Help me identify my chassis

[TTman23]

Hello everyone,

I purchased a 1947 Dodge pickup off auction a year ago. It was billed as "on a Dakota Chassis", but never stated the year or gen chassis.

Are there any dead give-aways on what gen chassis I have? Any stamps anywhere or things like that?

I am wanted to finally get started on this project and have the 5.7l HEMI out of my wife's Challenger that I want to swap into it, but don't know waht conversion kit to go for until I know what gen I have.

Thanks in advance-
Christian

 

[Mikes5thAve]

What engine does it have? A forum like Moparts with truck content would probably be more helpful to pinpoint everything about it. Pics would help too.

 

[TTman23]

Not sure of the engine either. Truck is a Frankenstein hack job currently. Here's some pictures if it helps.

 

[Mikes5thAve]

That's F or M body front suspension and looks like a magnum engine of some sort.
Since they went to the bother of putting in that suspension it would be a bit strange if they did a frame swap too but who knows. It wouldn't matter much anyway because all the specific parts you'd ever need for steering or suspension would be for these cars and the rest is pretty generic.

A shot of the rear frame and suspension and gas tank might help identify what frame it is.

Looks like an interesting ride. Years ago a place here was selling a bunch of model As that had newer V8s and wheels on them. They would have been a fun project but needed more then I was capable or interested in putting into one.

 

[TTman23]

I uploaded a shot of the rear, it currently has no gas tank. It was relocated to the bed it seems but didn't come with the truck when I got it.

I'm trying to determine what 5.7l HEMI swap kit to go with that'll actually work on my truck so I can start the process.

 

[Vaanth]

Hello everyone,

I purchased a 1947 Dodge pickup off auction a year ago. It was billed as "on a Dakota Chassis", but never stated the year or gen chassis.

Are there any dead give-aways on what gen chassis I have? Any stamps anywhere or things like that?

I am wanted to finally get started on this project and have the 5.7l HEMI out of my wife's Challenger that I want to swap into it, but don't know waht conversion kit to go for until I know what gen I have.

Thanks in advance-
Christian

As mentioned, the engine crossmember, aka K-member, or cradle, is from an F/M/J-body car. The transverse, or bent, torsion bars are a key identifier of it. It includes the suspension, steering linkage and steering gear, plus the brake hardware, except possibly the hoses.

It is a 1991 or later Magnum V-8 engine. It appears to have the brake master cylinder, booster , and linkage setup from a 1980s - 1990s B-series van with its sideways configuration. The master cylinder is for disc brakes.

The wiper motor appears to be a late 1960s - 1980s car two-speed motor, or possibly late 1970s - 1980s car intermittent motor, or 1972 - 1985 truck motor.

The rear axle is an 8-3/4" assembly with a 2881489 differential housing. If the perches have not been relocated, it is a 1961-1974 truck axle housing. It looks to have 11" drum brakes. The driveshaft looks like a possible Dodge van or 1/2 ton truck shaft, but it might be anything that matches the transmission and rear axle.

The leaf springs may be from a F/M/J- body, R-body, or late 1970s B-body. The lower shock mounts appear to be from the same car as the springs, with Iso-Clamp suspension, but only using the lower shock plate. The rear shocks mate with the plate but are not a Mopar rear shock application.

The front frame rails appear to be fabricated from box tubing, and may be merged with a Dakota frame.

The engine crossmember, unless changed, will have spool type motor mount attachments. Early Magnum engines with the cast in bosses could use the spool motor mounts. Later engines only supported a different truck mount. For a 5.7L conversion, determine if it is using spool mounts, or the later Dakota/Ram truck style mounting.

That's about all I can discern and offer. The folks on For Trucks Only in the Dodge/Ram forum section might have more.

 

[TTman23]

Hi Gary, thanks a ton for the information. I didn't realize it was potentially THAT Frankenstein'd lol. Time to get to work -

 

[AMC Diplomat]

Might it be easier to cut that whole front off and use a subframe from a 5.7 vehicle?

 

[Mikes5thAve]

Might it be easier to cut that whole front off and use a subframe from a 5.7 vehicle?

If you can't easily find conversion engine mounts you can cut what's there off the k frame and weld on new ones with a kit like this

Motor Mount Kit; Gen III HEMI (5.7, 6.1, 6.2 Hellcat, 6.4)

Heavy-Duty Engine Mount Kit (LS & HEMI) We’re confident that this kit will handle the scrutiny of your friends when they’re checking out your build, as well as any power you can throw at it. The very same kit is trusted by Don Schumacher Racing on their 1150hp HEMI dyno cart , so you know it’s...

welderseries.company.site

 

[Oldiron440]

The Dakota frame will have a VIN on it and before you drop money into your new project you should have checked out. You don’t know if it is hot, scrapped unless you have a good title for it and I hope you do.
Because as far as the DOT is concerned your old truck will be a rebodied Dakota pickup.

 

[Hayzoos]

As far as title goes, each state has their own rules. It could be a 1947 Dodge pickup, or a Dakota, or a 20?? whatever custom built state issued VIN . . ., or who knows what. In PA it would have gone through an "enhanced" (truck) inspection at least once then through the standard annual safety inspection. If it went out of state and returned it would have or will need to go through another. This happens when a PA "R" title is issued, either coming from out of state, or when reconstructed in PA to convert a salvage or other similar branded title for streetable use. I found this out when I moved to SC, then back to PA with an "R" title truck originally issued in PA, having to have an "enhanced" (truck) inspection upon returning from SC. The (truck) part eliminates some of the enhanced inspection stations, could be a PITA, but I lucked out.

