38 dodge 4dr swap???

[Mike Landwehr]

another car he is offering , so I am curious as to what fits what , say later engine fitment like maybe 54 or so or lt V8 engine /rearend swaps ,never worked on a early mopar but I do know they were ahead of their time as to hydralic brakes and other things, I have heard that the late 30's to late 40's cars are easy swapping matrial as to later mopar drivetrain fitment,any experiance out there?,I had heard of one guy who put a Dart rear end into an other wise stock car to take advantage of the higher rear end ratio choices,seems they were a bolt in? Definately NOT into doing a subframe or MII swap or any other high techy stuff, SBMpr/727,dropped front, big + littles (WWW?)on red steelies is pretty much the limit. I know there are books out there ,but will go that route if and when I buy the car.just want some experiance info first.
Anywebsites pertaining to 36-41 mopars? I am a member over at moparts.com not much in the way of erly mopar stuff.but great site anyway

[wayfarer]

I have experience with the newer stuff, but not the mid 30's. There is a company that makes disc brake kits and other things for mopars. It's called PlyDo, but their website doesn't tell you much.

[Bigcheese327]

Tex Smith always seemed to be fond of the front suspensions and such on these things. Seems I'd always heard that the frame rail width made V8 swaps difficult, though. You might pull off an SBM, who knows, but I'll bet something like a B- or RB-series is going to be pushing it. There's a good deal on a '41 two-door Plymouth near me and I'd been thinkin how good it would look with a 318 and the full Bob McCoy treatment.

[Mike Landwehr]

That McCoy '40 is what a 40's car shouls look like at least to me ,love it , I am thinking it would be neat to do a later early 50's mopar 6 motor (but prefer a automatic,maybe a slant six?)and change the rear to a lower (numerically)rear end with better brakes ,if memory serves they were already hydralic.

[porknbeaner]

I know you can drop a B/RB in a '40 pretty easy. Been there done that. Ya do got to run fenderwell headers. If I recall we used hookers for an A body (dart/valient?)
The A body 8 3/4 is the way to go. They are the most narrow of the later model rears.
I've seen a lot of small block mopars stuffed into the early 30s body, but it's like stuffing a small block in an A-Bone.
By '38 you should be getting pretty close to the same size engin bay as the '40.
Of course any of its work, or fun just depends on how you look at it.
We also mated a Camero front clip to a '41 a couple of years back. it was just your basic plug n weld if I recall.
I'm no expert by the way, just telling what I know has been done. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Mike Landwehr]

as I rcall the B/RB motor is very narrow at the mounting points, so i can see where it would fit ,I would also guess that enderwells for such an install would be a one off header(custom made),still checking on alternatives, but its not exactly tradional , maybe it is those mopar motors went into a lot of Foards as i remember

[porknbeaner]

The hookers for MOPAR tuck in and the collecter shoots back like an in the chassis. No not trad but it works. and in a fender car they almost don't show until you open the hood. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
You might get away with using manifolds from say big block (say '68 with a low deck). they tuck in pretty good. Or perhaps a set of Roadrunner manifolds (late 60s) with a slight colum mod. Just a thought.
I sure wouldn't worry about stuffing a big block in one. But you know, I'm nuts http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Mike Landwehr]

Found these of a tudor on Dave Lindsey's site

[Mike Landwehr]

unh , Ya I guess you ould call it a BBlk- http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif, Tho I think Its a "baby" hemi

[porknbeaner]

They still take up a bunch of space. And the best part of it all is it fits. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Hell, trade for the dodge and if you don't like it I'll figure out a way to trade you out of it. Now, that's a deal. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

[4woody]

There are a bunch of guys swapping stuff around and talking about it on the P-15 D-24 site:
P-15 D24 Bulletin Board (http://merc583.addr.com/cgi-bin/webbbs/webbbs_config.pl)
Even though it is mostly late 40's stuff they're focused on, there is a lot that applies to what you are interested in. Post your questions there and I'll bet you'll get some good info.

[mr57]

38 Dodges are kinda neat, but then, I'm somewhat biased. Make sure the grille is still in one piece as I don't think that would be easy to find. Mine is solid as a tank except for the piece under the trunk lid in the back, and I don't think there is all that much for repro sheetmetal. Rubber stuff is readily available through Steele. Butch's Rod shop used to sell "kits" to do everything from disc swaps to motor mounts, steering, etc. I don't know if they are still around or not. Heard they build choppers now. Ply-Do might be a good place to check out.

[yorgatron]

www.mrstreetrod.com/catalog.htm (http://www.mrstreetrod.com/catalog.htm) they have a kit for 318-340-360 into '38-'48.i've been looking into this as i might be able to get hold of a '48-george

[SKR8PN]

LOT'S of room for a SBM in there! Hell the Rad shell is what,18 inches WIDE??? SHIT........Here is a shot of the fuel injected small block I stuck in my '38.
EVEN got's AIR on it http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Didn't have any room left for power steering though...... http://photo.starblvd.net/~SKR8PN/1-2-2.jpg

[Mike Landwehr]

Now we're gettin some where, Thanks guys, the one I am looking at is titled,solid and complete ,runs and drives ,it has a grille like the tudor I posted above, maybe a different model than the one pictured. he said it was a 38 , maybe a 39?
SKR8PN we gotta talk.Did you use the stock box and column?
Here is one identical in color and condition-I saw a year or so ago near here.same car, just different owners + locations I think,cause the pic he sent me is idetical to this car, 318/auto's are a dime a dozen here so maybe thats the route , I'll check with them on how much is involved in doing it with their kit, I have a 3:? 8 3/4 here from a dart.

