dctodd1313 Posted February 18, 2012 Report Posted February 18, 2012 hello gents, a guy from my club came over to check out my s deluxe we where talking and he was telling me to start on my chasis after i repair the rockers'because the frame is shot .i have read about s-10 frame swaps ,can anybody suggest a frame that is compareable. have a 49 dodge 230 to go in it, no drive line yet ,probably different rear. i have also searched for a 48 frame but cant seem to find one close by. any suggestions would be awesome. Quote
Don Coatney Posted February 18, 2012 Report Posted February 18, 2012 Can you elaborate on why your frame is "shot". Might be easier to repair your frame than replace it. Pictures would help. There used to be an all Mopar bone yard near Allentown. I was there a couple of times around 1990 when I lived in Walnutport. If I recall it was located a few miles west of Coplay off 145. Quote
dctodd1313 Posted February 18, 2012 Author Report Posted February 18, 2012 half the bottom is gone in some spots.mostly where the crossbeams are.i dont really wanna do a swap other than a stock frame but i guess ill have to do what i gotta do. Quote
mach0415 Posted February 18, 2012 Report Posted February 18, 2012 IDK I think an S-10 or Dakota swap wound be a pretty cool upgrade to modern dual piston master cylinder hydro brakes, suspension improvements, as well as rear end gearing. You would have some more wheel choices, as well, with a different lug pattern, AND, you could run a hopped up flattie 6 to fit very nicely between the rails. If a little $ were no object, I would be doing it right now and leave the body as is. Quote
Andydodge Posted February 19, 2012 Report Posted February 19, 2012 No offence guys but a frame swap has gotta be the last card on the deck unless you are a VERY competent fabricator/hot rodder.........all the body mounts, etc steering thru the firewall, etc floor etc, engine mounts and what do you end up with........most of what I've seen of these chassis swaps have buggered wheelbases, and various other things that don't fit.......if your frame is absolutely R/S then chase up another frame, they are around, surely?..........then thru disc brakes, update steering, etc onto the original chassis.........my 1940 Dodge has had a 318 Poly, auto, 4 wheel discs, rack & pinion etc etc etc since 1973 so I know what i'm talking about..........the only thing I'd use from an S10 is the 5speed and the HEI Dissy...........lol.............BUT and its a big BUT...........if you are a compentent and skilled fabricator then have at it.........but have a look at the post on this forum "Modern IFS in P15 by MRWSTORY".........this is 21st century rodding at its best..........regards, andyd Quote
Andydodge Posted February 19, 2012 Report Posted February 19, 2012 ....attached.............andyd Quote
falconvan Posted February 19, 2012 Report Posted February 19, 2012 This guy did a Dakota frame swap and it looks pretty nice. Quote
aero3113 Posted February 19, 2012 Report Posted February 19, 2012 This guy did a Dakota frame swap and it looks pretty nice. That is a very nice looking 50 Quote
Rusty O'Toole Posted February 19, 2012 Report Posted February 19, 2012 (edited) If my frame and body were that far gone I would be looking for another project. They aren't that rare. Shop online, look in the southwest, west, or dry mountain states. I would rather drive for a week and tow a good car home than work on a rot box for 6 months and still have a patched up rot box. I come from the northern "rust belt" and know all about trying to fix up rotted out cars. No thanks. What you have now is a parts car. Edited February 19, 2012 by Rusty O'Toole Quote
blucarsdn Posted February 19, 2012 Report Posted February 19, 2012 If my frame and body were that far gone I would be looking for another project. They aren't that rare. Shop online' date=' look in the southwest, west, or dry mountain states.I would rather drive for a week and tow a good car home than work on a rot box for 6 months and still have a patched up rot box. I come from the northern "rust belt" and know all about trying to fix up rotted out cars. No thanks. What you have now is a parts car.[/quote'] I have to give the above statement a BIG SECOND... Throughout the years I have seen hundreds of project cars that people have started to restore/rebuild utilizing later model chassis under a vehicle that should have been scraped. When attempting to restore an old car, the quality of the original chassis/body is the most important part of the whole deal... The mechanical parts are secondary, it is very easy to modernize the mechanicals.. If a post war Mopar is your dream, try Moore's in Rapid City SD.. The last time I was there in 2007 they had a lot of '41 and later Mopars that were in very good shape. I have a very nice '48 Dodge 4dr that has a sweet running Chrysler Spitfire, new brakes and an arrow straight body, that only needs paint and upholstery... $5,500. and you can drive it away.. Quote
chopt50wgn Posted February 19, 2012 Report Posted February 19, 2012 I have a good friend who has a shop............Tims Hot Rod shop in Pottstown. Since you are not that far from Pottstown and if you are looking for someone who can repair a frame, you may want to give him a call...........610-323-3253 Quote
wayfarer Posted February 19, 2012 Report Posted February 19, 2012 If my frame and body were that far gone I would be looking for another project. They aren't that rare. Shop online' date=' look in the southwest, west, or dry mountain states.I would rather drive for a week and tow a good car home than work on a rot box for 6 months and still have a patched up rot box. I come from the northern "rust belt" and know all about trying to fix up rotted out cars. No thanks. What you have now is a parts car.[/quote'] X3 on this Quote
