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518 Conversion #2906095
04/04/21 10:34 AM
04/04/21 10:34 AM
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Mesa, Arizona
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dart4forte Offline OP
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I bought a 52 Dodge B3B several months ago. It’s a well done truck with some more moderan upgrades. Has a 330 Hemi, 727 and a E body 8.75. I plan on converting over to a 518. I’m wondering if there’s a member to two that have a pilot house. The question I have is pertainIng to the tranny crossmember. Is there a crossmember out there that would be a good candidate for this conversion. I’ve been told that the cross member from a early 90s dodge will work. I know I’ll Need to fab something, just want to find something close.


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Abe Lincoln
Re: 518 Conversion [Re: dart4forte] #2906173
04/04/21 12:07 PM
04/04/21 12:07 PM
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north of coder
moparx Offline
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what does it have now for a mount crossmember ?
would it be possible to modify it, or is something wrong with it to begin with ?
beer

Re: 518 Conversion [Re: moparx] #2906240
04/04/21 01:08 PM
04/04/21 01:08 PM
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Mesa, Arizona
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dart4forte Offline OP
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Well, it’s a Dodge Dakota piece, probably could modify it further. I don’t have the trans as of yet to get an idea. The crossmember in there now was modified for the 727. My understanding the 518 is mounted further and lower back.


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Abe Lincoln
Re: 518 Conversion [Re: dart4forte] #2906381
04/04/21 05:31 PM
04/04/21 05:31 PM
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delhi,il
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trw1982 Offline
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a buddy of mine has a 37 chrysler and 49 plymouth car.what he did was as follows. the 518 has a 3 hole mount on ext housing. he bought at trans mount for 400 turbo and had to elongate the holes slightly to fi the front 2 holes. then he was able to fab a crossmember from there.

Re: 518 Conversion [Re: trw1982] #2906509
04/04/21 07:38 PM
04/04/21 07:38 PM
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Posts: 10,486
Freeport IL USA
poorboy Offline
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The 1st question should be, is the frame under your truck the original frame for the 50s truck, or is it a more modern frame? Lots of these trucks have been updated with Dakota frames, or have had the original frame modified with an independent front suspension. With out knowing what frame is under your truck, figuring out which trans cross member it could use it a guess at best.

What year the Dakota trans cross member is in the truck right now is also going to make a difference. I believe the 93 model year Dakota trans mounts are no longer available (it was a 1 year only piece), so if the current trans cross member was out of a 93 Dakota, it had to be modified to either install the older, or the newer trans mount, or what ever mount was used for the 727. Farther more, if the Dakota trans cross member as from a 90 and newer, it probably was set up for the 500 or the 518 trans already, someone modified it to use with the 727.

At any rate, the trans cross member will need to be moved towards the rear about 4" for the 518 to fit where a 727 resides.(you will need to compare where the trans mounts bolts to the trans compared to how far behind the bell the trans mount bolt pad is located, its been a while and I don't remember the exact differences in length). Then its just a matter of modifying the cross member so what ever trans rubber mount you use will work. Gene

Re: 518 Conversion [Re: poorboy] #2906575
04/04/21 09:55 PM
04/04/21 09:55 PM
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Mesa, Arizona
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dart4forte Offline OP
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The frame is a stocker with a Dakota stub. Some of the frame is boxed for added strength. I found an old article on the conversion that’s answered most of my questions.
What 1 need to do is extend a plate from the existing mount to the mounting point on the 518 tail shaft.


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Abe Lincoln
Re: 518 Conversion [Re: dart4forte] #2908432
04/09/21 02:59 PM
04/09/21 02:59 PM
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Atlanta, GA
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mgoblue9798 Offline
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If it is a dakota piece, just find another dakota piece from one with a 518 installed

Re: 518 Conversion [Re: mgoblue9798] #2908484
04/09/21 06:48 PM
04/09/21 06:48 PM
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Posts: 10,486
Freeport IL USA
poorboy Offline
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Odds are if the frame was clipped with a Dakota clip, the trans crossmember was probably positioned for the 727. I'd be pretty surprised if the crossmember it self was modified, but it could have been. It may well depend on where the two frames were spliced together. Lots of Dakota front frames are spliced to original frames at the firewall, it eliminates the need to deal with cab mounts and a lot of other stuff. Then you just add brackets to mount the Dakota crossmember onto the original frame where ever you need it for the trans your using and your ready to roll. Gene

Re: 518 Conversion [Re: poorboy] #2908498
04/09/21 07:31 PM
04/09/21 07:31 PM
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Posts: 236
British Columbia, Canada
Old Ray Offline
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Well said Gene.

On my '56 wagon I just extended off of the original mount after doing the Dakota clip.

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