Posted By: poorboy
49 Dodge pickup on a 96 Dakota 4x4 chassis - 02/20/22 06:10 AM
Build threads are a pain in the butt! Soooo, I'm going to do a build thread... This one is going to be a bit different. You get to see the start of the project and the running, driving current rendition of it.
I bought the 49 sheet metal (all the metal except the tail gate) on its original bent up frame. It came with a rolling 93 Dakota 4x4 frame that already had the wheelbase shortened to match the 49 wheel base, and a clear MO State issued title. It was quite a bargain but was a 300 mile one way trip from my house to where it was. I couldn't get both the truck and the frame on one trip, I had to do the 600+ mile round trip twice. It cost more to get everything home then I paid for the truck, around $1300 total.
I bought the truck, then drug it home and parked it alongside my driveway for nearly 2 years. Other priorities were in front of it, including retiring and closing up my welding shop. This truck got built after the shop was closed and I was retired. Once I started, it got nearly total attention, and was licensed 11 months after I actually started cutting up the donor truck. But that is getting ahead of the story.
While the 49 was waiting its turn, I ran into an acquaintance at another guy's shop. During the BS session, he asked me if I knew anyone that might be looking for a low mileage 318. Yea, me! The guy runs a small local auto dealership (think buy here, pay here lot). He told me he bought a 96 Dakota 4x4 with a 318 that only had 44,000 miles on it, at an auction. The truck needed rear brake lines, but the body looked pretty good and it ran great. He bought it thinking he could replace the brake lines and turn the truck for a quick buck. He drove the great running and driving truck the 100+ miles home from the auction, thinking he got a great deal. All was well until he went to put it up on his rack to change the brake lines, and chunks of the frame started falling on the floor. A close inspection reveled the frame was total toast. When I told him what my project was, his eyes lit up. He offered me anything I wanted off the 96 for $400. He would bring it to my place, I could remove anything I wanted, then I could take the remains to the local salvage yard, and he would drop off the title. How can you pass up a deal like that? The 96 arrived at my place the next day. It got parked next to the 49.
OK, so pictures or it didn't happen.
The first 3 pictures are the 49 the day after I brought it home, and before the Dakota 4x4 frame was here. The last picture is about the only pic I have of the 96 complete. Gene
I bought the 49 sheet metal (all the metal except the tail gate) on its original bent up frame. It came with a rolling 93 Dakota 4x4 frame that already had the wheelbase shortened to match the 49 wheel base, and a clear MO State issued title. It was quite a bargain but was a 300 mile one way trip from my house to where it was. I couldn't get both the truck and the frame on one trip, I had to do the 600+ mile round trip twice. It cost more to get everything home then I paid for the truck, around $1300 total.
I bought the truck, then drug it home and parked it alongside my driveway for nearly 2 years. Other priorities were in front of it, including retiring and closing up my welding shop. This truck got built after the shop was closed and I was retired. Once I started, it got nearly total attention, and was licensed 11 months after I actually started cutting up the donor truck. But that is getting ahead of the story.
While the 49 was waiting its turn, I ran into an acquaintance at another guy's shop. During the BS session, he asked me if I knew anyone that might be looking for a low mileage 318. Yea, me! The guy runs a small local auto dealership (think buy here, pay here lot). He told me he bought a 96 Dakota 4x4 with a 318 that only had 44,000 miles on it, at an auction. The truck needed rear brake lines, but the body looked pretty good and it ran great. He bought it thinking he could replace the brake lines and turn the truck for a quick buck. He drove the great running and driving truck the 100+ miles home from the auction, thinking he got a great deal. All was well until he went to put it up on his rack to change the brake lines, and chunks of the frame started falling on the floor. A close inspection reveled the frame was total toast. When I told him what my project was, his eyes lit up. He offered me anything I wanted off the 96 for $400. He would bring it to my place, I could remove anything I wanted, then I could take the remains to the local salvage yard, and he would drop off the title. How can you pass up a deal like that? The 96 arrived at my place the next day. It got parked next to the 49.
OK, so pictures or it didn't happen.
The first 3 pictures are the 49 the day after I brought it home, and before the Dakota 4x4 frame was here. The last picture is about the only pic I have of the 96 complete. Gene