Grafting 48 PH to Dakota Info?

[RedRam]

Hello, all. I have a 48 Pilothouse and want to graft it to a 1991 Dakota 2wd, short bed, base cab, sub frame. The Dak had a V6 and a five speed; I'm going back with a mild LA318 and a 727.  My goal is a long distance cruiser that is capable of 70-Up-Air (seventy miles an hour, Uphill, Air conditioner running). I'd like to hear from any member who has hands-on experience at grafting a pilothouse to a dakota subframe. Can I use the Dak floor and lower firewall? Will the PH body have to be channeled? Thanks.

[allbizz49]

Why not just put a 318 and 5 speed in the pilothouse? Why all the work of swapping the body onto a modern chassis?

[Plymouthy Adams]

8 minutes ago, allbizz49 said:

Why not just put a 318 and 5 speed in the pilothouse? Why all the work of swapping the body onto a modern chassis?

I wondered the very same as it is evident that he is not going to embrace the modern technology of the 'given' outdated 91 engine controls and falling back to even more ancient technology.  But that is his ball to call.

[Los_Control]

Here is a pretty good thread on doing the project. Should answer a lot of your questions .... or give you more 

 

 

 

[Sniper]

the Dakota chassis is light years ahead of the Pilothouse, in all aspects. 

 

Here's a thread at another site I frequent covering a similar swap from guys who have done it.  Poke around there are several other threads doing similar there

 

https://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/1313950/55-dodge-truck-on-a-2005-dakota-chassis.html#Post1313950

 

another

 

https://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/2821543/frame-swap-question.html#Post2821543

Edited January 2, 2023 by Sniper

[RedRam]

Thanks, Los_Control and Sniper. The links you furnished gave me tons of info useful for the direction I will take.  The 91 Dakota wheelbase is only three inches longer than the 48, so I might not have to shorten the frame. It will be another couple of months before I can start. With helpful guys like you available, I am confident this will succeed. Thanks again.