OK, I finally got me a project and now that I have it and have looked over it, I am at the proverbial crossroads.

Background: Last November, I sold my 1956 Pontiac that I'd had for over 18 years. It was all stock with a very minor customization (springs, blackwall radials). It was too nice to really cut up and do anything else to than leave stock.

Fastforward to now: Since I had my 50's stocker, I've been wanting to do a '48 or prior hot rod. Last Sunday, I acquired a relatively cherry 47 Dodge 1 ton that has a very minimal amount of rust in areas that are completely fixable and with an engine that supposedly just needs the crank ground and new bearings. It was a barn find and will need the brake system overhauled as well as the wheel seals (I'm sure) and new weatherstripping.

Well, last night, I was looking it over and measuring the engine bay to see how a later model V-8 would fit, and also looking underneath to get an idea of what it'll take to drop it down from the altitude that it has.

My delima: Since it is in such good condition, there is a part of me that has a problem with changing it from stock. But then there's the rodder side of me that says, "It's my truck - I'll do what I want" and doing what I want will be an indepth change (ie chassis, powertrain, etc).

So tell me - what would moparts do?

Put a poll on here ..

My vote, hot rod it ..but, please use a Mopar motor

You decide single choice
	Rod it?
	Sell it and get something else
	Restore it?
Votes accepted starting: 10/01/09 01:47 PM
View Results

Griffin, you don't need us to tell you what to do with it. If you haven't figured it out yet, you will. Deep down, we all have a pretty good idea what we want to do with our projects (money and/or time permitting). As you have all ready mentioned, it's yours to do with whatever you want with it. Whichever route you go, you can't go wrong. It's going to be one cool ride either way. Good luck.

Rod it!

It is hard to find examples of nicely done Dodge pick ups.

I've got one to build too, I just need to finish some other stuff before I can get to it.

My answer? A little of both!

The finish looks pretty decent, you could clean it up and do a little light refinishing on the body. "Patina" is in right now.

Make the steering, brakes, and wheel/tires safe, because those things can kill ya!

As far as the rest of the drivetrain goes, decide what you want out of it before you change it up to much. I get the feeling that a hopped up driver is what you're after, so a V8 swap might be in order, but if the stock engine runs you might just mill the head to raise compression, add a dual carb intake and split exhaust with Smithys.

That's just my take. I like V8 swaps, but I dig the "old-timey" stuff, too.

Thats really tough. It's easy to rod something that isn't mint to start with. This truck has made it 60 years in good shape so you don't want to mess it up. I think I would take the frame and store it, then build a new frame with modern stuff and restore the body but with a fresh interior and put it on the frame. Chances are you would never put the body back on the stock frame but in the back of your mind you would know that you could if you wanted to.

Sheldon

Rod the heck out of that thing! Just don't put a SBC in it... FWIW, I know someone who found one very similar that only had 4700 miles on it. Seriously! That one deserved to be restored, but yours deserves to be rodded!

I'd build it for it's intended usage.
Summer night town and country cruisin'? Freshen it up and enjoy.
Light haulin at slow speeds? The same, but upgrade the brakes.
Freeway miles and roddin'? Suspension, electrical, brakes and drivetrain, plus some comfort inside (seat, insulation, sounds)
I'd get into a chassis swap only if it was going to be a major rod project. The radiator is almost even with the front axle, so a Dakota can be made to work, but the drivetrain has to be moved back.
Lots of work that way, but if you want modern handling, air suspension, and all that, it could be done. You could add all that to the original chassis too.

That thing is just screaming for a Cummins drivetrain. Maybe even 4wd

since it is so complete, i say fix the mechanicals and drive it as is and restore slowly. you can always find a cab to make a hot rod out of. besides, you might need to use it as a truck someday!!!

You need to get rid of that beast. You can send it to me, I won't have any issues making a rod out of it.

I have a nice 70 pickup frame, a running slant 6, and will soon have an OD 4 speed just waiting for something like that to come along. Gene

Guess what I voted...
-Bill

i agree with the owner,,,hard choice both would be kool, not many around stock or rodded properly. there are more of that vintage rat rodded then restored, what a waiste of metal and sawzal blades,,

From the Mopar rod picture thread.

Not the same model but close enough to inspire...

Yeah, I've seen that one. It's real nice, but it looks like it has a SBC in it. I won't commit such a travesty. I'll keep it MoPar

Seen at good guys here this weekend

Thanks for all of the input.

Here's my next question: I got a smokin' deal on a BBC (413 Chrysler, that is), 727, Dana 70 with duals (on a motorhome chassis). My 1st inclination is to just run a single rear wheel. How do ya'll think running the 47 with duals in the rear would look?

Any others out there with the same (running duals on a 39-47 truck)? I'd tub the bed so that the fenders aren't altered.

If you are gonna make it a dually, build it as a flatbed.

I think it would look great (my 41 is gonna get the flatbed tratment)