Posted By: dmckeehan
Dakota 440 swap front spring swap? - 03/30/16 09:01 PM
Gathering info on swapping a 440 into my recently purchased 1992 Dakota. I'm up on the engine mounts and headers and such, just curious what is needed on the front coils. Will the stock coils work, or need to upgrade? what parts swap in? thanks for the help guys
Posted By: WO23Coronet
Re: Dakota 440 swap front spring swap? - 03/30/16 11:55 PM
Sounds like you don't have to do much, maybe a set of V8 coil springs and call it done
Posted By: HotRodDave
Re: Dakota 440 swap front spring swap? - 03/31/16 12:29 AM
Maybe if it is drag only you could use the 4cyl springs for weight transfer or V8 springs if cornering is more important.
Posted By: dmckeehan
Re: Dakota 440 swap front spring swap? - 03/31/16 11:55 AM
Thanks guys, it's going to be an evolution, street truck in the beginning with occasional strip duty. As it evolves, it will become more strip oriented
Posted By: d-150
Re: Dakota 440 swap front spring swap? - 03/31/16 06:38 PM
Aluminum heads and intake didn't squit 4/cylinder springs on bit
Posted By: Greg55_99
Re: Dakota 440 swap front spring swap? - 04/01/16 06:12 PM
I think El Polako has some tubular control arms for coilovers coming up for the early Daks;
http://i2.wp.com/www.industrialchassisin...18-07.56.15.jpgGreg
Posted By: poorboy
Re: Dakota 440 swap front spring swap? - 04/02/16 02:42 AM
I hope this is sign that Steve is getting back into the Dakota front clips again.
He had some awesome stuff several years ago, then pretty much quit making stuff. Gene
Posted By: 70Cuda383
Re: Dakota 440 swap front spring swap? - 04/02/16 04:38 PM
My v6 club cab 1998 Dakota weighed 4000 lbs
I swapped in a 383 stroked to 438 with aluminum heads, intake, water pump/housing and a TKO-600. Truck weighed 4200 lbs. or, the same as a V8 club cab Dakota.
The big block doesn't add much weight when you use aluminum parts.
Strip duty? Use the lightest springs you can find. Otherwise, swap in some stock v8 springs, cut 1/4-1/2 of a coil off which will both lower it and stiffen the overall spring a little bit.