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1939 lowboy dodge chronicles #425361
08/01/09 10:48 AM
08/01/09 10:48 AM
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kansas city, mo.
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mikeinkc Offline OP
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been a moparts stalker for many years, and a member for a few. thought i would start a build thread of my 39 dodge pickup. just a couple of weeks in, but since i bought the cab and frontend in the spring of this year, she has come along pretty good. i just chopped the cab and plan to do the doors this weekend. here is a link to my build blog. http://39lowboydodge.blogspot.com/ typically, i'm a bit of a slow worker and dont work on my stuff everyday. gotta work it in to real life when i can. criticisms? comments? questions? hit me up. the below picture, although a dorf pickup, is the inspiration for my build. i like the way it sits, the colors, the bed size, etc. thanks, mike in k.c.

Last edited by mikeinkc; 08/01/09 10:52 AM.

ask me about new sportone elbow side trim for your 1957 and 1958 plymouths http://39lowboydodge.blogspot.com/
Re: 1939 lowboy dodge chronicles [Re: mikeinkc] #425362
08/01/09 11:06 AM
08/01/09 11:06 AM
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Don't think your truck would pass a safety inspection, ever hear of a scrub line? Anything hanging below the bottom edge of the rim is unsafe in the case of a flat tire. Look like your cab is there. Might want to think about that.


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: 1939 lowboy dodge chronicles [Re: mikeinkc] #425363
08/01/09 12:10 PM
08/01/09 12:10 PM
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Escondido, CA. Ron Podsiadly,...
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welcome to the street rod forum
I checked out your blog link,
the chop on your truck looks good,how much did you chop it?
It looks to be around 4" out of the windshied area, that is how much I chopped my race truck project(check out the link below),
what are your plans for the chassis and what engine and trans are you planing for it? slant 6 maybe??????
keep us posted on your progress. Ron...


http://rides.webshots.com/album/559598861LBwiIz

Last edited by Mopar Ron; 08/01/09 12:25 PM.
Re: 1939 lowboy dodge chronicles [Re: mikeinkc] #425364
08/01/09 12:46 PM
08/01/09 12:46 PM
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Thayer, MO
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I like the look you are going for, I dont know how big of a person but I would consider personal size before channeling as deep as the inspirational truck. I would think even a person 5' 6" would struggle to be comfortable in a cab with that much chop and 4 or so inches of channel.

The safety issue is also there, as mentioned it wouldnt be fun to have a blow and the body to drag ground. Air bags can be used to get the body drop to lay frame or cab if you desire it.

Re: 1939 lowboy dodge chronicles [Re: bohmer2] #425365
08/01/09 03:14 PM
08/01/09 03:14 PM
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kansas city, mo.
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thanks guys. i am 6'3" and with the seat riser still in place and a sheet of plywood on that, there is approx. 3" of space between my head and the roof. i chopped it 5" and i cut the a-pillars like the jamb posts, parallel to the floor instead of 90 degrees across the pillars. i am at the point where i can still change frame plans if i want. originally, i was going to go no frontend, staight axle and a custom grille, ala 1936-38 dodge pickup, but my finances may take me a different route. i have listed for sale in the full size mopars section, a 69 dodge monaco 2dht. i am contemplating pulling the front subframe out from under it and donating it to the 39. my preliminary measurements are good. it has what looks to be a satisfactory amount of kickup from where the unit bolts to the floor and where the upper control arms reside. i wouldn't have to do a custom "Z"ing to the frame, it's already done. i still have to do some more measuring, but i think it can work. then i can use my 2"x4"x1/8" wall tubing from there back and do a more traditional ladder bar/coil over/panhard bar type suspension in the rear and tie it all together. i think the main advantage to the c-body donor clip is that everything is there in one convenient unit. the torsion bars, the torsion bar cross member, the tranny crossmember, the motor mounts, the control arms, the frame horns, steering, brakes etc. i can determine my wheelbase needs, move the clip fore or aft and go from there. i hate to use this monaco for that, but i have had this car for sale for a while now and no bites, plus, it's paid for. i am on a shoe-string budget anyhow. plus i have the rims, the rearend and a host of other parts i can cull from. as far as it possibly being too low, i can still channel up into the seat riser area at least as much as the 4" height of the frame tubing and not affect drivers head clearance. keep the comments coming, i am listening. powerplant will probably be a 413 i have laying around the garage. i am supposed to pick up a 71 dodge d100 with a 383 and a 4 speed, but my money situation will determine whether that happens. if the monaco sells before i pull the clip, then i will go with the 71 motor/tranny, straight axle route and go fenderless, if not, 413/727 and the frontend will go one. i know to get this truck that low, i will have to clearance the lower portions of the fenders, but either way, i am getting this thing low. it will not be a daily driver, limited highway use. mostly just cruisin' the local streets. thanks guys, gonna go cut the doors now. mike in k.c.

