Hi all. I've been building this little truck for a while now.
It's been on the road for about 6 months now and is fun with around 300 hp 5.9 magnum engine and 46rh overdrive trans.

I'm thinking it would be more fun with a 408 stroker motor with around 500 hp.

Looking for a proven combo for a street friendly 500 hp. Don't want or need a full race motor. Just a good sleeper.

Any suggestions/advise?

Looks great. I am currently selling a vert cuda. Once sold I will build something similar with a 5.7 I want a solid driver. I may even stretch it as I want some leg room.

nice ride.

RUMBLON

nice what did you use to mount the modern driveline? I just pick up a 51.

Thanks. Extra leg room would be nice.
These cabs are pretty tight.

The only thing original is the tin. Every thing else is fabricated.
Camaro front section and rear end.
1999 5.9 dodge engine and 46rh overdrive trans.

I would look at nitrous as an option before the building a stroker. My truck needs an overdrive as it's the best for going over the road.

You are right the cabs are small and foot space isn't much. I plan on taking mine for a ride Wednesday.

I wish my truck had as nice of sheetmetal as yours does.

The bottom end on this motor is noisey and I'm pretty sure I know what would happen if I hit it with nitrous.

The sheet metal on this thing was really rough when I started on it. The bed was toast so I built this one and used the old rear fenders. The rear fenders are still pretty rough. That's on the to do list for the winter. That's why it is still in primer.

Get an Eagle stroker kit, install Edelbrock heads, headers, a decent cam and you'll be over 500 hp. It will be fun on the street. I'm building a 56 now for a friend that has a 408 magnum stroker in it. By the way nice truck. I have a 5.7 in my 55 and it's a blast on the street. Smokes the rear tires at will.
For the poster wanting to install a 5.7, it's a tight fit. You will have to move the firewall back at least 7 inches. The 57 is physically a big engine. You will be giving up a bunch of leg room. I'm 5ft 8in and leg room is tight for me.

I built a 54 Dodge pickup years ago. Adding any V8 into the 49-57 trucks will require a big cut into the firewall. The nose is short, the firewall is tall, with a large angled toe board. There was a recess in the firewall for the flathead 6, and when they added the V8, it sat almost centered on the front axle. None of this makes adding modern drive trains easy without cutting into the firewall. To give you a mental picture, the firewall will have to come back to about the bottom of the dash, at least as wide as the motor & exhaust. (Wish I still had the pictures of my 54 to post.)

I have a 47 cab, grill, hood, and box sides that will someday be a truck. Rough tin is the story of my life. I'd love to do a 5.7, but right now, that's a big dream (for it to even become a truck is a pretty big dream at this point).

You all keep posting pictures of your stuff, I'll live through you, until I can move forward with my 47 project. Gene

You may want to consider an early Hemi. A 392 would be a nice way to go if space permits. I could be a cost effective alternative.

I set the 5.9 magnum back into the firewall 4.5". Fits like a glove but no room to spare.

Your truck looks really Great.....Nice Job !

Thank you sir. It's getting there.

I had to recess my firewall too. I didn't move the floor as much though I went strait down. If I had to do it again I would of used a cable kick down and I wouldn't of have to move it back as much.

My cab is off the frame about four inches and doesn't sit as low as your truck. If I would of had an original frame I would of just used a mustang II front kit instead of a full frame swap.

I have a 47 Dodge 1 ton flatbed that I have had for 40 years. I bought it originally for the wheels, but decided to build it. I originally put a 383 Dodge in it, for about 15 years, then replaced it 17 years later with a 440. I am currently rebuilding it for the 3rd time. I've installed a Mustang front end and a rear end clip from a Ford Expedition (IRS and disk brakes), and a NP 4speed, I am currently rebuilding a Dodge 440 to replace the wore out previous engine.

That pickup is BEAUTIFUL. Anymore pics of it? I have a 318/727 in my pickup and only trimmed the bottom of the firewall. Nice job on the recess, though.

Looks great, still searching for mine. My grandfather had a 47 stake body, what wouldn't I give for it now. I learned to drive in that truck back in the fiftys.

Did you move the headlights off the fender or were the half tons that way? I looked at a 3/4-1 ton and the truck just looks bigger, fenders, hood and cab. Anyone know if they are different?

The lights were moved out farther on post 39 models. The reason for moving the headlights is to clear the hood better.

The 3/4 & 1 ton trucks had larger diameter tires & wheels, requiring larger fenders to clear the tires & wheels. The fenders themselves are larger, and the wheel openings are also larger. (1 1/2 ton or bigger used the same basic fender as the 3/4 & 1 ton, but had larger wheel openings, I believe). The bigger fenders bolt up to the 1/2 ton nose pieces, though the 3/4 & 1 tons may have had a higher grill to accommodate a taller radiator. I believe the hood tops are the same (if the grill was higher, the hood sides would have been as well). According to all the info I've seen, the cabs are all the same, but they are raised up on the 3/4 & 1 ton frames with taller filler plates between the cab & running boards.

Dodge also had thicker & sometimes higher frame rails to accommodate the extra load capacity on the 1 tons and bigger (maybe were used on the 3/4 as well). Gene