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Anyone put a steering rack on these trucks? Im to the point where the steering box is limiting the potential on this thing, and want to get more serious with it. Links or pics are appreciated. Thanks

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here's a manual dakota rack in a '77 ramcharger drag project. I made the rack mounts slotted vertically, so i could adjust out any bump steer.
one idea i've had in the back of my head for a future cornering/handling truck is to either adapt a longer pittman arm or lengthen the stock one similar to the t/a fast ratio arm.

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How does stiffening the cab to frame mount points help the suspension work better? By reducing the tendency for the weight of the cab to shift in a hard turn?

I don't think any of the Dakota guys have done that, and yet lots of us are super happy with the hotchkis stuff and how it improves handling. I don't know if boxing the frame will gain anything, sure it'll be stiffer, but it'll be a lot heavier too.

There's a guy making some cross bracing for the Dakota frames which help to stiffen everything while only adding 30-ish lbs. Frame twist is greatly reduced!! Stock frames you can see the frame twisting when you hit bumps, as the bed looks like it "rattles" when you see it in the side mirror. Add the cross brace and that goes away. Then again Dakota frames are fully boxed from the front to just behind the cab anyway, and only the rear half under the bed is a "C" channel

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How does stiffening the cab to frame mount points help the suspension work better? By reducing the tendency for the weight of the cab to shift in a hard turn?

I don't think any of the Dakota guys have done that, and yet lots of us are super happy with the hotchkis stuff and how it improves handling. I don't know if boxing the frame will gain anything, sure it'll be stiffer, but it'll be a lot heavier too.

There's a guy making some cross bracing for the Dakota frames which help to stiffen everything while only adding 30-ish lbs. Frame twist is greatly reduced!! Stock frames you can see the frame twisting when you hit bumps, as the bed looks like it "rattles" when you see it in the side mirror. Add the cross brace and that goes away. Then again Dakota frames are fully boxed from the front to just behind the cab anyway, and only the rear half under the bed is a "C" channel

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Got a link or contact info for the Dak guy?

Rick

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I'd PM it to you, but you don't accept PMs

here's a link to his cross members

http://stores.hi-potek.com/-strse-DAKOTA-X-dsh-BRACES/Categories.bok




His name is Richard, lives in Michigan, and makes all kinds of cool stuff for the Dakota crowd. driveshaft loops, transmission mount cross members, solid engine mounts for magnum engines, plus he has a wide selection of motor parts, suspension parts, etc.

If guys show enough interest, I'm sure he could start making parts for other trucks.