When swapping a 1955 Dodge pickup onto a 1993 Dakota frame how do you account for the Track width difference? The Dakota has a 60.8” track width and the ‘55 has a 68” track width. I can deal with the firewall and floor issues as well as the wheel base issues, it is the track width that has me stumped. Any help would be appreciated.
Thank you,
Wayne

About the only thing you could do is get correct offset wheels to make up some of the difference .. how for off is it ?




<--not a big fan of frame swaps

About 8”. Could you please tell me what an offset wheel is and is that something you get at Summit or a place like it or can you get them at the wrecking yard?
Thanks,
Wayne

8 total would be 4 each side // be tough to move them in that far ..see chart

Thank you for your help,

Is your 55 a big truck, like a 1 ton or bigger? The 68" wheel track sounds awfully wide to me.

I did a 54 Dodge 1/2 ton with a FMJ clip (62" track width) and the tires were right at the fender edge. (2nd picture)

I'm doing a 49 Dodge truck on a Dakota 4x4 chassis and the tires are right at the edge of the fenders. I'm not buying the track with on a 55 is that much wider then the 49 is. The cab was different in the length of the roof due to the curved windshield, but the width was the same. (1st picture)

I echo what Gene said.
Would my '56 wagon with Dakota sub-frame be that much narrower than a '55 half ton pickup ? The track is close.

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Are you measuring it correct ?

One more thought on this subject, you can see in my 1st picture the Dakota factory wheels have a pretty big negative offset (the part of the wheel that bolts to the hub is very close to the outside edge of the part of the wheel the tire mounts to. Compare how the tire sits to where the lug nuts are located between the 1st picture (Dakota wheels) and the 2nd picture (not Dakota wheels, both are wheels are 15" x 7" wide).
A 93 Dakota has the 6 bolt wheels, but by buying just the rotors (1988 to 1990), you can switch the front to the 5 bolt wheels with the 4 1/2" bolt circle. Bolting on a set of not Dakota wheels (5th ave, or most other older Mopar wheels) that have the wheel mounting part more centered with the tire will shift the wheel track out about 2" total, A wider width wheel with a deeper dish (the part of the wheel that bolts to the hub that is closer to the back edge of the tire) makes the track width even wider. You are actually moving the tire away from the ball joints. You will want to keep in mind that the farther away from the ball joints you move the tire, the more stress it puts on the wheel bearings. Gene

I don't know how you came up with those measurements. Dakotas are very close to the correct track width. Measure from the wheel mounting surface. Dakota rims have a big negative offset that give it the illusion of a narrower track than it really is. If you have ever seen an 87-90 Dakota with normal car or truck rims on it, they stick way out.

For anyone that is old enough to remember; "You'll wonder where the yellow went when you brush your teeth with Pepsodent." ... I wonder where the original poster of this post went?

Thank you for your input. Mine is a half ton and looks just like yours. Maybe I am measuring incorrectly. I thought “track width” was from the outside of one front tire to the outside of the other front tire.
Thank you
Wayne

I went to work and got sidetracked with projects.
I am very appreciative of all your help and find the conversation intriguing.
Thank you again for your help.
I worked on the ‘55 today for a few hours. I am hoping I will be able to put a Cummins 4bt in it, but since I do not have it on its permanent chassis yet, I guess I am still planning.
Again, thank you.
Wayne

Dear Poorboy,
They say you are the resident expert on Dakota swaps. Do you think a 1955 Dodge 5 window 1/2 ton pickup will fit on a 1993 Dodge Dakota frame (with front and rear axle)?

I can do the firewall and floor fabrication, as well as body mounts, etc, but I am concerned about tire track and the way it will look.

Thank you, I real appreciate any help you can provide.
Wayne

Lots of guys have done Dakota frame swaps, some with a lot of experience on newer stuff (after 96) then I have.

In answer to your question. I think a 93 Dakota chassis will work well under a 55 Dodge 1/2 ton pickup. The width of the Dakota front and rear suspension (the rear suspension is good, but a Dakota rear axle is going to be 4" more narrow then your 55. You may have to put a mini tub in the box sides to clear a Dakota rear axle) is probably about the closest to the width of your 55 Dodge of any modern chassis. You may have to use the Dakota wheels on the front, but a lot of that will depend on the look you like, rather then a requirement for tire clearance. I will warn you that the lower you want the truck to sit, the more of an issue front tire clearance becomes. At normal ride height, I don't foresee any problems.

You are probably going to have to shorten the wheel base (the distance between the front axle and the rear axle), I doubt the Dakota donor you have will have the correct wheel base. A standard cab, short box Dakota will probably be too short of a wheel base, it is much easier to shorten the wheel base then it is to make it longer. A standard cab, long box Dakota is probably 7" -8" too long. Its pretty easy to remove 7" - 8" right behind where the back of the cab ends. An extended cab short box it probably around 18" too long. Gene

Poorboy,
Thank you very much for all the good information. Your expertise is evident in your advice.
Thank you again,
Wayne