Thread: 1953 dodge panel

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hi im new to the club im building a 1953 dodge panel van i want to v8 it
i dont know what route to go should i use a chevy sub frame or a volare sub frame or should i just find a s10 short beb frame it has the exact wheel base im confused help

You don't have to switch frames or subframe it.... Why not upgrade the chassis, suspension, and brakes on what you have? It's a Dodge, so that V-8 should be a Hemi---or a least a 440!!!!!!

BTW-welcome to CHR, good having you hear. There's a few very knowledgeable Mopar types spread around the club.....

dave i would like to keep it all mopar but cant find any suspention parts or disk brake kits the sales rep at speedway laughed at me when i told him what i was building he said good luck finding parts for that. its the same as a dodge pilot house pickup i thought they were popular but there not

I've got a name and number for a rep I know, it's out in the garage. I'll get it for you tomorrow.

Look into adapting a Dodge Dakota front suspension to it. This outfit makes crossmembers to adapt to Ford and Chev, but may do one for your Dodge or steer you to another company; http://www.industrialchassisinc.com/ If you're bashful about calling you can get one of the "classic" truck magazines and chase after ads.

Welcome. Look foward to seeing your panel truck build.

Me too....welcome to the site!

Who says its unpopular? To me....the real odd ones often make the best ones! I wouldve never thought a Nash Greenbriar could be cool. Saw one that some1 built in the Springfield MO area that just blew my mind. Prostreet.

Dave G

I believe this LINK and THISlink may help you w/some answers.
ANDDD this guy makes a disc brake kit that uses a Mopar rotor w/aGM caliper...joe

thanks for all your help hope to have pictures soon once i learn to work this goofy camera lol Ray

I used to have a 54 with a 340 in it on stock stuff...wasn't too bad...The volare set-up is pretty easy to install if you can find one.. They are a little bit nose heavy for a car but they work pretty well in trucks...

Why not stay Mopar and use a Dakota chassis? Hank

hank i thought about using a mopar product but everyone i looked had too
long of a wheel base my panel is 108 in the only other wheel base i found to be 108 is th s10 short bed i dont want to use a car frame the suspention will be to light thanks Ray

Originally Posted by vintageiron

hank i thought about using a mopar product but everyone i looked had too long of a wheel base my panel is 108

If I could lenghten my S10 frame 37" for my project then there is no reason why you couldn't cut a couple of inches out of a Dakota frame & weld it back together....joe

I've routinely cut and welded frames, I generally like to cut at a 45 degree angle,join,and then box about a foot in both directions from the joint. Hank

I had a 54 pickup with a 383. I acquired it that way. They had done some serious modifying to the firewall to clear the big V8. The front end was hosed, I never could find a decent steering box or parts so I installed a saginaw power steering from a chevy 4x4 and installed a tilt column from an olds 98. I looked at a similiar truck the guy had put the whole front end from a 72 chevy C10 and it was a fairly simple swap.