guys, looking for ideas for a different front end for my panel,throw some ideas my way. who has one? its a swb 1/2 ton with a seized up flathead 6. thanks
<IMG class=" image_border " id=ctl00_ctl07_ctl00_ImageLargePhoto style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px" alt="" onerror="javascript:this.src='http://static.classictrucks.com/_SiteConfigs/_global/images/no_photo_300px.gif';" src="http://images.classictrucks.com/features/0603cl_55dodge_07_z.jpg"> igore the rolling stock, but isnt this the stock front end? I think its sweet as is - supose you could do some vertical slats or something throw some ics of yours up and someone can photochop the fucker im sure
killer truck! what i meant was "suspension" not the sheetmetal. i have always refered to the suspension as the "front end" anyone have any ideas and thanks for the response, is that your truck? wow!
to be honest nothing i guess? really wanting to see if the guys that are building/driving these era trucks are swapping out the front suspension for something different. one of my nephews wanted the panel and i was trying to gather up building options if the build goes foward. if my memory serves me correctly it seems like the frame rails were kinda narrow. used to have a 51' with a 331 and even with all new parts (steering box inc.) it needed help. it already has a 8 3'4" in it and their is a 360/auto ready to install. is their ps. and db. upgrades avail. for the 55'? thanks
Ive got a 54 dodge truck, it looks just like the one in the pic, xcept for its a 5 window. Ive got it subframed with a ford torino front end, including the ford 460 motor.
no sorry thts not mine - Ive got a 48 (the onein my avatar) - was just trying to reference the front end to get an idea what you were tryin to do - sorry didnt think you were talking about the suspension at midnight last night LOL - I went IFS from Fatman - I had a straight axle - sometimes I wish I had kept it - but Im not sure what you have stock - was 55 still an I beam? still wantin ya to post pics
Many years ago I was driving a 54 pickup and the front steering was all shot. I talked to one guy who just unbolted a front suspension from a 71 Chevy C10 and he said that was an easy swap.
I have a '54 Town Panel which is the same truck. I have owned it for 31 years, and what I did 30 years ago was pretty basic but worked well. I reversed the main leaf on the springs and de-arched them, as I remember that gave me a drop of about 2 or 3 inches. The stock brakes are a terrible non-energizing archaic with no automatic adjustment. I got the complete drums and backing plates from an early 60's Dodge pickup. It was a near bolt-on as I recall the only thing I had to do was to drill out the bolt holes in the spindle where the steering arms bolt on from 1/2" to 9/16". The old anchor cams were 1/2" and they also acted as the bolts for the steering arms. The brake update was very simple and made a huge difference in the braking when combined with the updated rear end I installed. As you say the frame is tight up front, but there is room for engine swaps. I originally put a 318 and automatic in mine with little changes needed. Later I installed a 383 that I removed from my 1969 Road runner. It fit in the stock frame, I did have to remote mount the oil filter and I used the high performance exhaust manifolds that were upswept and dumped at the rear. Enjoy your truck, I sure had fun with mine. I also think the stock front sheet metal is clean and good 1950's styling.
I have a 53 dodge pilothouse that I am presently putting on a chev s10 frame. so far it has been an easy switch. I have been taking lots of pics alont the way if anyone is interested in the process. couple of samples below......Bud
ok, I hope you can make out whats going on in these pics. I couldnt put it up on a lift, so i took a few pics from under the hood and then some laying under the truck. u can see how the curvy rails of the 71 torino meet up with the straight rails of the dodge truck. gussets have been added for strength.
the torino front made it a pretty nice height in the front i think, but the rear end is way up in the air. its not as obvious in this pic because the driveway has a downward pitch. any way, maybee some one can share some ideas about lowering the rear, without cutting the frame rails or going up into the bed. thanks. Heres some pics of the underside of the rear. If im hijacking the thread just ignore the rear end question. -chris
I am just starting on my 56 and plan to keep the axle, springs and hubs. I'm on the lookout for a complete brake setup from a later Dodge with solid axle and drums up front. Picked up a Toyota power steering box (79-85 4WD). They are really small and I think I can fit it in the area of the original Gemmer.
i like the full sized ford front end. flipping the rear and minor c-notching would be the most likely option but depends on how low you want to go.
How about an example from my 51 I did... There's more pics here. 1951 B-3-C, 95 LT1, 9" ford, 4 bar rear, MII IFS, air ride... http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/journal.php?action=view&journalid=22733&page=32&perpage=5&reverse=
Hi there. I have the problem with my 55 c3 also,i want to keep my original frontaxle too, i want to change my steering stuff also ,and i am looking for the best sulution so ,i have heard before from the toyota steering box have you instald it yet, the original steering box and the draglink have lots of play. i hope you can help me out.can you sent me some pictures thanks 55 mopar
Been a few years but I put a Volare front end under one, if I remember right it was super easy, I don't recall any issues at all. The owner didn't want it too low ( he wanted close to stock ride hight) so I just added tabs and bolted it in with the original Volare biscuts and bolts. I seem to remember it could of been easy to lower it by just making the brackets shorter. You could cut and weld the clip to the frame (like they do to F100s) if you wanted it really slammed. I used the whole Volare as a doner, used the ft clip, 318/ auto, rear axle with springs, even the steering colunm and brake master/ booster. Seems like it was one of the cheapest, fastest complete conversion I've done. Of course it helped that it was long enough ago I could by a complete low milage Volare for $1000. Damn Detriot quit buiding us good parts cars 25+ years ago!
the dodge trucks have the same thing going on that the 54-56 fords do, the front axle sets back in the fender well and when lowered look like they are falling over on the front end. also this places the motor over the axle instead of behind it. i have noticed some of the ford builders are now moving the axle forward to improve on this. of course this involves reworking the fender well. this is what i did on my 60 dodge. because of this the dodge has only a 108" wheelbase the same as a early camaro.
"The owner didn't want it too low ( he wanted close to stock ride hight) so I just added tabs and bolted it in with the original Volare biscuts and bolts. I seem to remember it could of been easy to lower it by just making the brackets shorter." Hi, Metalman, Could you please expand on what you mean by adding tabs -- where and how -- and making brackets shorter -- where and how? Are "tabs and brackets" the same thing, say, interchangeable terms? I'm considering this exact modification and your comments and insights are of great value to me. Thanks, Norm
The Jalopy Journal
