A body 4x4

[mopar_man72]

just wanted to throw this out there, but has anyone ever tried to graft an A body onto a truck frame?  I met a guy at carlisle last year that had one that he bolted onto a 2wd ramcharger frame.  it was powered by the truck's 360 and had a 3/4 ton rear axel.  he used it to pull his camper down from NY, and on top of that he was drag raceing it!  what I was thinking is if i could sit the body down over the rails of a dakota, and then center up the driveline so I could still use my 8.75 rear end.  this would also take the stress off the body.

just a concept.  would not have to be 4x4, and w/ a lowering kit you might not even notice its under there.  I think the 6 bolt wheels can be converted by using jeep front hubs.

[bOb shingler]

 

[NYrr496]

Why??

[mopar_man72]

mostly just to have something different.  there used to be an AMC eagle around home that was jacked up, but they were 4x4 from the factory.  also someone in DuBios had a lincoln streached limo that was 4x4 w/ about a 4" lift.  I know its kind of out of the norm, but if it can be done, then why not? 

[NYrr496]

You can drive a car with your feet if you wanted to. That doesn't make it a good idea.

[bigtimeauto]

You can drive a car with your feet if you wanted to. That doesn't make it a good idea.

 

[68383valiant]

I'm not sure that I read that right ! You want to do what???

[mopar_man72]

hey, at least we got a good laugh out of this.  was just a crazy idea of mine

[moparteacher]

I think it's a great idea. Best of both worlds. A body lines and off-road functionality. Who says a 4x4 need a bed. A Dakota 4x4 chassis shouldn't be too hard to locate a a wrecking yard.

[mopowers]

Here's some inspiration for you

[NYrr496]

Come on now, there's no reason for that!!

[sr71mopar]

I find that Charger offensive, but check out the D-100 in the background.

[bigtimeauto]

everytime i see a orange charger i find myself looking for Daisy

[NYrr496]

I find that Charger offensive, but check out the D-100 in the background.

  The Charger is killin' me. I had a real nice one that got lost in a head on with a guy that ran a red light. I want another one bad, so when I see something like that, it kills me.

[Capt Jack]

Ive seen what youre talking about in a few different forms
vega
a couple of mustangs
caprice (yes it was freakin huge)
firebird
chevelle

without the whys, yeah, it could be done.  what I usually saw was one or another kind of full truck frame/bronco or jeep...whatever... that the body was just bolted to much like the cab would be.  one or two channeled the body to drop it further on to the frame.  a few others sectioned the frame to fit the original wheelbase.  most I saw used unibody cars of some kind but left most of the subframe in to give the truck frame something to bolt to.

the best ones Ive seen dont add a redneck lift to it or tires so big the car floats (like the charger).  moreso they look like a desert runner truck with some flares to clear the mudders.  a ralley/pikes peak car almost

trying something new is what its all about   

[GTS225]

If you want to "soften" the insult of building one, I suggest you get an Aussie Ute and drop it onto a modified Dak chassis.  At least that way it would be more truck than car.  Do a really nice job and it just might get accepted.

Roger

[TrxR]

The problem with a dakota is that they use a torsion bar front suspension and are not that great for lifting:( But you could do a straight axle swap.

[acpat]

  why ?? please use a 4 dr

[vitamindart]

yeah someone around here destroyed a perfectly good duster putting on a ramcharger chassis what a dumb@#* go destroy a stupid chevy

[mopar_man72]

just when I thaught this thread was ded!  guess I need to post this strange stuff during the week, rather then the weekend.  if I did build one it would not have a lift under it.  nothing aginst the charger.....if he is happy w/ what he has built, then good for him.  now if he built one out of a hemi 'cuda I can see where there is a right to complain.  there was one episode of the dukes where they lifted up the general and put off-road tires on it......I've only seen it a couple times.

keep the coments coming......I want to hear both sides of this!  are you w/ me, or do you think I'm nuts? 
either way, doesn't bother me one bit.

[NYrr496]

I remember that Dukes episode. They needed to chase car thieves or something and they were using 4 x 4's. Instead of doing the smart thing and using a 4 wheel drive truck, they converted the General. Rednecks.

[nd2stopfastr]

if yyour honestly looking to do this, try to find a vehicle with a similar wheelbase to begin with. ie. demon=108 dart=111 then attempt to figure out where to build mounts that wont interfere with suspension then learn to be a top notch welder then cut for clearance then strengthen for safety  then  cross your fingers. this isnt a project for the feint of heart, man. most of these end up as a "help me stop throwing money at this " thread somewhere.

but i have dreams of a benz wagon with 15" wide 33"s so by all means, don't let me discourage you 

[illfish]

a mind is a terrible thing to waste.

[TrxR]

Ive also had some weird ideas like a k-car on 52 using 2.5 ton rockwell steer axles on both ends

[kawazuki8097]

Like has been said before, check the wheelbase to find something as compatible as possible. Something like, say, a 74 Pinto wagon on a 77 Bronco frame / driveline. When we were done, it looked like a 4x4 Ranchero. It was very redneckish, but a fun project nonetheless.