Thought I would share my 55 Dodge build. I have been working on her since 2015 when I picked her up in pieces from my Dad in Oregon. I took her home and cleaned her up and put it all back together. I drove her stock with the 230 flat head, 3 speed, bias tires and 4.10's for quite a while and really enjoyed it. After going to a show and winning a trophy for best "lifted truck", I kinda lost it and decided to go the hotrod route. I completely rebuilt the suspension, added a Nostalgia sids drop axle and got her down on the ground for a better look. I kept her like that for quite a while and then decided to upgrade to a 325 Dodge Hemi. Today was the first day out on the road with the new V8 and it is currently in the muffler shop for some exhaust before Viva. It took quite a while to build the hemi and I am excited to see how she drives out on the road. Besides a stock rebuild, I added 9.5:1 pistons, a Clay Smith cam, Sanderson headers and had the factory 4 barrel milled to match the modern Edelbrock pattern and bore size.
GREAT looking Dodge, solid build, too. Sits so right...truly deserves that Red Ram! What did you decide on for transmission? Lovely truck, real step side.
I love the looks of a low-box Dodge. I traded my 47 Caddy for this 55 low-box in Portland back in '72.
Thanks for the compliments! Currently she still has the stock 3 speed. I have a 54 Plymouth R10 overdrive that I was going to put in for the retro feel, but it had broken syncro teeth. That will need some attention before installation. However, I am worried about it standing up to the V8. I am also looking at a world class T5, but need to find the 9 1/2" input shaft that was used on Holden's. I dont know how hard that would be to find. The deadline to have the truck road worthy is next week, so I made the stock tranny work for now so I can get to the show. Once I get her home, I can start working on the OD tranny and the rear disc brakes. It was alot of work to put the hemi in here. Just because the truck had an optional V8, does not mean it will bolt right in! Moving linkages, cross members etc was like building a jigsaw puzzle that you're not sure what its supposed to look like. Not a whole lot of info on the era Dodge, much less the V8 variety. I did get 2 1/2" dual exhaust with Flowmaster Super 10's installed today. Still finishing up the wiring and need some road time before a 200+ mile road trip to Vegas next Thursday.
Hey, that's a nice truck. Especially with one of Sid's great axles. Keep us posted..........................
I do need to get down there some day. My buddy Foley heads down there all the time. Maybe now with 12v, I will be able to see enough to drive at night.
I've got a soft spot for the 50's dodge trucks. I had a 57 with push button auto. Wish I never sold it! Your truck looks awsome...
The transmission you have was used through '56 on most any Mopar with a stick shift 3 speed. Adequate for street driving, maybe not so much for drag strip or street abuse. Neat truck.....love what you are doing with it. Ray
There are lots of Holden's down here in Australia. Hambers have sent me all kind of unobtainium parts, so if you nut out exactly what you need, I could probably get you one on my Hamb karma account?? Sent from my Pixel using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Thought I would post up some updates. Been busy collecting parts and continuing to build. I picked up a chrome front bumper recently and found all the R10 parts. The bumper will need to be rechromed, but all the hard work of filling and smoothing to make a Dodge bumper chrome worthy is done. The R10 is apart and being cleaned and rebuilt. Also picked up a 8 3/4 I can use down the road. I already have 54 Plymouth 3.73's but will think about the 8 3/4 and what gears i can put in it after getting some road time on the R10. Maybe my current gear setup will be great with the OD tranny. It will be quite a while before I get this last goodie installed, but they are my favorite manifolds and super rare. I just had to get it and it had never been installed before.
I've been working on a 56 for a friend, they are neat trucks. I like what you are doing with yours, thanks for posting
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