52 Dodge B3B Hemi Project

Hi all, as with the other thread, I have a running build on the HAMB but thought that since this is Dodge specific I would throw something on here. Here is the back ground; I am a die hard Mopar fan and currently have a pile of them which include a 70 440 6-pack Challenger RT, 01 Viper GTS ACR, 73 Road Race AAR Clone Cuda (under construction), 01 Dodge Ram 4x4 1500, 99 Dakota 4x4, 05 hemi Durango, 09 Caliber, 70 Roadrunner with 66 426 Hemi, 10 Challenger RT and of course my 52 B3B. Last year I got the bug to build/have a old Dodge truck as a parts hauler/street rod. Subsequently I looked around Craigslist and found this "gem". It was completely blown apart with the exception of the drive train, suspension and frame which were all one. The cab and box were completely disassembled and in various stages of "repair". I picked up the truck for virtually nothing as I traded something that I had zero $$ in. Within 4 weeks I had the truck reassembled and running. It was then that I was reminded that 50's era pickups were not designed (or suited) for modern roads and traffic as it did a blistering 45 MPH while squeaking and rattling (as an old truck does). Around this time a friend told me about a 56 Desoto with a 330 Hemi that could be had cheaply, so... off I went and picked it up. Subsequently I decided that if I were going to keep this truck, it needed to be cool but drivable. In order to do this, I decided that I needed more modern front suspension, better brakes and of course a better drive train. Since I had the 330, the plan was/is to install the 300 with a SB 727 behind it, install a 8.75 with decent gears (3.55) and a modern front suspension. After some investigation, I decieded to go with a 88 Dakota front end with R&P steering, coilover suspension. I had some E body leaf springs which I went with and a E body 8.75 (chrome no less). Currently, I have mocked up the rearend and will hopefully get it all burned in this weekend. Then it will be onto the front end. I will post pictures and see how this goes.

well I have tried to add a pic without success. Not sure what the deal is.

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Obviously I figured out the picture deal, a bit of a pain but I got it.

So here is a picture afer paint; this is a black laquer job, very cheap. [img][/img]

NICE.. i can't wait to see more!

Here is the engine that is going in it. [img][/img]

great surprises look at that!!!

man thats alota cars you got there. i had a bass boat once with a hemi in it

thanks, I am hopeful that it turns out well.

Here are pictures of the rear end effort
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I still have to get it all burned in, and then I am going to put the rear end together, throw the axles in and some wheels/tires, then lower it and see where I am.

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These are not too exciting, but worth seeing I guess. I still have to make the shock cross member and get it positioned and welded in. Once I am at that stage it will be time to begin the front end work. The engine is all rebuilt and ready for paint, but I dont think I will paint it until I have the mounts and everything else figured out. I also have to build some headers for it, bought the plates off of ebay and will cut up some shorty headers I have from another project. Good time to practice my TIG welding.

Here you can see where I extended the frame 2" due to the rear sliders. I am going to install a rectangular cross member between the frame rails to add strength and then build brackets for the rear bumper off of that.

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70chall440 wrote:These are not too exciting, but worth seeing I guess. I still have to make the shock cross member and get it positioned and welded in. Once I am at that stage it will be time to begin the front end work. The engine is all rebuilt and ready for paint, but I dont think I will paint it until I have the mounts and everything else figured out. I also have to build some headers for it, bought the plates off of ebay and will cut up some shorty headers I have from another project. Good time to practice my TIG welding.

dude it's always worth seeing

Cool. I will post more as I move along.

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this is the donor vehicle, 88 Dak 2 cylinder. I am taking the front suspension, brake MC, gas pedal and some electrical pieces/wiring.

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Here is the hood ornament I am going to be using.

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this is te truck after I put it all together and before I took it apart for the hemi/street rod make over. Probably drive it about 5 miles like this.

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this is the truck going together the first time. Wasnt a lot of rust but some, it was missing a lot of parts which I mostly got from another donor 52 (5 window). I thought about converting my truck to the 5 window and decided against it due partly ini available time.

These pictures are how it looked when I got the truck.

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Someone had big plans for this truck at one time, they cut 4 holes in the dash for gauges which I then used with vintage looking gauges from O'Reillys.

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I plan on putting in a tilt column and a cool steering wheel. If all goes well and I am fall in love with it (I like it, just not sure I love it), I will put a sterio and some speakers in it as well. I want to put some type of sound deadener in it just to quieten the "tinnieness" of it. I am thinking of using a spray on product like bed liner or perhaps lizard skin, but we will see. The over riding principle behing the truck as been "low budget" and have stuck to that with the exception of th engine, although I just did a rebuild on it and did get a few "cool" pieces such as the aluminum intake and timing chain cover. Other than that the engine is 30 over and just a rebuild. The cam is a little hotter than stock and is a regrind, the push rods are adjustable (due to the reground cam). The trans is a SB 727 out of my Cuda project and has a recent rebuild on it. I did buy a suregrip pack for the rear end and will be running 3.55 gears.

The one thing I am undecided on it the wheels. I have 2 15" aluminum slots and was thinking of going that route since I have them, however finding front ones is harder than it looks. the I thought about going with some steel 15" rims that were 8" wide and running the stock hubcaps but 295 rear tires and something like a 245 front. I will have to see what offset I can get away with. I like the thought of some fat rear tires and decent fronts, but it will have a manual R&P so I might be asking from issues there. I know this will not be a G machine, however I would really like it to handle at least decently.

love the pictures. you sound like your really into the old girl. thats a good thing. looking forward to the tranformation