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1946 chrysler royal 4 dr chassis on 2003 ram 1500 #2407897
11/23/17 03:46 PM
11/23/17 03:46 PM
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Tommeade Offline OP
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I have a 2003 ram 1500 std cab that was rolled and would like to mount a 1946 chrysler royal on the frame. Any assistance would be appreciated. Kits needed to fit or anybody done this. The floor is gone on 46 but body decent.

Re: 1946 chrysler royal 4 dr chassis on 2003 ram 1500 [Re: Tommeade] #2408090
11/24/17 12:39 AM
11/24/17 12:39 AM
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Freeport IL USA
poorboy Offline
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I put a 48 Plymouth business coupe on a 1st gen Dakota chassis.

I suggest you begin by parking to two side by side, then remove the sheet metal from the 1500 chassis and do some measurements. I suspect the 03 1500 is too wide, and has too long of a wheel base. The wheel base is usually pretty easily corrected, but if its too wide, that could be a problem. The location of the motor in relationship to the front suspension center line is another area that would be of concern, moving the motor/trans backward is generally pretty easy, moving the motor forward or the front suspension center line backwards is an entirely different matter. The relationship between the front suspension and the motor will likely need to be within a few inches of each other between the 46 Chrysler and the 03 1500. With the sheet metal gone from the Ram Chassis, with the two parked side by side you can move the chassis forward or backward to see how things are going to match up. You will know pretty quickly how big the project will be.

Also, a 1500 chassis sits pretty high off the ground, most street rods don't look so good sitting very high. While the sheet metal is off the chassis, you might want to see what will be involved with lowering the chassis.

If the measurements bear out, I wouldn't get rid of the cab or box just yet, you may be able to reuse the cab firewall and floor pan, and the box floor in the Chrysler with some modifications. The more stuff you can use from the donor truck on the Chrysler, the less money you will have tied up in the project. Even if you can reuse most of the stuff from the Ram, expect to dump at least $3,000-$4,000 or more in the Chrysler project.

When you get that sheet metal off the frame, post up a few pictures. Gene

Re: 1946 chrysler royal 4 dr chassis on 2003 ram 1500 [Re: poorboy] #2408273
11/24/17 03:20 PM
11/24/17 03:20 PM
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British Columbia, Canada
Old Ray Offline
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Gene has given you wise advice and wisdom. Heed it. Many projects have been started and then abandoned when they become overwhelming.

I think that the full sized truck frame will be too long and too wide, a tape measure is going to be your best friend (even if you don't like the results).

Unfortunately there is very few quick or easy frame replacements, It has been said that the best frame (modified) for a project is the original one. I believe that to be true. wink

Re: 1946 chrysler royal 4 dr chassis on 2003 ram 1500 [Re: Tommeade] #2408469
11/25/17 12:15 AM
11/25/17 12:15 AM
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Freeport IL USA
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Just to give you a picture of what you may be up against, my current project is putting 39 (through 47) Dodge pickup sheet metal on a 91 Dakota standard cab, long box, 2 wd chassis. Please understand, this is not my first go around, I've built 4 old body projects on modern frames. I am a welder by trade, and I've run dirt track race cars in my past. I have the equipment, the experience, and the space to do this stuff.

I'm using the 39-47 cab, hood & grill, and the pickup box sides. I'm not intending on using fenders, though I'm building the truck with the possibility of adding the fenders later. This is about as easy of a project like this you can get.

I had to shorten the Dakota long box frame 10", which requires all new cab, radiator support, & box mounts. The Dakota frame is too long behind the rear axle, I ended up cutting the rear frame rails off just behind the rear spring shackles (about 10" or so). I also had to cut the front frame horns off the Dakota frame right in front of the front crossmember and fabricate new frame horns. The front of the Dakota frame is a pretty large square shape and it kicks out and up ahead of the crossmember, The new horns are decreasing in size from 2" x 4" rectangle down to 1 1/2" x 2 1/2" rectangle, and they point slightly downward and inward. I made them about 20" long and will trim the length when I'm done with the front sheet metal and am ready to build the new front bumper.

