B-Series in a flat fender Dodge

[Paul Herioux]

Has anyone researched putting the mighty B in a flat fender(54-71) Dodge pickup?



I'm considering a crew cab conversion and too many of you have already done the 72-85 body style trucks already.



Gotta find a new home for the drivetrain out of the 89 as the cab is starting to fall apart and the wife wants more seats for the kids.



Later,

Paul

 

[Don in Missouri]

There is an M37 out there with a 6bt. It had the radiator mounted in front of the grill.



There is an M37 with a 4bt. See http://www.garbee.net/~cabell/



There is a 4bt destined for a WC53. See http://www.dodge-power-wagon.com.futuresite.register.com/?



Your question is a common one, and I hear rumors of other trucks in progress, but the two above are the best documented I know of.



I'd like to try it myself one of these days.

 

[Paul Herioux]

The flat fenders are one series newer than the M37's. They were built from in crew cab form from 64 to 71. I have been wanting to build an M37 for a long time now to use as a trail toy. That project is not going to be possible for a long time as it stands now. Will probably use a 4bt for that project when it happens.

Later

Paul

 

[tk064]

The flat fenders were bacially the same from 46 or 48 to 1971. From 68-71 were for export only.



To fit the 6 you need to doghouse the firewall and move the radiator forward. I have seen one with the radiator moved forward and it was ugly.



There were some photos a while back from a guy that was looking at lengthening the hood (having 4 rows of louvers vs 3) to fit a 6bt. This looked much better as it tended to fool the eye. The hood is definitely long though.



Most people go with a 4 cylinder because of those reasons.



Mine currently has a 360 V-8 with about 1" clearance on each side and it almost comes up to the front hood/radiator shell edge.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Several years ago a guy from Idaho brought his '47 Dodge pickup with a 6BT to May Madness. Dedication, welding, blue wrench, anything fits



The "easiest" conversion would be to put a 6BT into a first gen style crew cab, but one of the earlier trucks would be so

 

[Don in Missouri]

I think those photos were mine. The photos are posted at http://www.imageevent.com/shaggy/trucks



I think the 4bt is the most practical option. I really like the look of the long hood. Thatt probably comes from growing up admiring Auburns and Dusenburgs. Appearance motivates me as much as the sweet sound of six cylinders all in a row. I worry a little bit about the added weight of the six. Also, those closed knuckle axles have a really large turning radius. Lengthening the wheelbase will only aggrivate that.



I've never even owned a Diesel. I'm shopping for a first series truck. I figure that will give me soemthing to drive and tinker with before modifying my Carryall. Then if I do the swap, maybe I'll have less parts hunting to do than if I buy a 4bt and have to hunt down a transmission and stuff separately. Or maybe, I'll leave the Carryall stock and just tow it to the trails behind a Cummins powered truck?

 

[Paul Herioux]

Don,

Getting the trans, etc. for behind the 4bt isn't to bad. GM P-series vans(bread trucks) came with 4bt's and SMP465 4-speed manuals or TH400 automatics behind them. You could use these transmissions with the divorce t/case already in the Power Wagon. If you want other trans options the engine adapter plates off of the 6bt's bolt right on to the 4bt's. That would allow you the option of using any trans/t-case combo that came behind the Cummins.



As for the axles, the perch to perch measurement is close enough to direct bolt axles from a First Gen under the old PW. I kind of like the old closed knuckle axles myself as they were near indestructable as long as you kept oil in them. The only downfall I ever experienced was repeated failure of the wiper seals on the knuckles. This was mostly do to one of my wrecker driver's laziness as he wouldn't powerwash the mud off of the axles after off road recoveries.

I guess I've rambled enough, the wife's calling anyway.

Talk to ya all later,

Paul

 

[Don in Missouri]

I want to keep the original axles. Therefore, an overdrive will be necessary.



It looks like I can find a pickup with a Getrag and a 6bt for less than I can buy a 4bt and an NV4500 separately. and I'll want a PTO, so I can use the winch.



The guy who put a 4bt in his M37 said he shaved 2 inches off the oil pan, added a full length leaf to the front springs and added a 2 inch block between the springs and the axle.



I suspect my 3/4-ton WC53 may have a stiffer spring pack than the M37. I expect it will need similar and more extensive treatment to carry a 6bt. The original suspension is rough with very little travel. At the very least, I think I would want to lower the shackles instead of adding blocks. I'd really like to replace the whole spring pack with something that would carry the weight and at the same time offer a smoother ride.

 

[tk064]

Don,



There was a thread on the M37 forum about PW hubs fitting on the Dodge Dana 70 Axles. Frank Irons posted. Allegedly uses the interior PW bearing and a larger outer timken bearing. Just a thought for gearing issues.

 

[bubba_zanetti]

I have the same idea planned... for a few years down the road from now.



Only I plan on using most of my stock dodge running gear... and drop the old PW body on top. (driveability, comfort etc)



The frame sizes appear the same, I also will glue a couple of PW cabs together to make a 4door.



The extended hood is exactly the answer I was looking for... in fact it looks better than the original.



Mike