49 Dodge pickup (a 48 looks the same). Originally, the 48 & 49 had 4 horizontal louver pieces on the grille (could be chrome plated or painted sheet metal), the top one at the base of the hood, the next 3 at each wider bar in the grille area. Those 4 pieces used are over $1,000! 50 Dodge pickup (51 & 52 nose piece), was a 2 ton truck. the front fenders were highly modified as were the fender extensions. That cab is 6" above the 80 Dodge 4x4 ch***is so the uncut firewall cleared the 360 motor. The 2 ton truck donor with the 52 grille trim still present. The sheet metal trim self destructed before it made it to the pickup above. 54 Dodge pickup (also early 55) had all new cab and front clip sheet metal. this was the first year for a curved windshield, and May 54 Dodge offered the first V8 (could have been a poly or a Hemi). This truck was the first Hemi V8 ordered from our local Dodge dealer. The bed remained the same. The 54 rear fenders were introduced with the 53 pickup, but the 53 still had the old cab, split flat windshield & front sheet metal. The late 55 & 56 had the windshield that wrapped around into the doors and the front door posts at the windshield were straight up and down. The 49 is my current truck. 5.2 Magnum EFI (318), RE 46 OD, Dakota 4x4 ch***is, 3:55 gears. The 50 (360 4 bbl, 727, 80 Dodge short bed 4x4 W 3:55 gears, snow plow, work truck) was killed in 2011 in a head on crash @ 30 mph, when a lady decided to make a left turn 20' in front of me. The 54 (360, 727, cross torsion bar clip, 3:23 8 3/4, those running boards have 5" of ground clearance) was built in about 1998 or so. I sold it to buy a 39 Plymouth coupe I just had to have, should have kept the 54.
Here’s mine. 330 Desoto Hemi on a Hotheads diet (intake, timing cover etc.) small block 727 TF, 8.75 rear with 3.23s, headers. Been lowered on a 88 Dakota front lip with Rack and Pinion. 2026 plans call for a Gearvendor, fuel tank relocation and a 41 Plymouth front bumper installed.
My buddies 52 Dulley. Body on conversion on an early 90s 3500, frame shortened, Retained the dulley rear. Has an early Dodge CTD 12 valve with upgraded turbo and injectors, stock 5 speed with OD.
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