I had to move the motor/trans back on the frame 8", which requires new motor mounts, this Dakota was a V6 model, but once you need to move the mounts, that pretty much becomes irrelevant. I also had to move the trans crossmember back on the frame the same distance I moved the motor mounts back, which requires making new brackets to support the crossmember.

I'm installing a 5.9 Magnum, the 39 truck had a flathead 6. The 39 firewall has a vertical 3" deep recess to accommodate the flathead 6 I had to cut the area not recessed in the firewall out wide enough for the V8 motor to set back in that 3" recess. That required making new sections for firewall.I opted to make it one section rather then try to expand the recess. I will also need to move the radiator 2" forward into the grill shell to clear the Magnum water pump & fan. I will have to build a radiator support and crossmember. This will also require buying a street rod radiator that is tall and less then 19" wide. All of this was so I could use the original 39 hood and grill and maintain their original shape, length, and location on the cab. The 39 headlights mounted in the fenders, since I'm not intending on using the fenders, I will have to come up with a way to mount the headlights on the frame.

Since I cut the firewall, and had to make new cab mounts, and have to widen the trans tunnel to clear the Magnum's auto trans, I ended up cutting most of the original floor out of the 39 cab. As a side note, now that I'm trying to mount a set of bucket seats, I wish I would have built an entire new floor pan.

I have the entire wiring harness from the running, driving, Dakota. The harness is too wide to fit inside the cab, and its too long to the end of the frame. I know for sure the wiring across the front of the truck will be too long, and much too wide. I'm likely going to have to buy or build a wiring harness.

The 39 had a really cool looking dash and gauges, but I can't use them! The temp gauge, though a complete mechanical unit, only goes up to 212 degrees (systems then were not pressurized). I doubt it would fair well with a 195 thermostat. The fuel gauge doesn't match up with the Dakota sending unit, so it is useless. The amp gauge reads a max of + or - 30 amps, doubt that would fair well with a 120 amp charging system. The mechanical oil pressure gauge has a max reading of 40 psi, hopefully the Magnum oil pressure is above that when cold. That leaves the speedo. Its a mechanical unit that would require some repair, but the trans speedo output is electrical, so I won't be using it either. The Dakota gauges are ugly, and won't fit or look right in the dash of this truck. Another expense.

The 39 had a really cool looking heater, but since I had to cut the firewall and modify it, the original heater doesn't fit anymore. The Dakota unit is too wide. Don't care so much about the heat, but the defroster is a must. I'm going to quit now.

I'm about 6 months into this project, and there is likely 6 more months to go before it will be road worthy (not pretty, just drive able.) If I were to add up what I've spent, I'm probably well past $2,000, the Dakota cost $150, and the 39 cost $1,000, the little stuff adds up fast. I will still have to buy the extra stuff I'm going to need, and I will rebuild the Dakota brakes (convert to 5 bolt wheels) and might possible need some suspension parts.

These are major projects, despite how simple they sound. You need to understand what your diving into. If you are aware and up to the task, do some measuring and go for it. The only way to learn is to jump right in. We will be here to offer words of wisdom, or educated guesses, as the case may be. Gene

Re: 1946 chrysler royal 4 dr chassis on 2003 ram 1500 [Re: Tommeade] #2408534
11/25/17 02:53 AM
11/25/17 02:53 AM
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Downtown Roebuck Ont
Twostick Offline
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Quote:
The 39 had a really cool looking dash and gauges, but I can't use them!


Not completely accurate. biggrin

There are a few companies out there that specialize in taking a vintage cluster, installing modern stepper motor movements in it and restoring the gauge faces with modern scales in the original colors and fonts ie your 212 deg temp gauge would come back looking identical except it would max out at say 230 degrees. Same with the speedo, 120 MPH instead of the 80 or 100 it is now.

Not cheap but another plus is that the Magnum ECM could likely drive them too.

https://www.bobsspeedometer.com/1/120/custom_work.asp

http://shop.classicinstruments.com/retrofits

There's another one I can't remember that always had full page ads in some of the hot rod/street rod type magazines. They were in California.

