54 Dodge C1 on Dakota chassis....engine location

Good afternoon all, Im still pretty new here so dont be too hard on me if I screw up
I have been reding this forum for years and have earned a masters degree in workshop engineering from all of you. if there is anyone that can "figure it out"...they are here.
I am working on putting a 54 Dodge C1 truck on a 89 Dakota chassis. I will be installing a 354 Hemi with A518od trans. My question is engine position. I currently have the engine sitting in the frame with the center of the engine (between #3&#5 cylinders) sitting roughly centered over the front cross member. In this position, the cab is hitting the back of the heads yet it still needs to move roughly 8" forward for the fender to center over the front wheels. I seem to have only 3 options:
1. Cut the firewall out and move the cab forward 8". This will leave minimum footwell area inside and probably put the firewall right against the back of the dash.
2. I can try to splice the front fenders and make them longer between the cab connection and the wheel well. This would leave the cab where it is and move the wheels over the wheels.
3. Move the hemi forward and install fabricated motor mounts (which I was going to use anyway). This will put the engine over half way in front of the crossmember.
I know there are several of you here that have done this, any help is appreciated.
Thanks, PICS ATTACHED...

 

Can you move the wheel well forward while not lengthening the fender ?

 

Align the cab 1st. Figure out whether it's better to move the engine forward or cut the firewall or possibly both. As you know, the side view has to be correct or you have blown it. If oil pan clearance is the largest problem, it won't be too bad. Once you get the cab in place, install the radiator and measure reward to see if moving the engine is going to put the fan in a good location. Don't cut the firewall until you are positive that it needs to be done. Measure twice and cut once applies to all conversions. Be patient.

 

It sure looks like the cab needs to go forward as you say. I'd measure where the engine is now and look at what will be the big issues. It looks like the pan wants to be where the cross member is. I'd also mount the front accessories to see where the radiator must be.
Then take the engine and trans out and mock up the cab and front fenders.
One way to do all of this is with a plumb bob and mark on the floor with the chassis blocked so it doesn't move. Mark engine/trans location and cab location.
Looking at the pics, another issue is the exhaust with the engine that low. I expect that the engine is going to have to go forward and up, AND the firewall notched. make sure the steering, starter and exhaust are all taken into consideration. If you plan on keeping the old bed, mock it up too. An inch may well make or break this.
Mopar often set the engine off to the right side a little. So long as it's parallel to the chassis that will give you a bit more room on the left side where the steering and exhaust want the same space.

 

Years ago, when I did my 54 dodge pickup with a 360 (before a Dakota existed), I ended up cutting the firewall to install a Dodge 360. I only cut wide enough to have clearance for the exhaust manifolds, my motor was a bit lower, but even then the center of the firewall was just about back to the bottom of the back side of the dash. That one did work out well, we put 40,000 miles on the truck.
The good news is the Hemi was a factory option in a 54 Dodge pickup. That Hemi sat forward, to where the axle center line was between the middle 2 cylinders. It also sat pretty low in the chassis.

I've done a few Dakota swaps. The steering rack and oil pan clearance are going to dictate the motor location on the Dakota frame. You have to get that cab pretty close to the correct position, the front tires need to be centered in the wheel openings, or really close to it. You can move the wheel openings in the fenders forward 2" to 3", but its a lot of work (might look better though). Even with all that, you will probably still have to cut the firewall for the cylinder head clearance. In your picture it appears that if you just cut the firewall back to the deepest part, wide enough to clear the heads, you may be pretty close.

You may also have to shorten the wheel base (once the cab position is determined) so the rear fenders are centered on the rear axle. They look pretty goofy if there is much more then 1" to 1 1/2" of clearance between the back of the cab and the front of the box.

My 49 Dodge pickup on a Dakota 4x4 chassis (being a 4x4 is a whole new world on how close things need to be). The front wheel wells were moved forward on the fenders 2 1/2", and there is 1 1/2" between the closest point on the cab and the bed. this truck only has a 318 in it. The motor & transmission are mounted on factory motor mounts, and there is only about 3/4" between the firewall and the back of the heads.

My 54 Dodge pickup.

 

I dont think I have enough room between the front edge of the wheel well and the front flange of the fender where the nose clip attaches. i will; take some more measurements and see. Thanks for your help..

 

That sounds like solid advice, this is my first truck so im still figuring it out. If I get the cab aligned and the engine is sitting more foreword but I still have room for the radiator, will that work? I have been told the engine center can not be past the front spindles??

 

Thanks Rod, sounds like solid advice. I already have a plumb bob in service as you can see in the picture so I can work on blocking the frame and locking everything down.

 

Gene, thank you for the info. Beautiful truck by the way....I went out and measured the original frame and I agree with you on the engine position of the 54 hemi in 54 truck, the problem is that the original crossmember is further forward than the Dakota so i think thats the rub. I will take the engine out and get the cab and fenders lined up as other have reccomended and see what the final damage looks like with the firewall.

 

Gen has been there and done it as shown. He is the voice of experience here.

It does have effects, but if that's where it's the best compromise lays, that "someone told me" can be ignored. All cars and trucks have compromises, some more than others.

 

A rear sump pan may buy you a bit more clearance to shift the Hemi forward, but the crossmember, the steering rack, and the oil pan will dictate the motor location. I suspect the radiator is going to be a tight fit as well, but that center piece on the hood will probably cause the biggest radiator challenge.

The front clip (fenders to the front bumper) is pretty short on the 48-53 and the 54- early 55 and the late 55-56 pickups. With the new sheet metal for the 57, they pushed it out a couple inches (there is more firewall clearance on the 57 on a Dakota frame, I have been told), then in 58, they pushed it out a bit more with the completely redesigned front sheet metal. The truth be known, I suspect Dodge shifted the cab back and extended the length of the fenders with the 58s and newer. Without having one of each to measure, everything is just speculation.

 

This is a bit different than your truck as it is a 1958 Dodge with a stock rear portion of the frame mated to a 1972 Chrysler New Yorker front frame stub (torsion bar suspension).
The fellow who built this truck replaced the floor and firewall of the 58 Dodge with the floor pan and firewall from a 1994 Dakota instead of cutting and patching the original. He then placed a 318 Magnum and automatic in the truck. The engine placement is quite far forward in order for the distributor to clear the firewall. My suggestion is as some above have stated…get the cab and fenders located properly, then locate the engine. Finding and modifying the oil pan was a major headache for this set-up. Hopefully these pictures will give you some ideas. Looking forward to seeing your progress.
Cheers!

 

I can post a lot of pictures of modified frames, V8 swaps, Dakota frame swaps, modified cabs, and other stuff I've done.

But the fact is, I have never put a 354 Hemi into a 54 Dodge truck with a Dakota frame. Nothing I have done, is going to help him on his project, short of telling hm what process I would try if the project was mine, based on my experience.

That said, the 4th picture of the cut out firewall in the post above, looks a lot like what the cut out in the firewall my 54 Dodge truck had. But it didn't have a Dakota frame, and it didn't have a 354 Hemi either.

 

Well folks, latest update is that I have installed the headers and located the engine with #3 cylinder centered with the upper ball joint on the driver side. this looks like a good location of the engine with roughly 80% of the weight behind the front spindles. I am now facing issues with the block hugger headers coming down right where the crossmember is. Also still have issues with the space to get the steering shaft coupled to the rack. Still working on it.....I will post some pictures when i can get them downloaded. , I appreciate all the pictures and advice, I cant seem to find anyone that has put a Hemi in a Dakota frame...so I guess that make us the first to figure it out....