Ok, I've been reading back through all the posts I can find on this topic and still have an unanswered question or twelve. First off I have 1950 1/2 ton that is complete with just the usual rust in the corners etc. There is a local 194? Dodge sitting on a 197? SWB Chevy frame. I talked to the guy at a gas station and he said it was a real Bear to get the sheet metal lined up.
I want to go the 4x4 route but want to save as many of the headaches as possible. The idea I've been tossing around, and haven't seen addressed here, is putting a late model 4x4 front axle in place of the stock 1950 axle,kinda like the NAPCO conversion back in the day.
Any suggestions about where to look for a donor axle that is approx. the right width? Spring perches in the right place would be a great plus. Also how to relocate the front spring hangers so the springs will be parallel like a late model chevy, instead of toed in as on the stock axle? After some crawling and looking I'm thinking of using the spring hangers from the rear of a 3/4 ton to move the spings outside the frame for the forwardmost set of spring hangers on the front. I think that would just about get them parallel.
Of course all this assumes the stock frame is strong enough, I don't plan on thrashing the 4x4 part of it, but I do farm for a living so the occasional plowed field or light trailer pulling will be in the plans. Sorry for the long post and thanks,
Scott
