How Much Frame is Enough?

[RCCUMMINS89]

The main reason that Dodge never put a dana 44 under a Cummins was not due to the direct weight of the engine......it has to do with the fact that Cummins trucks tow a lot of weight.

When one takes a left or right hand corner at speed with a lot of weight behind them....that weight wants to go forward and that outside front tire is doing all it can from being ripped off the axle.

That is where the dana 60 and all it's goodies really takes over.

If one isn't going to haul any sort of weight and isn't going to run larger than small tires......a dana 44 will hold up ok for daily driving.

[the.beard]

I think the main reason some of the 1 ton second gen frames were plated was to prevent enthusiastic dummies from destroying them.

<------ Sometimes an enthusiastic dummy

If one isn't going...to run larger than small tires...

"Larger than small tires" are sometimes necessary around here, so that disqualifies the 44.

[the.beard]

I got underneath the first gen today and the front spring hangers and leaf packs look WEAK. Maybe it's because I'm used to seeing the one ton running gear, but I'm not getting a warm, fuzzy feeling AT ALL from the front end of this thing.

[RCCUMMINS89]

Don't let us talk you into a weak frame and set up.


I run a shortened 8" diesel frame under my RC......everything is from the diesel.

[the.beard]

Don't let us talk you into a weak frame and set up.

Yeah, it occurred to me that I may look like some kind of saslohe for coming to your forum and asking for opinions only to argue, sort of. I appreciate the time y'all are taking to reply and the experiences of those with diesels on 1/2 ton frames.

The more I get under there to look and the more thought I give to what I'll use the truck for, the more I think I ought to sell the w250 and find a '91.5-'93 model with the 8" frame or stick with the second gen. I really want a first gen somethin' fierce, though.

[BobS]

Don't let us talk you into a weak frame and set up.

I think I ought to sell the w250 and find a '91.5-'93 model with the 8" frame or stick with the second gen. I really want a first gen somethin' fierce, though.

My 91.5 Dodge Cummins truck has the 6" frame. To be safe, set your minimum year at 1992 or 93.

[CumminsPower59]

Or you can get an earlier W350 like mine...it's got an 8" frame...

[Kebo]

I live in a Powerstroke heavy area, so the occasional 4wd launch is bound to happen. My 2nd gen has an 80 rear/70 front. If it's not too much trouble, I might swap those in. Otherwise I'll sell them and buy 70/60s.

I hate to sound like a snob, but I've got no respect for the 44 even in a gas truck. I've never broken them, personally, but my brother has a pile of 44 parts and pieces behind his barn.

Unless you did a swap in your second gen, I guarantee the front axle is NOT a Dana 70. Second gen pickups recieved (a poor excuse for) a Dana 60.

The first gen Dana 60 (and even the 61) are stronger overall than the second gen's front.

[RCCUMMINS89]

Pretty sure the dana 70 front end went out of production in the 70s, didn't it? I know the dana 70 I have been around is a pos closed knuckle thing.

[CumminsPower59]

Front 70's were done by 1975 or so for Dodge...all I've ever seen is the closed knuckle, drub brake version. GM did have Dana 70's in the 2003+ C4500/5500's 4x4's...

[the.beard]

Yep, y'all are absolutely right. It's a 60, but y'all already knew that. So did I, can't imagine why I was thinking 70. Either way, I'm not going to use the '87 W250. I'm going to sell the whole truck for what I've got into it and keep the second gen. I was shopping around and the 2nd gen 12v one-ton duallies with 4wd and a 5 speed are crazy rare (around here). The ones I can find are $10k or North of that.

I guess y'all won't want to talk to me anymore.

[rb70383]

Well I am researching what I want to do with my frame. It's a 85 D350 crew. Going diesel and 4x4. Long wheel base has me thinking. A discussion on rcc is kinda going on

Any more input either here or there is always helpful. I have the rails from a 93 ctd frame and thinking of making L reinforcements for the frame. However leaning towards boxing the frame in now. Anyways more info the better informed decisions we can make. Or just the quicker I pull my hair out. Lol.

http://ramchargercentral.com/diesel-tal ... n-owners!/

[m880cummins]

A 6" 3/4t gasser frame will be fine for a mild tuned truck. I built a 1977 Dodge 3/4t with a cummins/5 speed and it was a nice setup. If you stay under 350hp, I can't see it being a problem. From what I heard, the early cummins trucks with 6" frames liked to crack right behind the cab simply from the engine torquing.

As for the crew cab rb70383, if it is a D350, I assume it has a 7" frame rail that is 0.25" thick. This was the biggest frame ever used in a light duty truck until the 8" frame was introduced in 1990-91ish. The only concern I have with long bed crew cabs is there is a significant amount of flex allowed in those frames. Most likely the bed of your truck has twisted enough to kiss the cab right on either side of the rear window on the corner of the cab.

Charlie

[the.beard]

Well, I couldn't stand it anymore and I finagled a trade-off for a 91.5 W250 auto. I put a couple of photos in my "welcome" thread: viewtopic.php?f=18&t=15146

WAY easier just to get a factory 1st gen than trying to go around my a-hole to get to my elbow with a swap.