I have been helping a fellow Mopar buddy with his 40 Desoto. After considering several options to the original frame front suspension we decided to implant a 97 Dakota frame. So far so good. Now I've never done a street rod before, been a Mopar man for many years so here's what it looks like so far. The first pic is the Ply 318 wit a 904 mocked up in the 97 Dak frame with the Desoto front cap on. Take a look

Here's the Poly 318, 904 and radiator installed. Fired it up yesterday, so far so good. I plan on mocking the body up soon.

Here's a end shot of the cap and Poly with trans.

Here's another.

This is the latest photo with the radiator lowered from the original mock up. Had to use the Dakota P/S pump. Originaly was going to use the older style P/S pump. Had clearance issues with the rack and pinion steering shaft.

Looks good! Let us know how far back the motor ends up from the original Dakota location.
Did you see the frame drawings I posted?

I saw some of them. Here's some shots of the frame mounts I fabricated. You can get an idea. I'll try and get some deminsions. The thing I had to consider on the 40 Desoto was the front cap mounting. I was trying to get the placement of the front wheel openings in relation to the Dakota frame without cutting the frame in half. Here's the pics.

LH Side

hey man that looks great,you have come a long way on that project keep it up

what did you use as far as belts/pullys? i know the newer p/s pump uses flat/serpentine and the old one uses a v-belt.

That is so cool! Thanks a ton for the pictures!

Excellent choice of engine, too!

more pics

nuther

The Poly might be on its way out. I ran it this morning checking everything out and it began having excessive blow by. It was pushing oil out every hole it could find. I have another Poly 318 I can put in its place but I'm leaving that up to my buddy the owner.

Check the PCV valve...

It's worse than that. It was working correctly. I feal like it's a broken or stuck piston ring. Engine is a 65 model and had a lot of sludge.

Well It looks like a 68 LA 318 is going in in place of the old Poly. As soon as I get back from the F.A.S.T races in Martin, MI i'll start work on that task.

Thats awesome, theres a 50's Dodge truck that comes to the Garlits show in Ocala that has Dakota stuff throughout it. I believe its using second gen stuff though. The main benefit to that would be the ability to convert to 5 lug wheels.

Can't wait to see the body on it!