Projects 52 Dodge B3B Hemi Project

before someone comments, everything is still free hanging, so there is some adjustment to be made before welding it all in.

 

Of course I could not resist a new hood ornament as well....

 

Today I got the leaf spring perches mocked up and the front tacked in (pics to follow tomorrow). This is a time consuming endeavor, making all of the mounts and then measuring, adjust, remeasuring, and repeat. The rear's are a bit more convoluted since I am using sliders. Turns out they extend 1 3/8" past the end of the frame, however this is not an issue as it is still under the box and will be hidden some by it. Also the rear bumper will obsure them. This however leads to a new issue which is mounting the rear bumper. Originally the bumper mounted to the outside of the frame, however with the sliders this will no longer be possible. I will have to make new mounts for it once I get everything else mounted. In the rear where the sliders will be mounted, I will have to box in the frame as it is fairly thin and unsupported, however this will in turn mask the mounting points for the bumper, therefore I will have to carry over the mounting holes for the bumper to the inside box portion I am going to make.

Tomorrow I intend to get everything mounted and see where I am. Once it is all in I am going to have to take it all apart and clean the rearend and leaf springs, inspect the bushings, press out the rear bushings (the sliders use solid bushings), paint the springs, buff out the rearend (it is chrome...). and re***emble it all.

Unfortunately I only have until Monday night as Tuesday I am going overseas for a week, back for 5 days and then out to the east coast, back for 2 days and then back overseas for a week. So, the truck will have to wait until April, but hopefully I should have the back end done and can start on the front end.

 

Today will be the last day I can work on this truck until probably April. Hopefully I can get the rearend all but done. I still have to figure out the cross member for the shocks. it doesnt appear that it will be an issue as I have a lot of room and I have some rectangular steel. The down (actually long term up) side is that I have to build a welding table today as well.

 

Safe travels. Keep us posted when you get back to it.

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thank you and I certiantly will.

 

Well I have the rearend tacked in, It was a bit problematic but finally got it in there. as it turns out, I am not sure that it lowered the truck as much as I was thinking it would, however I suppose I can still put in some lowering blocks.

After getting the rear of leafs in, I didnt like the outcome so I cut it out and moved them up. The pinion angle is still way off, so I will have to cut off the spring perches and set it once I get the engine and trans in.

Here are some pictures of my progress, I might have gotten futher but I had to takea break and build a welding table.

 

and some more.

 

and yet some more.

 

The last pictures were "genII" trying to move the rear shakle up some to lessen the pinion angle and to raise the rearend. Also, putting it up higher will somewhat hide it under the sides of the bed. Moving it up did lessen the pinion angle but not enough to really make a lot of difference, I will still need to cut off the spring perches and adjust it. As for moving the rearend up, it did a little (like an inch or so). By my "rough" calculations I think I have lowered the rear of the truck something like 6" but I will know for sure once I am able to get it back on the ground.

 

the bumper posed a bit of a problem as it originally bolted to the outside of the rear frame rails, unfortunately this is now where the sliders reside. I am going to put a rear cross member at the very end of the frame rails to strengthen the frame and then connect the bumper to. I will have to come up with a different mounting configuration but it should not be a problem.

 

No work on the truck today and as I mentioned I am out of the country tomorrow until the 6th.

 

Hello from the Philippines and the future (we are a day ahead). You have to love modern connectivy and communication, I am sitting in the hotel resturant looking at the HAMB on my iPhone over breakfast...

On the long flight over I have some thought to my truck and basically talked myself into a quandary as to how to shift the trans. In the beginning I was thinking of using something like the Lokar shifter, but then seeing the cost (and what you get for that) I changed my mind to a column shifter as I am replacing the column anyway, then I started thinking about building a console and using a quarter stick I already have. Now I am kind of going back to the beginning wih a floor shifter that looks some what correct for the period and truck. I will probably have to hack a lot of the floor out anyway so I am free to build whatever. If I could figure out how to make a push ****on shifter (think 56 desoto) work with a 727 cheaply and easily, that could be an option as I have one.

Thoughts, opinions, general rantings?

 

The easiest way to get the PB drive will be to use a 62-64 trans. Seems that there are still plenty to be had. Connect with Pat Blais over in... Monroe (I think...) at 206.365.1966.
Pat is my TF go-to expert.

