may think about hydraulic. they make some kits that are streetable.. that way you could run the hydro ram to the tierod off the axle and not have to worry about a steering arm binding up on the driverside..
I know pirates4x4 site has good tech infor on hydro steering and what size shafts and so on..
fabricating something like what your wanting to do is going to be a trial and error.
unless you did go with a IFS. Then it just might be easier..
Good luck