Frame construction

[sparks57]

Does anyone know if the 3/4 ton frames for our trucks and 2nd gen trucks are basically the same?



The 2nd gen trucks are a lot heavier, is that because of the more elaborite bodies or do they have beefier frames?

 

[Hunter4x4]

2nd gen frames are a completely different animal from 1st gen. Period!



Dodge redesigned their pickups for the '94 model year (the T300 they called them) everything got bigger, heavier, and 'more elaborate', and that weight was carried in both the frames and the body structures.



Mike

 

[1stgen4evr]

Same frame

No. In a word, but what are you thinking of. The similarities are such that the uninformed would not know the difference if the bodys were off. Are you thinking of lifting the sheetmetal from a 94 up and sitting a first gen on the frame. I have had that idea but I would not be true to my handle if I did. Still-- ----Naw. Forget it.



Give us a little more info on what you have in mind.



1stgen4evr

James

 

[dpuckett]

I know what's going on in that head of hiw...

But I'm sworn to secrecy, so I'l let him tell. Still cant figure out what he has in mind, or why it would apply to 2nd genners. Hmmmm... ... ..... Wait till next semester- 12 hours of classes. But he SAYS he's going to get a job. OK, that takes up 15 hours, what about the rest?



Daniel

 

[Hunter4x4]

One more thing about the difference between 1st gen and 2nd gen - I almost forgot about a project of my brother-in-law's (good kind of b-i-l!).



He's big into Dodge trucks - mostly 1st gen rolling stock. Except for a bed he has from a 2nd gen when he was going to put a 2nd gen cab and box on a really stout 1st gen rolling chassis (built 440, 727, NP205, etc).



So he and I kind of mapped out what had to be done to the 1st gen frame in order to mount up the 2nd gen box. That part wasn't too bad, i. e. , if you're any good with a welder and steel stock you should be able to do it. Definitely not a bolt on or even close, though.



He hasn't got a hold of a cab yet so we're not quite sure what's invovled there. But we did eye-ball some of my 2nd gen trucks to 1st gen frames and chassis and there certainly some hurdles to overcome - primarily because the engine/cab/steering/suspension geometry is so different between the two models.



Can't wait to see what's cookin' here!!

 

[sparks57]

Boy, I sure have been getting a lot of heat lately.



I don't have any plans of swapping frames, I just want to know if these first gen frames are close to being as beefy as the newer frames.