Need your help on this one I picked up today. I know there's a bad ***, low and mean custom in here somewhere. It's a tough body style to be a turn key easy build, and I lack vision. I can do the work, but can't dream it up. 47 dodge Clipped with a 64 impala Chevy 283/TH350 Needs a rewire, brakes and steering, normal stuff Some of the boxes, the spare and the light on the roof need to go. I kinda dig the tow rig. I think there's a way to make it look cool. I know I want a red ram hemi in her, but since it runs and drives now, I can wait for a good deal. Thats not top priority . As far as body/stance I'm very open to suggestions.
I’d have to lose the wrecker look. And those wheel covers. Unclutter it A mild custom would be super easy
Don't tell me we have finally found something that you wouldn't just drive as is, "Like a fat guy rockin' a speedo"......
However, if you’re set on the wrecker, look at vintage tow trucks. The colors, lettering…… Wheels, tires and stance can even make a dumpster look cool
Corrugated road to remove the wheel covers, and a low bridge will make short work of the roof light.......
Agree on the wheel covers. I'm torn on the wrecker. It was my dad's truck and he love the look. I think I'd like it better without, but don't feel right about taking it off
Not if it’s clipped. I have a ‘42 Fargo which needs freshening so I’m interested. Pop over to: 39-47Dodgetrucks. Great forum for these and check out their photo gallery. You may find some ideas though it is mostly a resto site.
Just knock the stupid off, the extra lights and doo-dads . Change the wheels , keep the wrecker , or not . Lower it a bit snd your cruising . cool truck !
I dig bobber trucks but it’s a no for me in this one. A simple wheel/tire and declutter will work wonders.
JMO, I would loose all the doodads, graft in some 40 chevy headlights, nice caps and drive it with a big smile...Mitch
lose all the extraneous ******** bolted to it, extra lights, oil cans, the visor, that dam boom. remove the lettering from the door. ditch the moon caps, swap the tires out for a set of 8.20 R15 bias plys on the back and 6.40 R15 on the front. a set of cool mid 50's hub caps, 55 Chrysler would be cool. ditch the stock head lights and fit a set of 40 Chevy head lights to the tops of the fenders. The truck is ugly but is begging to be turned into a slick truck. Wheels and tires and removal of all the dodads all over it is really all it needs to transform it to a slick parts hauler. Do not ruin that thing by taking it apart and making one of those stupid rat rod bobber trucks. if that's what you want than go buy a truck cab and bed, that's all you need for that **** anyway. Id hate to see another good truck destroyed to make something that is undrivable that you cant ever sell once you realize that it ****s to drive.
as far as headlights, one of my students bought this. Rough as a cob but the headlights have potential. I think something like this could work done properly
The later headlight placement is not great on the dodge but with movement or use of the same placement of the car lights would do wonders
I guess I'm doing a freestyle stroke against the current, once again...... But if you want to continue with the tow rig theme, keep the dome light, 'cause that's the cherry on the cupcake that defines what it is. You could delete a few of the dingbats but keep some. The wheels should be more truck-ish and painted to match the skyhook rig. If you're lucky whatever is under the Moondisks may work with just the paint and poverty caps. No whitewalls, no beauty rings. In fact, I wish the paint details were Caterpillar chrome yellow but the red is okay. A bonus of keeping the tow truck theme is the interior doesn't have to be show car quality.
I don't have a picture, but the stock headlights on those trucks just do not flow. That is the biggest problem as far as the body. As an easier fix than grafting some other lights ihto the fenders, I suggest mounting them to the side of the grill surround. Kind of like a 37-38 Chevy truck has. Might even be able to use the stock headlights with modified stands. Agree on lose the top light, visor and the gas cans and whatever else is bolted on. The current wheelcovers I can live with, but agree some with more style would work better. Or maybe lose those wheels entirely and go with some 5-spokes(straight, not curved spokes) style or something else not billet-like. I can handle the tow truck look OK, although I think it is better without it and certainly more functional to haul stuff in the bed. Lower the front a little more, the 64 Impala front susp can even get dropped disc brake spindles and upgrade brakes at same time as lowering a little. Or cut the coils for free.
I got the blessing of pops to ditch the tow rig. I'll keep it around for a future project, but it just doesn't flow on this truck. Maybe someday I'll build a 60's dirt track pusher. It would be a better fit on a 58-60 ford or something
The tow hook up (in reality) doesn’t work real well on a light duty pickup. More of a look-thing. Certainly wouldn’t fit with that one pic you showed . Was the front end (suspension) made to fit, or was the frame cut off and the suspension grafted in?
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