Last edited by mikeinkc; 08/01/09 03:16 PM.

ask me about new sportone elbow side trim for your 1957 and 1958 plymouths http://39lowboydodge.blogspot.com/
Re: 1939 lowboy dodge chronicles [Re: mikeinkc] #425366
08/01/09 03:50 PM
08/01/09 03:50 PM
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Escondido, CA. Ron Podsiadly,...
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Mike I would think long and hard about using the 69 monaco front frame for your truck, they are wide,they are bulky and just wont look good on a fenderless car in my opinion, if you went with a mustang II style frontend with Tube type "A" armes you could make it look presentable but I think the monaco frotend will be hard to make look good. just think about it before you commit. Ron...

Re: 1939 lowboy dodge chronicles [Re: mikeinkc] #425367
08/01/09 06:04 PM
08/01/09 06:04 PM
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Santa Cruz, California
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Nice chop job...

Re: 1939 lowboy dodge chronicles [Re: Mopar Ron] #425368
08/01/09 06:22 PM
08/01/09 06:22 PM
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kansas city, mo.
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mikeinkc Offline OP
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Quote:

Mike I would think long and hard about using the 69 monaco front frame for your truck, they are wide,they are bulky and just wont look good on a fenderless car in my opinion, if you went with a mustang II style frontend with Tube type "A" armes you could make it look presentable but I think the monaco frotend will be hard to make look good. just think about it before you commit. Ron...


i wasn't planning on going fenderless if i use the monaco subframe for the very same reason you mentioned, it would look bulky and out of place. the fenderless route would only happen if i can come up with the money for the 71 d100. it has the straight axle, 383 4 speed and 16" rims with the 5 on 4.5 bolt pattern. as far as the mustang parts...no way! it's mopar 100%. i know they're reasonably cheap and plentiful, but it's got to be mopar all the way. i can get away with the monaco subframe by covering it up with the frontend if i land on that idea. i know i'll have to massage the heck out of a lot of things, but i may have to go that route if the monaco doesn't sell soon! either way, i'm fine. also, i want to make clear that this will not be a "rat rod", but rather like a hot rod that was built sometime in the past. i want to weather it out, make it look like it's seen better days but still be a decent driver/runner. thanks for the advice and comments. i truly welcome it all. you guys are the ones that have been there and done that literally. i'm a relative newb that reads, studies what others have done and apply it to my particular application. thanks a bunch fellas. i did manage to cut the doors today and work that stubborn windshield frame away from the hinges. i'm gonna do a tutorial on that procedure alone! mike in k.c.


ask me about new sportone elbow side trim for your 1957 and 1958 plymouths http://39lowboydodge.blogspot.com/
Re: 1939 lowboy dodge chronicles [Re: mikeinkc] #425369
08/01/09 07:32 PM
08/01/09 07:32 PM
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Thayer, MO
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Quote:

Quote:

