When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I recently bought a 2001 Dodge 2500, 24V 5.9 Cummins, 5 speed manual truck. My plan is to drive this thing for a while, then swap a dentside Super Cab body onto it, with a flatbed.
Has anyone here had any experience with this swap, or know of any threads?
One of the truck shows on TV did a swap like this and I remember seeing someone on here as well. Bottom line was there was a lot more fabrication and moving of things than one would think. I think you have to move the engine to get past the 73-79 firewall. Much easier to take the Cummins and transmission out of the Dodge and put it in the old Ford. If you think the newer truck handles better, it is marginal. Things like sway bars will go a long way to help your old truck suspension.
One of the truck shows on TV did a swap like this and I remember seeing someone on here as well. Bottom line was there was a lot more fabrication and moving of things than one would think. I think you have to move the engine to get past the 73-79 firewall. Much easier to take the Cummins and transmission out of the Dodge and put it in the old Ford. If you think the newer truck handles better, it is marginal. Things like sway bars will go a long way to help your old truck suspension.
Yes, That's where I hope to find some info where it's been done before. I know there will be a lot of fabrication work. There are at least two possible "show stoppers" for me here. First, there's no way I'd be satisfied putting the 5.9 drivetrain on a dentside frame. To much flex, so I'm not going that route. And I won't relocate the engine on the original frame. That engine is so heavy, it'd change steering and suspension dynamics. Also, I want the Dana 60 front, and Dana 80 rear to stay with the truck.
Lots to consider. This weekend I'll do a lot of comparison measuring between my dent and the dodge.
It was project super dually. Pretty sure they had to move the engine to get the cab and front fenders to line up over the front wheels.
Yes, the old truck frames flex (twist is a better term), but that is not necessarily a bad thing. Newer truck frames aren't necessarily and stronger in the two main frame rails, they have just added much more rigid cross members connecting the two main frame rails. From an engineering standpoint the rigidity in the crossmembers and twisting really isn't much of a benefit other than maybe a more stiff feeling suspension and handling if you really wanted to take a corner too fast.
It was project super dually. Pretty sure they had to move the engine to get the cab and front fenders to line up over the front wheels.
Yes, the old truck frames flex (twist is a better term), but that is not necessarily a bad thing. Newer truck frames aren't necessarily and stronger in the two main frame rails, they have just added much more rigid cross members connecting the two main frame rails. From an engineering standpoint the rigidity in the crossmembers and twisting really isn't much of a benefit other than maybe a more stiff feeling suspension and handling if you really wanted to take a corner too fast.
Yep! My dent actually handles better than the Dodge, but that's after I totally rebuilt everything. So far on the Dodge, I have installed T steering (late model Ram) components, new track bar, and a steering gearbox stabilizer. I know the control arm bushings are worn and deflecting, so I'll install Carli control arms. I'll also swap the steering gearbox with a Redhead. Ball joints are tight, but they'll get replaced anyway when I install manual hubs on the truck. I know how the truck should handle, as I bought one new in 2001. It should, and Will handle better than my dent.
I'm not stuck on the dentside Supercab swap. I could just as happily go with an older generation, or another manufacturer. I just want an older truck body with extended or crew cab. I've got time to plan and decide. I'll run this truck a while, improving it as I go, in order to make the drivetrain and suspension ready for whatever I decide on.
You bet! That truck is awesome! I've looked at that thread a few times, even before I hatched this plan. However, it's not what I want to do. I'm going to use everything under the body of this Dodge, unmolested, or just keep it as is.
I have two major reasons for not wanting to do an engine swap, frame length change, or engine relocation: Weight distribution, and pinion angle changes. I'll take a lot of blind chances, but not with anything that will effect handling or vibration.
If I was doing this, I'd cut the Dodge body away, leaving only the complete floor and firewall. Make sure the wiring harness is intact. Cut the floors and firewall out of the Dentside SuperCab, being careful to leave intact the cowl/wiper area. Lower the SuperCab body down onto the Dodge floors and weld it all together. General idea, lots of measuring and planning of course. Same procedure for any later model truck/Dentside Frankentruck.
If I was doing this, I'd cut the Dodge body away, leaving only the complete floor and firewall. Make sure the wiring harness is intact. Cut the floors and firewall out of the Dentside SuperCab, being careful to leave intact the cowl/wiper area. Lower the SuperCab body down onto the Dodge floors and weld it all together. General idea, lots of measuring and planning of course. Same procedure for any later model truck/Dentside Frankentruck.
David
Thanks. Not an option for me. Not that I'd do it, but I've already measured for that. It wouldn't work. And besides, the dash wiring is one thing I truly want GONE. Especially the headlight circuitry.
Would you be satisfied reinforcing the old Ford Frame and swapping engine/axles? What's under the Ford right now? That sounds like the path of least resistance to me. I've read that you should not do a lot of welding on Ford frames, but I think people have had success with bolted on stiffeners. I think some people just cut up junk yard frames, flip the channel around and bolt the new material through neutral axis.
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.
