1949 B-1-C shop truck project

[superbyrd]

fixin to start on a cheap, reliable, economical ratty shop truck build. picked up this B-1-C pickup the other day, and i already had picked up this 87 dakota. i will be putting the 49 body on the shortened LWB dakota chassis, and robbing every usable part from the little truck. gauge cluster,wiring harness, radiator, etc,etc.

[HanksB3B]

Welcome Superbyrd !

 

Ya know people shouldn't be allowed to have so much fun.

 

Good luck, we'll keep watching ,

 

Hank 

Edited April 3, 2014 by HanksB3B

[ggdad1951]

welcome, keep the pictures coming!

[RodFru2u]

That's going to be a Great project. Looking forward to more pictures on your progress.Welcome to the forum.

[1952B3b23]

Welcome, cant wait to see more this will be a very cool truck. Is that a first gen Dodge Cummins in the background of the dakota pic? It looks to me like i almost see a stack in the bed.

 

-Chris

[superbyrd]

thanks for the welcomes. and yes, thats my 93  in the background.  12V/5-speed/3.54's. 530,XXX and still going strong.

[1952B3b23]

thanks for the welcomes. and yes, thats my 93  in the background.  12V/5-speed/3.54's. 530,XXX and still going strong.

 

Wow never heard of a first gen with that many miles, very impressive. I had a 92 with that same setup (12 V, 5 speed), fun truck to cruise around in.

 

-Chris 

[superbyrd]

well, no fresh pics at the moment, i did get the cab and doghouse removed from the 49's frame, and set off to the side. removed the bed from the dakota.

tomorrow i am going to remove alot of un-needed parts from under the hood of the dak. removing a/c compressor and lines. pollution pump and hoses. weld up holes on manifolds. change crank/wp pulleys/belts to non-a/c arrangement. getting ready, hopefully, by the weekend to remove the cab from the dakota so i can start on shortening the frame/driveshaft,lines,etc.

[superbyrd]

got some more work done on this project. got the dak body removed from the frame. all inside components out, dash cluster, wiring harness, brake pedal/column mounting structure. getting ready to cut and shorten the frame the needed 8 inches. its starting to take shape.....

[fargo52]

Did the same frame swap , cut the cab frame mounts off the old frame and shortened them about an inch , the rear cab ones fit perfect.

[fargo52]

Found a picture

[superbyrd]

getting closer. still have to take 8 inches out of the dak's wheelbase, got the cab on the lift and the chassis rolled under it to get some visual and check soime clearances.....

[ruff1148kr]

I'm a big shop truck fan. Building a different kinda one my self also a 48. You seam to be the man who's got the tools and talent to get it done right. That lift sure make life a lot easier   Keep posting

[superbyrd]

well, i'm not the best at keeping up with my picture taking as i go along. so, shes a driving truck now. frame shortened, all cab mounts fabed and mounted, bed floor raised 4 inches to clear stock dakota gas tank and crossmembers, still gotta finish bed floor and hook up llights, but, she goes down the road now.....

[HanksB3B]

Some guys get to have all the fun..!

 

Good Luck with your Builds, 

 

Hank 

[MBF]

Wow - you've been busy.  Nice job in s short period of time.

[ruff1148kr]

Very impressive how fast you figured it all out. Makes me think that the frame swap was the way to go. I stayed away from it because a lot that you see do not have the front wheels centered in the wheel well. You pulled it of and fast.  You have talent and drive to make this a great truck you will be able to drive everyday. Feeling pretty stupid right now.....  looking forward to seeing more

[pflaming]

"SHOW OFF"!!!    WOW! A lift in the FRONT YARD! Now that is classy. Want a lift, now know where to put it. . . . on the driveway! Do you do special effects with that at Christmas time? Could put Santa and his sleigh on there, paint the lift flat black and the sleigh would . . .   you get the idea. !!!

Edited May 20, 2014 by pflaming

[superbyrd]

thanks for the kudos guys. the fit of everything from the dakota was almost amazing how it almost just "dropped in" the 49. i mean, i centered the wheels in the front wheelwells, did no mods to the firewall. the passenger side valve cover is a good inch from the firewall, the steering shaft/plate at the bottom of the column, fit right in place and slid right back intro the rack and pinion with no shortening, the brake pedal mout bolted right in in a perfect spot on the firewall with no issues. it really is an easy fit. even the stock dakota radiator fits in between the sides and bottom of the factory core support with only minor trimming and notching. the only major work is raising the bed floor 4" to clear the stock dakota tank and rear shock crossmember. i used light duty 1" sqaure steel tube to build a frame work to hold my new bed-to-frame mounts (all 8 of them) and to give support to my.090" steel diamond plate that will be the new bed floor. its coming along nicely. i have honestly about 2 weeks total time in the entire build so far. its all the little details that will take more time./...

[superbyrd]

here are some more pics showing the progress thus far on the bed floor. have the seat and dakota gauge cluster in now. and some underhood shots.....

[RodFru2u]

You are making some GREAT Progress. Your truck will be a real nice cruiser when completed.

[superbyrd]

hi guys and gals. haven't been on here much. been busy. not alot to tell,just been driving my ole truck. have put about 1000 miles on it since completion. she still knocks down 20+ mpg, been on a couple 3+ hour trips. gets the job done. here is a photobucket link of my build from start to finish. enjoy......http://s207.photobucket.com/user/superbyrd/library/49ratdodge2014

Edited August 15, 2014 by superbyrd

[ruff1148kr]

Sounds like your having alot of fun with it. 3 hr road trips with nothing going wrong, that's saying something

[TrampSteer]

I like the license plate floor.