koderboy Posted May 4, 2013 Report Posted May 4, 2013 hey guys i got a quick question and i cant seem to find a search button. i have a 49 plymouth and ive seen people swap 2wd dakota frames into them but has anyone swaped a 4x4 frame under one? i know ill catch crap for this question but i want to make it clear i dont want a lifted monster truck here i just noticed the ride height is about the same and it would be awesome to have in iowa. thanks in advance! Quote
randroid Posted May 4, 2013 Report Posted May 4, 2013 koderboy, Welcome to the forum. I have not heard of anyone trying to swap frames but it sounds like a great project. What I have heard is rear ends being swapped but with judicious application of a guessing stick you could probably figure out how close you could come. Might be better off trying to replace both axle housings rather than the entire frame but I'm just guessing. With such an unique idea I'm sure you'll get lots of suggestions from those more knowledgeable than I. #1 rule around here is that it's your car and your money and you may do with it whatever you please. In example, no P-15 was ever offered with a two-tone paint job but that's what I have planned for mine and nobody has ever come down on me for it. Enjoy! -Randy Quote
koderboy Posted May 4, 2013 Author Report Posted May 4, 2013 thanks randy its been in the back of my mind but havent dug into it yet i have another car to get running first but it seems like it would work just need to see what the wheel bases of the two are. i would be swaping in the whole drivetrain.. if that was obvious Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted May 4, 2013 Report Posted May 4, 2013 personally I would never recommend a full frame swap from a Dakota or other truck/car to the early sedans...and even with the full drivetrain swap included in the mix, it WILL NOT.. match up to the firewall worth a hoot and still match your wheel well opening be it a V8 or V6 install Dakota frame... Quote
koderboy Posted May 4, 2013 Author Report Posted May 4, 2013 i figured the firewall would need to be modified and as far as the wheel openings im sure we can match that up the best we can i figured for a $100 car it was worth a shot ... i figured someone atleast did a 2wd swap maybe i need to check google again. i just dont want to put anything chevy in her! Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted May 4, 2013 Report Posted May 4, 2013 no on the firewall mod...but you have a ton of other consideration you have not even mentioned...and I would not say not do it..only I will point out it is a path of no return and for every mod there is 2-3 others to support it or affected by the modification. You will need plenty of room inside a well lit shop, proper fabrication tools and skill and be a skilled welder. As you think a certain frame is always a good choice...(it is) you would do well now to get the book on both vehicles as the frame dimensions and auge holes are clearly marked and specs are well listed. Get out your tape measure and a good pad of paper..the job starts here....not with a sawzall...see in your mind what is where and how each will transfer and interact...make your list... 1 Quote
koderboy Posted May 4, 2013 Author Report Posted May 4, 2013 well put plymouthy i know that i have alot to do that why i wanted to ask first so in case someone has done it before that would have saved me some time! Quote
48ply1stcar Posted May 4, 2013 Report Posted May 4, 2013 About two-years-ago I saw someone do half of what you’re thinking on a 1948 P15 4dr. So I don’t know if this will work for you. I had seen this particular 48 4dr at shows over the years and it was a driver, nothing fancy just original. Then he showed up with his car and everything looked the same until he opened the hood. He had taken the front frame from a Dakota and cut it off near the back of the engine. Cut the frame on the P15, overlapped them and welded them together. Swapped the rear ends, modified the drive shaft, and kept the Automatic. He had to modify the firewall and he shifted the automatic with the stock gear shift on-the-tree. From the inside of the car you could not tell that the car had been modified, except for the Air-conditioning. It was nice to have the entire 318 and power train and maintain the look of the 48. The car is from somewhere around the north suburbs of Minneapolis maybe someone out there knows of this car and the owner. Quote
knuckleharley Posted May 7, 2013 Report Posted May 7, 2013 well put plymouthy i know that i have alot to do that why i wanted to ask first so in case someone has done it before that would have saved me some time! BTW,if your car is your avatar,that ain't a 49 Plymouth. I have a friend (a VERY talented bodyman and mechanic) that put a 39 Ford tudor on a 55 Chevy frame because the 39 needed all new floors anyhow,and even the chassis was rusted out in places. In his case it was easier to just use the whole 55 Chevy chassis,engine,trans,and running gear because it would be less fabrication. This was back when you could buy 55 Chevy 4drs at junkyards for a couple of hundred bucks. The wheelbase was a perfect fit,so the additional problems were only minor. I have a 37 Dodge commercial series pu on a 72 Ford 4x4 F-250 chassis,and being a pickup it wasn't that big of a job because both chassis were flat where the cab mounted. I don't think I would even consider doing it with a 4dr car,though. I know I wouldn't if the original chassis is still good under the 4 dr,and the floors only need minor work. Quote
Young Ed Posted May 7, 2013 Report Posted May 7, 2013 His avatar could certainly be a 49 it would be a first series. Quote
knuckleharley Posted May 7, 2013 Report Posted May 7, 2013 His avatar could certainly be a 49 it would be a first series. You're right,it could be. I've never actually seen one even though I know they exhist,though. Quote
Young Ed Posted May 7, 2013 Report Posted May 7, 2013 You're right,it could be. I've never actually seen one even though I know they exhist,though. I can't say I've ever seen one either. They look just like any other P15 so unless you talked to an owner or had the serial #s you wouldn't know. My own P15 is quite close to being a 49. It was built Nov of 48 and anything after 12-1-48 is considered a 49. Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted May 7, 2013 Report Posted May 7, 2013 Ed..for simplicity sake and not to confuse those that do not associate the P15 with the model year 1949...I simply refer to mine as a '48...but going by serial numbers I believe it is placed it in the 49 production year..I guess if I really want to cause controversy at a cruise or such putting a '49 YOM tag on will freak a number of folks locally who do not know how to spell Plymouth much less understand their production dates.. Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.