Okay guys, here's the quick and dirty update:

The leaf springs have been relocated, with the spring hangers out of the way the back of the body has been brought down.



There was so much backspacing on the Dakota wheels they rubbed at the top of the wheelwell on the body, so I put a pair of 15x8 hot rod steelies with 265-75r15 commando tires on the rear and they're close but they fit, even with the fender on on the passenger side.

I think I still want to run tall skinny tires on the original steel wheels, just so I can lower the rear some more, but I have a couple sets of different mag wheels I may try out.

The 8 3/4 rearend (1969 Dodge Charger FYI) is mocked up in there, the new perches are not welded yet.

My next plans are to build/modify the radiator support, trim the front frame rails, and get the front clip on. Maybe drop the 440/727 in and get that mocked up in there, maybe fire it up for giggles!!

More junk found at my webpage:
Bringing the Back of the 1940 Dodge Coupe down over the Frame.

very kool ,,keep us posted,, i like it

QUESTION is the dakota frame stock length or has it been shortened ? cant imagine the kick up being in the perfect position,,,,kool comming along nicely

fstfish, look at the photos toward the top!

thanks i see it now,,, i thought some one on this board was going to use a dakota and not slice and dice it,,,guess i was dreaming,,lol

I am working on a '38 Plymouth 4dr. I have it sitting on a total '89 Dakota frame. The Dakota is a regular cab with about 112" wheelbase. The wheelbase is almost identical to the '38. I did not have to shorten the frame as rabid scott , it looks like I will just have to channel the rear of the body for it to lower onto the Dakota frame in the rear. I also plan on a 440/727. Good pictures of the trunk area rabid , thanks.

sounds like that will work out great for you,,,didnt realize the 38 was that much shorter in wheel base then say a 40 ply/dodge

The '38 wheelbase is probably the same as the '40 ? I didn't have to shorten the Dakota frame because the one I have is a short wheelbase '89 Dakota 111.5" which is almost identical to my '38.

I got a couple hours in on the Coupe this weekend. Didn't do anything monumental, but any progress is good.

Measured out and trimmed back the front frame rails, and then got the front sheetmetal all bolted together.

I would have finished up building the mount for the radiator support, but I got distracted by another side project. I'll hopefully finish that up tonight, so I won't need jack stands to hold it up anymore.




Link:
Front Sheetmetal Action

Scott, I am at about the same place as you with my '38 also going on a Dakota. I have not relocated the rear springs yet. I am also close to welding in the radiator support. I did like you and put the front fenders on to locate the body over the front wheels on the Dakota frame. I have trimmed a little off the front frame rails, but only enough to get the fenders on. After the radiator support is in place I will be able to take several inches more off of the front rails. Have you decided how you are going to attach the body to the Dakota frame? I still have the '38 frame and have considered cutting the original body mounts off of it and making brackets to weld them onto the Dakota. Or, maybe look for aftermarket body mounts to weld on?

John, I've been fabbing my own frame to body mounts as I go, it's quick and easy.

I use 2x3 or 2x4 inch box tubing, with the length cut as needed and then sliced diagonally to make a matching pair of them. Then drill your holes accordingly.

Here's the only picture I have handy, ignore the tube in the picture, I'm using it to hold the body up off the frame while I cut on the rear. I removed the tube, set the body back down over the frame, and tacked them to the frame.

i think the 1940 is 119 or 120 inch wheel base

so the best deal would be to get a long wheel base dakota and shorten it,,,verses making a short wheel base dakota longer,,,

Scott,looking good. I'll be watching to see how you do your rad mount. I thought about making the frame out of square tubing and welding the top part of the original rad mount to the frame so you can bolt the nose to it like it originally was. The rear portion of the frame, do you plan on trimming it down heigth wise so it's not cutting into your trunk space? later shawn

Shawn, I have an idea similar to that for the radiator support that wouldn't involve hacking up the original, I'll snap a few pictures when I get around to building it here soon.

I'm not sure yet about the rear rails. They are pretty tall and I thought about tapering them down towards the end.

I was hoping to get the 440 installed last night, but I had to cook dinner, then put up the Christmas lights on the house, and ended up cleaning the garage. Maybe tonight?

xmas lights on the house already ?? yikes,,,

scott i e mailed you pics of the side trim i have i think its the hood trim,,

Don, I think you're right, I think those are the hood trim pieces, I haven't had a chance to get compare the pictures to the car yet. If it is hood trim, I definately need it!

Shawn, the only other trim I'm missing is the piece that goes on the passenger side door and the driver's side quarter panel.

Apparently there is two trim styles for the 1940 Dodge, I have the three-rib style on my Coupe, and Don has the smooth style on his.



Last night I dumped the 440/RV 727 into the car, I still need to build engine mounts on the frame and a tranny crossmember to hold it up at the rear. No pictures because it's not glorious right now, but maybe after I fab up so mounts.

I was dinking around with other stuff, and was surprised how easily it will be to mount the front bumper brackets. Pictures of that coming soon, too.

scott im sure they are the hood side pieces,,look at the pic of my car here,,for length,,

also i got a hold of a guy that has a ton of 40 dodge parts,,he is thinning out his cars and parts, has a nice rolling car for a resto or rod project,, he said he will get back to me after turkey day or the holidays,,ill keep bugging him,, says he has a lot of trim,,he also has a 40 dash i may be intrested in,,