Numbers

[jamesadams]

Bought a solid cab Saturday. I would like for you fellas to run the numbers.

B1-D-126, Means a 48 1-ton? This the deluxe cab, has corner windows and vent glasses. 4258734 is the serial #. Also anybody done a lebaron/diplomat front end swap? My vision is to keep a somewhat original look with more modern brakes/steering,12volt system,and drive it in the original patenia,for now. Will be putting the cab and cap on a 52 half ton short bed frame. I have a nice 9 foot bed i would trade for a short bed if anybody is in the Northeast Arkansas area. I am excited to get started. This ain't my first build, with more than average mechanical experience and a cousin that runs a custom car shop about 15 miles away, i hope i am off to a good start. This will be to hand down to my 9 year old son when the time is right and am including him as much as i can.

Gonna be buggin youall a bunch!

[Bob_Koch]

Glad you got the truck. There is lots of info on doing the volarie type swap on previous forums. You'll want to spend some time reading through them as there is a wealth of information here.

Also, an article on the volarie type front end on the DPETCA site:

http://dodgepilothouseclub.org/know/frontend/front.htm

Yes, B1D is a 1 ton. Info on deciphering the coding is on the DPETCA site as well.

Edited December 7, 2010 by Bob_Koch

[moparmonkey]

Sounds like a good find!

As far as doing the Volare style front end swap, I'll make this comment. I clipped one of my B4B's with a '66 Fury. Not exactly how it was demonstrated in the article, I actually used the frame rails from the Fury too. At any rate, there's a lot of frame fabrication involved, and you only end up with a modernized front end.

On the other hand, you could also use a late '80's or early 90's Dakota frame. Bud may chime in on which one fits best, but I there's at least one model that fits pretty well with the wheelbase of the B series trucks. These trucks are pretty easy to find, and fairly inexpensive. Now, you still have to fabricate body mounts, but you get the entire package. All of the suspension and steering is there, and you don't have to worry about piecing anything together. Plus, you have a truck frame, so its capabilities and load capacities are well known.

I'm not saying that the Volare front end isn't a good way to go, both approaches have advantages and disadvantages. But the complete frame swap seems like a pretty good way to get things done to me.

[jamesadams]

I have been intrested in the dakota front end also. There is a weld in crossmember out there somewhere. Thanks for the comments,and keep the info coming!

[OLD DODGE]

Bought a solid cab Saturday. I would like for you fellas to run the numbers.

B1-D-126, Means a 48 1-ton? This the deluxe cab, has corner windows and vent glasses. 4258734 is the serial #.

You are short one number. The serial on a 1948 or 1949 B-1-D should be eight digits long and start with either 81 or 86.

[jamesadams]

sorry, looking by flashlight without glasses. Anybody know of the company with the dakota crossmember?

[John Mathias]

the weld in crossmember is at: http://www.welderseries.com

It's not a Dak crossmember but a MII

[jamesadams]

Thanks for the link. That is something i will consider. I found the company that makes a dakota crossmember,but they said that they were out of the dakota business.

[48Dodger]

This the thread I did on the "Volare" front set-up

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

This the Thread for the Bonneville part of the build.

http://www430.pair.com/p15d24/mopar_forum/showthread.php?t=15472

This the Bonneville trip running the Volare front IFS and the Thunderbird IRS

http://www430.pair.com/p15d24/mopar_forum/showthread.php?t=23688

48D