I'm thinking of starting a woody project with this
and/or maybe some of this. Any comments?

Hi everyone!

I am new here, but have been around awhile. My current project is not quite what I would call a street rod, more of a cruiser - It is a 1956 Dodge Sierra wagon that I found in the CA Bay Area.

It looks like it spent some time underwater before being yanked out by the front bumper.

I drained about 4 qts of sea water out of the 270 Poly and another 2-3 qts of water out of the PowerFlite.



I stripped the wagon down to the basics and have replaced the kingpin front end with a ball joint front end from a 82 Olds Delta 88 - nice fit with the Dodge frame.

The engine and transmission (5.7L Hemi and 5-45RFE) from a 2005 Durango rollover - basically a drop in - adapted the stock Durango engine mounts and modified the stock 56 rear crossmember to fit the 545RFE tailshaft.

Had an aluminum gas tank fabricated to replace the rusted stock tank and made it a tad wider so that I could install the stock Durango fuel module. I had planned to use the stock Durango PCM and wiring harness but had to throw in the towel when I could not defeat the built in security system. Bought a new PCM and harness from Hot Wire Auto which solved all my problems.



I am just starting to strip the old paint and removing the rust from the body panels so that I can get them sealed with epoxy primer prior to tackling the body work.

The remaining major fab work will be installing a four bar 9" Ford rear axle so that I can air bag the rear, with ShockWaves on the front. I also need to fab mounts for all of the Durango seats as well - another really great fit!

It will be finished out with 18" Torque Thrusts and a Viper Red over Black BC/CC paint job. The interior will be Red/Black ultra leather.

nice Cruiser Conrad, Welcome to the board!

Conrad...call me anal, but the 8¾ is equally as strong as the 9", if not stronger, and I can tell you from personal experience that an E-body unit is essentially perfect width for the 56. I used one in mine. You're going 4-link anyhow, so the spring perch issue isn't an issue for me (the only real work I had to do for installation).

My

My 37 Dodge, bought right here off Moparts a couple of years ago. 340, 5-speed Richmond, Dana 60 w/4.56, ladder bar coilovers in rear, Mustang 2 front end (out of junk yard). Clean car & has been a real cool project so far!
Ferlin

I modified & reinforced the original frame for the big tires & more power, I think it will hold together.
Ferlin

Not much of an interior as of yet (keeping it lite & simple) at least until I get tired of riding in a tin can & win the lottery.
Ferlin

Great to see a couple new members that are into rods!
Conrad, are you up by Flagstaff? I pine trees...

Ferlin, that frame is awesome!! I love the fact you kept the center x-member and rear cross piece!

That looks like a very cool project Conrad.

Thanks, I did it to keep it simple & keep all the original body mount locations & the X worked out as a driveshaft loop.
Ferlin

Ferlin, is that a Coronet parked beside the rolling chassis ?

Dan,
Forgot to ask, what flavor of '56 Dodge sedan do you have?

I have a 56 Dodge Crusader...but it's a Canadian Dodge, or "Plodge" as I have come to call them. Looking at it from the back it's a 56 Plymouth. From the front it's a 56 Dodge. Here's a pic of what it looked like when I got it. It looks pretty much the same now, as all the changes have been made under the skin. It had an old poly with 3 speed manual...now it's got an Eddy headed 360 and an 833OD. It's got a 1946 Ford ½-ton straight axle under the front, which is now wearing disc brakes, and the aforementioned 8¾ with 3.73's. For my other 56, I'm looking at a TT318...

Hello, new to this sit. Here is a picture of my street rod..It has a 241 Dodge Red Ram Hemi..I always wanted a hemi..
Duane.

Plymouth chassis? Looks like it might be a 115" wheelbase. I have noticed that most non Mopar folks have a hard time telling a 55-56 Plymouth from a Dodge, your Crusader (Plodge) would really throw them for a loop!
Dare to be different!

this is my 41 plymouth project. it has a mopar 400bb.

my 41 has a 400bb chrysler, with a 727 tranny and a b&m speed shifter. the rear end is from a 70 gtx 8 3/4 . the front clip is a 79 plymouth volare.