Getting some direction

[1949d100]

Hey guys,

I have been reading a few threads and I am trying to plan my build. I have a 49 1/2 ton and I want a V8 (bigger the better) and some better brakes. I have min. experience and space. I am leaning to either a Dakota frame swap or a Volare front clip. Do you guys have any opinions on what would be easier for a first timer?

Thanks

-James

[Reg Evans]

Just my opinion mind you but why not stay with the flathead 6 and soup it up like these gents did.

This is Pete Anderson's 230 L6 with dual intake and exhaust,high compression head and a mild cam.

Or Don Coatney,s souped up 251 DeSoto with dual in and out and a mild cam.

Or like I did. A Chrysler 251 fit in my 52 1/2 ton with very little mods and has plenty of power compared to the original 218.

As soon as I bolt this stuff on I'm gonna be the coolest guy in my neighborhood. Oh yeah.....I live way out in the sticks.

[Dennis_MN]

The front clip deal is not a easy deal for one who is just starting out. I would rather tackle a body swap with a modern vehicle such as finding a good Durango. I think that frame needs to be shortened in the middle to make the wheels line up but I think that would be easier than welding on a front clip. With a Durango you get the engine and the brakes. One other welding detail is that I think you would need to cut the firewall of the pickup to make the engine fit. Also the driveshaft would need to be shortened and balanced but that can be done by a machine shop.

If you got big bucks to spend, you can bring the stuff to a shop and have a guy do the work.

On the other hand, you can tackle this as a first project and learn things that need to be done, do them, and then learn how to soup up a six.

In any case, just don't sit down and add up the costs because it will scare you and deprive you of all of this available learning and therapy.

Dennis

[48Dodger]

I agree with Reg. I'm just going off your "min. experience and space" comment. The Flattie 6 has a lot to offer as far as experience and power. You won't need as much room to get it done either. Frame swap and front-end swaps are quite a bit when it comes to projects. Even if you do "bite off more than you can chew"....we'll still help you through it. lol.

Did you see this thread?

http://www430.pair.com/p15d24/mopar_forum/showthread.php?t=14259

Good luck James.

48D

[buds truck]

since you admit to "min" experience, I think I might go with the flatty and the disc kit, I am putting a Dakota frame under my 53 and it would not be a very easy job for a person with little experience. Tims Volare swap is a good choice, but you would need to measure, measure, measure or it will not drive well. Check out my thread on the frame swap. Bud

http://www430.pair.com/p15d24/mopar_forum/showthread.php?t=14699

[1949d100]

upgrading the six hadn't really occurred to me. I think that it would definitely be different and that interests me. Wouldn't I have to change the tranny to a 4 speed and/or change the rear end? I lost a wheel going down the road so there is some damage to the right rear as it is. Again I am in the beginning stages and any advice is more than welcome.

Thanks

-James

[48Dodger]

Check out some of Don Coatney's posts on his T-5 tranny. He's a car guy, but seems to make sense on occasion. lol. As far as the rearend....I like the late 60's 8.75 rear. Its a drop out for gear changes.

48D

http://www430.pair.com/p15d24/mopar_forum/showthread.php?t=13147

[Don Coatney]

Check out some of Don Coatney's posts on his T-5 tranny. He's a car guy, but seems to make sense on occasion. lol. As far as the rearend....I like the late 60's 8.75 rear. Its a drop out for gear changes.

48D

http://www430.pair.com/p15d24/mopar_forum/showthread.php?t=13147

Thanks Tim! I preciate the complementary:D

Installing an overdrive transmission was the best single modification I did to my car. I can now cruise at 70+ MPH and my engine is only spinning at 2200 RPM's. I have put close to 30,000 trouble free miles on my car including long road trips where I have been close to 1000 miles from home. I have driven my car over 700 miles in one day on more than 1 occasion. My point being that the flathead 6 is a very reliable engine. No need to install a V-8.

[1949d100]

Don,

I took a look at the link to your T5 swap, was the tranny out of a V6 S10? I looked at your pics and it looked like you re-built the entire thing. would that be necessary? Does the T5 output shaft have the same splines?

[Don Coatney]

Don,

I took a look at the link to your T5 swap, was the tranny out of a V6 S10? I looked at your pics and it looked like you re-built the entire thing. would that be necessary? Does the T5 output shaft have the same splines?

First T-5 I found was from a diesel S-10 and it was trashed. I rebuilt it but it was too far gone as the case was trashed. I saved the new parts I installed in the rebuilt transmission. I then installed another T-5 from a V-6 S-10 and it worked fine. The T-5 spline count is different than the Mopar original so I used an S-10 disc.