Kevin

Re: 1946 chrysler royal 4 dr chassis on 2003 ram 1500 [Re: Tommeade] #2408540
11/25/17 03:01 AM
11/25/17 03:01 AM
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Downtown Roebuck Ont
Twostick Offline
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As for the OP (didn't mean to hijack), I'm also of the opinion that the 1500 is going to be a non starter for you for the reasons already mentioned. Probably too wide, too long altho that is reasonably easy to fix but the clincher will be definitely too high unless you're going for that 4x4 look.

I'd be shopping for a Dakota to drop it on.

Kevin

Re: 1946 chrysler royal 4 dr chassis on 2003 ram 1500 [Re: Tommeade] #2408789
11/25/17 08:35 PM
11/25/17 08:35 PM
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British Columbia, Canada
Old Ray Offline
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Here is the famous drawing from Gary Sand on a Dakota front subframe to a '56 Plymouth. post # 17

Here's a sketch overlay of the two frames. The Plymouth is in blue and the Dakota in black.

[img]http://www.moparstyle.com/forums/forum/m...ward-look/page2[/img]

Re: 1946 chrysler royal 4 dr chassis on 2003 ram 1500 [Re: Old Ray] #2408859
11/25/17 10:58 PM
11/25/17 10:58 PM
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Supercuda Offline
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Originally Posted By Old Ray
Here is the famous drawing from Gary Sand on a Dakota front subframe to a '56 Plymouth. post # 17

Here's a sketch overlay of the two frames. The Plymouth is in blue and the Dakota in black.

[img]http://www.moparstyle.com/forums/forum/m...ward-look/page2[/img]



That'd be a lot more useful if it wasn't being blocked by photobucket


They say there are no such thing as a stupid question.
They say there is always the exception that proves the rule.
Don't be the exception.
Re: 1946 chrysler royal 4 dr chassis on 2003 ram 1500 [Re: Supercuda] #2408898
11/25/17 11:43 PM
11/25/17 11:43 PM
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British Columbia, Canada
Old Ray Offline
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Originally Posted By Supercuda
Originally Posted By Old Ray
Here's a sketch overlay of the two frames. The Plymouth is in blue and the Dakota in black.


That'd be a lot more useful if it wasn't being blocked by photobucket


Works here, must be the air quality there ? wink
From Ingur.

Re: 1946 chrysler royal 4 dr chassis on 2003 ram 1500 [Re: poorboy] #2408955
11/26/17 01:38 AM
11/26/17 01:38 AM
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Tommeade Offline OP
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Will post photos when we start work on it. Thank you for suggestions and comments. Really appreciate that.

Re: 1946 chrysler royal 4 dr chassis on 2003 ram 1500 [Re: Twostick] #2408961
11/26/17 01:41 AM
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Tommeade Offline OP
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Have a quad cab dakota but it's a daily driver. The 1500 cab is wrecked. We are trying to use what we already have to keep cost down.

Re: 1946 chrysler royal 4 dr chassis on 2003 ram 1500 [Re: Tommeade] #2410187
11/28/17 04:50 PM
11/28/17 04:50 PM
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Eastern Ontario
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The 1500 truck frame and suspension will be too high and too wide for your 46 Chrysler. Best to find a Dakota frame, we used a front clip from a 1996 Dakota and welded it to the 1940 Frame at the firewall. It works perfectly, we did have to move the engine back 8 inches relative the the front wheels in order to fit between the firewall and radiator on the 1940 Chrysler. Keeping the 1940 frame from firewall back meant we could use all the body mounts....and there are lots of them!!

Mike


2008 Challenger SRT8
1940 Chrysler Royal coupe
Re: 1946 chrysler royal 4 dr chassis on 2003 ram 1500 [Re: Tommeade] #2411128
11/30/17 03:19 AM
11/30/17 03:19 AM
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Tommeade Offline OP
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Oops, sorry but it's a 1941 Chrysler Royal. We took lots of measurements and it's just as you all say. The 1500 frame won't work. Thank you all for your knowledge base.