Mike I would think long and hard about using the 69 monaco front frame for your truck, they are wide,they are bulky and just wont look good on a fenderless car in my opinion, if you went with a mustang II style frontend with Tube type "A" armes you could make it look presentable but I think the monaco frotend will be hard to make look good. just think about it before you commit. Ron...


i wasn't planning on going fenderless if i use the monaco subframe for the very same reason you mentioned, it would look bulky and out of place. the fenderless route would only happen if i can come up with the money for the 71 d100. it has the straight axle, 383 4 speed and 16" rims with the 5 on 4.5 bolt pattern. as far as the mustang parts...no way! it's mopar 100%. i know they're reasonably cheap and plentiful, but it's got to be mopar all the way. i can get away with the monaco subframe by covering it up with the frontend if i land on that idea. i know i'll have to massage the heck out of a lot of things, but i may have to go that route if the monaco doesn't sell soon! either way, i'm fine. also, i want to make clear that this will not be a "rat rod", but rather like a hot rod that was built sometime in the past. i want to weather it out, make it look like it's seen better days but still be a decent driver/runner. thanks for the advice and comments. i truly welcome it all. you guys are the ones that have been there and done that literally. i'm a relative newb that reads, studies what others have done and apply it to my particular application. thanks a bunch fellas. i did manage to cut the doors today and work that stubborn windshield frame away from the hinges. i'm gonna do a tutorial on that procedure alone! mike in k.c.




One other option I will offer up is this Mike. I have a dakota front stub that I pulled the steering components off of, so while it wont have the rack of the knuckles, it does have the cross member. I would be willing to give you the cross member if you want it. I really think before I went the monaco route I would look at a dakota stub or maybe even someone who is hot rodding an earlier dodge straight axle, even a volare/aspen/5th ave K member would be easier than the monaco route (all of which can be had cheaply as well).


Re: 1939 lowboy dodge chronicles [Re: bohmer2] #425370
08/02/09 10:46 AM
08/02/09 10:46 AM
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Be a lot easier to narrow a longitudinal torsion bar setup than it would the transverse torsion bar setup.

For the longitudinal setup you'd section the K member and centerlink (could probably find a narrower cneterlink easy enough). For the transverse, you'd do the same but also you'd have to shorten the torsion bars.


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Don't be the exception.
Re: 1939 lowboy dodge chronicles [Re: Supercuda] #425371
08/02/09 11:35 AM
08/02/09 11:35 AM
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kansas city, mo.
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Quote:

Be a lot easier to narrow a longitudinal torsion bar setup than it would the transverse torsion bar setup.

For the longitudinal setup you'd section the K member and centerlink (could probably find a narrower cneterlink easy enough). For the transverse, you'd do the same but also you'd have to shorten the torsion bars.


hey supercuda, it's easy to lose me with the super technical jargon. can i get the low-tech translation? thanks, mike in k.c.


ask me about new sportone elbow side trim for your 1957 and 1958 plymouths http://39lowboydodge.blogspot.com/
Re: 1939 lowboy dodge chronicles [Re: mikeinkc] #425372
08/02/09 04:45 PM
08/02/09 04:45 PM
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Escondido, CA. Ron Podsiadly,...
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Mike, in my opinion if you are going to go full fendered, I would look in to a Dakota chassis, I believe the monaco frontend will be to wide to get the truck low enough with out rubbing on the fender lip, the dakota is a little wider than a mustang II frontend to but not as wide as the monaco.
Like said above If you use the monaco frontend you might have to cut it down the middle and narrow the crossmember and the drag link to get it narrow enough to work but then fitting the engine and exaust might get very tight also....

now if you are going to build it somewhat like the truck pictured above everything I just said means nothing


check out this 46 PU on a dakota chassis, it might give you some ideas. Ron...


http://rides.webshots.com/album/300985977tszAFe



.

