Body Swap

[Dave1949]

Has anyone done a body swap of a 2 door D24 sedan with a late model car? I have some frame issues, brake issues, motor and trans issues and of course wiring issues however the body is in pretty good shape. I would like to move this body to a late model car instead of parting her out. If anyone has done this any help in what will work will be appriciated.

[greg g]

Joel Torres of this forum is putting a Plymouth 4 door on a Monte Carlo frame. He has posted some of hes project on the HAMB under the same user name. Have you considered sub framing with an early Dakota front chassis clip??? That would address, steering suspension front brakes and give you engine mouts for a variety of MOPAR engines. Rear end can be adressed with a Mopar B bosy rearend by moving the spring perches.

[aero3113]

Ive been wondering how Joel's project has been going. I have not seen him on the forum in a while.

[BobT-47P15]

There's about a thousand pics he sent in on the HAMB.

Looks like an awful big mess, but he seems to be progressing.

Here's a link to some of his posts with pics.....have to scroll down a bit for his

pics. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=3852394&highlight=joel+torres#post3852394

[paulbone]

I've seen someone do it using a Chevy S10 frame. It looked fine, but it was clear it was a custom job and would have had to alot more work to make it look original.

I spoke with the guy who did it, he said it took him about three weeks - he used all the chevy running gear, brakes etc as it was.

[Plymouthy Adams]

the few that I saw with the S10 frame did not have proper positioning of the tires within the wheelwells..very noticable..with extra effort this could be fixed..

[Olddaddy]

I use Dakota frames on 49-50 Plymouths. A Volare/Aspen would work ok also. All depends on your skill level and cash flow.

[Plymouthy Adams]

Charlie, wouldn't the Volare wouldn't the subframe due to unibody...the man I think wants to change comple frame front to rear and x-fer the body..or at least that is what I read..

the Dakota sub-frame is nice but be aware of the work involved, well, any subframe is work involved..

[Olddaddy]

Tim, correct, the Volare would be a sub-frame. It's all a lot of work, and the older I get I wonder about how much work I want to do anymore. If I ever get to finish my wagon I think I'm done. I want to ride them, but not build them so much anymore.

[mochevy69]

I installed a Chrys.5th Avenue k-member in a 48 Dodge D24 coupe. It takes cutting out a lot of the original frame and boxing it back for strength. The steering box is pretty big and has to be sunk into part of the original frame work. The torsion bars are adjustable and run side to side under the radiator. Some steering shaft issues. The k-member needs to be welded directly to the existing frame for correct suspension travel. It is originally mounted with 4 big bolts in the 5th Avenue. Or you could put the body on a late 60's chevy Impala frame. The wheel base is about the same. And it has rear steer also.

[Plymouthy Adams]

or use the Dakota front clip and be out of ther with the almost exact same forward frame curvature and front body mount swap over, disc brakes, R&P steering, heavy sway bar plus much much more the actual frame stance between the two..the Dakota is 3/4 inch lower in the front