Projects 52 Dodge B3B Hemi Project

Have you determined if the Dakota frame slides inside the old truck frame? Should be interesting.

 

I apologize for asking this if you had already covered it earlier in the thread but why are you removing the rear springs and adding the longer cuda springs? Why not put a rear over the springs and c notch the frame or swap out the entire frame for the dakota one. Once again sorry if you covered it, I haven't finished reading the whole thread yet.

 

That I would post this in case you could use it, you may have seen one like it already.
I'm wanting to put my 53 on a dakota frame and build a custom bed.

 

from my measurements, I will have to section the Dak frame and put the 52 inside it, then blend it all together. because the Dak frame is fully boxed, it is wider on the outside, but narrower (in some places) on the inside.

 

all good questions and some may not agree with my reasoning however... I chose to go thie route for several reasons; first this truck has always been a "low budget build" for me. I have several very high $$ builds going on currently and I did not want this to be another unfinsihed garage queen. Therefore I have resisted going other routes with the suspension due to fabrication requirements. I felt that going this route would be quicker than fab'ing in a coil over system. Also, I did not want to cut into the box as this will be a local parts hauler for me and I wanted to retain the box as it is.

as the frame is concerned, this is more of a personal issue for me. I wanted to use the stock frame because the truck numbers are stamped onto it and I felt it was easier to change our the suspension than to swamp the cab and box to the Dak frame. I did a fair amount of research and I really beleive it is a wash either way. Lastly I felt it was more nostalgic to use the original frame.

I am sure all of my reasons can be argued the other direction, but I made the path and now and pursuing it.

 

are these measurements in millimeters? handy sheet though.

 

I'm sure they are because they sure don't make any since other wise. Sorry

 

no problem, I have a conversion app..

 

Oh alright I totally understand now. I always felt swapping a Dakota ch***is would be a LOT of work for what it was worth. I also see why you would just like to get it done rather than having it be a drug out project. Thats how my truck started, but we all know how it goes... I just wanted to get it on the road and now I can't leave a single thing alone on it. Well I'll shut up and let you get back to work. It looks good so far, and I love the hemi, I hope you're still sticking with it!


Posted from the TJJ App for iPhone & iPad

 

Oh I am defeintiely sticking to the Hemi, I have gone way too far to turn back on that.

 

i'm watching this

http://fordodgetrucksonly.forumotion.com/t27-rapid-s-58-big-window

 

don't stop now

 

I worked on the truck some this last weekend, got the original rear end and springs out of it and the frame cleaned up. Took me a little while to decide on how I am going to mount the springs because in the E body they bolt to the body and facing forward with the rear end being hung by shackles. I am sure this would make more sense if I posted pics which I will do next week, this week I am traveling so text is all I got at the moment. Any way, I decided to mount the front of the springs the same way they were mounted in the car, I have the option of mounting them with the bolts facing straight up (more like you would normally see) but I can get them up higher mounting them this way (bolts facing forward). The challenge now is to figure out how to mount the rear of the leafs as they are next to the frame verses under it. The E body 8.75 is an almost perfect fit. I want to run some 3.55 gears in it I think. I also got to thinking about fabricating and installing a pan hard bar. I read the posts here on the hamb and while it is not necessary I think that since I am back there fabricating it wouldn't be a bad thing. Might have to fab some type of pinion snubber (yes Gary I read your comments and I agree, although some of those clamp on traction bars do look cool: not the ******* ones).

I don't really intend on beating this truck that much but I guess better safe than sorry.

 

I don't see any problem with a shackle mount at the rear, I think they have been used on many trucks since around 1950 or so:
Sorry in advance for the HUGE photos......

truck </b>owner kevin slaten">


And this shot from a project at http://www.industrialch***isinc.com/?cat=8



.

 

Those rear shackles are exactly what I am thinking of doing. The only issue I have is clearance to the frame, it's pretty tight but I believe I can build something that will clear.

BTW I like the big pictures. Not sure to get them posted like that but I like them anyway.

 

I think I am going to also section the frame above the axle in order to get it the height I want. I will then box the frame in that area to put the Strength back in. I also have to make a shock mount as the originals we slanted forward at a drastic angle and will not provide any support for the rear suspension (won't do what they are supposed to).

 

One if the next issues I need to figure out well be what wheel/tire combo to run. I was leaning towards some aluminum slots as I have 2 15"x8 but I haven't found much to use the for the front. That said, I need to get the rear end in first and figure out the back spacing before I go looking for wheels ans tires. The 2 slots I do have came off another 52 (no box on it) so I "think" they might fit. Then I started thinking I need some fat rear tires for that street rod look but if I go too wide (***uming the back space works) I will be widening the fenders which I can do but don't really want to do. So the question then becomes, how wide is wide enough? At the moment I am thinking 275 or possibly 295 because I would like to use something you can buy at a tire store verses having to order them. I will run some decent fronts for handling, probably something like a 245 or slightly narrower.

 

Just a few thoughts and possible ideas.
For the transmission, I think the Dakota
5-speed stick would be very cool for your
truck. That would be my first choice, but
if you decide you want to go with an
automatic, instead of either a GM ******
or a three-speed 727 Torqueflight, what
about using a later A-500 or A-518
'four-speed overdrive' Torqueflight?

About the engine, too. Do you have a
4-bbl intake for the 330? Aftermarket
ones for Desotos are extremely rare
and scarce and even the stock factory
cast-iron ones are rare and hard to
find and 'spendy' when you do find
one. But TR Waters (look him up. he's
a HAMBER and he's also over the
"ThehemiCom" (www.thehemi.com)
list as well) makes and sells a really
nice 4bbl manifold, using the stock
cast-iron Desoto 2bbl intake as a base,
and then mills off the original 2bbl
carb flange, opens the manifold up a
bit internally and then installs
a proper 4bbl flange. It a very nice
piece and he sells them for a very
reasonable price and a lot less
than the stock factory Desoto 4bbl
manifolds usually go for.

Mart3406
==============

 

If you're not racing where you need all the rubber you can get, just use what ever fits w/o a h***le. On my avatar car I run 235/70/15s. That's as big as will fit between frame & fender w/o carrying a huge floor jack.

 

i appreciate the opinions/comments, however I have already sold the Dakota trans, I will be using a 727 i have left over from another project.
as for the manifold I already purchased an aluminum intake from HH. I thought hard about the modified manifold from TR, but decided that I perfer the reduced weight.

 

Once I get the suspension set up I will look at what wheels and tires fit and look right. I do want to have it fairly low and some decent sized tires.

 

As promised here are some pictures. These are of the mock up of my rear end.

 

Here are a few of my engine being mocked up. It may be expensive but that intake looks awesome.

 

Here are a few more.

 

Hopefully I will get to get some suspension work this weekend, I ordered sliders from the rear leafs so we will see how that works out.

 

i have a 489 case and ordered a sure grip pack, crush sleeve eliminator, gasket kit and master install kit from Dr Diff. I am going to run 3.55 rear gears which I think should be good all around gear.

 

man i like what your doing

 

I appreciate it, it is a bit slow going but I am moving forward.

 

Some more pics.Got the leaf springs onto the rear end, now have to get everything postioned and welded in. I am planning on using a rear slide verse shakles.

 

some more.