1949 AD-kota

Todd · Aug 5, 2010

Here is a record of the last 2 months of the 1949 AD-kota.

First was making sure the chassis would be a good donor. A trip to the shop I had worked at previous would get me the frame specs.

This is looking pretty good.

Todd · Aug 5, 2010

Using some stock front mounts. These were the first things I blasted in my cabinet.

I cut the front body insulators from a semi mudflap that I got from my niece's boyfriend.

A look from under the hood.

I used a piece of 1 1/2 X 4 tubing to make uprights for the front mounts.

Todd · Aug 5, 2010

Since the Dakota chassis is a little wider this works better for the rear mounts. There is a chunk of a heavy duty muffler hanger used as an insulator (this was actually done before the mudflap showed up).

Looking up at the mount.

Todd · Aug 5, 2010

The front of the frame is too long the line shows 10 inches back from the most leading edge.

Here it is cut off and filed. I think it is going to need another 1/2 inch trimmed in order to clear the front side of the inner fender.

Todd · Aug 5, 2010

The radiator support falls right ove the sway bar. As you can see in the frame horn picture Dodge used a beefy bracket to support it. I took a 1X2 chunk of rectangle tubing and cut in the mounting holes.

I trimmed a 1/2" out of the mount to set it in the factory brackets. When the sway bar was pushed back up, it rubbed the bottom of the support. The 1/2" tubing shows enough spacing to be workable.

A piece of 2X4X1/2 stock made a nice spacer.

Todd · Aug 5, 2010

Tire fits in there pretty damn nice.

Looking more like a truck.

Fitting the hood is a bit of a fight, but I won.

Todd · Aug 5, 2010

Putting a SBC/TH350 in it. The motor is offset 1 1/2 inch, I think the V6 magnum was 2 1/4" offset.

Originally I wanted to use all that I could from the Dakota, motor too. So I started making mounts to fit in the original bolt locations. By going to the chevy mill the mounts were built off those bases. A mechanical fuel pump will clear (woo hoo).

I still need to finish weld and box a couple places.

Todd · Aug 5, 2010

I used the classic parts crossmember. With the offset I had to trim a bit from the right and weld it to the left.

The side brackets were 1/2" short for me. These were made from 2X3 tubing and use the factory frame mounting holes. The new crossmember is about 6" behind the centers of the original mount holes.

Todd · Aug 5, 2010

I cut the steering column tube by resting the hacksaw against the side of the gear piece, then work your way around. Patience is key.

I have the bearing from McMaster Carr to fit in the bottom, just haven't got that far yet.

Todd · Aug 5, 2010

The wheel is very cracked, but I cleaned it up and spray bombed it to get by for awhile.

The gauges were cleaned up, painted, gaskets replaced, new needle and painted the inside red. By the 80 on the speedo is the high beam indicator, it was drilled out and fit with the newer blue indicator from the dakota cluster.

The AD gas pedal was attached to the dakota unit.

Same was done to the brake assembly.

Todd · Aug 5, 2010

This shifter was laying around from a 80's Nissan. Take off the T handle and machine a piece to fit the piston knob. Push the knob and shift.

This may end up in my brothers project. He needs a shorter shifter and it may be a little short for me.

Todd · Aug 5, 2010

Worked on the column today. Stopped out at the muffler shop for a little stretch.

The guy wouldn't take anything to do it and took the time to show me his '55 second series.

This is just mocked in. I still need to repair the mount area on the dash.

This is the lower end of the dakota column slipped over the '49 shaft. Using this would save some coin on not needing aftermarket joints.

Opinions?

IAM-LDS-2 · Aug 5, 2010

Nice job . Dependability and a good ride will be your reward .

Shea Laking · Aug 5, 2010

WOW!!!!!

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for posting this!!! Your Dakota swap, so far, looks like a much better match than the usual A.D.-on-an-S10, at least as far as the front track goes. The front tires always look "sunken" to me on the S10 swaps...I'm going to be curious to see how well the rear track works out.

Looks like the front frame to inner fender supports are a little less hassle on this one, too.

I'm wondering if the earlier Dakota brake rotors and axles could be swapped on to give you the Ford/Mopar 5x4.5" bolt circle...[S

Again, a big "THANK YOU" for sharing your build progress![

Regards,
Shea

Flipper_1938 · Aug 5, 2010

Just a bit of advise... you may want to figure your seating position out before you securely attach the steering column.

I lowered my seat from stock and dropped the steering wheel down to match. It is a whole lot more comfortable than stock.

hotrod preacher · Aug 5, 2010

looks like you've made alot of progress......i just didn't know a chevy could be set on top of a dodge frame....[S

you make it look easy, though

bob w · Aug 5, 2010

Todd, You are doing a great job. A lot of thought in each step. Keep up the good work, and, lots of pics.

Flipper_1938 · Aug 5, 2010

Oh yeah, what year was the Dakota frame?

Todd · Aug 5, 2010

Shea Laking said:
WOW!!!!!

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for posting this!!! Your Dakota swap, so far, looks like a much better match than the usual A.D.-on-an-S10, at least as far as the front track goes. The front tires always look "sunken" to me on the S10 swaps...I'm going to be curious to see how well the rear track works out.

Looks like the front frame to inner fender supports are a little less hassle on this one, too.

I'm wondering if the earlier Dakota brake rotors and axles could be swapped on to give you the Ford/Mopar 5x4.5" bolt circle...[S

Again, a big "THANK YOU" for sharing your build progress![

Regards,
Shea

You are very welcome! Yes the earlier rotors are supposed to be swapable along with the rear axles. I am thinking that the rear is going to be narrow, however a ford explorer 8.8 would fix that and the bolt pattern issue.

Flipper_1938 said:
Oh yeah, what year was the Dakota frame?

'92

Todd · Aug 5, 2010

bob w said:
Todd, You are doing a great job. A lot of thought in each step. Keep up the good work, and, lots of pics.

Thanks Bob. I try to follow your lead on pics, but forget the camera until its almost done. If I'm not sure on something I'll do another project and then the solution comes to me.

1949 AD-kota

Help Support Rat Rods Rule:

He's just one of them Rusty-Chainers!

He's just one of them Rusty-Chainers!

He's just one of them Rusty-Chainers!

He's just one of them Rusty-Chainers!

He's just one of them Rusty-Chainers!

He's just one of them Rusty-Chainers!

He's just one of them Rusty-Chainers!

He's just one of them Rusty-Chainers!

He's just one of them Rusty-Chainers!

He's just one of them Rusty-Chainers!

He's just one of them Rusty-Chainers!

He's just one of them Rusty-Chainers!

Well-known member

Well-known member

He recycles the right way

"Official RRR Chaplain"

Still crazy after all these years!

He recycles the right way

He's just one of them Rusty-Chainers!

He's just one of them Rusty-Chainers!

Similar threads

Join the conversation!

Join today and get all the highlights of this community direct to your inbox. It's FREE!