We call it DAKSOTA

Posted By: redex79

We call it DAKSOTA - 06/21/09 10:14 PM

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

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Posted By: redex79

Re: We call it DAKSOTA - 06/21/09 10:17 PM

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.

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Posted By: redex79

Re: We call it DAKSOTA - 06/21/09 10:19 PM

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

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Posted By: redex79

Re: We call it DAKSOTA - 06/21/09 10:21 PM

Here's another.

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Posted By: redex79

Re: We call it DAKSOTA - 06/21/09 10:28 PM

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.

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Posted By: RodStRace

Re: We call it DAKSOTA - 06/22/09 02:09 AM

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?

Posted By: redex79

Re: We call it DAKSOTA - 06/22/09 02:35 AM

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.

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Posted By: redex79

Re: We call it DAKSOTA - 06/22/09 02:37 AM

LH Side

Posted By: MOPARWOODY

Re: We call it DAKSOTA - 06/22/09 03:29 AM

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

Posted By: redex79

Re: We call it DAKSOTA - 06/22/09 02:46 PM

Quote:

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?

10" (+-) from center of original mount to center of fabed mount. Or measured from #1 plug to center of ball joint- 4"

The mounts and brackets are from a small block 77 Dodge truck.

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Posted By: 65rbdodge

Re: We call it DAKSOTA - 06/22/09 04:35 PM

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.

Posted By: rabid scott

Re: We call it DAKSOTA - 06/22/09 05:45 PM

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

Excellent choice of engine, too!

Posted By: redex79

Re: We call it DAKSOTA - 06/22/09 07:10 PM

Quote:

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.

The crank and water pump was a small block set up from the donor truck as was the alt. I pulled the serp. pulley off the P/S pump and installed a pulley from an older P/s Pump. The shaft is larger on the Dak P/S pump so the hole on the older pulley had to be enlarged. Having some problem with that since I don't have a drill press I used my die grinder and a small flap wheel. Might be a bit too big.

Here's some pics of the pulley set up.

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Posted By: redex79

Re: We call it DAKSOTA - 06/22/09 07:12 PM

more pics

Posted By: redex79

Re: We call it DAKSOTA - 06/22/09 07:12 PM

nuther

Posted By: redex79

Re: We call it DAKSOTA - 06/22/09 07:19 PM

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.

Posted By: 4speeds4me

Re: We call it DAKSOTA - 06/22/09 07:58 PM

Check the PCV valve...

Posted By: redex79

Re: We call it DAKSOTA - 06/22/09 10:05 PM

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.

Posted By: redex79

Re: We call it DAKSOTA - 06/23/09 12:02 PM

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.

Posted By: Captain Chaos

Re: We call it DAKSOTA - 06/23/09 02:45 PM

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!

Posted By: redex79

Re: We call it DAKSOTA - 06/23/09 04:08 PM

I was going to convert the 6X4.5 bolt pattern on this 97 to 5X4.5 turned in to more work than I have time. We are looking for some plain black steel wheels for the Dakota and go that route.

Just for everyones information this started out as a regular cab 1997 Dodge Dakota truck. I'm trying to keep everything Mopar. The frame was longer than the original 1940 Desoto. I'm trying to position the rear axle on the frame in relation to the wheel openings as to not cut and repositon the frame.

Posted By: jrlegacy23

Re: We call it DAKSOTA - 06/26/09 04:01 AM

they make the black cragar soft 8's for dakotas in 15, 16, and 17". Also available in chrome. check summit and offroadtoystore.

Posted By: Wedgeman

Re: We call it DAKSOTA - 06/28/09 01:22 PM

Very nice work there....don't give up !!

Been building muscle cars for years now, but I'll say goodbye to them soon a go for a rod like yours in my next projects.....this is so coooool !

Daniel

Posted By: redex79

Re: We call it DAKSOTA - 06/28/09 10:46 PM

Hey thanks. I did my restoration on my 79 Lil Red I know what you are saying. I just got back from Martin, MI at the F.A.S.T and Factory Stock Drags. It was a blast. I'll keep yoou guys up on the progress.

Posted By: fstfish66

Re: We call it DAKSOTA - 06/30/09 06:30 AM

40 dodge busnies coupe here,,needs some up dating,,great topic,,that poly looks lost in that big nose,,nice project,,

Posted By: redex79

Re: We call it DAKSOTA - 06/30/09 09:04 PM

Quote:

40 dodge busnies coupe here,,needs some up dating,,great topic,,that poly looks lost in that big nose,,nice project,,

Yes it does. It looks like a next generation 318 is going in its place. The nose will totaly hide this small block.

