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- - wedged- 41 Dodge truck project (https://www.lateral-g.net/forums/showthread.php?t=21869)

Quote:

Originally Posted by ill steez (Post 350319)

are those front wheels the ones you'll be using? personally i think a larger diameter wheel would look better and match the rear nicely. style is on point though.

The front wheels will match the rears, but 7.5" wide.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wedged (Post 263217)

Since I can't afford $1K+ each for aluminum wheels to fit the M/T 29x18x18 tires fro the rear, I'm making my own 18x15 wheels. I am starting out with these steel 18x7.5 wheels with a 5 on 4.5" bolt pattern from an '06 or newer Ford Explorer. I got one to start with and if it works out, I'll get 3 more, one more to widen and 2 for the front. The wheel was $71.95 plus shipping from www.iautobodyparts.com part #STL03654U45 in case anyone with a Ford or Mopar is interested.

http://www.bigblockdakota.com/wheels001.jpg

The offset should be OK as is for the front of the Dakota since in stock form, they use a FWD type offset.

http://www.bigblockdakota.com/wheels002.jpg

the trans cross member is mostly complete. I just need to make a bracket for the urethane mount to sit on. I ended up pulling the engine off the frame to open up the bolt holes in the brackets on the frame for the engine mounts. I couldn't get the tailshaft to move to where it needed to be, but now I can move it around some.

http://www.bigblockdakota.com/transcross001.jpg

http://www.bigblockdakota.com/transcross002.jpg

after spending some time holding up various bits of metal and trying to figure out how I wanted to make the mount pad, I decided to keep it simple. I bent a piece of 3/16" plate, dilled a hole and welded it in place. Next on the list is ordering some more materials: the loops for the driveshaft and exhaust to pass through the rear cross member, a few 1 3/4" 180 degree bends to modify the headers and some other odds and ends.

http://www.bigblockdakota.com/transx001.jpg

http://www.bigblockdakota.com/transx002.jpg

I did some work on the bed. Before, the only thing holding the sides at the back was the tailgate when closed with the chains. On a stock truck, the bed floor was wood and there were wood cross bars under the bed. The rear most one was through bolted to the bottom of the rear stake pockets. I put some box tube from side to side to hold it together. The rear most piece of tube has uprights that go up inside the stake pockets. I plug welded them inside the pockets. It made the rear bed sides a lot more stiff and stable now, even with tailgate off.

http://www.bigblockdakota.com/bed_gate001.jpg

http://www.bigblockdakota.com/bed_gate002.jpg

http://www.bigblockdakota.com/bed_gate003.jpg

http://www.bigblockdakota.com/bed_gate004.jpg

I haven't touched the truck in almost 2 months, other than to move it so i can park my dually in the shop while on the road at car shows. I got a job with March Performance and it's been keeping me quite busy :willy:

Congrats on the job! Those up rites will make a big difference over the wood ones.

havn't found any time lately?

Not much. I did pick up a few things i need, but no progress.

well at least your thinking about it:thumbsup:

Wow how did i miss this thread - great project.