Custom Mopar ????

The minute you have it in a rotisserie you`ve already forgotten the hours spent on building it... just my 2cts

dutch said:

The minute you have it in a rotisserie you`ve already forgotten the hours spent on building it... just my 2cts

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No worries there dutch. My budget just doesn't have the room for a rotisserie.
New plan.[cl
Got the body up on stands.
I used my heavy out board motor stands for the front and a 55 gallon barrel for the rear. Solid as a rock now. I even opened the door and the body didn't crack in half. [ddd [cl
Straps are slack but will be left on for safety measures.
This way the floor is at a good working height for me and once I start on the underneath part I will get a mechanics creeper with a back rest. I can still raise it up about a foot more if I need too.
The plan for tomorrow is to start on the floor boards.
Thanks for all the comments and stopping by to check up on me.
Torchie

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Where there's a will there's a way. And you've got lots of will, Torchie.

bob w said:

Where there's a will there's a way. And you've got lots of will, Torchie.

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Thanks bob. I'm starting to run out of "ways" though. [ddd
Set up some light. Now I won't have a excuse for my crappy looking welds. [ [
The PS floor. Gives you a idea of the lack of flatness as it gets closer to the door sill.
As ZZ pointed out. This is not or does it need to be pretty. Just real strong.
With that in mind I gathered the last of my 16 Gauge metal. Left over from the floor of the truck build. I believe I will have enough to do what all needs to be done on this floor.
The inner rocker will be 18 gauge and the body supports yet to be determined.
But first things first. Tomorrow I start cutting.
Torchie

Here we go.....
I'm cutting away just enough of the old floor to get to weldable metal. Each section will be a bit different then the others.
You can see whats left of the front body mount /bracing/ I also am leaving the stock mounting holes for the front seat. They also go right into that body mount/brace.
Pieces just tacked in for now. Once I have it all filled in I will solid weld .
I must have know I would be doing a lot of welding as I put a grounding stud on each side of the body way back when I started this project.[[
Thanks for looking in on me....
Torchie

Great progress Torchie! Looks like you are knocking off the drivers side already. Good thing it's all sheet metal welding - remember what the doc says - always below 160 amps, and keep the maching as far away from you as possible.

Great work, plowing ahead and curing the cancer one piece at a time. The ground bolts made me smile, like the electrodes on Frankensteins monster's neck [ddd[ddd

zzrodder said:

Great work, plowing ahead and curing the cancer one piece at a time. The ground bolts made me smile, like the electrodes on Frankensteins monster's neck [ddd[ddd

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Thanks ZZ. LOL It does look like that doesn't it.
This thing has almost got as many stitches in it as I do. [ddd
Fitted in another piece of the puzzle.
After tacking it in I decided to play connect the dots.
Was in the groove when I ran out of wire. Not only that but it tore up my gun liner as well. The end piece off the roll is stuck in there.
My fault as I wasn't paying attention.
I won't be able to get a new liner until Tuesday but I suspect it was time for a new one anyways. Been a lot of wire run through it between the truck build and this one. As well as other things.
Even with the new pieces just being tacked in that entire floor area is much more solid now.
Since I can't weld Ill have to look for something else to do on the car for tomorrow. Got to keep moving forward.
Thanks for visiting.....
Torchie

I like the ground bolts too. . Nice progress. [cl

Burgerman said:

I like the ground bolts too. . Nice progress. [cl

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Thanks Bman.
Got the welder sorted out.[ [ [
Floor patch's all welded in.
Tomorrow I move forward to the toe area.
Also....
I come across a 95 Dodge Dakota. 2WD with a 318.
Looking into the possibility of using that as my donor frame and power plant.
More to follow.
Thanks for checking up on me....
Torchie

lookin good my friend!!

The early Dakota's had 5x4.5 lug wheels on them.
The later year models have 6 lug wheels.

lowbudget50 said:

lookin good my friend!!

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Thank you.

Old Iron said:

The early Dakota's had 5x4.5 lug wheels on them.
The later year models have 6 lug wheels.

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Indeed OI.
The 95 has 6, But.....
I can swap over to 1990 Front hubs and rotors and use my stock 49 Dodge 15 inch rims.(Of which I now have 9.[ddd)
I can also swap out the rear axles to the 5 bolt pattern as well.
I won't use adapters.
Chances of finding a older 2 wd one in my area is slim as we are rust central here. And most everything is 4x4. This one has the 318 already in it.
I'm having a hard time finding the legit track width on these.
I have read of people using them on the same year Plymouths and I believe the 49 Dodge is wider. So all has yet to be revealed.
Time to start saving up my nickels and dimes. I had the bread put aside but the Daily driver needed some repairs so you know where that money went.

Didn't measure the track width on the 53 International I got done a month or two ago but, the Dakota chassis fit under the truck perfectly width wise.

Old Iron said:

Didn't measure the track width on the 53 International I got done a month or two ago but, the Dakota chassis fit under the truck perfectly width wise.

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They seem to be a common frame swap for the IH truck's OI.
I'm awaiting a message from a friend that has 2 Dakota's. (One of which he is going to use for a IH frame swap. .) He's going to get me a track width.
Meanwhile........
Made up the last floor patch and got it all welded in. Pulled out the what's left of the donor car access panel. It's in rough shape.
Depending on what frame I end up with I may just make a new piece for here.
I was also able to remove the brace from the driver door opening.[cl
Torchie

If memory serves, the track width is 60.8 on 91-96. I think your car is
55/56 in.

forbigpicture said:

If memory serves, the track width is 60.8 on 91-96. I think your car is
55/56 in.

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That’s pretty much what my friend said on the Dakotas, fbp.
I got down and measured my donor and came up with 55.5.
I also show about 4 inches from the fender lip to the outside of the tire.
That would give me a bit of wiggle room but I don’t want the tires to close to the fenders. That would put them at about 2 inches in from the inner lip.
At 58.5 the g body platform is still a better width. I knew I should have kept that Olds. Lol
Thanks for the post fbp.
Torchie

Torchie, I know hindsight is 20/20
Several have been done using the g body frames and using the floor
pan as well. Did a 51 Chevy wagon using most of a 4dr Malibu, trim
to fit, and most body mounts in place. Also using most of the firewall
and using factory air and brakes, sorry no pictures, it was back before we started documenting everything Not trying to sway you one way
or another. I'm sure you will come up with something and we'll be following
along.

forbigpicture said:

Torchie, I know hindsight is 20/20
Several have been done using the g body frames and using the floor
pan as well. Did a 51 Chevy wagon using most of a 4dr Malibu, trim
to fit, and most body mounts in place. Also using most of the firewall
and using factory air and brakes, sorry no pictures, it was back before we started documenting everything Not trying to sway you one way
or another. I'm sure you will come up with something and we'll be following
along.

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Getting rid of the Olds isn't the stupidest thing I've ever done, fbp. Just the most recent.( As far as cars go. [ddd)
I had considered a lot of what you mentioned with the Olds. Parts of the fire wall for sure but not so much the floor an as It wasn't that great on that car.
I'll just keep my eyes open and watch for what comes up.
I've still got plenty to do on the Dodge body.
Torchie