Posted By: fstfish66

Re: We call it DAKSOTA - 07/03/09 05:02 AM

cant wait to see more on this topic,, yipppee ifinally figured out why i was never recieving e mails from this site,,,

Posted By: redex79

Re: We call it DAKSOTA - 09/03/09 03:55 PM

Well fellow street rodders I have a update and some pics to show you. I started this project with the idea of just sitting the $0 Desoto body on a 97 Dakota frame. The the Dakota frame was close to my shop and cheap $100. The original pics I posted was the idea but it just didn't work out the way I needed it to. So here's what I did. Stubed in the 97 Dakota front frame using the allready fabricated engine mounts and here's what happed. Take a look

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Posted By: redex79

Re: We call it DAKSOTA - 09/03/09 03:57 PM

More pics. the pics here and just the start of the stub in.

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Posted By: redex79

Re: We call it DAKSOTA (update 09-09) - 09/03/09 04:03 PM

I was going to use the Poly 318 in the beginning but it had so much blow by I put a LA 318 in its place. Runs good so far. More pics......... Oh by the way, I think a thread was started on cost of installing a front suspension on a 41 Ply. That's my next project for another buddy using a earlier Dakota frame. I think he gave $125 for a complete frame. I'm sure we will swap out labor.

Posted By: RodStRace

Re: We call it DAKSOTA (update 09-09) - 09/03/09 04:48 PM

Just to answer the remark of a 318 getting lost in that bay, here's an old shot of when I assembled the 40.

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Posted By: RodStRace

Re: We call it DAKSOTA (update 09-09) - 09/03/09 04:49 PM

and one with the front sheetmetal on...

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Posted By: RodStRace

Re: We call it DAKSOTA (update 09-09) - 09/03/09 04:50 PM

Hood on (years later, but no further....

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Posted By: fstfish66

Re: We call it DAKSOTA (update 09-09) - 09/08/09 04:14 AM

i have a few questions,,,
first any chance of a close up pic of the area where the 40 frame and the dakota stub are joined,,please,,,

next,,i may have to remove the front clip,,from my 40,,not sure yet,,if so i didnt assemble this car,, i should of bult it,,but oh well,,,any tips on how i could unbolt it as a unit or front clip minus the hood,,and running boards so i dont wreck the paint is it possible on this car?? may be easier then removing each panel sepretly,,,thanks in advance

Posted By: poorboy

Re: We call it DAKSOTA (update 09-09) - 09/11/09 04:27 AM

Quote:

i have a few questions,,,
first any chance of a close up pic of the area where the 40 frame and the dakota stub are joined,,please,,,

next,,i may have to remove the front clip,,from my 40,,not sure yet,,if so i didnt assemble this car,, i should of bult it,,but oh well,,,any tips on how i could unbolt it as a unit or front clip minus the hood,,and running boards so i dont wreck the paint is it possible on this car?? may be easier then removing each panel sepretly,,,thanks in advance

The Dakota clip welds onto the 40s Mopars frames right at the firewall. The one we did, the Dakota frame slid right inside the original frame just like it was made to fit together. Do a measurement and cut your original frame at the point that it is 1/4" wider then the Dakota clip, I think we notched the X member (we did a 39 Plymouth) and bottomed the Dakota frame inside the xmember.

As far as removing your front clip, you unbolt the inner fenders, unbolt the outer fenders at the firewall and the 2 at the rocker, disconnect the wiring, disconnect the fenders from the running boards, remove the hood, remove the radiator, and remove the 2 bolts that attach the radiator support the frame, I think thats all..... Takes 2 people, one hand on the wheel well opening and one hand in the headlight area each side, to lift the clip over the tires and off the front. That clip is a bit heavy and very ockward. The clip will set on the ground under the grill area in the front and at the bottom, back edge of the fenders and they sit fairly stable. Gene

Posted By: RodStRace

Re: We call it DAKSOTA (update 09-09) - 09/11/09 02:35 PM

Yep, just like Poorboy said. On my Plymouth...
Hood=2 bolts in back at the hinge, 2 in front.
1 bolt each side at the running boards.
3-4 bolts inside back edge of fenders to cowl.
2 bolts each side top back edge of fender where the hood covered
wiring that follows driver's side inner fender
Bumper, since it goes into slots in front
On mine, there is an upper inner fender that stays with the front clip, and a lower that bolts to the frame. Removeing the lower make it easier, but is not necessary.
2 large nuts and washers under the radiator support.
If there is anything that is attached to the inner fenders and motor, it will have to be disconnected from one or the other.

Soak all the bolts many times, well in advance of removal!!! You want to avoid breaking them off!

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Posted By: fstfish66

Re: We call it DAKSOTA (update 09-09) - 09/17/09 04:46 AM

thanks for all the replys,,im hoping to not have to remove the front end,,but if i do i dont want to have to repaint the car,,,i figured some one here had already done it,,thanks again,,