front suspension for a 41 plymouth
#285881
04/12/09 10:11 AM
04/12/09 10:11 AM
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 390 kentucky
superbyrd
OP
enthusiast
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OP
enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 390
kentucky
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i am an avid 60's-70's mopar fan and regular around here,but i have recently got the bug to build myself a ratrod,so,i just picked up a sweet 99% rust-free 41 plymouth 2-door sedan out of kansas, and i am about to tear into it.i have a mild 67 383 and 727 i want to put in it, i have already accquired a fresh built 8.8 fox-body mustang rear end (fresh trac-loc,yukon 5-lug hardened axles,all new brakes,bearings,3.08 gears)that i plan on mounting via s-10 leaf springs,so now comes to the front. i was talking with an old fellow near me that suggested that i could use an 86 dodge diplomat front suspension/K-frame. i have never looked these cars over at all,but i noticed on the one he has, has the torsion bars running across the front of the K-frame,and the entire suspension,including the upper control arms, is all self contained on the K-frame itself. and it measures 62 inches across the front tires just like my 41's stock measurement. have any of you guys here ever used one of these set-ups? any ideas about it? looks like an easy fit to me.............???
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Re: front suspension for a 41 plymouth
[Re: superbyrd]
#285882
04/12/09 10:58 AM
04/12/09 10:58 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,992 Escondido, CA. Ron Podsiadly,...
Mopar Ron
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,992
Escondido, CA. Ron Podsiadly,...
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when you say "RATROD" do you mean just slapped together with stuff you have laying around or a finished rod just not painted? the term ratrod can mean many things. I had a volare' unit with the transverse torsion bars on my humpback panel truck way back in 1978?? and that truck rode fantastic, they are a little big in the front area and it might take a little work to hide the torsion bars from the front. it might be easier on a 41 than it was on my 36. and now that those frontends are over 30 years old I don't know how hard getting replacement parts would be. again it depends on what you plan to do with the car, personally I would NOT build that year car fenderless if that is your plan. if the car is complete I would build a nice streetrod out of it, you can run it around in primer if that is what you like... getting back to the front end I believe that your 41 has an independent frontend and you almost have to cut the whole frontend off and replace it with like 2x4 rectangular tubbing to mount the diplomat frontend as well as putting a mustang II style frontend on that car. some people like the stock frontends with upgraded parts, I like to change them over to something newer but thats just my liking. dont let me scare you away from the diplomat frontend just check out all your options befor you decide what to do. and you got any pics of the car, post them... Ron... here are a couple, does yours look like these??? this one is more of the unfinished look: I like the looks of this one:
Last edited by Mopar Ron; 04/12/09 11:04 AM.
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Re: front suspension for a 41 plymouth
[Re: Mopar Ron]
#285883
04/12/09 01:55 PM
04/12/09 01:55 PM
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,884 Tracy CA
rabid scott
"You're Where?"
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"You're Where?"
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,884
Tracy CA
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I think I'm going to use part of or a whole early Dodge Dakota chassis under my '40 Dodge. They are popular Mopar 5 lug, disc brakes, etc, etc. When I measured the 40 Dodge frame, Ron was able to give me the measurements for the Dakota, it was a match made in heaven! (Thanks again Ron! ) Another member grafted it to a '39 Plymouth frame. Check out this: https://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/show...e=1#Post5011149I still haven't done anything to it yet, still a few projects behind....
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Re: front suspension for a 41 plymouth
[Re: poorboy]
#285888
04/13/09 08:36 AM
04/13/09 08:36 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,123 Grand Haven, MI
patrick
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,123
Grand Haven, MI
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parts availabilty on the transverse torsion bar suspension is fine, in fact, firm feel is going to be making upgraded t-bars here sooon.
when the dakota was first being developed, they were going to use the M body front suspension. I presume they didn't because it'd be too hard to adapt to 4wd....
1976 Spinnaker White Plymouth Duster, /6 A833OD 1986 Silver/Twilight Blue Chrysler 5th Ave HotRod **SOLD!*** 2011 Toxic Orange Dodge Charger R/T 2017 Grand Cherokee Overland 2014 Jeep Cherokee Latitude (holy crap, my daughter is driving)
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Re: front suspension for a 41 plymouth
[Re: superbyrd]
#285890
04/14/09 02:13 AM
04/14/09 02:13 AM
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,295 Hawley, Texas
shinnery
super street
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super street
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,295
Hawley, Texas
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Having owned and driven two high mileage 85 5th Aves., I would not put that front end in a chebby! In my experience they want to wallow real bad. Maybe it is the rubber mounted rear axle or the rubber mounted crossmember but something is basically wrong. One of the magazines did a buildup on a Dippy racecar and they added another locating bar from the radiator support to the frontend maybe something like that would help. Bryce
Last edited by shinnery; 04/14/09 02:19 AM.
Every electronic device is manufactured with smoke stored deep inside...
only a true genius can find a way to set it free.