Re: 1939 lowboy dodge chronicles [Re: Mopar Ron] #425373
08/02/09 06:33 PM
08/02/09 06:33 PM
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super technical jargon?



it's the name of the designs involved.

Not sure I can simplify the comment without pictures. Because if I tried I'd use other super technical jargon in the attempt and only confuse you more. It's hard to use words like "thingy' and "whatchacallit" without pictures.



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: 1939 lowboy dodge chronicles [Re: Supercuda] #425374
08/02/09 06:47 PM
08/02/09 06:47 PM
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ron, that dakota frame swap looks sweet. i have had my eye on them on craigslist for a while. they can be had very cheap. thanks for that one. i will study that build closer. supercuda, i'm just kinda messin'. didn't mean anything smartazz by that. if i do go monaco frontend, i will have done all the measurements to make sure it can be done before i go yankin' a perfectly good monaco apart. money is the key as to which way i go, but i am stoked by all the feedback from the folks that do this stuff everyday. it does help. thanks guys, mike in k.c.

Last edited by mikeinkc; 08/03/09 07:22 AM.

ask me about new sportone elbow side trim for your 1957 and 1958 plymouths http://39lowboydodge.blogspot.com/
Re: 1939 lowboy dodge chronicles [Re: mikeinkc] #425375
08/02/09 10:13 PM
08/02/09 10:13 PM
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Cambridge Idaho
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very cool

Re: 1939 lowboy dodge chronicles [Re: RUMBLON] #425376
08/03/09 06:48 PM
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anybody know what wheelbase the dakota in rons link started out as? short, long, extended? thanks,mike in k.c.


ask me about new sportone elbow side trim for your 1957 and 1958 plymouths http://39lowboydodge.blogspot.com/
Re: 1939 lowboy dodge chronicles [Re: mikeinkc] #425377
08/03/09 07:08 PM
08/03/09 07:08 PM
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Escondido, CA. Ron Podsiadly,...
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If I remember right that one was an extended cab one.
we have 3 of them going together here right now.
1 is a 40 dodge PU on a long bed standard cab chassis.
1 is a 46 COE on a short bed extended cab chassis(that one will be shortened 24-30")
and the last one is going to be made in to a 47 dodge COE panel truck and that one will need to be shortened about 30" as well. Ron....

Re: 1939 lowboy dodge chronicles [Re: Mopar Ron] #425378
08/03/09 09:20 PM
08/03/09 09:20 PM
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oh, so those are your projects ron? cool! i gotcha. there are a couple of cheapy dakotas for sale locally. i am thinking on this one before i screw the monaco up!


ask me about new sportone elbow side trim for your 1957 and 1958 plymouths http://39lowboydodge.blogspot.com/
Re: 1939 lowboy dodge chronicles [Re: Mopar Ron] #425379
08/03/09 10:02 PM
08/03/09 10:02 PM
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Cambridge Idaho
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So Ron, what year Dakotas are best for these projects. Are you using the drivetyrain as well, or just the frame, suspension, brakes, ect???

Dave

I will start for one for future projects.

Re: 1939 lowboy dodge chronicles [Re: RUMBLON] #425380
08/04/09 12:55 AM
08/04/09 12:55 AM
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Escondido, CA. Ron Podsiadly,...
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Dave the one we are using under the 40 PU is from a 1987 dakota and it had the 5 on 4 1/2" bolt pattern.
the other 2 we are using are 1993's(6 lug bolt pattern) and I am using the 5.2EFI engines and OD trans for the 46COE PU and in the 42 COE car hauler.
One of the 93 chassis's is going under the 46 dodge panel truck that I am going to make into a COE panel truck and I plan to go with a 5.7 Hemi,5 speed auto in it

I plan to use a B body 8 3/4 and change the front rotors to the early 5 lug ones. Ron....


this is the 46 coe PU on the dakota chassis




this is my 47 panel truck that will go on a dakota chassis



I want to make the panel truck look something like this ford coe

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