I have an idea I need to run by some people that have done this swap, see if it looks possible, something i considered before but now that got a tape measure on it, seems doable.

I have a complete, 1995 dodge 2500 for the swap 12V, 5 spd, 241HD, d80 4.10, full frame, etc,etc. I also have a bare frame from a '97 dodge 2500 4x4 i cut up for scrap.

I started measuring the Dodge frame around the engine mounts/cross member, appx. 27" inside, 32.5" outside, it's 31" between the welded seam, yellow lines running fore/aft. It's 7" tall, the axle centerline sits appx 1-2" behind the engine mount centerline The cross member seems to be shorter in height, clearanced for the axle pumpkin, and the Pass side frame rail is clearanced for the AC compressor already, with access holes drilled through the frame.



So i went and measured the Fords frame the best i could with it still being all together. 31" inside, 35" outside. appx 5.5" tall. Axle sits just under, possibly just forward of the tower mount centerline.
[IMG][/IMG]

From what I'm seeing, i can take a section out of the dodge frame, with the mounts, cross member and Ac notch, and graft it into the ford frame. Everything inside the yellow is what I'm thinking of using. The dodge frame, if I split it at the factory seam, yellow lines running fore/aft on the rails, at 31" wide, should slide right between the ford frame rails. It might even fit leaving it full width, IDK. The only thing I'm seeing that may be an issue is the Dodge cross member is closer to the engine mounts than the Ford cross member would be. IDK if I'll run into axle clearance issues. Dodge cross member is appx 5-6" forward of the mounts, ford cross member is appx 6-8" at the closest, almost 10" at the farthest ( cross member sits at an angle). I could always split the dodge frame between the cross member and mounts to space them apart if needed.
[IMG][/IMG]

I'm still looking/measuring, but I figured I get it out here for other eyes to look at. what do you think?

 

Anyone who's done a straight across crossmember, if you have measurements of engine mount relation to axle centerline and crossmember to engine mount distance, that would be greatly appreciated. I'm assuming the motor mounts ends up in about the stock Ford location, seeing how some people have used modified Ford engine towers in the stock location. Does the engine side mount end up in the same position or is it slightly rearward or forward of stock on the towers?