'89 ram 50 straight axle swap

[Rcornsilk]

Well it's been awhile since I've posted anything, you guys helped me threw my 4d56 swap! Now I'm back at it going to finish every thing on the truck now. I've put almost 7k miles since the swap an I love the lil diesel. Now for the good part...I got my hands on a set of tj jeep axles! I'm in the process of changing the gears to 4.88s, I'm doing away with the control arms and using front and rear radius arms off a land rover. I salvaged up wj front knuckles and rear disc! Still in the beginning stages of the build, i am so stinking excited I had to go ahead an start my post! I will start some photos tomorrow, forgot about having to take pictures sideways....

[geezer101]

Nice. This will be interesting - I think you'll be asked a lot of questions about how you're reconfiguring the suspension and rear disc set up.

[Rcornsilk]

These are the radius arms from the land rover.20200322_215106.jpg20200322_215133.jpg20200322_214752.jpg

[Rcornsilk]

Yes sir,should be some questions for sure! But I think its gonna be a fun process!

[Rcornsilk]

this is how the rear will look soon as I get some brackets fabbed. Still have working on the removing the factory brackets,then I can install the discs and axle shafts

[Rcornsilk]

Tires an wheels came in today!!20200317_140602.jpg

[B-Line]

Interesting build.

[geezer101]

Gotta see those mounted to your truck! They look tough as

[Rcornsilk]

I'm working on it!! Trust me it caint go any faster! Just got the rear end done,knock out the front gears then it's time for the good stuff!20200327_150535.jpg20200327_152709.jpg

[geezer101]

Take a ton of pictures for reference material. You never know who will be able to make use of them

[Rcornsilk]

I recieved my brakes today... this is why jeep people with older jeeps do the WJ knuckle swap! 3 reasons I know of to start
#120200329_134852.jpg bigger rotors!
#220200329_134946.jpg dual piston calipers! Number three will show up when it's time for steering

[Rcornsilk]

Here's a teaser!20200329_145215.jpg

[geezer101]

So it's not just going to look awesome, but stop like you hit the back of a bus That has really made a massive change to ground clearance too.

[Rcornsilk]

geezer101, Ive read the brakes would be a big improvement, but dang soon as I saw it for myself...totally worth it! I'm all bout the new clearance I'm gonna get,plus the benefit of going from 4.22 to 4.88's will be really good! It did good on the interstate but this should help climbing up the hills too,I was running 32,now 33's. So I'm thinking the gears,the brakes, an im hoping the ride will all be worth the effort!

[Rcornsilk]

Well,been kinda slow going on the project...honey do's first! But I did get the rear nice an centered as well as brackets all measured up! The rear will get 5.5 lift springs for a jeep TJ,this will give me the room I need for a bumper an possibly a bed cover. Should be on to the front by this weekend!20200409_210337.jpg20200409_210252.jpg

[Rcornsilk]

Well,been kinda slow going on the project...honey do's first! But I did get the rear nice an centered as well as brackets all measured up! The rear will get 5.5 lift springs for a jeep TJ,this will give me the room I need for a bumper an possibly a bed cover. Should be on to the front by this weekend!!20200409_211227.jpg20200409_211155.jpg

[geezer101]

It...looks...HUGE. What does the rear end donor use for a stabiliser?

[Rcornsilk]

I cut the shock bracket off the TJ frame,I'm in the process of fabricating it now. I will use the rear track bar as well from the TJ. The only thing different I will be using is the radius arms off the land rover,VS. the control arm set um the TJ uses. I did this due to the fact there is no room in the front or rear of our frames for the upper an lower control arms to mount. Probably could have made something work,but I love the radius arm set up.

[dancinggecko]

Any pictures of the front mounting yet? I had been trying to figure out the 4-Link front setup, but the radius arm sounds like it would work too. I had never though of that, so I am very excited to see what you come up with. Nice work!

[Rcornsilk]

Still forget the photo turning thing..,here's a rough draft of the project!20200412_190906.jpg20200412_190621.jpg

[Rcornsilk]

Well I ran 3" exhaust from the turbo back on my truck,so the 4 link was out. I probably could have done a kind of 4 link long arm. I was installing a leveling kit on my wife's truck when I started to get into the radius arm set up. It will look pretty much like this photo, I'm probably going to move the power steering gear box to the front as much as possible, I also will remake a new trans bracket. The front drive shaft will not clear it's new position. The new measurement of the front,top fender opening should be at 43.25" to the ground,the rear is at 44".20200412_185108.jpg

[B-Line]

Looking good!

[geezer101]

Where did you get this mad scientist idea from? It's freaking ingenious. Hmm, that intercooler is all business too

[Rcornsilk]

Thanks guys,it is madness. My daughter has a jeep jk so I've been all over the suspension,an it can literally go any place. An it turns on a dime! Jeep people do some crazy stuff with their suspension,from rock crawlers to mall crawlers. I've heard people hate on dana 30,35's. But my daughter drives the crap outta hers an its held up for 2 years now. This wouldn't have happened if I didnt get a steal on the axles an partial frame. So I have done all kinds of research on jeep stuff prior to this. It wasn't till a couple months ago I watched a guy on you tube telling what all he has done to his jeep till I saw the radius arm set up. Thats when the light came on for me. I've had most of the parts since November, there is literally no room inside our frames for upper,lower control arms. This is when I started looking at different radius arms on different trucks. My wife has a ram 2500 with coils on all 4 corners,rides like a dream. Wanted something different, so when I found that some land rovers use front and rear arms,I found a complete set on the net for $100

[Rcornsilk]

Finally have the rear all together....looking better than the old leaf's. Soon as the shocks turn up I'll add more photo's along with the added sway bar bracket. Now on to the front!! Anybody ever heard or done water to air intercooler? Really thinking about this road,my thoughts were to move the intercooler back into the engine bay,in order to shrink the front bumper I am building. Hopefully someone has ant thoughts.20200514_180211.jpg20200514_180150.jpg20200517_151456.jpg20200517_151525.jpg