The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop Dodge frame?

Hey all, not sure if this is the right place for this

I have a 1954 3600 chevy longbed pickup. My plan is for the truck to be my daily driver and to be used as a work truck. Id like to eventually turn it into a 4x4 capable truck and am trying to figure out some options.

Initially my plan was to slowly piece together new axles, t-case, engine etc to accomplish this goal but the more research ive done it looks like a lot of guys just find a mid 70's or more modern 3/4ton or 1 ton pickup and just swap out the entire chassis and drivetrain and plop the old sheetmetal (cab, fenders etc) on top.

I realize this involves some welding and frame mods etc but seems as though it would be a potentially less painful option.

****Research looks like most people use a chevy chassis, which makes sense. I have a coworker however who has a 1970 3/4 ton Dodge Power Wagon that is a 4x4 beast that he is looking to get rid of for fairly cheap as he just bought a new truck.

My question then is weather or not the chassis/drivetrain will be an easy enough swap onto my 54 chevy? Their both 3/4 ton and id more or less just be swapping my sheetmetal, wiring etc onto the Dodge frame.

I realize i mostly just need to get some axle width and frame length measurements and ill be able to get those in the next couple of days as my coworker said i could swing by to check it out. Im just trying to get a general idea from you guys first as to weather or not its feasible or if i should just look for some other old chevy for the swap.

much thanks

chooglin

measure the frame out side to out side at the cab it may be to wide

I haven't heard of anyone doing this specific swap before. You'll need to do a lot of measuring, including wheelbase, motor location in relation to wheel centerline, frame and track width, etc, etc, etc.

You'll want to check where the current engine location would place it in reference to the 1954 firewall, and therefore where the wheelwells would be placed. You'll also need to consider the steering box location, transmission size and location, etc.

There are a lot of frame swaps that guys try and then later realize it won't work, because they didn't do their homework. You can't take enough measurements.