 

[Mikes5thAve]

It seems like that's another one of those really strange things. You constantly read about people who do a frame swap because of damage and people chime in with the laws about the vin plate and that it stays licensed as the body. Other times it's the cab being swapped which is a normal thing to do in a lot of areas because of rust. And different states seem to have different laws about it.

 

[AMC Diplomat]

People reframe trucks and cars all the time. This is much ado about nothing.

 

[Oldiron440]

People reframe trucks and cars all the time. This is much ado about nothing.

Actually that’s not true, it’s a federal felony to switch frames and not have the DOT involved. The legal VIN is what is on the frame unless you go through the process of getting everything legal. Your insurance company might check the VIN on the frame after an accident and if the vehicle has two VINs on it one on the dash and a different one on the frame they might not pay out on any claim regardless of fault. Also if a vehicle is determined to have two different VINs on it it can be seized by law enforcement on the spot. I’ve been involved with the process because of my auto body shop and the guys who do the inspections take it seriously. If you think you’re above the law good luck.

 

[AMC Diplomat]

Actually that’s not true, it’s a federal felony to switch frames and not have the DOT involved.

Only for commercial vehicles would the DOT be involved.

The legal VIN is what is on the frame unless you go through the process of getting everything legal.

This build is so old that probably already happened, if there even still is any VIN on the frame.

Your insurance company might check the VIN on the frame after an accident and if the vehicle has two VINs on it one on the dash and a different one on the frame they might not pay out on any claim regardless of fault.

This is an antique vehicle. If the OP gets antique insurance, then even this might be not be an issue. If there is even a VIN on that Frankenstein frame.

Many states simply don't care after so many model years. This is somebody's old project build. I wouldn't worry about it.

The frame pieces are so old and out of different cars, that the Frankenstein frame doesn't even need a safety inspection. I wish it did, but by law it's not subject to inspection in PA, which is where the OP is based on his signature.

If this were a modern vehicle, say from like 1973 to today, then the OP would be absolutely screwed.

And the argument that it's what ever year the frame is... that's at least two different frames I see there. This thing is a ship of theseus. For all we know, the OP intends to drag race this car, in which case none of this frame worrying circle jerk even applies.

 

[Oldiron440]

Only for commercial vehicles would the DOT be involved.


This build is so old that probably already happened, if there even still is any VIN on the frame.

This is an antique vehicle. If the OP gets antique insurance, then even this might be not be an issue. If there is even a VIN on that Frankenstein frame.

Many states simply don't care after so many model years. This is somebody's old project build. I wouldn't worry about it.

The frame pieces are so old and out of different cars, that the Frankenstein frame doesn't even need a safety inspection. I wish it did, but by law it's not subject to inspection in PA, which is where the OP is based on his signature.

If this were a modern vehicle, say from like 1973 to today, then the OP would be absolutely screwed.

And the argument that it's what ever year the frame is... that's at least two different frames I see there. This thing is a ship of theseus. For all we know, the OP intends to drag race this car, in which case none of this frame worrying circle jerk even applies.

Foolish nonsense

 

[AMC Diplomat]

Foolish nonsense

Show me where its a federal felony involving the federal DOT like you said. For a passenger vehicle. I'm happy to learn new things.

 

[Oldiron440]

I worked for a guy that did it to his personal vehicle and somehow it was discovered, he was a used car dealer, he got charged with a felony and he lost the vehicle plus he was charged with a money crime because he had a bank note on the vehicle that had the frame from another vehicle under it. The DOT officer contacted the bank, the bank called the note due instantly because the collateral was no good.
The Department Of Transportation, DOT handles more than just big truck regulations and enforcement. lol
This all came about because the DOT does inspections of car dealers and sometimes body shops, this guy was both and they found an old vehicle with no vin then started looking at everything. Like I said he was charged with a felony but he had a clean record and got a plea deal but he lost his vehicle and paid big bucks for the lawyer and had to pay off his loan insanity and that was close to twenty grand.

The thing is to do it correctly would have just cost him the inconvenience and time and everything would have been legal.

 

[AMC Diplomat]

I worked for a guy that did it to his personal vehicle and somehow it was discovered, he was a used car dealer, he got charged with a felony and he lost the vehicle plus he was charged with a money crime because he had a bank note on the vehicle that had the frame from another vehicle under it. The DOT officer contacted the bank, the bank called the note due instantly because the collateral was no good.
The Department Of Transportation, DOT handles more than just big truck regulations and enforcement. lol
This all came about because the DOT does inspections of car dealers and sometimes body shops, this guy was both and they found an old vehicle with no vin then started looking at everything. Like I said he was charged with a felony but he had a clean record and got a plea deal but he lost his vehicle and paid big bucks for the lawyer and had to pay off his loan insanity and that was close to twenty grand.

The thing is to do it correctly would have just cost him the inconvenience and time and everything would have been legal.

That sounds like a dealership committed fraud well beyond a frame swap. Yes, you will absolutely go to jail if you frame swap a car, lie to you bank for a loan on that car, and then get caught.

 

[Oldiron440]

The car was his personal vehicle and didn’t even have dealer plates on it but once they started checking they checked every vehicle on the lot including my truck. He didn’t have any issues with the business just his vehicle.