Ram 1500 SFA conversion kit.

Looking at designing a kit one that can be installed by the average guy, in his driveway without needing a ton of custom parts and welding. I'm debating a leaf spring kit or a 4 link design. Something that would make the kit reasonable in cost. provide plenty of articulation and suspension travel and use a common axle sourced from most salvage yards or craigslist list. I was leaning towards a second gen axle or a 3gen 2500/3500 axle. Because then it stays mopar, and keeps factory parts for ease of maintenance. Lets hear your thoughts. IFS is nice on the street but a solid axle is king on the trail. Once the first kit is built I could crank out 10-15 kits a week, so production is nit an issue and if the cost is similar to say a 6inch lift for a half ton, it should do well. Again let's hear your ideas, I'm up for any of them.

subscribed...they have this with chevy's. Would be nice to see an option for us dodge guys.

Would like to hear more.

I don't have a 1500 anymore, but I think this is an awesome idea. I would have loved to convert my 05

Good idea, but there is no way you will be anywhere near the price of a ifs lift even if you just go with leaf springs.

4 link would be killer. I think maybe a coilover would be better then a leaf,but its way more money. I have been thinking of a solid axle due to the amount of problems I have had in the last week or two with IFS parts.

id be interested in a kit for my 2wd...ide throw a t case on it, driveshaft, 4x4 ecu or whatever is needed, and this kit and be setup with an awesome 4x4 setup!

im in sign me up

Originally Posted by 06trxhemi

Looking at designing a kit one that can be installed by the average guy, in his driveway without needing a ton of custom parts and welding. I'm debating a leaf spring kit or a 4 link design. Something that would make the kit reasonable in cost. provide plenty of articulation and suspension travel and use a common axle sourced from most salvage yards or craigslist list. I was leaning towards a second gen axle or a 3gen 2500/3500 axle. Because then it stays mopar, and keeps factory parts for ease of maintenance. Lets hear your thoughts. IFS is nice on the street but a solid axle is king on the trail. Once the first kit is built I could crank out 10-15 kits a week, so production is nit an issue and if the cost is similar to say a 6inch lift for a half ton, it should do well. Again let's hear your ideas, I'm up for any of them.

i like you.

I like the idea.

I'm sure the 2nd gen axels would work good. But did 2nd gen axels come with 3:92s? People might have to think about regearing for this swap. But hell, they are going this far, might as well throw a set of gears in the rear. lol

I think a 4 Link would be the best...although leafs would be a little easier on the wallet. Maybe if you get enough interested you could fab both.

I spend $18k on my SFA swap...so I'm sure your way will be cheaper lol

You could bolt on a cross member or two with 4-link mounts to facilitate an easier install without welding. Leaf springs will be simpler/cheaper. 4-link will probably perform better on the trail (but a good leaf spring setup can be VERY capable).

there is a member on here who did it,but he did it all top of the line. If i was going to do it, on the cheap....i would source a full 1500 front end, axle, coils, control arms, coil buckets on frame......that would be my first option....other then that.....leaf springs would be easiest.....on the front of your frame weld up a spring perch usinga crossmember going across both frame horns and then shackles further down onthe frame.....of course your gonna need a steering box and pittman arm...drag link. you will needa traction bar for a coil sprung front end....both can be done for the same price as a IFS lift or cheaper if you dont go overboard.

sounds very interesting

Leaf Springs - $500
u bolts - $20
perches - $20
shocks - $100
pitman arm - $80
shackles - $80
gears - $250
master install kit for gears - $100
Brakes - $100
custom drag link - $250
drive shaft - $250

Total without axle roughly $1750.

Axle options
3rd gen dana 60 dodge front as suggested - $1000
Pros - ABS sensor should plug right up
Cons - unit bearing. 8 lug. No way to convert to 5 lug (possibly at all, kits available to convert to chevy 6 lug for $1200) and keep your ABS sensor. Trucks that had these are not usually at scrap yards so they are hard to find.

Ford Dana 60 - $1300
Pros - high pinion, kingpin-stronger than balljoint, non unit bearing
cons - 8 lug, chevy 6 lug hubs available for $350 per side, unsure if dodge 5 lug is available. Can't keep your ABS stuff.

Ford Dana 44 - $500-$1000
Pros - high pinion, can be found with 5x5.5 bolt pattern
cons - Rare/Hard to find and the price reflects. Cannot keep ABS

If you go with 8 lug front, then you have the issue of changing the rear out as well so you can have matching wheels. You can find 14bolts for $200 fairly easily though.

That's just parts, then there is all the fabrication and design involved in the sas kits ontop of the time/labor of the actual install.

I'm sure I left some stuff out, but that should let some people in on what is actually involved price and part wise.

I've been on the hunt for a ford dana 44 for afew months now with no luck, granted I live in Arkansas and the population just isnt what it is in a lot of places.

As byrdawg13 mentioned, steering is the big one that most folks don't consider. You can't use the stock rack. Everything needs to be sourced new and retrofitted. New box, new mount, pittman arm, drag link and tierod as well as TRE's or heims at your ends.
Good times!

Sub'd

If you were to use leafs, I would use leafs from a older model solid axle chevy, coils will come from the sfa dodge, as far as axles.....ive got a few in my local craigslist for about 300 bucks

The problem with the older chevy axle is the brakes. If the swap is worth it, it has to have the same stoping power of the current setup.

no i would use the ram 1500 solid front axle......i would use the chevy leaf springs. I woul make shackles for the rear and a crossmember type mount on the front of the frame horns.

we can tell you what we would do and how much we would spend all day long....hit up ce2flaco, he has done it.