Got this from a friend who started collecting parts etc... Anyways has turned into a cool little project in my opinion. Gonna 4-link the rear with bags (so I dont have to buy/mess with coilovers). Engine is a cammed 283 with whatever Edelbrock intake and a quadrajet (nothing too extravagant) backed up to a powerslide Got a 54 chevy bed for it which im gonna do all the cutting and stuff for after I get the rear suspension done. This is my first project (was into strictly fuel injected late model LS1 stuff prior). Just gonna see where it takes me. I'll update it as I go.
I think they have much better lines than the fords. Here is the beater 36 I slapped together last year to drive to Bonneville.
<TABLE id=HB_Mail_Container height="100%" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0 UNSELECTABLE="on"><TBODY><TR height="100%" width="100%" UNSELECTABLE="on"><TD id=HB_Focus_Element vAlign=top width="100%" background="" height=250 UNSELECTABLE="off">Thanks guys... Already this has been a huge learning experience for myself. Im open to any suggestions... What's desoto gonna say about it? </TD></TR><TR UNSELECTABLE="on" hb_tag="1"><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 1pt" height=1 UNSELECTABLE="on"> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Ssilver, what year frame is that cause it doesnt look anything like the stocker under my 36, not that it really makes any difference. Jam does make a point about the room inside with that deep of channel.my cab sits stock and there is precious little room in there. All in all it looks like a good start,you arent going to chop it are you? I personally think they look nicer not chopped . The late 36 trucks came from the factory already chopped , already. Mike
I actually questioned fitting in it myself. I put a 2x4 across the frame (which is about the height the seat will be off the frame maybe a little more and I had like 5 inches above my head. I was wondering if someone had chopped it (although the back window didn't look chopped). I must have a late 36 that was pre chopped ( I can see the seams on the inside). The truck is channeled 9 inches total. My next goal is to try and lower the front as low as possible without spending any/very much money. Im 20 and still in college so this is kind of a budget build. Not a rat rod in my opinion but just a low dollar deal. Any suggestions on lowering would be great, was thinking of moving the axle above the spring (machining the axle base so it will sit flat and then welding new brackets on the bottom of the axle). Mitch36- its a 54 Chevy Truck frame...
thats probably the easiest way to lower it , although you might run out of suspension travel between the top of the axle and the frame.I think the best solution would be to buy a drop axle. I know there are a couple guys on here that drop them themselves. What are you going to do about the missing wood? I replaced mine years ago with some **** from a **** supplier and have since bought a real nice kit from a place that I cant think of the name of right now! Its made of maple and fits without hardly any fitting work , unlike the **** that it is replacing. I remember, KC manufacturing was the name, it cost me right about 500 bucks which is a lot of cash for anyone ,especially a young guy! If you are handy with a welder and have time, you should try to weld steel in instead. My buddy did that with his bro-in-laws 36 and it worked out real good , but he is a handy fabricator. Anyway, the truck looks good , glad to see a young guy messing with an old car instead of say a late model aussie GTO, or something! (nice valve covers on the wall). Mike
The frame looks exactly like the one under my 37GMC (same as a 37 or late 36 Chev). And they do have a fairly low roof, especially in comparison to the 34 - early 36) called the tall cab. I have had several people ask me if mine was choped. It will be interesting to see if there is enough leg room. I'm only 5'8" and its plenty tight for me leg wise, that might be more of a question than head room. Good to see you boxed the frame, these things are real subject to twisting and can use some added cross members and trianglation.
Get a radiator for mock-up before you do anything else, take my word for it. You don't want the grille shell higher than the cowl. I would also push the wheels forward a bit if you aren't running fenders. DeSoto hates fenderless trucks, but a lot of us like them, when done right. Proportions can be tough to nail.
lol the GTO in the background is my older brothers car... I have a 11 second 98 Camaro SS... I plan on trying to strenthen the frame even more then the boxing like you guys said. I do have a radiator for mockup as well... Although I will need to have the filler location changed to match the 36 grill... As for the floor, I plan on doing sheet metal, along with much of the rest of the inside. I'm 6'2" and I still fit pretty damn well inside. I thought it'd be a lot more uncomfortable with such a channel, but it seems to work pretty well.. Like I said I don't consider it a rat rod by any means, just a fenderless truck (don't really care if desoto likes it) it might not turn out the nicest but like I said it was a cheap project and I think it is a good learning curve. I'll learn a little more about body work etc. later on down the road.
Hey... Im pretty much in the same boat your in. 19 and a college student and building something close to what you are except might finish it a little bit more than you are and its a 37. And Im sure with the channel, room is going to be no problem since I sat in mine (non-channeled) with the seats im using and was looking at the dash and Im also 6'2". So these trucks need a channel if you remove the location of the stock gas tank. Keep us posting, I would like to see how it comes along.
update... got the floor frame started... kinda intimidating but its coming along. Definately gonna have to lean forward to see stoplights though!! Welded angle iron to the inside of the frame and Im gonna bolt the actual floor frame to that...
i understand this truck may be finding a home in my hometown. i hope everything works out . i`m kinda looking forward to helpin get this truck rollin.
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