Rolling chassis wanted
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5th Wheeling
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 31
Likes: 10
Rolling chassis wanted
I am looking for a 73-79 rolling chassis to begin my 12V cummins build. I'm not looking for anything high dollar, or super fancy as of yet. Just something with minimal rust. I already have a dana 60 front from a 1st gen dodge and a dana 70 rear from the same truck- so axles aren't extremely important. I'm a qualified welder/fabricator I believe, and am set up to do so. I know there are some frame differences among the years, but am certainly still learning. I will accumulate parts as I go (I have a big shop) so trans and transfer case haven't yet been decided. What I have right now is a '98 12V cummins inline pump engine with 79,000 miles from a medium duty ford backed by a spicer 6 speed. Any insight with this build would be appreciated. I'm in western NY but could travel a reasonable amount. I just thought someone out there might be reasonably close and have some things to get me started. Thanks.
Cargo Master
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,211
Likes: 321
From: SW PA
Your definition of minimal rust, expected price point, and final desire of your project will dictate if you look at Buffalo/Erie area or Seattle/Portland.
Not many "minimal rust" trucks (to me) in WNY.
Not many "minimal rust" trucks (to me) in WNY.
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5th Wheeling
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 31
Likes: 10
Points well taken. To me, minimal rust means solid and usable. Something I can bring home, sandblast, paint, and only do minimal repairs. I don't want a frame that looks like swiss cheese! I'm planning this truck to be used, not looked at. I'm past the stage of wanting to look "cool" with a huge wood stove pipe coming out from behind the cab (not that there's anything wrong with that)! And, I guess I'm not yet to the stage of wanting a restored truck. I want something with nostalgic appeal (my dad had a 74 and I had a 76) but very usable for pulling around my skid steer and mini excavator. It may even be a flat bed, although I prefer the looks of the regular 8' bed.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,456
Likes: 6
I have a bunch of 73-79 frames/rolling chassis' in upstate NY. 2WD & 4WD, nice clean southern frames, & rusty scaly north east frames. If interested in something let me know what configuration you're looking for.
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5th Wheeling
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Sounds just like what I'm looking for. PM's sent.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2007
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Isn't that front dodge axle passenger side drop? Ford was always driver drop, gonna have to get a chevy, or an early dodge, divorced tcase for a pass drop unless the Spicer has a bolt on, pass drop option. There's nothing wrong with the dodge 60, especially since you can fab and make it work, but if I was going through the trouble of swapping to a totally different axle, it'd be a '08+ F250/350 D60. Those thing are beef and ride way better with the coils and radius arms. If you could could get a 73-77.5 highboy chassis they're set up for a divorced tcase already, that way you won't have to re-engineer all the crossmembers and mounts, maybe just some minor changes.
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5th Wheeling
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 31
Likes: 10
Well honestly the long and short of it is as follows. I call the dodge axles mine, as they are on a junk first gen cummins that belongs to my cousin. It isn’t going anywhere, but I haven’t officially bought them from him either. So I’m kind of reconsidering going with them and just trying to find a complete parts truck to start with. My initial though was it would be easier and cheaper to just go one step at a time and start by getting a chassis and swapping axles and fitting the my cummins- kind of paying as I go rather than fronting a bunch of cash to buy a truck and then tearing it all apart. If anyone has a parts truck I’m still looking.
New User
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Future State of Jefferson
I am looking for a 73-79 rolling chassis to begin my 12V cummins build. I'm not looking for anything high dollar, or super fancy as of yet. Just something with minimal rust. I already have a dana 60 front from a 1st gen dodge and a dana 70 rear from the same truck- so axles aren't extremely important. I'm a qualified welder/fabricator I believe, and am set up to do so. I know there are some frame differences among the years, but am certainly still learning. I will accumulate parts as I go (I have a big shop) so trans and transfer case haven't yet been decided. What I have right now is a '98 12V cummins inline pump engine with 79,000 miles from a medium duty ford backed by a spicer 6 speed. Any insight with this build would be appreciated. I'm in western NY but could travel a reasonable amount. I just thought someone out there might be reasonably close and have some things to get me started. Thanks.
I am helping my neighbor sell a nearly perfect and rust free77 RWD F-150, but I am in CA. Here is the Ebay link, if it does not sell the price will go down. Just throwin it out there.
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/e1200...&sojTags=bu=bu
Cheers,
TD.
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