Advice on frame swap...

I might be picking up an old Dodge pickup, around '46-'47, and a '79 Ramcharger in a package deal. The Ram frame might end up being a donor for the pickup, if things line up halfway decent. My question is: would you keep the original frame under the pickup(including seized brakes, no engine/trans, junk rear), or swap the body onto the newer ch***is(running 318, good brakes/suspension)? Seems that the total cash outlay would be a little less with the swap... And I ain't got a lotta green
No gl*** or interior in it either...

Mark

 

I would keep the old frame under the old truck, because it actually fits the shape of the truck. And I probably wouldn't use the newer truck suspension/axles under the old truck because they would be too wide.

Maybe you could find another donor car for suspension and such if you keep looking and are patient.

 

Conventional wisdom says that this is too difficult for the average Joe.

I wouldn't attempt it, and I've been doing this (messin' with cars) over 25 years now.

That said, what is your expertise level??

Have you done a subframe on anything??

Have you ever done extensive sheetmetal work on anything??

Have you ever wired a car from scratch, w/o a kit??

Have you ever done a non-kit engine swap??
Or a swap into another make, ie: Chrysler Hemi into Yugo??

Can you weld at a level consistent with certification??
I don't mean fabricate a trailer hitch, here.

All these skills and more will come into play with a frame swap.

Without these skills, you'll likely end up with a lot of time wasted and a truck headed to the junkyard, in pieces.

Cosmo

 

I agree with Squirrel. The track width is way too wide, unless it is going to be 4wd, in which case you could get away with it being too wide. The suspension graft would be better than a total frame swap It will also be too wide, and too long.

 

Measure twice, buy once.
Some guys are putting old bodies on S-10 frames since they are narrower. I personally haven't done it. The 79-85 Mitsu/ Dodge D50 may be an option if you want to keep it mopar. They put a 904 automatic in some of the 2WD trucks so a 318 swap is doable with motor mounts from Nowak Enterprises. There's an old Hot Rod feature on the swap somewhere; that's where I saw it. I owned a 4WD mitsu for ten years; son-in-law has it now. Stout frame and 8.8" rear axle that can handle big HP. Only two ratios available, 3.90 and 4.625, which don't match anything else.

 

Thanks for the info...
The old pickup needs to be rewired and it needs gl*** all the way around... Not to mention motorvation and something to make it stop. Kind of a pain in the ***, but not too far outta reach. I'll see the old beast this weekend, and size up the situation. If it's solid it might be worth the h***le...

Mark