"Kodiak Dodge Build" Fairbanks Feb 13th

[Kodiak Dodge]

I figure I should continue my build on the Dodge on the Arctic Offroad site since this is my future.
Here's what I started with..............BONE STOCK
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v69/ffdustyw/OldNew.jpg

Well I was pretty happy with overall performance of the Dodge at the M&G. It was basically the first run with her of the year since the past 6 months of modification. No breakage with the exception of a couple popped coils.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v69/ffdustyw/IM000728.jpg
I do plan on getting to work on my D60 soon for install this fall hopefully before Laborday. I found my self holding back alot due to the weakness of the D44. I made her work and with the low gearing I don't really need to hammer down much but i would like to be able to get on her with out worry of components failing.

I did wear out my shock bushings running Sultry a couple times after we got back and I inverted both my shackles and squashed one pretty bad. Will have to change her out. I will be changing these outwith in the next week so I can make some runs up the Ski Shalley trail.

[Kodiak Dodge]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v69/ffdustyw/DSC00019.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v69/ffdustyw/DSC00031.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v69/ffdustyw/DSC01354.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v69/ffdustyw/DSC01350.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v69/ffdustyw/DSC01318.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/eberg/ED-05.jpg

[Kodiak Dodge]

Here are some pictures from my "Alaska Half Door" Build. It was alot easier then it looks.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v69/ffdustyw/DSC01293.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v69/ffdustyw/DSC01301.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v69/ffdustyw/DSC01302.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v69/ffdustyw/DSC01314.jpg

[holeski]

Man you have come a long way since we last wheeled together. I loe it and your fab work is just RAD. Safe trip here and let know if you need anything.

[crazy4ink]

Man, I wish Stacey and I were still going to be here to see this thing get even more killer! Best of luck and make sure you post lots of pics as Stacey and I will be checking in after we leave.

[LowNSlowNeon]

that is wicked



Nice sig too

[Kodiak Dodge]

Man you have come a long way since we last wheeled together. I loe it and your fab work is just RAD. Safe trip here and let know if you need anything.

I am looking for a side job in fabrication if you are looking for a partner. I will be working a 2 day on three day off schedule. Think about it bro....


Man, I wish Stacey and I were still going to be here to see this thing get even more killer!+ Best of luck and make sure you post lots of pics as Stacey and I will be checking in after we leave.

I wish you were going to stay in Fairbanks for a while. Meeting you and your wife at the M&G was great. Out of all of the TJ's I saw at the M&G yours was just insane like your signature talks about. To bad we couldn't have at least kicked back a couple brews.


that is wicked



Nice sig too

I am watching "Highway to Heaven" as we speak.

[4x4_MMMH_4x4]

man this thing is sick, i showed the picture to my friend kristina and she was awwwed by it, and she doesnt even know the least little bit about trucks, when i was told, brandon do that to my dodge i almost died and i was sad i showed her the picture... i really like those doors, can the windows be taken on and off??? i assume thats what i see but we all know about assumptions...

[eraven]

I inverted both my shackles and squashed one pretty bad. Will have to change her out. I will be changing these out with in the next week

Oops! Glad I read this. Reminded me I've got to get those shackles off the other Dodge for you. I'll get them off there Sunday before we load the carcass onto the trailer.+ Oh, and btw, what's with the purple pile of poo screwing up the picture of that pretty green Dodge? ;)


Here's some pics of Dusty's home brew rear shackle flip.

Stock buckets removed from the frame.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/eberg/Dodgeshackleflip.jpg

New shackle hanger next to the old bucket. These were spring hangers scavenged from the front of a Ford Superduty and modified.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/eberg/Dodgeshackleflip-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/eberg/Dodgeshackleflip-2.jpg

Finished product on the rig. Allowed him to remove the tapered 4" blocks, and turned the pinion right back up at the t-case to boot.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/eberg/Dodgeshackleflip-4.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/eberg/Dodgeshackleflip-3.jpg

And now the rear does this. :o
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v69/ffdustyw/DSC00019.jpg

[Kodiak Dodge]

Thanks for posting those up Eric. Didn't know you had pics from that.

