Dakota chassis swap - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

bob Scott · 12-28-2012, 02:43 AM

Anyone done a Dakota frame under the AD truck? Tons of S10s but it seems the steering box is in a better place and the frame is stronger on the Dakota. I've driven both and the Dakota handles much better.

*bk2life* · 12-28-2012, 03:12 AM

theres a shop in az that swears by the dakota.

personally i wouldnt, because you can buy everything for an s10, and you can only get a few parts for the dakota.

and comparing handling between a dakota and s10 is like apples and bananas. there are soo many variables. did you try a typhoon or cyclone? i mean they only beat the same year corvette in handling, 1/4 mile, and if i remember right braking distance as well.. never heard of a dokota doing that...

solidaxel · 12-28-2012, 11:19 AM

I have a 89 Dakota front suspension added to my stock 53 chassis with a crossmsmber that I purchased from Industrial Chassis Inc. in Phoenix Az.

This is a truck suspension for a heavy truck !

I like the Dakota on my 53 better than the Mll on the 55 GMC

We recentely finished a 53 extended cab with a Scotts Hot Rod IFS and Coil Over set up and it rides very good compared to the other two, but it was much easier to install and a bit more expensive

solidaxel · 12-28-2012, 11:38 AM

Here are the IFS on my trucks

**mr48chev** · 12-28-2012, 11:57 AM

Wheelbase, track/treadwidth, Cost? Until scrap prices went up you could often drag a dead long wheelbase S-10 home for not much more than beer money in most parts of the country. That added a lot to their appeal for chassis swaps. That plus the aftermarket is flooded with pieces that fit the chassis and suspension. As Bk2life said in post 2 there isn't a lot of aftermarket support for the two wheel drive Dakotas. Maybe because for some reason they didn't catch on with the mini truck brigade.

I think the tread width might be a bit wider and the suspension pieces a bit beefier and that should work for a truck that gets used as a truck sometimes.

bob Scott · 12-28-2012, 12:14 PM

The wheel base isn't a problem since I will do all the fabricating. Pretty much all the work through out. Price is what's holding me back from the aftermarket suspension kits.
S10s and Dakotas here are anywhere from 4-5 hundred for non running. Less then a grand if you shop around for something running. Track width on the Dakota is just a bit wider then the S10.
What bk2life said about parts available makes sense for the S10. the Typhoon and Cyclone is a rare duck and would probably cost way to much but if all the hp suspension parts will fit the S10 (I'm assuming they will) then that can pretty much sway me.

12-28-2012, 02:43 AM	#1
bob Scott Registered User Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: S.t louis mo Posts: 21	Dakota chassis swap Anyone done a Dakota frame under the AD truck? Tons of S10s but it seems the steering box is in a better place and the frame is stronger on the Dakota. I've driven both and the Dakota handles much better.

12-28-2012, 03:12 AM	#2
bk2life Account Suspended Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: phx, az Posts: 868	Re: Dakota chassis swap theres a shop in az that swears by the dakota. personally i wouldnt, because you can buy everything for an s10, and you can only get a few parts for the dakota. and comparing handling between a dakota and s10 is like apples and bananas. there are soo many variables. did you try a typhoon or cyclone? i mean they only beat the same year corvette in handling, 1/4 mile, and if i remember right braking distance as well.. never heard of a dokota doing that...

12-28-2012, 11:19 AM	#3
solidaxel Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Cactus Patch So. Az Posts: 4,749	Re: Dakota chassis swap I have a 89 Dakota front suspension added to my stock 53 chassis with a crossmsmber that I purchased from Industrial Chassis Inc. in Phoenix Az. This is a truck suspension for a heavy truck ! I like the Dakota on my 53 better than the Mll on the 55 GMC We recentely finished a 53 extended cab with a Scotts Hot Rod IFS and Coil Over set up and it rides very good compared to the other two, but it was much easier to install and a bit more expensive __________________ 53 TuTone Extended Cab 350 4-Spd 3:08 (SOLD) 53 Chevy Moldy pearl green ZZ-4 4L60E 9" 3:25 55 GMC 1st Black Mll (ZZ4) ZZ6 TKO 600 5 sp 3:73 62 Solidaxle Corvette Roman Red (327 340hp 4spd 3:36) C4 & C5 suspension tube chassis LS 3 4L70E 65 Corvette Coupe 327 350hp 4spd 4:11 78 Black Silverado SWB (350/350) 5.3 & 4L60E 3:42 2000 S-Type 3.0 (wife cruiser) 2003 GMC SCSB 5.3 4L60E 3:42

12-28-2012, 11:38 AM	#4
solidaxel Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Cactus Patch So. Az Posts: 4,749	Re: Dakota chassis swap Here are the IFS on my trucks Attached Images __________________ 53 TuTone Extended Cab 350 4-Spd 3:08 (SOLD) 53 Chevy Moldy pearl green ZZ-4 4L60E 9" 3:25 55 GMC 1st Black Mll (ZZ4) ZZ6 TKO 600 5 sp 3:73 62 Solidaxle Corvette Roman Red (327 340hp 4spd 3:36) C4 & C5 suspension tube chassis LS 3 4L70E 65 Corvette Coupe 327 350hp 4spd 4:11 78 Black Silverado SWB (350/350) 5.3 & 4L60E 3:42 2000 S-Type 3.0 (wife cruiser) 2003 GMC SCSB 5.3 4L60E 3:42

12-28-2012, 11:57 AM	#5
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,711	Re: Dakota chassis swap Wheelbase, track/treadwidth, Cost? Until scrap prices went up you could often drag a dead long wheelbase S-10 home for not much more than beer money in most parts of the country. That added a lot to their appeal for chassis swaps. That plus the aftermarket is flooded with pieces that fit the chassis and suspension. As Bk2life said in post 2 there isn't a lot of aftermarket support for the two wheel drive Dakotas. Maybe because for some reason they didn't catch on with the mini truck brigade. I think the tread width might be a bit wider and the suspension pieces a bit beefier and that should work for a truck that gets used as a truck sometimes. __________________ Founding member of the too many projects, too little time and money club. My ongoing truck projects: 48 Chev 3100 that will run a 292 Six. 71 GMC 2500 that is getting a Cad 500 transplant. 77 C 30 dualie, 454, 4 speed with a 10 foot flatbed and hoist. It does the heavy work and hauls the projects around.

12-28-2012, 12:14 PM	#6
bob Scott Registered User Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: S.t louis mo Posts: 21	Re: Dakota chassis swap The wheel base isn't a problem since I will do all the fabricating. Pretty much all the work through out. Price is what's holding me back from the aftermarket suspension kits. S10s and Dakotas here are anywhere from 4-5 hundred for non running. Less then a grand if you shop around for something running. Track width on the Dakota is just a bit wider then the S10. What bk2life said about parts available makes sense for the S10. the Typhoon and Cyclone is a rare duck and would probably cost way to much but if all the hp suspension parts will fit the S10 (I'm assuming they will) then that can pretty much sway me.



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