Well, here's my next project. I know it's not a traditional hot rod but check it out. Dropped 4" factory I beam, Stewart Warner gauges and slant six with 3 speed. I've been working on this deal for about a year. It's a long story, one of the guys from CHR brought this all the way from Ft. Worth (about 650 miles one way), man, these guys are great and I turned them on to the HAMB. I can't thank them enough and if I told you the price...well...just never mind, it was to good to be true. Anyway, I'd like to turn it into my chase vehicle for the A. I'm thinking flat black with an old speed shop sign painted on the side. I'm not sure about power yet so I'd like some ideas from ya'll. Fire away!
is that a 63?? man that was my first car.. sold it for way to cheap mine had no rust at all and slant 6 and a torqueflight all new...... I wish i could find another one..
Cool truck...I've been wanting the window version for a while. Something about ugly trucks......Just keep it all mopar. Some pics for you:
It's got the slant 6, not running and looks bad and three speed on the column. The brakes and clutch(hydralic) don't work, the steering doesn't work but other than that....I think it'll do. Thanks for the pics Ralfs56, that's kinda what I need, along with any websites, etc. that anyone can provide. It's a simple layout and has a huge engine compartment that's saying "big block, I need a big block" maybe a 440 or something also, I just posted a thread a couple weeks ago on gauges and talked about the poor availability in the South Texas, and now I have a complete set of Stewart Warners. It's funny how things work out. The more I look at this truck the more I like it...kinda grows on ya.
Damn, who would want one of those old Dodges? Here's mine, it's a '63. Gotta love a hood that opens enough to pull a 383 and auto ****** without removing the hood.
Yep, 63, I was thinking 62, but the ***le says 63. I need help from you Mopar guys. Yesterday, I discovered that the steering box is ****. You turn the steering wheel and the pitman arm doesn't move. I can turn the front end and the pitman arm moves back and forth so I guess the steering box is ****. Sure is a ***** when your trying to move it up the back in the driveway. Does anyone know where I can find a steering box? I'd like a diagram of the box if that's possible. I really like this old piece of **** truck and want to fix 'er up. I decided to take out the original SW gauges and use them in the A. They look a hell of alot better than the new ones. I'll use newer gauges in the Dodge. Another question, does anyone know when SW started to go to ****. I've seen it written all over the place to stay away from the new SW stuff so, I guess the 63 models should be OK, huh? Thanks for any input, it's raining and cold in South Texas today so I'm stuck indoors. Yesterday it was in the 90s. Over and out!
Cool truck. Are ya sure the pitman arm is up on the splines where it should be? It's conceivable that the arm is hanging low and riding on the un-splined section.
My first postto the HAMB! For parts you can try "Vintage Power Wagons" in Iowa. They specialize in 4WD Dodge stuff but will have alot of parts for the "Power Giant" era trucks as well. "Power Giant" is the body style that Town Wagons(Townies) fall into. Lots of subtle differences over the years with those trucks so be careful when buying parts. You can also get info and leads on parts at...http://www.dodgepowerwagon.com/wwwboard/index.html ...(the powerwagon forum)as well as....http://pub36.bravenet.com/forum/3079965801/....(sweptline forum) both good forums for tech info and parts help. Hope this helps, Dwight
Thanks Dwight for the websites. I was talking at the shop about it today and one of the guys said it sounded like a shear pin broke or something. I wish I could get my hands on a steering box diagram showing the parts. What the guy said made sense because the steering wheel spins freely and the pitman arm doesn't move at all and the wheels turn from right to left with no problem. If it is a pin of some type, I should be able to take it apart and install a new one. Well....I hope it's that easy. Anyone familiar with these critters. Any helps appreciated. Oh yeah, Dwight, be sure to visit the introduction section or the intro police will be pullin' ya over, man. Thanks
Great truck! My daily is the infinitely more attractive '62 Chevy Suburban Nothing like driving an old truck every day. Wouldn't trade it for anything. A few years ago, I looked REALLY hard at a Dodge similar to yours, but it had gl*** in the back and rear seats. Good trucks. I used to be fairly well versed in Mopars, but have forgotten a bunch. I've always been of the opinion that a stout 440 could be built for very cheap (not uncommon at all to find rebuildable cores for $100). You'll also just about trip over 360s in the junk yards--carb or EFI. Small block will let you bolt a later auto overdrive trans to it, though there are probably adapters now to bolt one of them to the back of a big block. Subscribe to some Mopar magazines. Mopar Muscle has some of the best engine and mechanical tech. To find parts for the truck, you MUST call 1-800-MOTORHEAD and get one of their Vintage Parts 411 guides for Mopars. It'll list everyone who sells anything for Mopars. They have them for several different makes/models, so order the Mopar version. INVALUABLE. You'll find your sources for mechanicals, weather stripping, body panels, etc. Nice find, and congrats. If it were mine, I'd do it flat black and white, lowered a bit (but not too much--it has to haul parts and pull a trailer to the races), with black steel wheels, poverty caps and wide whites. Oh, wait--that's what I'm doing to my Suburban. Maybe that's why I think yours would look good that way! -Brad
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