I changed the Ubolts out on the rear axle after those pics were taken. That was all I could get my hands on at the time I was doing the shackle flip.



. i really like those doors, can the windows be taken on and off??? i assume thats what i see but we all know about assumptions...

Yes the windows come out. I have seen alot of half doors but I never saw any with window inserts. Here in Alaska the weather changes on demand so I figured I would try and build a set where I could just throw in the plexy glass and not have to worry about swaping doors every time I wanted to run trails. They seem to seal great. I have run them with the plexy glass in rain snow and heavy winds. A sheet of Plexy glass runs around $40 here in Kodiak. I have gone through two sets of window inserts in the past 8 months. I have though about making a set of soft heavy plastic type windows that can snap in. They would be easier to store in the rig. The plexy glass takes a beating if it isn't stowed in the vehicle properly.
Legally speaking I haven't had any issues....BUT....I may have to bolt on some mirrors if I want to run them around Fairbanks. The cops here haven't ever messed with me but they might be more strict there.

[Kodiak Dodge]

I have been procrastinating on replacing my rear shackles that I taco'd this past summer on a trip to Saltery Cove. Eric had a set off of a Dodge 1 ton which were about an inch too short so we pulled out the welder and plasma cutter and got to work building a set of shackles that would not invert again.
Here is what I have now.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v69/ffdustyw/DSC00133.jpg
Here's the design that we put together.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v69/ffdustyw/DSC00135.jpg
Here is a comparison.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v69/ffdustyw/DSC00134.jpg
I picked up a set of new bushings and will finish them up this week.

[eraven]

HA! Fricken Frankenstien! :o Can't say they might not invert on you, but if they do the springs will probably taco before the shackles will. :laugh:

[LowNSlowNeon]

Should mod my zuki doors into half doors ;)

[Kodiak Dodge]

They aint the prettiest but they will be stout. I was able to pick up a set of bushings down at Car Quest yesterday. Hopefully finish this up tomarrow.

[Kodiak Dodge]

I got the new Shackles installed today. They seem to work pretty good. They lifted the rear about an inch but I imagine it will settle out a little. It should workout perfectly when the bed is loaded with the normal amount of gear I like to carry on trail rides. Iwill try to get some pictures up within the next couple days.
On another note I get to try out the cold weather systems that were installed on both of my vehicles. I know Fairbanks is getting -30 degree temps this week and it is much colder than it is here right now. It has been around 10 degrees here in Kodiak which is cold for here and the wind probably drops it even more. So far everything installed seems to work great. Down to 8 shifts at work till I hit the road. Eric Berg is coming up with me driving my Jeep. We plan on hooking up with some of the AKX members on the way through anchorage and trying a run out toward KNIK. We will be in Fainbanks Monday the 13th of Feb and Eric will fly back to Kodiak on the 15th. Hope we can gettogether with a bunch of Arctic and BBQ up some deer meat and toss back a couple brews.

[Kodiak Dodge]

I went out to get some pictures of my home built Shackles and my camera decided to die on me after I took the first picture. I brightened the picture up with a little photoshop work. I will get some better pictures later when the batteries recharge. They came out nice and ride great.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v69/ffdustyw/Freakinsteinshackle.jpg

[AK20]

Very nice Dusty, looks great.+ You say about 1" lift out of those bad boys too?+ Here is a comparison shot of ORD's 4" shackle flip kit I installed on my truck.+ I bet yours are just as good, but you paid+ A LOT less!!!!+ again well done.

http://www.arcticoffroad.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=6752&g2_serialNumber

[Kodiak Dodge]

I was originally going to go with the ORD Shackle flip but I couldn't justify spending that much when I know I could fab up something that could work just as well. I like the ORD stuff. It is strong and well built. I hope no one will take this the wrong way. This is my personal belief plus living on the island you have to try and make due with what you have to save money on the shipping. Fabbing my own stuff makes me feel like I built my rig and didn't just pay for a bunch of performance parts. I also learn alot and get better at my fabrication skills. I try not to copy designs. I need to give some credit to Raven (Eric Berg) for helping me to look outside the box. Here are some more pictures of the shackles. The camera charged up a little.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v69/ffdustyw/DSC00142.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v69/ffdustyw/DSC00140.jpg