buds truck Posted April 6, 2009 Report Share Posted April 6, 2009 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pflaming Posted April 6, 2009 Report Share Posted April 6, 2009 No negatives from me. I just admire the workmanship and talent that some of you have. It looks great! Anxious to see it evolve. I learn more from the evolution of things than from the final product. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisCoccia Posted April 6, 2009 Report Share Posted April 6, 2009 That looks pretty cool! Maybe I missed it but what motor is in there-is it the stock dakota running gear? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodscavenger Posted April 6, 2009 Report Share Posted April 6, 2009 Can't wait to see it all running. Keep it up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buds truck Posted April 6, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 6, 2009 That looks pretty cool! Maybe I missed it but what motor is in there-is it the stock dakota running gear? 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
48Dodger Posted April 6, 2009 Report Share Posted April 6, 2009 Absolutley freakin' awesome Bud. 48D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merle Coggins Posted April 6, 2009 Report Share Posted April 6, 2009 Lookin' good Bud. Looks like the body is sittin' pretty low on the chassis. Gives it a nice slammed look. But it also makes the engine sit fairly high in the engine bay. Will the hood still fit over the engine? Maybe you'll have to stick the blower hat through the hood center section? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smallblockjunkie Posted April 6, 2009 Report Share Posted April 6, 2009 very COOL looks great with the chopped top. What color is it going to be? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buds truck Posted April 6, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 6, 2009 very COOL looks great with the chopped top. What color is it going to be? plum crazy purple.... what else could it be???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slicknapier Posted April 6, 2009 Report Share Posted April 6, 2009 Love it, but I think the wheels are throwing it off for me.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allen I. Posted April 6, 2009 Report Share Posted April 6, 2009 While I am not a big fan of chopped vehicles, the only negatives from this quarter would be of the sour grapes variety because I am an absolute hack. What are you going to do about wheel rub? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coW52Dodge Posted April 6, 2009 Report Share Posted April 6, 2009 Looks very cool. Keep us posted on the progress - I'm sure I'm not the only one that loves build threads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buds truck Posted April 6, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 6, 2009 Love it, but I think the wheels are throwing it off for me.. 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!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buds truck Posted April 6, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 6, 2009 While I am not a big fan of chopped vehicles, the only negatives from this quarter would be of the sour grapes variety because I am an absolute hack.What are you going to do about wheel rub? NO WHEEL RUB, FROM TURN TO TURN, THEY JUST MISS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slicknapier Posted April 6, 2009 Report Share Posted April 6, 2009 Nice, so you dont have to change hubs or anything just put on the hubcaps. SWEET Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinlizzy Posted April 6, 2009 Report Share Posted April 6, 2009 Bud that is awsome. The skill and forethought it takes to make something come out looking like that is not something we all can do. I wouldn't even know what to begin with. Job well done and something to be proud of. Now how can I get mine to look that good. Lee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smallblockjunkie Posted April 6, 2009 Report Share Posted April 6, 2009 Bud we must think alike (I don't know if that is good or not) my truck is going to be purple pearl fading down into black cherry pearl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carl b51 Posted April 7, 2009 Report Share Posted April 7, 2009 Bud the chop looks Great, sets on the good , will the hood fit or are you going to bump it up a little ? Keep up the pics. Carl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b2bomber Posted April 10, 2009 Report Share Posted April 10, 2009 Hey pretty cool. Wondering if you could post some firewall shots of it from the inside. Thanks Sean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buds truck Posted April 10, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 10, 2009 Hey pretty cool. Wondering if you could post some firewall shots of it from the inside. ThanksSean 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Elder Posted April 11, 2009 Report Share Posted April 11, 2009 Now you know if you go plum purple crazy there has to be a pure white interior in there..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buds truck Posted April 12, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 12, 2009 sorry, purple and creme intierior with tan carpets planned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buds truck Posted April 12, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 12, 2009 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buds truck Posted April 12, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 12, 2009 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buds truck Posted April 12, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 12, 2009 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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