1946 Dodge Truck Rebuild

[ctesla]

WOW! great idea for custom sheet metal tunnel.. you've managed quite well w/o shop.. still, i am sure you'd be farther along WITH a shop.. good luck..

[ctesla]

Dub, haven't posted in awhile.. have you made more progress? or could not get to the rental space for all the rain and flooding we see in the tenn. news? i still am plowing here; just got another 3" this morning.. i want to start working on my rides, but it'll be june until we have spring up here;-- time to start lookin' for lower altitude... AND- an attached carport for HER, and a 2-car detached for HIM! haha.. hope your project is moving on..

[DubSpangle]

OK new update.

I have cut the floor of the Ram right in front of the rear body mounts to allow the back of the 46 cab to lower so the cab is level.

I also got the grill spaced the correct distance from the cab and am still trying to get it fitted correctly. With the grill I had to cut the bottom off so it would sit on the frame and crossmember. I also had to cut a section out of the radiator support in order to clear the power steering gear box.

I decided I wanted to keep the portion of the frame and crossmember that sticks out past the grill because it would make a great place to mount a bumper, and also to keep as much structural integrity as possible.

FYI, I'm posting more requently on this Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1427...766/?ref=share

[DubSpangle]

Sorry, I have been busy working in between all the storms.
Not to mention household chores and a 3 year old I have to keep up with.

If you're thinking about moving, I do suggest taking a look at Tennessee. We typically only have 2 seasons - summer and winter. We usually only get a dusting of snow in the winter, so you can work on vehicles outside all year long.

[DubSpangle]

I got the Ram bed back on, cut the sides off, and placed the 46 bed on it.

Next step is to cut the floor to allow the bed to lower to the correct position.

[ctesla]

Dub,
that is insane, that you are getting all this work done w/ regular work, the honey- do list, all those deluges, AND a 3yr old..
that was me 20yrs ago; and i just went greyer thinking about it.. haha..
actually looking in pensacola/gulf shores or inland.. but i do have family up
in columbia area.. in colorado (especially at 9300ft) i like to say we have two seasons: winter, and almost winter..
nice to hear your dodge swap is going.. i am just getting to thinking about swapping ice tires to the all season BFG AT/TAs; in may for the five months, then back to Hakkas or Firestone SnowForces..

was going to also ask, how you post to the forums with the
"attached thumbnails"? nice to see the small icon within message,
before opening; as my 400kbs to 1.4mbs out here is click and go make a
sandwich, and it might be there when you come back..

[DubSpangle]

Originally Posted by ctesla

was going to also ask, how you post to the forums with the
"attached thumbnails"? nice to see the small icon within message,
before opening; as my 400kbs to 1.4mbs out here is click and go make a
sandwich, and it might be there when you come back..

The step by step I take: I go down to the "Additional Options" section under the reply box, click on "Manage Attachments" and upload one at a time. I edit my pictures so they are around 300 MB, that is probably why they show as thumbnails.

[DubSpangle]

I got the floor of the bed cut so the sides of the bed will sit down. I still need to move it a little to the left and move it forward so the fenders are centered. I also need to lower the back of the bed just a little more.

I might have to cut notches in the excess cab floor behind the cab to allow the bed to go forward enough.

[DubSpangle]

*Update*

So I was able to get some front fenders from a 1.5 ton truck due to the original 1/2 fenders would not work unless I cut a lot off of them. The new fenders fit great but are still off centered. I am going to weld some sheet metal on the front to "move" the center of the fender opening back making the wheels centered in the front fenders.

After I got the new fender on I found I could not get the the hood and grill to line up. After a while I realized the cab was just too far back, so I had to cut a little bit more if the floor to allow to cab to come forward enough. I was also struggling to get the cab centered correctly with only using measuring tapes and levels, so I decided to get a laser level and now the cab is centered perfectly. Next step is to tack weld the cab in place, center the bed and tack weld it into place, and then take it to a shop to have it all professionally welded.

In addition, I also had to take two 1.25" square tubes, stack them, and cut them to fit under the rear of the cab to get the cab tilted forward at the correct angle. I also fabricated a new section of my radiator support so it would clear the gearbox.

[ctesla]

very nice.. and not just the truck; but the green grass.. it was 8degrees this a.m. in high country of colorado; and another foot of snow.. i'm moving.. tired of doing projects with ice and wind chill..
great score on the fenders though.. might even get another set, to drape over the back and weld on; make the stance more symmetrical..

[DubSpangle]

Originally Posted by ctesla

very nice.. and not just the truck; but the green grass.. it was 8degrees this a.m. in high country of colorado; and another foot of snow.. i'm moving.. tired of doing projects with ice and wind chill..
great score on the fenders though.. might even get another set, to drape over the back and weld on; make the stance more symmetrical..

I was actually thinking about using front fenders on the rear...

[ctesla]

i was gonna say 'swap 'em', but i figured that rears might be too small for older front hood/frame stance..