Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 1 of 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
48 Plymouth business coupe, Dakota frame, low bucks #1116446
11/18/11 11:50 PM
11/18/11 11:50 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,483
Freeport IL USA
poorboy Offline OP
I Live Here
poorboy  Offline OP
I Live Here

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,483
Freeport IL USA
For those of you that have been thinking I'm a little nuts, I'm going to prove I am.
Please understand, if your looking for perfection, your not going to find it here. I've got more time then money, non-safety related short cuts have been taken. We are dealing with a rust bucket that probably should have been scrapped, but some fool decided to build it. Follow along for your amusement. Hold your concern, I've actually done this before.

The story: I have built, or more like, assembled a collection of parts to make a vehicle that safely drives down the road, about a dozen vehicles over the past 25 or so years. These are fun to drive, look good from 10 feet away, drivers. The kind where you just jump in and drive someplace without worrying about if its going to rain, or even snow.

What got me started in this hobby was events from my childhood. There is a 1/2 mile dirt track in our home town. Back in the mid 60s, they used to race the 30s & 40s coupes. The images of those old cars racing around that track burned into my 10 year old mind. As I'm aging and my physical condition isn't as good as it used to be, I'm facing questions about how many more cars I'm going to be able to build. I want to point out, my wife of 35 years was with my all along the way.
Several years ago, I bought a 90 Dakota for parts, intending on building a rod. One thing led to another and I ended up driving that Dakota for a few years. After a few years of service, the clutch went out and the Dakota returned to a parts supplier. One day it occurred to me I could use the Dakota frame as a base for a street version of one of those old race cars still visible in my mind. The thought was to use as much of the Dakota as possible, install a 4 point roll cage for safety, and throw an old coupe body over the thing, kind of like an old model kit. It would be cheap, reliable (the Dakota was) and would be fun to drive for a while.
With a plan in mind, the search was on for an acceptable body to cover a chassis. The perimeters were pretty simple, it had to be pre 55, of the Mopar family, and cheap, the cheaper, the better. After a few months, I located a 48 Plymouth business coupe. The guy that was selling it made sure I knew it was in bad shape, but it fit the perimeters, and it was only about 50 miles from home! My wife and I went and looked at it. We both knew the plan, and it fit the plan. The guy told me he could get $200 for it as scrap, or he would sell it to me for that same $200. That was a Sunday afternoon. I mad arrangements to borrow a trailer and went back and picked the car up Thursday night. That was in April, 2010.

I've got pictures, it going to be a pita to load them 1 at a time. This picture is of the car where it was sitting when I bought it.

6926049-48coupe001.jpg (592 downloads)
Re: 48 Plymouth business coupe, Dakota frame, low bucks [Re: poorboy] #1116447
11/19/11 12:09 AM
11/19/11 12:09 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,483
Freeport IL USA
poorboy Offline OP
I Live Here
poorboy  Offline OP
I Live Here

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,483
Freeport IL USA
I've bought several cars through the years, and loading "field cars" has always been a pain in the tail. This one looked like it was going to be one of the worst, but this guy had equipment. He opened his shop door and drove out one of the biggest Bobcats I've ever seen, and it had long forks on it. They (him & his son) moved a few obstacles in the way and picked the front end of the car and drug it to the blacktop. Once on the blacktop driveway, they put skates under the front, went around the rear and lifted it then rolled it to the position he wanted it in. Then he opened the other shop door and got out the boom truck (the guy is a well digger) and put a chain around the motor. The boom truck could lift the front, and the bobcat could lift the rear. When he got it high enough, I backed the trailer under the car. I paid him, we tied the car on the trailer and i was on my way home, all in 45 minutes.

Picture: loading the car.

6926067-48coupe004.jpg (432 downloads)
Re: 48 Plymouth business coupe, Dakota frame, low bucks [Re: poorboy] #1116448
11/19/11 12:10 AM
11/19/11 12:10 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,483
Freeport IL USA
poorboy Offline OP
I Live Here
poorboy  Offline OP
I Live Here

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,483
Freeport IL USA
Still loading.

6926070-48coupe005.jpg (400 downloads)
Re: 48 Plymouth business coupe, Dakota frame, low bucks [Re: poorboy] #1116449
11/19/11 12:11 AM
11/19/11 12:11 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,483
Freeport IL USA
poorboy Offline OP
I Live Here
poorboy  Offline OP
I Live Here

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,483
Freeport IL USA
still loading 2

6926072-48coupe006.jpg (344 downloads)
Re: 48 Plymouth business coupe, Dakota frame, low bucks [Re: poorboy] #1116450
11/19/11 12:13 AM
11/19/11 12:13 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,483
Freeport IL USA
poorboy Offline OP
I Live Here
poorboy  Offline OP
I Live Here

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,483
Freeport IL USA
That's me in the jean coat with white sleeves.