Re: 1946 chrysler royal 4 dr chassis on 2003 ram 1500 [Re: Tommeade] #2411553
11/30/17 11:45 PM
11/30/17 11:45 PM
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If your 41 Chrysler still has the original frame and suspension intact, you may be farther ahead to update what you already have.

The frame already fits you car, and the boxed frame is plenty strong enough to handle nearly any drive train you want to add. The original flathead 6 is nearly as heavy as a Mopar big block, and the Chrysler flathead 8 weighs more then the big block.

The Chrysler front suspension was light years ahead of the competition in suspension development in the late 30s and early 40s. The independent front suspension is a very good design that works very well with a few minor adjustments. They are easy to rebuild, and parts are readily available.

Several companies offer a disc brake conversion. A disc brake conversion is probably cheaper then rebuilding the original brakes. The original brakes were hard to properly adjust.

Several companies offer rack and pinion power steering for your car (frame attaching points are the same location on the frame as they are on the 46-48 Plymouth & Dodge, a search on this web site of the "46-48 Plymouth" will provide hours of reading and most of that info will transfer to your 41 Chrysler.

The original shocks mount between the upper and the lower control arms. That gives a nice pillow smooth ride, but brackets are available to relocate the upper shock mount to the frame. That brings the ride and handling up to modern standards. An upgrade to a Jeep front sway bar over an existing or a non-existing original sway bar is another easy and wonderful upgrade.

Food for thought. Gene

Re: 1946 chrysler royal 4 dr chassis on 2003 ram 1500 [Re: poorboy] #2411710
12/01/17 11:01 AM
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good advice there gene ! up
beer

Re: 1946 chrysler royal 4 dr chassis on 2003 ram 1500 [Re: moparx] #2435843
01/16/18 07:08 PM
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Dakota chassis is the only way to go, a full size truck chassis would be much too wide. WAY easier to shorten a long frame than to narrow one that is too wide!

A friend of mine put this '52 Intertrashional on a shortened extended cab Dakota frame. He kept the Dakota cab floor, firewall and dash intact, and pretty much just sat the IH where he wanted it and welded it all up. The suspension was left bone stock. Even though the dash needed some trimming on the ends, he retained the cruise control, gauges, electronics, heat and air, pretty much eveything. When he was done it was just like driving a Dakota!


Re: 1946 chrysler royal 4 dr chassis on 2003 ram 1500 [Re: Tommeade] #2436142
01/17/18 03:32 AM
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Actually, there is a guy in Ohio that is popping out the 50s International trucks on Durango frames. He make it sound pretty easy, and he is using nearly everything from the Durango. The 5.7 Hemi was available in a 2004 Durango....

50s trucks are easier to mount on modern frames then 30s-mid 40s cars & trucks. Most of the older stuff is pretty narrow for modern wheel widths. Gene

Re: 1946 chrysler royal 4 dr chassis on 2003 ram 1500 [Re: poorboy] #2700749
09/25/19 11:44 AM
09/25/19 11:44 AM
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Buckeye Lake
56_Royal_Lancer Offline
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Does anyone have a lead on this guy in Ohio that is mentioned for putting International pickups on Durango frames?

Re: 1946 chrysler royal 4 dr chassis on 2003 ram 1500 [Re: 56_Royal_Lancer] #2701921
09/29/19 10:17 AM
09/29/19 10:17 AM
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Between Houston & Galveston TX
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Originally Posted by 56_Royal_Lancer
Does anyone have a lead on this guy in Ohio that is mentioned for putting International pickups on Durango frames?


Maybe this guy on YouTube?

Grenade Motorsports

shruggy


John

The dream is dead, long live the dream.......😥
Re: 1946 chrysler royal 4 dr chassis on 2003 ram 1500 [Re: SattyNoCar] #2712627
11/04/19 10:52 AM
11/04/19 10:52 AM
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Buckeye Lake
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That's the guy- thanks a ton! My nephew who recently died left his widow a '51 International P/U and she wants to hot rod it in his memory.
Thanks again,
Mike







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