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column or push****on shifter is my vote. Keep the floor clear.

 

...of course, a '65 cable unit could be operated by an A-100 dash mounted style shifter...

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Appreciate the comments. Since I have a Fresh 727 out of my cuda project, I want to use that (fresh rebuild with a kit). Therefore I am leaning to the column shift. I agree that while the floor shift looks cool, no reason taking up floor space for it. The A100 dash shifter is interesting...

 

If you have any information on the push****on shift let me know, please. My 56 dodge has push****on but its the old two speed trans. If I could find a push ****on selector out of a 56 -58 Dodge pickup that had the three speed I think that I could put the 62 chrysler trans, I have in my car. I don't want to send the money to have the trans overhauled and than find out it will not work.
I included a picture of the one out of a 57 Dodge .

 

if I find anything I will certiantly p*** it on. Perhaps Gary (73RR) can chime in. I am going to go with the column shift, it is a truck however...

 

I am seriously considering installing the seat our of the 88 Dak into the 52. The original seat bottom seat frame is really tore up. I tried to cobble it back together and got it somewhat useful but it is still not right. it was/is really rusty and the springs are pretty bad. I could try and rebuild it, but I would need new springs and have to do a lot of metal work. I am not sure where I would get the springs and after all of that it isnt really that nice of a seat. I have the more modern Dak seat which I can get a new cover/skin for along with the seat belts. It will take some fabrication to get it in but I think the end result will be a nicer more comforatable seat. I am thinking I would cover it in a plain black material or perhaps an indian blanket desgin (kind of suits the truck).

 

Go ahead and use that Dakota seat. If I was smart I would have gone that route. There is probably an aftermarket for those so you could no doubt find a seat cover you like for cheaper than rebuilding/recovering the original seat.

Oh yeah don't forget to post some pictures every once and awhile! Dummies like me prefer looking at pictures over reading!

 

yeaH WE ALL LIKE PICTURES

 

I believe that I will use that seat. Reference the pictures, I have posted pics as often as I could and will continue to do so. Unfortunately, there wasnt much to take pictures of when the rear end deal, however if someone needs or wants pictures of something specific please let me know. Once I move to the front end, I think the pictures might be more interesting. If work wasnt getting in the way of my car habit I might be able to get something done.

 

I will try and take detailed pictures of the engine trans install as well as the brakes, steering column install, and interior mods (seat, seat belts, etc).

I looked on line and there seems to be a lot of sources for seat covers, the problem is determining which one is of quality and will fit. If I go with the indian blanket route, I guess it doesnt matter that much but I dont want it to look like ****.

 

Finally on the way home, hopefully will get some work done on the truck this weekend. I will take some pics and post them

 

Well I have had very little time to work on the truck, but I was able to check the new ride height and discovered that I had lowered the truck by about 8". I also figured out that the rear sliders needed to go back to the end of the extended frame and that I needed to C notch the frame; both of which I was able to do. I started a new thread on www.fordodgetrucksonly.com as it is a little easier to post pictures (dont have to resize them to post).

 

I just see a starter page at that site right now.

I once found a free resizer/ thumbnail creator program that would create thumbnails of up to 640x480, perfect for posting. You could run it on a whole directory full of pictures and it would easily bulk-resize them to a new directory. Don't remember the program's name, sorry, but such things exist.


Posted from the TJJ App for iPhone & iPad

 

I can resize them, it just takes a littlw while. The nice thing with the other sight is that it is Dodge specific, which is nice for me as I am pretty much a one brand guy. I am not hating on anything else, just dont have a lot of interest in any other brand. That said, the HAMB has some great threads on it and amazing builders which is nice. for now I will probably maintain both threads.

 

Here are some pictures of my lastest efforts.

 

I had to move the rear sliders onemore time (third time). I previously had to add 2" to the end of the frame to make room for the slider and after putting the truck on the ground, I figured out that the slider needed to be at the very end of the frame which worked out well. I will still add a rear cross member to tie it all in.

You may also notice that the slider mount is angled slightly outward, thisis to level the mount, the rear frame on the left side is slightly "tweaked" inward, but it isnt a big issue.