6926074-48coupe007.jpg (410 downloads)
Re: 48 Plymouth business coupe, Dakota frame, low bucks [Re: poorboy] #1116451
11/19/11 12:14 AM
11/19/11 12:14 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,483
Freeport IL USA
poorboy Offline OP
I Live Here
poorboy  Offline OP
I Live Here

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,483
Freeport IL USA
Sure, the picture I put about the jean jacked doesn't have me in it.....

6926077-48coupe008.jpg (344 downloads)
Re: 48 Plymouth business coupe, Dakota frame, low bucks [Re: poorboy] #1116452
11/19/11 12:16 AM
11/19/11 12:16 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,483
Freeport IL USA
poorboy Offline OP
I Live Here
poorboy  Offline OP
I Live Here

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,483
Freeport IL USA
Were getting closer.

6926079-48coupe010.jpg (372 downloads)
Re: 48 Plymouth business coupe, Dakota frame, low bucks [Re: poorboy] #1116453
11/19/11 12:17 AM
11/19/11 12:17 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,483
Freeport IL USA
poorboy Offline OP
I Live Here
poorboy  Offline OP
I Live Here

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,483
Freeport IL USA
still loading it

6926081-48coupe012.jpg (369 downloads)
Re: 48 Plymouth business coupe, Dakota frame, low bucks [Re: poorboy] #1116454
11/19/11 12:18 AM
11/19/11 12:18 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,483
Freeport IL USA
poorboy Offline OP
I Live Here
poorboy  Offline OP
I Live Here

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,483
Freeport IL USA
Did you notice in the last picture the bottom 6" of the door and quarter are cut off?

6926083-48coupe013.jpg (364 downloads)
Re: 48 Plymouth business coupe, Dakota frame, low bucks [Re: poorboy] #1116455
11/19/11 12:20 AM
11/19/11 12:20 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,483
Freeport IL USA
poorboy Offline OP
I Live Here
poorboy  Offline OP
I Live Here

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,483
Freeport IL USA
Sitting on the trailer, chained down, ready to leave.

6926087-48coupe015.jpg (343 downloads)
Re: 48 Plymouth business coupe, Dakota frame, low bucks [Re: poorboy] #1116456
11/19/11 12:31 AM
11/19/11 12:31 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,483
Freeport IL USA
poorboy Offline OP
I Live Here
poorboy  Offline OP
I Live Here

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,483
Freeport IL USA
These next few pictures are after I got it home. You can easily see what shape the car was really in. This is what a $200 48 Plymouth looks like that has been in the Midwest all of its life. It has sat outside in a forest, a field and along that fence for the past 40 years, at least. Any flat surface where water could sit was rotted out, and any place critters could build a nest was rotted out.

6926107-48coupe002.jpg (355 downloads)
Last edited by poorboy; 11/19/11 12:33 AM.
Re: 48 Plymouth business coupe, Dakota frame, low bucks [Re: poorboy] #1116457
11/19/11 12:35 AM
11/19/11 12:35 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,483
Freeport IL USA
poorboy Offline OP
I Live Here
poorboy  Offline OP
I Live Here

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,483
Freeport IL USA
More

6926115-48coupe0003.jpg (301 downloads)
Re: 48 Plymouth business coupe, Dakota frame, low bucks [Re: poorboy] #1116458
11/19/11 12:36 AM
11/19/11 12:36 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,483
Freeport IL USA
poorboy Offline OP
I Live Here
poorboy  Offline OP
I Live Here

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,483
Freeport IL USA
wait, it gets better....

6926118-48coupe0009.jpg (337 downloads)
Re: 48 Plymouth business coupe, Dakota frame, low bucks [Re: poorboy] #1116459
11/19/11 12:37 AM
11/19/11 12:37 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,483
Freeport IL USA
poorboy Offline OP
I Live Here
poorboy  Offline OP
I Live Here

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,483
Freeport IL USA
How about some rockers?

6926120-48coupe0014.jpg (337 downloads)
Last edited by poorboy; 11/19/11 12:39 AM.
Re: 48 Plymouth business coupe, Dakota frame, low bucks [Re: poorboy] #1116460
11/19/11 12:39 AM
11/19/11 12:39 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,483
Freeport IL USA
poorboy Offline OP
I Live Here
poorboy  Offline OP
I Live Here

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,483
Freeport IL USA
Body mounts are over rated anyway.

