Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) 3500 ---> 2500 Swap Basics and More

[ToolManTimTaylor]

I dunno Guys I still am kicking arround the idea of doing a SRW conversion. As I really A: don't need DRW , and B: the State Traffic Nazi's hate me :MAD:



Other than a bed Rims rear diff what am I forgetting.



Just pull off the spacers on the front hub (4X4) , Swap Rear Diffs , Bed , Rims and rubber? what about the rear spring perches? Are they positioned differently Vs a 2500 as I would think not but I will ask the powers that be. Also I completly forget ... . The rear axles on the 3500's have a spacer beneath the drum? Or is an axle swap more prudent. If so I would just remove those spacers and swap shoes and drums?



Anyone wanna swap? My Bed: Rhinolined inside and underneath. and perfect no dings / scratches



Just entertaining the Thought

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

Oh yeah My bed is white and an 01 (Duals have 255/85 r 16's) being the offset on the 01 duals are different slightly bigger rubber fits without rubbing

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Me, me!!... ... I'll swap!!



Hope you like an old crappy green/silver bed that formerly had a plastic slide-in bedliner and also has a 6" hole to clear a 5" single stack... . I'll even throw in the custom stack mounts. :-laf



Matt

 

[Shovelhead]

Traffic Nazis

TMTT,

Are they still jerkin' your chain about the parkway restrictions?



I remember you posting about that a year or so ago. :-{}



Around here there is one road that goes past the Pentagon.

My 6-wheeler is truck-non-gratis; however a 1 ton van with limo tinted windows IS allowed through.

As the state trooper told me " I don't make the rules, I just gotta spend all day every day sittin' on the side of the road to enforce 'em"

 

[fest3er]

Does the rear axle really need to be changed?

Couldn't you simply remove the outer tires and run with just the inners? And unbolt the extended fenders from the bed? According to my SM, they are fairly easily removed.

Someone more familiar with the dimensions should know if there is a difference in width between the 2500 and 3500 axles.

Hmmm. The front tire is centered between the duals. Perhaps you would want to switch to non-dual wheels. As it happens, I have the OEM set from my '98 laying about; perhaps we could come to an agreement... .

Fest3er

 

[98rammer]

oh man, i'd swap in a heartbeat! i'm sure years down the road i will do a dually conversion when i can afford it. hey, at least my bed is in better shape than matts

 

[TORQUE THIS]

Hey Tim, remember my buddy with the 2500 V-10???

 

[willyslover]

according to CSutton... Chris was looking to repair his Dayna 70 with my old Dayna 80 off my wrecked dually... the dually is 4" narrower than a 2500 and the beds are different with the cut out for the tires. the spring hangers are the same

 

[Batman]

Hey Toolman I'll swap with you!... ... ... ... ... ... ..... Oh, wait a minute, I already have a dually:{

Aren't the beds the same btween a 2500 and a 3500 I thought the only difference in the bed are was a dually has the plastic fenders Additionally, I think the dana 80 is a different length than a Dana 70. (Look at your truck from the front, your front tires "land" between your rear tires when tracking straight. The inner duals are installed the same as the fronts but are inboard more).

I think the Dana 80's also have bigger brake cylinders as well.

BTW, you don realize, being the hammerhead you are, that you will probably need to change rear tires more often due to increase wear



Best of luck Tim... ... ... ... ... ... ... . do I see a looooong wrench day in our future?

 

[willyslover]

I can confirm that the fender openings are much different !!. . also the swap will only take about 1 hout if you have a floor jack and the hand tools needed [and I know that the Tool Man has almost as many as I do LOL]... also the axel length IS 4" shorter on dually's

 

[Batman]

willyslover , what exactly is different with the fender openings



, (not flaming) Is the opening longer than a standard bed? thanks

 

[willyslover]

they are cut much higher for wheel travel / clearance. .

I wrecked a 98. 5 Dually and sold the good fender . . when pulled off the hole was MUCH larger than a 2500

it kinda looks like a sawsall job that the serious off roaders do for clearance on a beeter ... both longer and higher than a stock opening

 

[Mactruck]

Hmmmmm, Maybe I can make my truck the first short bed Dually!

All I would need are the fiberglass fenders and your rear axle.



Oh yeah and a new front diff (you have a 4. 10) and I guess I would need to find you a new bed and well...



OK maybe not :-laf

 

[zman]

hmmmm

I've been contemplating the opposite swap. Maybe we can work something out. I have a white '01 2500 long bed. The bed is perfect except it has a Cody GN hitch installed that I suppose could go with the bed. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm... .



Steve

 

[TORQUE THIS]

TMTT... Do I hear ROAD TRIP?????

 

[HoleshotHolset]

"Mitch... . UNLEASH THE FURY!!!" ~ Road Trip

 

[MarkF]

FWIW If your dual rear is narower than a single, why don't you just use an offset rim in the rear and keep it simple, or spacers behind the wheels to get where they need to be.

You can avoid all the hassle by just running a super wide single rear tire. :-laf :-laf



Mark

ps for locals, Scotts doing his magic to my truck next week!!!! Oo. Oo.

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

real quick boys if you ever unbolted a set of dually fenders you would cry! They Hack out the factory fenders with a frickin' dull butterknife so the larger openings can be created (The fenders hide the horror) I will check back tonite (Gotta run 911)

 

[fest3er]

Originally posted by ToolManTimTaylor
real quick boys if you ever unbolted a set of dually fenders you would cry! They Hack out the factory fenders with a frickin' dull butterknife so the larger openings can be created (The fenders hide the horror) I will check back tonite (Gotta run 911)

So buy a set of plastic flares to bolt on. *Surely* you can find something that'll fit and hide the holes... .

Fest3er

 

[bighammer]

What's the matter Tim? Duallies don't fit on the sidewalks there?