Thread: Who knows their pre 32 mopars?

Tweet

My wife has been wanting her own ride for a while now and I stumbled onto this old body. I got it from a friend and he was told it was a 1927 Dodge. From what little research I have done, I don't believe it is a 1927. I think it is a 1930 Dodge Sport Sedan because there is all steel structure, and the lower cowl vents seem to be on the 1930 models only from the pics I have searched. I don't have a frame or anything else for it and I don't know where the serial number tag is supposed to be located. Plans are to make it into a hot rod but keep it looking old.
I am going to try to find a front passenger door, windshield frame, and I have thoughts of using Model A fenders on it because those should be easier to source. Are there any other cars that the parts night interchange with? Desoto maybe?

Also, what suspension and front axle should I be looking to use? This is going to be a cruiser that will have an 1100lb engine in it. My plan is to build the frame out of 2"x3" 3/16 wall tube. She wants fenders and running boards as well. I did get a frame with the body but I believe it is a Model A frame. Any info on these would be awesome. Thanks Ryan.

Originally Posted by 40FordDeluxe

This is going to be a cruiser that will have an 1100lb engine in it. My plan is to build the frame out of 2"x3" 3/16 wall tube.

Sounds like it's gettin' a Cummins........NICE. I would at least take a look at these guys before you fire up your welder.......
http://www.autoweldchassis.com/
.

Originally Posted by techinspector1

Sounds like it's gettin' a Cummins........NICE. I would at least take a look at these guys before you fire up your welder.......
http://www.autoweldchassis.com/
.

Thanks Tech! I will call them and see if they can do some custom rails. Yes sir! It is getting a Cummins. Which type of suspension should I put up front? I was thinking about a straight axle in front of the radiator with radius rods. I've never done one that will have this weight. Will a speedway type tubular axle handle this?

Straight out of the box, without any think time........I would be afraid of using even the heavy duty tubular axle that is commercially available from Speedway or other vendors. I would opt for a custom 3" O.D. x 0.500" wall mild steel unit and I'd make it AS SHORT AS POSSIBLE. I'm sure that Speedway could arrange for one of their suppliers to cut the ends of the tubing to accept spindles of your choice. I'd be thinkin' something that would take one hell of a lot of brake, because if you think about it, it's like stackin' two 350 Chevys on top of each other. The only other angle then would be laying the tube back at about 7 degrees positive caster to keep her trackin' straight. Remember too, that you have to subtract any rake that is built into the car. So, if you, for instance, built the car with a 3 degree rake, you would want to lay the axle in at 7 degrees positive with the car sitting at rake.

I was just thinkin' that if I were tasked with doin' this, I might do some sleuthing around at a heavy truck shop, lookin' at the axles and spindles that might adapt some gi-normous brakes onto the front end. Take a look at a Dodge pickup with a Cummins in it and see how much brake they are using.

I might also toy with the idea of using a gasser design front, but moving the straight axle up to the top, above the springs, to lower the vehicle. Picture this with the axle on top of the springs.......
https://www.speedwaymotors.com/HD-Ga...ub,383100.html
.

Thanks for the ideas. I really should try to find a straight axle from a ton truck and it would be killer to find one with disc brakes. It might be a task to find one with disc brakes. I can probably run steel wheels with a moon style hub cap to hide the 8 lug wheels. I could use a gm 14bff I have laying around for the rear. I'm trying to talk her out out of fenders. Would it look dumb with rear fenders and running boards, and no front fenders?

I looked at photos for hours and never found a sedan with rear fenders and no fronts. I think you're gonna have to bite the bullet kemosabe.
.

Originally Posted by 40FordDeluxe

I'm trying to talk her out out of fenders. Would it look dumb with rear fenders and running boards, and no front fenders?

Why not just do it. Isn't that what hot-rodding is all about? Who gives a damn about what other people think or say; it's your car, (or in this case yours and the missus,) and if she's happy with that, and you're happy with that, where's the problem?

Maybe add some spindle mounted front fenders like on the American Graffiti yellow coupe?

It's that running board piece that throws a twist into the mix. There's lots of bobbed rear fenders out there, and if you put a decent curve on them to flow them into the body they can be OK. Like Driver 50x says, cycle fenders for the front may help with the spray that can drown the driver/passenger on wet roads, but skinny, just barely covering the tread. If she's got to have running boards, I wonder if you could again do some creative sculpturing of the leading edge to flow them from nothing, maybe mid-door so they could still be used by the kids to jump in, but not be too obvious up front? An interesting question, Mr 40FordDeluxe!

I guess we'll have to wait and see what she'll stand still for.
.

Originally Posted by rspears

It's that running board piece that throws a twist into the mix. There's lots of bobbed rear fenders out there, and if you put a decent curve on them to flow them into the body they can be OK. Like Driver 50x says, cycle fenders for the front may help with the spray that can drown the driver/passenger on wet roads, but skinny, just barely covering the tread. If she's got to have running boards, I wonder if you could again do some creative sculpturing of the leading edge to flow them from nothing, maybe mid-door so they could still be used by the kids to jump in, but not be too obvious up front? An interesting question, Mr 40FordDeluxe!

You two surely dribbled a bib-full there!
As soon as I read your comments I could just see that in my mind. Done properly (as Ryan always does,) that could be made to look bloody gorgeous, and something entirely different from the usual run-of-the-mill, ho-hum, seen-it-all-before stuff.

Thanks for the input guys. I like the ideas. This is feeling like when you start a home renovation project and I know you guys know what I'm talking about. I know what looks good but I have to make her see the vision before anything makes sense.

I did find out from the guys on the HAMB that it is a 1929 Dodge. I did find a place that makes windshield frames for it, but I am still researching frames. Spirit cars has some model A frames for a very reasonable price and I need to check the dodge to see if it is close to a model A width etc. I just haven't had the time to mess with it. Imagine that.

Nice! If you want a Dodge straight axle you're welcome to the one I just took out of my truck. You just have to come get it.

Thanks Pat! I will keep that in mind. After seeing the comments about straight axles in another thread here I am wondering if I should go with IFS for better ride/drive ability.

.

Originally Posted by 40FordDeluxe

Thanks Pat! I will keep that in mind. After seeing the comments about straight axles in another thread here I am wondering if I should go with IFS for better ride/drive ability.

.

I don't blame you; it steered OK in mine but you can definitely tell its 60 year old technology.