my opinion is why would you want to do.an aftermarket crossmember with upDATED MUST11 components your frame fits your truck / tom
what's wrong with the factory frame from 57? they make a shit ton of upgrades for that truck ya know.
Anything's possible. Easy, or smart, that's another question. The 57 frame is pretty much flat from front to back, while the later frames like the 84 drop quite a bit in the middle, and they pinch in and go up at the front. So you'd have to do some work to get the cab to fit, make the radiator and bumper fit, etc. Also the newer trucks are a bit wider, so it would not be easy to get the front wheels to tuck up in the fenders if you want to lower it. I have a 57 single wheel one ton I'm planning on leaving it mostly stock, but swapping the rear springs and rearend to mid 80s 3/4 ton chevy stuff. But I'm weird like that.
yes its to do a tow truck i have the complete truck but the body is finish,so i whant to buy a 57 truck so i can put the body on my frame . but if somebody already done it i will like to know and see the finish product. thanks
I put a 56 on a 79 shortbed frame a couple years ago. It worked out pretty good for a low buck project. here's a link to some pics of it, http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/11721969 i put the 56 frame mounts on the 79 frame ( the frame widths are within 1/2" of each other) and made spacers for the front cab mounts. The rad support was a pain as thats where the steering box is. It was alot of work, i learned alot and pretty low buck. Hope this helps. Bud
Thanks buds56 for your pictures and its funny yesterday i say one with a 1985 c/10 frame but yes the front tires are very clost to be out of the fenders . SO is there somebody that put one on a Dakota frame ?????