The most terrifying words in the English language are: "I'm from the government and I am here to help!"
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Re: front suspension for a 41 plymouth
[Re: shinnery]
#285891
04/14/09 12:13 PM
04/14/09 12:13 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,089 Sorrento, BC, Canada
4speeds4me
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,089
Sorrento, BC, Canada
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Reading mags like Mopar Action back in the late 80's early 90's, one thing became clear in a BIG hurry. If you wanted these cars to handle, getting rid of the rubber mounts was paramount. There was a kit available for the front that had iron pucks to replace the rubber ones for the frontend. These made a HUGE difference. Since most hotrodders would be solid mounting the frontend, this inherent problem is automatically solved.
2 Demons...no, not my kids!
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Re: front suspension for a 41 plymouth
[Re: 4speeds4me]
#285892
04/14/09 03:02 PM
04/14/09 03:02 PM
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,392 Thayer, MO
bohmer2
pro stock
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pro stock
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,392
Thayer, MO
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Quote:
Reading mags like Mopar Action back in the late 80's early 90's, one thing became clear in a BIG hurry. If you wanted these cars to handle, getting rid of the rubber mounts was paramount. There was a kit available for the front that had iron pucks to replace the rubber ones for the frontend. These made a HUGE difference. Since most hotrodders would be solid mounting the frontend, this inherent problem is automatically solved.
Those iron mount kits had gotten expensive too. I havent been in the market for any but my dad had a set he picked up because his 48 Panel has a Volare clip solid mounted. I am not sure what the market is like now but the early aftermarket solid mount versions were expensive for a while back.
Brian
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Re: front suspension for a 41 plymouth
[Re: bohmer2]
#285893
04/14/09 04:39 PM
04/14/09 04:39 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,123 Grand Haven, MI
patrick
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,123
Grand Haven, MI
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firm feel makes 'em, (cast alum) and are ~$150, cudazappa on the dippy board makes 'em out of aluminum billet for ~$100-120
someone else on the dippy board made 'em out of steel billet at one time, too. you can get poly k frame bushings from ESPO for ~ $60.
1976 Spinnaker White Plymouth Duster, /6 A833OD 1986 Silver/Twilight Blue Chrysler 5th Ave HotRod **SOLD!*** 2011 Toxic Orange Dodge Charger R/T 2017 Grand Cherokee Overland 2014 Jeep Cherokee Latitude (holy crap, my daughter is driving)
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Re: front suspension for a 41 plymouth
[Re: superbyrd]
#285895
05/05/09 12:47 AM
05/05/09 12:47 AM
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,757 levittown pa
fstfish66
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,757
levittown pa
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very nice,keep posting,maybe ill do a dakota stub on my 40 dodge coupe
1966 barracuda prostreeter super charged 340(SOLD) 1940 dodge coupe 241 hemi street rod 2014 ram express hemi 4x4 dailey driver 2015 cherokee 2013 R/T classic
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Re: front suspension for a 41 plymouth
[Re: fstfish66]
#285896
06/30/09 02:55 AM
06/30/09 02:55 AM
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,757 levittown pa
fstfish66
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,757
levittown pa
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any more progress on any of these ? im considering a dakoa stub,,
1966 barracuda prostreeter super charged 340(SOLD) 1940 dodge coupe 241 hemi street rod 2014 ram express hemi 4x4 dailey driver 2015 cherokee 2013 R/T classic
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Re: front suspension for a 41 plymouth
[Re: fstfish66]
#285897
06/30/09 11:39 AM
06/30/09 11:39 AM
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,884 Tracy CA
rabid scott
"You're Where?"
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"You're Where?"
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,884
Tracy CA
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Thanks!! Those are some great pictures! I wondered how a B/RB would fit in the Dakota stub, great reference shots! What body style headers are those? B/E body?
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Re: front suspension for a 41 plymouth
[Re: rabid scott]
#285898
07/17/09 09:46 PM
07/17/09 09:46 PM
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 699 Cooperstown, NY
jrlegacy23
mopar
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mopar
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 699
Cooperstown, NY
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Dakota motor mounts are too far back for a B/RB, but check out bigblockdakota.com, he shows an easy was to make motor mounts for a big block.
[color:"#00FF00"]68 Fastback Barracuda with some stuff[/color]
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Re: front suspension for a 41 plymouth
[Re: 49wayfarer]
#285900
07/28/09 01:36 AM
07/28/09 01:36 AM
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,757 levittown pa
fstfish66
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,757
levittown pa
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at what point did you cut the orignal frame to start sliding in the dakota ?
and did your orignal frame have the X ?? if so how far away is the dakota stub when slid in from the X??
will you reuse any of the orignal rad support frame ? thanks
1966 barracuda prostreeter super charged 340(SOLD) 1940 dodge coupe 241 hemi street rod 2014 ram express hemi 4x4 dailey driver 2015 cherokee 2013 R/T classic
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