Should be picking up a new project soon.. wondered if any of you guys have put a mustange II front end in one or what they are doing..

Let me be the first to say Dakota front frame swap.

Actually, the MII works great, you can buy every part on the aftermarket and it is plenty strong enough for a street rod pickup. But the sentiment here is "keep it Mopar" so the Dak frame wins.

Fatman Fabrications is a good place to start on front ends.

R.

I'm lazy, when I did the frame all the following was done: brake lines, master cylinder, disc brakes, rack and pinion, bed floor, fuel tank, and steering shaft.

Here's what I had to fab up to make it work: mate the steering shaft, move the motor back and make mounts cab, engine and transmission, hang a brake pedal.

It time to make a build thread for my pick up.

current state

here is what im starting with

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=710598&highlight=dakota+frame

Look halfway down the page at he red 56, the frame fits really good.

i would vote for the dakota too----mustangII is just an ok front end----most racers will admit that MII can be overwhelmed by horse power---even the MII guys upgrade to granada stuff which also ranks behind the dakota---another front and rear clip to consider for a hot rod is Jaguar MK6---they are bolt off/weld back on setups with superior brakes--and the jag rear is a dana 44 which you can buy anything for--just ask the jeep guys....bob

subsrcibed

Google search the Dakota wheel base and there should be three. Luckily the front tires to the back of the cab were the same on both trucks. The frames can be shortened but I didn't need to do that.

somewhat on topic

90% sure im going to do a full dakota frame swap.. got the truck on saturday so now time to dissasemble and rebuild. lots of work.

If you don't have a lift and your friend does you have a new best friend.

The Trucks come apart easily but the bodies get in the way until you scrap the unneeded stuff.

A newer Dakota looks funny on an old chassis DAMHIK. The guy at the scrap yard didn't like it either because they weren't bolted together.

My first measurement was from the back of the cab to the front wheel centerline. This helped me see how far back into the bed I was when moving cabs. Luckily on my Plymouth they were both 60". If possible work on the cab then the bed. My brakes and steering fell right into place afterward. If I had more info I could give it to you but there are quite a few pilot house builds on the HAMB.

Looking at a 93 dak. I figure get the cab on and center the front wheels in the wheel well and work from there.

You may have seen my 57. It sets on the forward half of an 88 Dak frame and the rear half is shortened, narrowed and boxed 57. You can set the ride height by how far down over the frame that you set the body.

another

post lots of pics please

03 and newer Crown Vic/Grand Marquis/Towncar. Front clip/engine cradle is bolted in with 4 bolts. IIRC the frame width is 34"

Kevin

Did I not read the Crown Vic/Grand Marquis subframe has a pretty wide tire track and needs modification for the tires to fit under the fenders of the 50s Dodge trucks? Gene

63.4 inches for the front track on the Merc/Vic

just got a 56 about a month ago, i'm keeping the I Beam just made new spring pads and flipped the axle on top of the springs and doing a rear flip this week, will post pics in a day or two, yours looks better than mine.

hope to get a frame this weekend so i can start on this project soon.

Good luck!

Let us know how things go. If you have any questions about your build, please ask. I will ofer any help that I can.

This is a pic of the 88 Dak frame connected to the narrowed and shortened 57 frame.

well i have a 89 dakota frame all stripped down and ready to be cut and blasted.

I have a pretty god set of rear fenders for your progect if you are intrested.

here are some new pix

ready to be welded

Nice frame! Those Dakota frames were made for shortening. And for the 48-60 Dodge trucks they have very similar engine placement. You can splice the Dakota floor and firewall right into the old cab. Or place the old cab on the new frame and move your cab mounts. You can also use the Dakota box floor and attach your stepside box sides. Dakotas are the ideal doner.

should be welded on friday... then its time to get the cab off the old frame and start fitting before the frame goes to get blasted.

This is for sale locally and the wheelbase is only 9/10 of an inch shorter than a SWB Dakota. Wheels in my head are spinning....

Love the progress pics!

2 door wagon! I want!

I saw that wagon too. I had to turn the page because I could start to here the project voices in my head.

I was 10 minutes too late to buy one of those about 15 years ago.
Good thing I'm broke these days, like I need another project at this time anyway.
That one sure looks good! Gene

any updates?