I have been looking at the frames of Dodge trucks(2wd longbeds) in the wrecking yards and I am not seeing a difference in them. I am about to get my hands on a '75 1/2t clubcab D-series truck(longbed 2wd). Does anyone have dimensions on these frames? Do they bend easy? I have always been a Chevy fan,but they are the "same ole 350 thing" to me anymore. Also what rear axle would be in a 1/2t? 8 3/4? I am going to check out the truck tonight. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks You in advance.
-Lance
bherder
10-14-2008, 08:09 PM
Do they bend easy?
Hahahaha!!! GAWD, we HOPE not!! :D:D:D
I have always been a Chevy fan,-Lance
WELCOME away from The Evil Side ... ;)
fins2fuselage
10-14-2008, 10:34 PM
Hahahaha!!! GAWD, we HOPE not!! :D:D:D
WELCOME away from The Evil Side ... ;)
What Bherder said -- and welcome aboard, Manimal.
As far as I know, there is little or no differnece in the frames, but be sure to check for cracks and loose rivets.
Just from curiosity, why do you want to know if they "bend easy"?
Jeff Dreibus
manimal
10-14-2008, 11:19 PM
What Bherder said -- and welcome aboard, Manimal.
As far as I know, there is little or no differnece in the frames, but be sure to check for cracks and loose rivets.
Just from curiosity, why do you want to know if they "bend easy"?
Jeff Dreibus
Because I have seen many of the 'OTHER' brands bent/twisted from everyday use.
I have noticed that the frame on the '75 D100 I am looking at is about the same size as the '84 Chevy C30 I have! I was amazed. I pan on using this truck as a daily driver.
Thanks for the welcome.
-Lance
fins2fuselage
10-15-2008, 09:07 AM
Because I have seen many of the 'OTHER' brands bent/twisted from everyday use.
I have noticed that the frame on the '75 D100 I am looking at is about the same size as the '84 Chevy C30 I have! I was amazed. I pan on using this truck as a daily driver.
Thanks for the welcome.
-Lance
Lance,
Anything will bend if you whang it hard enough, but Dodge frames are not known as being particularly weak.
BTW, if the bed's alignment is slightly askew with that of the cab, it does not mean that the Dodge's frame is bent. I don't think that I have ever had a Dodge whose bed lined up perfectly with the cab, either laterally, perpendicularly or both -- yet none of them had bent frames!
These trucks make great daily drivers so long as you familiarize yourself with their few weak points as you are now doing. Trouble spots of which you should be aware (other than those already discussed) are radiator core supports which rust out at the bottom, automatic transmissions (Loadflite 727) which require regular maintenance/adjustment and Holley 2-bbl carbs which were crafted by the Devil himself. Oh, and don't try to GM-ify it too much or it will reject the Mr. Gutwrench parts as the human body rejects an incompatible organ! ;)
Other than that: drive, enjoy and let us know if you encounter a problem.
Jeff
manimal
10-15-2008, 09:24 AM
I went and looked at the truck last night. Seems to be in pretty fair shape. It has a 318 with a '1 bbl?' carb,automagic,no a/c. Also they guy wants to throw in a '75 Dodge motorhome.
The deal is I trade him my '75 GMC shortbed Stepside for his '2' Dodges. I am going to try to post pics of all 3. Please give me your opinion. :tup::tdwn:Thank You.
-Lance
I guess I have to change something with my internet security, I cant browse my pics. I'll try soon.
fins2fuselage
10-15-2008, 09:31 AM
I went and looked at the truck last night. Seems to be in pretty fair shape. It has a 318 with a '1 bbl?' carb,automagic,no a/c. Also they guy wants to throw in a '75 Dodge motorhome.
The deal is I trade him my '75 GMC shortbed Stepside for his '2' Dodges. I am going to try to post pics of all 3. Please give me your opinion. :tup::tdwn:Thank You.
-Lance
I guess I have to change something with my internet security, I cant browse my pics. I'll try soon.
lance,
The 318's carb is actually a 2-bbl Carter -- or at least it should be. They do look a bit like 1-bbls, but check out the base -- it should have a rectangular flange with four nuts holding it down.
GRAB the motorhome! It will almost certainly have either a 413 (yes, that's right!) or a 440 in it! (drool, drool)
Jeff
manimal
10-15-2008, 09:37 AM
No, it has a small block. It's the van style front end. I see those BIG motorhomes in the wrecking yards all the time with big blocks in them.
