Making a W-350

[Case500D]

Hi Guys,



It has been a while since I have posted much, but the hay has been growing like crazy and the rain is making it interesting. Anyway, I have been on the lookout for a nice W-350, but I can't seem to find one in my price range or one that isn't beat up. I have decided to convert my 1992 W-250 to a W-350. I like this idea because the truck is paid for and I know it from bumper to bumper. It has a lot left in it. I recently purchased a set of front wheel hubs to accept dually wheels on the front axle. I do have to change to the older style four wheel drive hubs (Selectomatic) but I hear they are great hubs. I also have a complete set of rearched springs. I am going to add a leaf to the front stack and the rear stack has had one leaf per side already added. I also have purchased a set of overload springs for the rear. I am running RS9000 shocks. I also have 1 ton brakes on the rear.



Okay, now for ideas and all. I was thinking of using Arrowcraft dual wheel spacers on the rear axle instead of replacing the entire rear end. Any comments/suggestions? Also does any one have any of the following parts for cheap/free/trade: six steel dually rims, W-350 id tags for the front fenders, and possibly a used set of Arrowcraft spacers for a Dana 70? I am planning on having the bottom 10" or so (below the trim) and wheel wells of my truck sprayed with Rhino liner. I am going to do the bed also. I would appreciate any ideas or feedback. You guys are great to bounce ideas off of. My wife just starts rolling her eyes and mumbles something about money not growing on trees. Go figure.





Thanks,



Jeremy

 

[BushWakr - RIP]

Jeremy,



FYI, you know that if you go ahead with this conversion, you absolutely MUST remove the LSD and send it to someone in Canada before you can proceed, right???



Bob.

 

[Case500D]

Limited Slip Removal

Hi Bob,



I do believe that the LSD delivery is worth at least one good hunting trip in pursuit of a mule deer or elk. What do you think



Jeremy

 

[BushWakr - RIP]

OHHHHH you drive a hard bargain buddy.....



As for mule deer, bring a stick to shooo em away, as for elk, they'z a little more crafty up here. But I haven't given up tryin.



Let me see if I can come up with a plan... .



Bob.

 

[MikeO]

Arrowcraft

I just finished converting my D350 from a Cab & Chassis to a dually pickup. The rear axle on the C&C is the same as a single wheel pickup so I had to use the Arrowcraft spacers. Nice pieces. Machine work is flawless. I got mine powder coated as they come uncoated



A bit pricey ~$400 but worth the money.



Mike O.

 

[Case500D]

Rims and such

Bob,



Maybe we could use my nice "quiet" diesel to sneek up on the elk. If nothing else, I would enjoy seeing some new country and shooting the bull over our trucks.



Mike,



I am glad to hear that you like the Arrowcraft spacers. Where did you get them powercoated? Also where did you get your rims? Thanks.



Jeremy

 

[MikeO]

Got them powdercoated by a friend who works for an aerospace co here in CT (he got caught putting my pieces in with fan blades though) Swain Technologies in upstate NY (www.swaintech.com) can do it pretty cheap.



Since it was a dually Cab & Chassis, I already had the wheels. Try Ebay or car-part.com and you should be able to pick up used wheels for $35 to $60 each. Just sandblast them and paint em to look like new. Mine were all rusted and I used one of those $50 sandblast kits from Sears to clean them up. I used Rust-Oleum (sp) Professional in Silver to paint them and they look better than new.



Hope it helps,

Mike O.

 

[ScottB]

Jeremy, maybe you and I need to switch trucks I have what you want and you have what I might want. My truck has new trans and Detroit locker ect, in the rear. But just as soon as I type this I wonder if I could part with the ol gal.

 

[78repowerwagon]

Are the spacers the ones that move the wheels out to the end of the hub? I worked for a guy that had some on a converted 3/4 ton ford dana 60. He was already overloaded running with a low inner dual and wiped out the bearings and the end of the axle. Cost him about $1000 at the local shop.



As for wheels, I purchased brand new steel wheels for min with a wider offset (more room in between duals = bigger tires). Cost about $55 each.



If you need a dually bed contact me.



Good luck with the project.

 

[Case500D]

Repower,



Where did you get your wheels from? These spacers bolt onto the existing 8 studs on the end of the axle. This provides the offset so the duals don't hit the frame or springs. That is too bad about your friends truck. How wide of rims do I need to run 235/85R16E tires? I have heard that you can use stock rims for this. BTW I was in Kingdom City, MO this year picking up three junk Allis Chalmers parts tractors. Nice area.



Does anyone know if there are any internal differences in a 1 ton Dana 70 versus a 3/4 ton Dana 70 (besides the width issue)? I am not going to be running with 20,000 pounds every day, just a 25 to 28 ft gooseneck hauling hay. I want the duals more for stability and looks. Thanks for all of the ideas guys. I am in need of a set of fenders to put on my truck. Should I go to D-C and buy new or just find a used set? Thanks.



Jeremy

 

[78repowerwagon]

235/85's will not rub on stock offset wheels. I am running 245/75's now but on stock wheels they rub at the bottom -espically loaded, that is why I went with offset wheels. Now I can run 255/85 without rubbing. I will be talking to the guy I got mine from tomorrow. I will let you know if the price is still the same.

 

[MikeO]

The 70s are exactly the same.

 

[dodgenstein]

The axles used in the 3/4 tons are 32 spline and the 1 tons are 35 spline. Also there is the brake difference.

 

[Case500D]

Rear End

It sounds like there really isn't any strength/structural differences in the 3/4 and 1 ton rears except the brakes. I am running 3" shoes with 1-1/8" wheel cylinders, so I think that problem is taken care of. How do the marker lights attatch to the tailgait? Will I have to drill holes or get a different tailgate? Thanks.



Jeremy