Customs 51' Fargo Dodge on Dakota frame(boxing crossmember frame help)

Looks like a fun build! Welcome from the other end of the province!


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Here is a picture of my kids Studebaker...



it's a good solid truck, just worn out.

 

very cool truck! what a great truck to start with. lucky kid

 

got nothing done all weekend. hurt my back. hopefully I'll be able to start on the box floor this week.

 

good luck with your project, like where this is going

 

nice truck

really dig those old dodge trucks.

use the tailgate, it will look much cleaner and give her a finished look instead of---
0H these will cover the hole look..

are you leaving the patina?

Later

 

Keep up the good work. You're gonna love driving that truck on the dakota frame, i know i love mine

 

Hey Skull... I must say your truck/build was an inspiration. I plan on leaving the patina only because I can t afford to do the body over this year... it will be a work in progress thats drivable. Although I suppose they re all "works in progress"

Also.. I found a second tailgate that I think will fit much better. its on a fargo but also says dodge.

 

Very nice build you have going! You stole that Dakota for $750. Great basis.

 

hello from PEI

 

fun to watch someone else that runs the basic same ideas as I am doing. Mine is on a 91 Dakota frame. I built a front panel for my bed out of an extra rear cab piece so it has the same curve as the cab. I then took the original front panel and made a new tailgate out of it and welded the emblem back in the correct spot. It turned out really well. I have some threads on here on my build. I am suscribing to this one. Good job!!!!!!

 

These trucks are so cool. Eager to see the results.

 

Can the cross member above the rear axle be turned upside down & moved inside the frame for more bed clearance? From pic 1 on post 23 it seems possible but not certain.

 

I changed mine around (cut and refit) so it matches the height of the rest of the frame. If you want pics, I can get them in the next day or so

 

Moparman...I ve read many of your threads. lots of grest info and I love what your doing. Stick around.... I could use your input

Pics would be great!!

 

Yah I looked at that... if i wanted the floor as low as possible i could space the ribs so the crossmember was between them. should clear fine. Haven t decided if I'm going on that body line for simplicity or gaining another 3 inches and notching around the wheel wells and box stamping.

 

If it was me I'd move all bracing to inside or under the frame and rest the wood on the frame, or close. If its to be used as a truck I'd want to maximize the bed space.

Actually if it was mine I might try to get the kick-up out of the frame, and run tall skinny truck tires, but I have weird taste that way. I like the stock ride height.

 

yes i know what you mean... I'm really struggling with that desicion right now.. a cleaner bed floor mounted higher or a more usable bed. I'm trying to figure out how to make it look clean or done well to my abililty

 

You can trim the hump off the frame, modify the crossmembers, and move the angles lower on the box sides, to get the floor lower. Whatever you do, you want some floor support if you plan on hauling anything, and if you mount the floor directly on the frame, after a very short time, the squawks and other funky noises from the metal rubbing against itself will decrease the driving fun. When these things are rolling down the road, lots of stuff moves around. Build accordingly or the unpleasant noises will come, or at least they do in my world. Gene

 

If you can somehow shave about 2-1/2" or so off the frame hump, then box that portion and also reinforce it with a crossmember or two near that point, that might do the trick. You'd still have frame strength without the risk of bending in that area.

 

Well I decided to plant the bed floor where I originally planned. there was a major deflection in the bed sides at the top of the fender. putting the floor frame lower would not take it out. Atleast blocking it there wouldn't.

I'm not going to use it as a truck very much and I'm ok with the space I have.

 

more pictures just cause...

 

Hey Terrag great to see another Pilothouse being built on the east coast. Looks like you have a good solid body there, very hard to find in NS. I've got a 51 Dodge as well but my progress is much slower than yours.

 

Your truck is coming along great!

 

thanks fellas...i'm really happy with the way is coming together.

 

Just curious, how much would you have to raise the body to get a stock ride height & stock bed height? Looks like about 5-6 inches?


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Nice progress. I missed buying one a while back 46k miles,always stored in barn with a hydro/clutch? tranny. Worst part they sold it for 300.00 Oh well.

 

Yah, about that.. it would look sillyi think. the frame under the cab would be below the running boards. Good for some 35 in tires or something. haha

 

Funny.. a friend of mine mentioned the same thing... I think its a great idea. Great to hide away tools, a cooler, or whatever.