Thank you for any help with my 47 dodge!

[JRider]

This dodge has been sitting out for at least 50 years. It's time for it to roll again. I've asked around and, with my absent mechanical experience, I've heard it would be easiest to find a donor truck and just swap bodies. I'm looking to go with a rat rod philosophy of function over flash, but it'd mean a lot to see that 47 dodge body rolling. Any suggestions on an appropriate donor truck? Absolutely any information would greatly be appreciated. Even just the appropriate google search words would be great. Thank you again for any help.

[NiftyFifty]

Best option seems to be a dodge Dakota frame, their the best fit I've seen. S10 is also popular, but I find the front wheels look funny in the fenders sometimes, and there isn't a stock V8 option like the 318 Dakotas.

Good luck with your swap

[JRider]

Thank you 4mula. Have you found any particular model years of the Dakota are better suited for the build?

[48Dodger]

It looks to be a 1.5 ton truck with 116 inch wheel base. Most likely a 25" motor and a Eaton 2 speed rear axle.

 

What are you looking to build? A Rat Rod is an exaggerated body style with vintage only parts, no billet, no new paint. A Hot Rod is a mix of auto makers (example: chevy engine, ford rear-end, chrysler body) and un-painted. Street Rods, Custom, etc.... are sub catagories of Hot Rods. Nostalgia Rides, or sometimes called Vintage Rides, are vehicles that look original but are pumped up for street legal use.

 

If you keep it a big truck....the Dakota is no use to you. If you pull the cab and motor etc....then you could size it down to a 1/2 ton with the Dakota.

Using the Dakota usally means a lot of modifications which comes with an upgrade like that. 

 

If you want to go the 1/2 ton route....there are many options to keep it simple. Find an original style frame, use the motor you have, and upgrade to front disc brakes and a modern rear axle.

 

You live in Santa Rosa Ca. (I lived there for 20 years).....go to Brian's Salvage and junk 2580 Green Iland Rd, American Cayon, Ca  94503 

 

He has tons of 39 thru 47 era trucks, which is what yours is. Have fun looking thru his stuff and see if you want to go 1/2 Ton or bigger. 

 

48D

 

Brain's salvage thread one

Brian's salvage thread two

 

I aso have a truck get together every year at my ranch in Clements around the first week in April. maybe you can make it next year.

 

 

 

 

[Don Coatney]

I applaud your thoughts to get this old truck on the road as it would be a lot of fun. However your mention of absent mechanical experience is a bit scary. That usually means an absence of tools and any kind of workshop. So I assume you will be paying someone to build or assist in building this truck. Have you considered the cost of the finished product if you pay someone to do the work? And if you do the work the cost of tools and learning to use them in order to make this happen? And the time factor could be several years as mechanical experience does not happen overnight.

 

You could probably buy an old running and driving truck for a lot less money than you will spend doing the modifications you plan to do to this truck and start having fun the day you buy it.

[JRider]

Don-

The more I've been researching, the more I've been coming to the same conclusion you're proposing.  I have always wanted to drive that truck... I'd be ecstatic if I could just hear it turn over, let alone drive it along the same dirt road it used to haul lumbar on 70yrs ago.  But logic has to prevail with limited resources, and I could enjoy a more feasible project tomorrow rather than possibly in 5 years.     Thank you for your insight and wisdom, as painful as it was to soak in...

 

48Dodger-

Why'd you have to show me all those awesome old big trucks?  Should I win the lotto, I'm coming after you to point me in the right direction to get a rolling old dodge.  Thank you for your reply and help.

 

Should I disregard reason and continue with this project, I hope you all don't mind continuing to help me with the build.  It's obvious I joined the right forum.  I feel bad not having anything to contribute car-wise, but should any of you have questions concerning physical therapy, I'd be happy to field them in appreciation for this forum's help.

 

Thank you all again, and have a great 4th.

[jeffsunzeri]

That truck could be a real fun project and learning experience. It would be really helpful to have the model information, and perhaps a few more photos. Look inside the door jambs for plates with the model number and other information.

[NiftyFifty]

Honestly IMO, if you want a cruiser and not just a looker, then I'd go the route of putting the cab on a newer V8 frame, you eliminate issues finding brake parts, get instant power steering and better suspension and can access parts far easier and cheaper then rebuilding what you have. The 80's to early 90's Dakotas is where I would look, but being that truck as a wider front end you coud go to a 1/2 ton frame as well from the same years. Salvaging that frame is possible, but with that power train you limit yourself on the highway and if there are issues with it you coud be doing more searching for parts.

I still wish I would have swapped my 1 ton over, but I'm too far in on parts and swaps to go back, and I've got a lot of mechanical experience and tools, so I could do it all myself

Good luck no matter what you do!