[MYRIDE]

Mike, LOTS of room under that hood for a sbc of you want. I didn't even have to resess my firewall. As far as frames go, the late 30's Dodges were probably one of the "stouter" frame configurations.... way ahead of their time. I did go with a MII crossmember and rack for front suspension though, but that was probably the easiest part of the build-up. I'm just wrapping up the loose ends on my 38 Dodge, and have a pics on my homepage. A little history......the 1938 Dodge was the last year that the "Dodge Brothers" name was used on them. From 39 on only badging was "Dodge".
They make a cool cruiser, and not many around.
http://photo.starblvd.net/MYRIDE

[MYRIDE]

Mike, thats a '39, the car mr57 posted is a '38, same as mine except mine is a coupe.
Ken

[Mike Landwehr]

I thought so , he said 38 hopefully its a typo and not a title jump , gotta pass if it is,had enough of MN title BS. be a shame as it is very solid , from what I saw last year and i did check it thoughly,even the tail pan is solid , running board is unbolted, NOT rusted -another pic I took b4

[Mike Landwehr]

interior

[Mike Landwehr]

engine

[MYRIDE]

Definately a '39 Mike, but looks good and solid for it's age.

[Mike Landwehr]

gonna check the title against the body numbers,now I am in a dillema , which do I choose? I'm working towards a rod and a muscle car to round out my collection ,as I already have a 50's car , I am leaning towards this one as it is a supposed runner albeit tattered and ratty,but solid and complete, and the 50 is very solid and a lot of works done already, but no where as near complete or running, needs a lot of finish work and a motor/trans.BUT freakin KOOL! decisions decisions.

[TooMany2count]

[ QUOTE ]
Definately a '39 Mike, but looks good and solid for it's age.

[/ QUOTE ]

hell I KNOW its a 39 dodge, cause I just reworked a stock one for my brother, good luck on it.........joe

[4woody]

Put whatever engine you like in it, just be sure and keep those horns!

[JamesG]

http://autohobbypage.com/show/02/ozk/ozk46.jpg

[Mike Landwehr]

Ya, I found that pic on carpics .com , looks like je's a "Homey", wonder who n where he is. been playing with it on photoshop , I hate learning new shit, drives me nuts, but if ya don't learn ya stagnate. (or try new stuff for that matter)

[MYRIDE]

Mike here's my '38 http://photo.starblvd.net/~MYRIDE/3-4-3.jpg
http://photo.starblvd.net/~MYRIDE/3-4-4.jpg
lots of room...except for power steering..lol

[wayfarer]

PlyDo has a disc brake kit in their catalog that uses 73-77 chevelle calipers and rotors on the stock spindles. It's $199.00 for the kit and it requires slight machining of the spindles for your application. They also have a kit to mount a vega steering box in the '38. Order their catalog and sort through it if you get the car. I have one if you need to know something now.

[Mike Landwehr]

actually it is a 39 and it looks like its the winner ,he has decided to keep the 50, we are getting together this weekend, plydo has no webs it,so I'll have to givem a call. may just cash out on it as he's not sure if he needs the 57 now.Not for the weak of heart that car.

[wayfarer]

'39 makes it even easier, they have a rack and pinion kit that uses a cavalier rack. They also have dropped steering arms to lower the front and bolt in kits for transmissions and modern rearends.

[Mike Landwehr]

what did you use for rear end? I am trying to some scans of any mopar swap how to's,

[wayfarer]

57 ford 9"

[Mai Ki-Ki]

nice...wouldn't even chop it...!

[Mike Landwehr]

I have a 57 chevy ,71 Dart 8 3/4, 65 cyclone 9" all pretty much the same width ,but don't want to waiste a 9" on a cruiser when I have a 56 chevy that will shred a stock 55-7 rear at will ,so I will use either the 8 3/4or 57 chevy rear.
pretty much what I have planned except for ,hmmmmm , what should I use ,OoooH ,unh?, I know FIVE SPOKES -SURPRIZE! not really as some of you know I run NOTHING, but those or steelies also planning on White thin line WW's,heh heh,IF it goes through (and it looks like it will, one way or another,too da_ _ CCCCold right now) ,I am not fond of chopped more doors and for me a moredoor is strech in any form _nothing against em mind you ,great family cars or rod run cars plenty of room,but lowered, now thats different for an old speed freak like me.Mine have always been T.D.H.,lol
love the photo shop.

[Mike Landwehr]

Mai KI KI has it , I made a couple cosmetic changes more in line w what I have in mind , but basically right on, Now I need these in place of the caddy caps-

[Mike Landwehr]

here is how I have it now

[Mike Landwehr]

or this wheel ? a little more dead on

[Mai Ki-Ki]

Here you go kind sir.

[Mike Landwehr]

Thanks again , told ya you had a handle on where I'm thinkin to go ,LOL ,spent 2 days pff + on tryin to figure that lasoo thingie out to do this still can't even bring the wheel up on the same page to overlay it
now I have to figure out if I should use -
A.15x8.5 + 15x7
B. 15x8.5's + 14x7
C. 14x7 + 14x6
D.15x7 + 14x6
I have enough to do all the above

[Zodoff]

That dodge is getting better every day! I recently got me one myself,after some trading. Far worse condition,though.
But after Mai-kikis splendid photoshopwork,I have started to see a potensial in that car too.. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Heres an idea,lots of work involved,ofcourse..
(excuse my photoshop skills!! ) http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif

[Mike Landwehr]

Neat ,has kind of limo rod look to it and not in a bad way,lol, bet some weddings would pay to heve em hauled around in it. A lot of work, but unigue it would
be.