Harold M Posted February 19, 2012 Report Posted February 19, 2012 I have a 47 sedan frame you can have Dont know if it is the same I would have to make sure its good Only problem I am from eastern Wash state Quote
joecoozie Posted February 20, 2012 Report Posted February 20, 2012 Hi, I live in Stroudsburg, Pa. very close to Allentown, Pa I have a 1941 Plymouth parts car that has a super solid frame. Does anyone know if it will fit his car? Joe Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted February 20, 2012 Report Posted February 20, 2012 (edited) I'll weight in here..the Dakota is an excellent frame but I do recommend a clip instead of the entire frame..on the 49-52 use the early Dakota and only the forward mount needs removed and relocated to the Dakota clip..on the earlier 41-48 frames I have found that the 1997/04 frame is a better clip and will require the forward two mounts to be relocated..this is important as setting the body level is very easy and joing the frmaes, though a bit of time and welding is strong and quick fix....however the later model is a bit more involved due to the 6 lug bolt pattern and will require a bit of bolt pattern change if you need to maintain the 5 lug look, I do.....brakes are quite large and 16 inch postive offset wheel are a must..so stock look will be hard to duplicate...either choice is quite involved be it frame or clip...lots of work, lots of associated mods to make it all come together..don't expect an overnight process...study this hard both ways... If in your frame assessment as stock is looking at suspension rebuilt as the major driving force behind the mod...the rebuild will be quicker and eassier and probably a lot less expensive even if the donor parts were given to you... Edited August 2, 2012 by Tim Adams Quote
dctodd1313 Posted February 20, 2012 Author Report Posted February 20, 2012 looking back at the purchase of the car should i have waited to find something in better shape well maybe but i got it at a good price,wanted to save it from further rotting away,plus i figure if i wanna chop and modify would be better than on a fully finished car.like i said stock frame high on the list s-10 dakata swap last resort.thanks for the info ,ill look through one of my books to see if that 41 frame will fit and email you back. Quote
falconvan Posted February 20, 2012 Report Posted February 20, 2012 I'll weight in here..the Dakota is an excellent frame but I do recommend a clip instead of the entire frame..on the 49-52 use the early Dakota and only the forward mount needs removed and relocated to the Dakota clip..on the earlier earlier 4148 frames I have found that the 1997/04 frame is a better clip and will require the forward two mounts to be relocated..this is important as setting the body level is very easy and joing the frmaes, though a bit of time and welding is strong and quick fix....however the later model is a bit more involved due to the 6 lug bolt pattern and will require a bit of bolt pattern change...brakes are quite large and 16 inch postive offset wheel are a must..so stock look will be hard to duplicate...either choice is quite involved be it frame or clip...lots of work, lots of asociated mods to make it all come together..don't expect an overnight process...study this hard both ways...If in your frame assessment as stock is looking at suspension rebuilt as themajor driving force behind the mod...the rebuild will be quicker and eassier and probably a lot less expensive even if the donor parts were given to you... Hey Tim, I was looking at the pictures of your wagon; are you pretty happy with that Dakota clip? It looks like it came out really nice. How is it on highway driving? I'm considering it for my 49 next winter with a 318 swap. Quote
Robert Horne Posted February 20, 2012 Report Posted February 20, 2012 My books list the 41 and 48 Plymouth's wheelbase as 117 inch. Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted February 20, 2012 Report Posted February 20, 2012 Hey Tim, I was looking at the pictures of your wagon; are you pretty happy with that Dakota clip? It looks like it came out really nice. How is it on highway driving? I'm considering it for my 49 next winter with a 318 swap. you will lose stock features...consider hard and long what you want and what you are will to give up...I am one that could care less about stock on any old car...just have no desire to drive a brick on wheels.. Quote
Rusty O'Toole Posted February 20, 2012 Report Posted February 20, 2012 Wonder if a Durango or other SUV chassis would fit better than a pickup frame? I know the truck frames usually have interference under the rear seat because they are not designed for a car body. Have not checked into this at all , it just occurred to me. Quote
dctodd1313 Posted February 20, 2012 Author Report Posted February 20, 2012 i have a chiltons motor age frame and body manual and it shows for 46-49 frames so im not sure if the 41 is the same any body know if they are the same? Quote
Don Coatney Posted February 22, 2012 Report Posted February 22, 2012 Can you elaborate on why your frame is "shot". Might be easier to repair your frame than replace it. Pictures would help. There used to be an all Mopar bone yard near Allentown. I was there a couple of times around 1990 when I lived in Walnutport. If I recall it was located a few miles west of Coplay off 145. Follow this link http://www430.pair.com/p15d24/mopar_forum/showthread.php?p=290777#post290777 Quote
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