I have a 34 Dodge pickup with the suicide doors. This was a big 1 1/2 ton. Im wanting to build a 1/2 ton. Wondering what years frames are the same or close enough. Or better yet, if someone had a half ton frame they'd sell that'd be even better.
I'd start with confirming the cab is the same size as a pickup, if so, the hood and grille are probably the same too, fenders won't be...so you'd be on the hunt for those. Cool thing about the early '30's PU's, you can pretty much make a suitable bed, find matching fenders from whatever that look good on it, and make flat running boards to tie it all together...meaning you don't have to spend years looking for '34 Dodge PU parts. As far as frames go, if it's anything like my '32 Dodge PU, it'll be a pretty easy on to fabricate...i/e nothing like trying to make a '34 Ford frame from scratch...mine is pretty straight forward, I/e my rails are straight, just not parallel to each other, no funky bend, etc, to do. Good luck with it!
I don't remember if the 1 1/2 ton used the big truck grille or the sedan/pick-up grille, but either the front sheet metal is the same as a car, or everything is different. If you can't find the correct frame, might as well start from scratch, then mods don't mean reworking what is already done once.
^^I plan on living to see my next birthday so that's not an option^^ lol The cab is the same as the half tons. I have a half ton bed and the half ton grill. The big truck fenders and grill are indeed different. The fenders are repopped in fiberglass. Not what I really want but if there's no other choice then that's how it'll be. I was super lucky to find a grill. Some guy found it out in the woods at a long forgotten cabin and the grill was in a trash pile near it. He said there was a fender there too and he'd try to grab it next time he went hunting but I never heard from him again. The grill is almost as rare as hens teeth and so most guys go fiberglass on that too. I'm not really a fabricator nor do I have deep pockets so am hoping to find a useable frame. I could move mounts but I have zero experience in making anything resembling a frame.
Just curious, do you think a 52 dodge frame would even be a option? I have one that need to finish grabbing parts, then dispose of the rest. I am thinking it would be to wide, but throwing it out there.
The 1/2 ton fame in 1933-1935 pickup was the same as a 1933 passenger car short wheelbase frame. All hard to find but they are out there. Good looking truck when done. Good luck