buds truck

my uncle bought a brand new Pontiac in late 1957 and the salesperson asked him if he wanted it titled as a 57 or a 58? I guess back then they could get away with stuff like that.

All I could do was laugh when I saw the grill you used as I posted the same one on mine about 8 months ago. we must think alike. Bud

you're ok with me anyways. If you look at some of my old posts, you will see that I have chopped mine, suicided the doors, put in a 49 plymouth dash and am now setting the body on a 91 Dodge Dakota frame and running gear. there are numerous interests here on this forum and all great guys. Bud

Wayne, You are welcome anytime, I will be gone from May 1st thru the 10th. Taking the granddaughter to Disneyland with my wife. We keep saying it's for her, but I think maybe it's just as much for us.... It would be best to ask your doctor about welding, I have heard pros and cons, but will keep the surgery in prayer for you. As far as parking your project in my garage after the truck is done.... If you did, you never know what you might bring home..... and yes, same color for the truck as the Plymouth. Just can't get enough of that color. thanks for the kind words, Bud

anyone near that would like to trade a good 116 inch wheelbase bed for a 108 before I shorten this one???

thanks for the laugh. Good to see even the "Zen Masters" are human too.LOL

last set of pix consists of the floor to kick panel braces, firewall to cowl braces and the space I will fill at the top of the cowl. the 4th pic shows where the stock Dakota master cyl will rest. it looks like it all will work with some mods. more to come later when time allows. Bud

second set of pix consist of cleaning up the floor on the 53, the Dakota floor put back in after making the jigs for the front and pics of the jigs

first set of pix, floorboard set in for the first time, pix of the sides and firewall area, last pic after floor removed and firewall rough cut out.

Ok, got lots done yesterday (doesn't look like it though). I took the cab back off the frame, set in the Dakota front floor pan and got busy. I had taken some good measurements when the Dakota floor was initially installed and also scribed around the edges of the dakota floor onto the 53 truck floor and screwed in the dakota floor to the 53 cab floor so I could take the floorpan back out and cut what was needed to cut on the 53 firewall and the floor after the truck cab was back off the frame. at that point, I made a couple of jigs for the front stantions that I used to block up ride height, I got the measurement by taking the blocks I used for ride height, put them next to the Dakota front mounts and measured the remaining distance between them for the correct floor placement at the body mounts in front. the rears I will address with you later. I cut out the firewall (scary) on the 53 an inch from the factory seam, and ended cutting the upper part right at the seam althought the pic doesn't show it. I trimmed the floor, cleaned up the rust and popped in the Dakota front floorboard. I clamped it into place, using the screw holes and scribe marks as reference, made sure the body to frame mounts rested on the jigs, welded in angle plates to the floorboard to kick panel braces, made up some 2 inch spacers for the front upper sides of the firewall to cowl areas and welded them in too. that is as far as I got. here are some pics. I can only ost 5 at a time, so there will be a few posts with pics and a short explanation of them.

sorry, purple and creme intierior with tan carpets planned.

welcome to a great forum and a greater bunch of guys. Look forward to seeing progress on your truck. Looks like You have a good solid truck for a start. good luck, Bud

Firewall shots and floor shots will be forthcoming as I am using the Dakota floor and firewall in the 53. It's fitting great and gives me ample room inside and more room at the engine. It also gives me the hump for the transmission. I am installing it in 2 pieces.

Tom, yes, it is for the 116 inch wheelbase. if you have a 108 inch box, we could trade. we sure live close enough. Bud

Reg, are there 2 different lengths to the tall sided beds?? yours looks like the length I am about to cut mine down to. Wanna trade??? LOL

NO WHEEL RUB, FROM TURN TO TURN, THEY JUST MISS

NO WORRIES ABOUT THE WHEELS, THOSE ARE CHEAP HUBCAPS, I HAVE A SET OF FULL SIZE 50"S DESOTO CAPS TO PUT ON IT AND THEY ACTUALLY FIT THE STOCK 6 LUG DAKOTA 15" WHEELS!!

plum crazy purple.... what else could it be????

right now it has all the stock Dakota running gear in it, 318 with an auto o/d trans, the trans is shot and the motor has over 200k on it. I will probably look for a different motor/trans for it, but it will stay all mopar. Bud

Finally got the 53 on the Dakota frame. Looking good!!! It's just blocked up for ride height right now, but I am happy with the results. I would appreciate your thoughts and comments both positive and negative. Bud

now that was worth a chuckle.... honest mistake though

looks like you figured out how to post pics. Good thing cause we EXPECT updates on this one!!!! Bud :D

the doors look like the older style though. You wonder if they just used what they had???

some more

posting the pics you sent to me. Awesome truck. More on the next post. Bud