Apologies if its been mentioned elsewhere but have you measured up a wagon tail gate to see if it would come close to fitting?
Thanks @bobbytnm and @DRCA! @panhead_pete the wagon tailgate does fit perfectly inside the bed box. All that would have to be made was some pieces that took up the gap between the edge of the tailgate and the fins. I do still plan to do something on the bedsides I'm just not sure what yet. I mocked up this picture with some vinyl tolex material a while ago. I'm not sure if it would actually look good though or how long it would last. I'm also wondering about painting the inside of the box black and silver to showcase the wood instead.
Holy ****! Before I found this thread this morning, I never knew such a truck even existed. I love the fact that you put a Hemi in it, and your attention to detail is amazing. As far as the insides of the bed are concerned, rather than use material there, I think it either needs to be left as is, as a used truck, or sanded and repainted that original color to match the quality of the wood and strips. Devin
Thanks @4 pedals! I'm kind of leaning that direction on using the material in the bed as well. I'm afraid it might look kind of strange and probably not last very long in the elements. I really like the clean look on the dash as well @57 Fargo. Wasn't this cab design introduced in mid '55 and used till 1960?
Wow that's really interesting! I really like the lines and overall design of the cab. The '55 Dodge I have in pieces has the early style cab but I wouldn't mind maybe finding one of these style cabs for it.
I think the 54 cab is unique due to the different windshield, but 55 thru 60 1/2-1 ton are the same. but knowing how Chryco operated in the 50s, I wouldn't be suprised to find the 54-55 cab changed not on the normal schedule but a running change with some 55s different than others. Don't know about bigger ones. My 56 has a few pieces from a 60 on it and they fit fine. Firewall forward changed in 57, but the cab seems the same.
Check this out; Read about the bigger trucks here; http://www.sweptline.com/hist/bigtrucks.html Bobby
Thank you for that info Bobby. Now I have to resist the urge to try and find one of these and drag it home! My dad had a couple of B model Macks when I was a kid and I've always wanted something like that.
This is just a suggestion and nothing more than that. I dig the new bed, its cool. Have you thought of using some rust colored, wrinkle finish paint, like you see on the Kennedy Kit tool boxes, or possibly some Hammerite paint on the sides of the bed. There is nothing wrong with the bed sides being left alone as they are right now, but in my opinion, the rust colored wrinkle finish paint, would really go well in relation to the new wood that has been laid down. Your results may vary. Thanks from Dennis.
Dodge truck cabs from 39 through 71: 39-47 used the same cab. This cab was used on the early 4x4 and all military trucks up through the end of the 68 model year. After the 68 model year, the military trucks used the standard current production cabs. 48 to 53 used the same cab. The nose piece changed between 50 and 51. 54 and early 55 (May I believe) use the same cab. The 54 was an all new truck. The cab was suppose to change for the 55 model year, but there were delays that kept the old cab in production until the change over in the month of May. 56-60 used the same cab. The front sheet metal changed for the 57 model year and again for the 58 model year. The civilian 4x4 truck was 1st offered in the 57 model year and from then on, the civilian 4x4 trucks (except the military issued trucks) used the current production truck cab. 61-71. Used the same cab. The front sheet metal changed several times. Dodge trucks larger then 1 ton trucks used standard current model year cabs up through the end of the 71 model year. Dodge trucks larger then 1 ton after 71 used the 61-71 cab until the end of the big truck production in 77 or 78. (The government loan in 77/78 ended Dodge big truck production. Any big Dodge truck sold after 78 was left over stock.) For what its worth, 72 - 93 all used the same cab. Notable exceptions would be the "A" body truck/van which also carried over into the big trucks and the "L" cab over semi tractors, which did not use Dodge factory cabs. Gene
I really like that idea Dennis. I bet a paint with some texture would look really good for inside the bed and help hide imperfections.
Several years ago I almost bought one in a silent auction. I think it was a mid 60's tractor with tandem rear axles. It ended up selling for less than $500. It would have been a cool thing to have. Although I wouldn't have been able to sleep in it, and after dragging something like that home I'm sure my ol' lady would flip out and make me live in it....LOL
Two of my new Diamond Back tires showed up today. It's been less than two weeks since I placed the order so that's pretty awesome. I also order a set of these wheels from U.S. Wheel at the same time that are supposed to ship out next month. I think it's going to look real sharp with all the wheels being a matched set and those really nice Diamond Backs. I got the same diameter tire as the Coker's that I wore the edge out so bad on before I had the alignment done. I wonder if I should have it done again with the new tires on it? Had it pulled out the other day working on something else and got a good picture of it.
That’s a great shot! That’s gonna look real sharp with the new wheel and tire combo. I know you don’t get tired of looking at your truck
Thanks Tommy! I do enjoy taking and editing different pictures of it. The wheels showed up today and look great. The tires are the same size front and back as the Coker's that are on it now but I went with a wider 7" wheel for the rear and 5" for the front. Hopefully the beauty rings that are on the truck now will fit these wheels.
very unique truck, never saw one except photos, I like it. I live in middle Tennessee also, near Shelbyville, hope to see your truck sometime
Glad to see an update on this truck! It is just too cool and I am glad to see you are still playing with it.
I'm not too far from Shelbyville myself @dave plmley. I'm usually riding around more in the Franklin area. Thank @guthriesmith! Always tinkering around with something on it. Got some stuff I want to make for the interior next. That is awesome @catdad49! I'm gonna have to get one of those.
They sure did, and in '58 as well. Must have been an option or something. I'm no Mopar guy but damn... I would drive the wheels off the thing!
I've only seen a few other pictures of single headlight '58 Dodge trucks of any kind, Sweptside or not. The quad headlights were the normal starting in '58. From what I've read there were a few states that quads were illegal so I guess that's what the single bezels were made for.
This just goes to show you how different chrome versus painted accents can drastically change things visually. @MRW1994 's truck looks agressive and indifferent to anything that gets in it's way Whereas, this truck looks like it's getting an unwelcome prostate exam and I can't unsee it.
From what I've read, the quad headlight deal was indeed illegal in some states. Chrysler first wanted to install the quad headlights in the 57 model year, but none of the states allowed that until the beginning of the new calendar year when most State laws took effect. At that point the quad headlights were legal in several states, but not all. Then with the new 58 model year intros of many manufacturers wanted to go with the quad headlights in the 58 model year (often called a safety improvement measure), the legal change over in some of the remaining states took until Jan 1 1958 to be legal. Any vehicle sold in those states between the new model year starting in Sept until the Jan 1 new law implementations had to be sold with the dual headlight configuration. You often see several early production quad headlight cars with dual headlights.
The Jalopy Journal