6926122-48coupe0015.jpg (323 downloads)
Re: 48 Plymouth business coupe, Dakota frame, low bucks [Re: poorboy] #1116461
11/19/11 12:40 AM
11/19/11 12:40 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,483
Freeport IL USA
poorboy Offline OP
I Live Here
poorboy  Offline OP
I Live Here

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,483
Freeport IL USA
You get the idea.

6926124-48coupe0017.jpg (305 downloads)
Re: 48 Plymouth business coupe, Dakota frame, low bucks [Re: poorboy] #1116462
11/19/11 12:44 AM
11/19/11 12:44 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,483
Freeport IL USA
poorboy Offline OP
I Live Here
poorboy  Offline OP
I Live Here

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,483
Freeport IL USA
A couple pictures of the parts supplier Dakota.

6926130-Picture001.jpg (344 downloads)
Re: 48 Plymouth business coupe, Dakota frame, low bucks [Re: poorboy] #1116463
11/19/11 12:45 AM
11/19/11 12:45 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,483
Freeport IL USA
poorboy Offline OP
I Live Here
poorboy  Offline OP
I Live Here

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,483
Freeport IL USA
Another

6926132-Picture002.jpg (348 downloads)
Re: 48 Plymouth business coupe, Dakota frame, low bucks [Re: poorboy] #1116464
11/19/11 12:45 AM
11/19/11 12:45 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,483
Freeport IL USA
poorboy Offline OP
I Live Here
poorboy  Offline OP
I Live Here

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,483
Freeport IL USA
Last Dakota

6926134-Picture004.jpg (320 downloads)
Re: 48 Plymouth business coupe, Dakota frame, low bucks [Re: poorboy] #1116465
11/19/11 01:54 AM
11/19/11 01:54 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,483
Freeport IL USA
poorboy Offline OP
I Live Here
poorboy  Offline OP
I Live Here

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,483
Freeport IL USA
Unfortunately, what should be the next bunch of pictures is locked in my old computer that died. You get to miss seeing the disassemble of the two parts sources.

Basically, I lined to two (Dakota and the coupe) side by side and did measuring. The Dakota was a 1990 standard cab long box with a wheel base of 124". It was a 3.9 (pre-Magnum) with a 5 speed, and an 8 1/4 with 2:94 gears. The truck had about 120K on it when dissembled. I drove it to the place it was taken apart, it was a running, drivable truck with a clutch that was not completely disengaging when the clutch pedal was depressed.

The wheel base on the truck was 8" longer then the wheel base of the coupe, but the track width was almost the same.The interior was removed and several measurements were made and compared between the truck and the coupe. It was determined I could reuse the Dakota firewall and floor pan. The width of the Dakota was 3" wider at the rear door post then the coupe was at the same point. At the front door post, the truck was 6" wider then the coupe. (both measured at the inside edge of the doors) The height of the truck, from the bottom of the windshield to the floor was the same as the height of the coupe between the bottom of the windshield and the floor. The coupe doors were 3" longer then the truck doors. The height from the bottom of the Dakota fresh air box to the floor was the same height as the coupe's firewall parting line to the floor. With the two sitting side by side, moving the Dakota cab on the frame towards the rear 7" would put the firewall to front wheel center the same as the coupe firewall to center of the front wheel. Armed with measurements and a plan, the body components were removed from the Dakota leaving the frame with drive train intact. The Dakota frame is nice and straight between the wheels. I determined I could take my 8" out of the frame between the front box mounts and the fuel tank, which I did. It required a shorter drive shaft, and shorter fuel, brake, and e brake cables as well as modifying the wiring. Once the frame was shortened, the cab was sat back on the frame to determine what would need to be done to shift the cab back 7". The old cab mount brackets were removed from the frame and new ones were fabricated. The new rear cab mounts straddle the weld seam on the frame splice, giving me lots of extra bracing at the joint. Moving the motor and transmission back 7" would keep all the drive train in correct relationship to where everything was located on the truck originally. Motor and transmission mounts were fabricated. The cab was cut at the bottom of the windshield posts and at the floor line across the back of the cab and the floor pan and firewall was bolted to the new cab mounts. The Dakota chassis was rolled out of the way and covered.
Next round we will talk about the coupe. Gene

Page 1 of 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7






Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.1