gshort

I am in the process of mounting my 54 cab onto a 92 Dakota frame. Things are looking pretty good as far as things lining up but there are bound to be a bunch of things to bite me in the ass. Debating on whether I should stay with the 3.9 V6 form the Dakota or putting in the 360 I have. If I were you I would work on one at a time. I also have 2 projects and access to one stall in my garage. Still trying to find someone that wants my old 54 frame.

Dodge changed a few things on the bodies of the trucks between 53,54,and 55. The windshield is one of the changes. 53 and earlier it was a 2 piece set-up. In 54 it changed to a one piece unit. Somewhat curved. Then sometime in 55 they used a windshield that wrapped around the corners. Another thing that changed are the doors. The 53 and 54 had the top hinge exposed and the 55 had it hidden inside the door jamb. Can the doors from a 53 fit on a 54? What would it take to make a 2 piece windshield fit a 54? I am looking for parts for my 54, have found a 53 but not sure what may fit and what won't. I can't get to it to compare until the corn comes out of the fields.

Not sure where my truck was built. Someone posted a site to track down the numbers and I did figure out that mine was an early 54. The way I read the numbers mine was one of the first 200 made in 54 at that plant.

Dodge has always mounted their motors about 11/2 inches to the right to clear any steering boxes or shafts. Would this have helped your installation?

During what part of 55 did Dodge go to the wrap around windshield? My 54 has the single windshield glass. The 55's that I have seen all had the wrap around glass. If yours is a 55 then Dodge must have did a mid year change.

Listen to MBfowler. The starter is hanging up on the flywheel and over spinning before it releases. You ask the question,follow up on the s u suggestions.

Does it have to be a V-8? Why not a V-6? I am going the Dakota route. Have/had plans for a 360 in plant into the Dakota frame. After driving the Dakota home I have been seriously thinking of using the V-6. The flathead was long gone by the time I got around to working on this truck. The rods were knocking and it had been pulled out 30 yrs ago. I debated dropping the V-8 into the original frame but for ride and safety I thought it would be cheaper to go this route.

Does anybody make replacement running boards for the C series trucks?

I have a very early 54 Dodge c series truck cab that I am starting a build on. The passenger Side door has been caved in and I am not sure if it can be repaired. Will a door from a 53 or a 55 work on this cab? If not I am going to have to tAke a crash course in the art of the hammer and dolly.

The cab is still sitting there. I have been reading the COE thread over on the H.A.M.B. site and think someone really needs this COE cab.

If I remember right he was wanting 1200 bucks floor it.

Anybody interested in something like this? Eastern Iowa South of Dubuque hwy 61. Not mine but I have talked to the guy.

Is this not a Pilothouse truck. Everybody either has a 53 or a 55. Are the 54's just that hard to find or are they not a desirable truck to have?

I am working on a 54 Dodge C series pickup. The cab is in pretty good shape as far as floor and structure. My Dad bought this truck from the original owner almost 35 yrs ago. At that time it had the Flathead 6 in it yet. We used it for a backup service truck until the rods started knocking. At that time we swapped the motor for a Buick 340 with a 2 Speed powerlines trans. This worked OK but the low rear end ratio had the motor screaming. Wasn't long after that a brake line rusted into. It then sat in one place or another for the next 30 years. Now I have it at my house and am working toward a Dakota frame swap and 360 motor transplant. I have been doing ALOT of reading on this forum and also the Jalopy Journal. It seems that there are not a lot of people are working or driving the 54 trucks. Are these not a desirable truck? That said, I now have the old frame with the Buick motor and trans listed for sale in the classified section. And I will need to either reshape or replace the passenger side door, replace the foggy glass windshield, and repair or replace the tailgate the the original owner had cut a hole in to be able to unload grain from the box. When we bought this truck it came with a stock rack so the owner could haul cattle or pigs to market. That has rotted away but would be cool to replicate.