-Lance
manimal
10-22-2008, 06:47 PM
So the way I take this is that the 1 ton dodge uses the same frame as the 1/2 ton? I have several thoughts in my head.
1)remove the bed and make a custom flatbed,and convert to dually-use for the BBQ business.
2)shorten the frame and make into clubcab shortbed.
3) convert to 4x4
4)or all the above.
I just dont want to overload the frame.....by converting it to 1 ton.
does any of this make any sense? I question myself sometimes. Thanks for any input.
-Lance
fins2fuselage
10-22-2008, 10:48 PM
So the way I take this is that the 1 ton dodge uses the same frame as the 1/2 ton? I have several thoughts in my head.
1)remove the bed and make a custom flatbed,and convert to dually-use for the BBQ business.
2)shorten the frame and make into clubcab shortbed.
3) convert to 4x4
4)or all the above.
I just dont want to overload the frame.....by converting it to 1 ton.
does any of this make any sense? I question myself sometimes. Thanks for any input.
-Lance
Lance,
Now, I don't know whether there is a difference between different-tonnage chassis; I thought we were talking year-to-year differences. Bherder, do you know?
As far as what to do with the frame: options #1 & #3 seem like possibilities, but if you held a gun to my head I still wouldn't cut up a frame and try to weld it back together. Scary!
Jeff
fal308
10-23-2008, 10:38 AM
I wouldn't say that converting a 2wd to 4x4 is impossible (it is possible) but it's relatively hard to do and expensive to do considering how many 4x4 Dodges there are out there for sale at any one time. It has been discussd many times. A search will give the details. You'd have to fabricate a crossmember (for the TC) and a front suspension (2wd has coils, 4x4 leaf springs) among many other items.
Different cabs and flatbeds are supposed to be relatively easy to do.
manimal
10-23-2008, 10:57 AM
Not too sure if would use the leaf spring front suspension or not. I have beeen toying around with a "radius arm style" front suspension. Which would be VERY easy. Would also make for a cush ride. I dont do hard core wheeling,just camping,fishing and going to desert races. Fabbing crossmembers is not a concern. I have a very close friend that owns an off road fab shop,and I have to build his 421 small block chevy,so....I dont think this would be a problem at all.
bherder
10-23-2008, 09:48 PM
Not too sure if would use the leaf spring front suspension or not. I have beeen toying around with a "radius arm style" front suspension. Which would be VERY easy. Would also make for a cush ride.
Uhhh.... Sounds like a Furd and their famous front suspensions/steering that never did work right.
Not to dog ya or anything, but driving a 4x4 TRUCK, should FEEL like driving a .... 4x4 truck. That's 1/2 of the fun. Sitting tall, stiff bouncy ride....
A 'cushy' ride is why grandmas buy Subarus..... :D:D:D
BTW, you said the "C" word..... :D:D:D
Now, I don't know whether there is a difference between different-tonnage chassis; I thought we were talking year-to-year differences. Bherder, do you know?
So far as I know, the actual frames are the same up through 1 ton... difference of 1/2-1 ton being suspension and drivetrain...
As far as what to do with the frame: options #1 & #3 seem like possibilities, but if you held a gun to my head I still wouldn't cut up a frame and try to weld it back together. Scary!
I agree. There would be no way I'd dice-n-slice a frame and expect it to hold... UNLESS the WHOLE frame was boxed. Even then, I'd be worried.
manimal
10-28-2008, 06:19 PM
So far as I know, the actual frames are the same up through 1 ton... difference of 1/2-1 ton being suspension and drivetrain...
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Well, bherder is right. I went to the wrecking yard today and took some measurements of a 1/2t and Ram 250 and the frames were they very same. And I guess I can say that I have never seen a Dodge with a bent frame. Thanks
-Lance
bherder
10-28-2008, 07:04 PM
So far as I know, the actual frames are the same up through 1 ton... difference of 1/2-1 ton being suspension and drivetrain...
.................................................. .................................................. ................
Well, bherder is right. I went to the wrecking yard today and took some measurements of a 1/2t and Ram 250 and the frames were they very same. And I guess I can say that I have never seen a Dodge with a bent frame. Thanks
-Lance
Heh heh heh .... Even a blind squirrel finds a nut every now and then .. :D:D
