What to build?

towmotor · Feb 10, 2009

I would like to add that I would really like to see you pulling a plow at 70mph while carrying something with the loader...

Me too.

You know what they say; The end of every redneck begins with the words "Watch this" (loosely translated- stick around to scoop me up, buddy, I'll give you the keys to my truck...)

Renze · Feb 12, 2009

SuperDuty335 said:
I don't think you'll have trouble finding axle parts. You have some of the most common drive line components ever used.

How many aftermarket suppliers are there, for Chevy parts ?? Even if Chevy goes belly up, there will allways be companies that jump into the spares business... I assume there already are companies that are supplying brandless parts that fit Chevy... Now imagine if their biggest competitor (Chevy itself) would disappear: there would get a serious competition among those companies because they dont have competition from original parts anymore...

rdbrumfield · Feb 12, 2009

Traction is a great asset when you are trying to pull something, but if you are in low range and you are hooked up good it will mean axles will be snapping.

One thing you might think of, if you go with articulated, use the other rearend for the front. With it facing backward it will work properly. I had to laugh when some "genious" figured it out at ford in 78. Remember the highboys with the front driveshaft hanging way down in front up till 77. Well besides marrying the transfer to the trany, they ran the front drive shaft into the top of the frontend, as they do today. Your setup will go into the bottom. If you look at the rearend, with the driveshaft turning ccw it will be backing up or going forward if in the front.

towmotor · Feb 13, 2009

Yeah, I had the "which way does it turn" question churning in my head for a while until I crawled under the truck and looked at the pinion/ring gear relationship and then reasoned the whole thing out on paper.

I doubt I'll be using articulated steering, however. There were too many obstacles.
The engine/transmission/transfer case assembly, from front pulley to output flange, is about 68 inches. If my desired wheel base is between 72-84 inches, there just isn't the room.
I looked into hydraulic drive, which would have allowed a short wheelbase with articulated steering, but that would have required lots of money for the hydraulics.
That would certainly work, but I'm trying to spend as little money on this thing as I can, not as much.

Traction is a great asset when you are trying to pull something, but if you are in low range and you are hooked up good it will mean axles will be snapping.

Just another good example of the old adage "there's no such thing as a free lunch".
Give me enough torque to move some sand and tote a small backhoe and I should be good to go. This Dodge setup should give me what I need, in terms of torque/traction, right from the get-go. My greatest concern is the weight bearing capacity of the Dana 44 front axle assembly.
We shall see.