So I have a Dakota...derp, I also have a 1979 Sportsman RV on a Dodge B body van chassis with a 1978 440 bb and 727 trans in it. I want to hack as much as I can off of the van, starting with the motor/trans obviously. Then moving through the entire drive train. Meaning I want the dually rear end as well!I am hoping I can install the suspension (at least the rear springs and what not) as well. My brother and I have a mini welding shop but have all the tools need to weld on the new suspension and everything and make a custom bed for the truck to cover the wheels and accommodate any other issues that may arise. I plan on cutting and bending the existing exhaust from the rv to fit the truck as well to save a bit and not buy an entirely new system. Does this all sound pretty outlandish or even remotely possible? I really think if I can pull it off, a 440/727 dually dakota with a custom flat bed on it would be pretty damn individual and baddass. Not too mention, pull in a pretty penny if I ever decide to get rid of it. Any particular issues you guys can think of that I will run into? Any reason you guys can think of that I should dial it back a bit?

Thanks for any input you guys may have!

 

That sounds like an awesome project to me!! Depending on what you want to use this thing for, you may want to consider boxing the frame! Otherwise, as long as you can cut and weld, it should be very possible!

Be sure to take lost of pics and document the entire build for us!!

 

you got what i like to call..."the crazy ambitious inventors syndrome". symptoms include the want to destroy and create. side effects include hacking, sawing,welding, glueing, duct taping, beer drinking, and tiredness.

enjoy...

 

I plan on doing a massive amount of documenting, no matter how small or big the project ends up getting. I just can't stop thinking about how bad *** that truck would be, that far beyond driven...this thing will be insane if I get as far as I want too. The truck is pretty old and kinda tired, and I'm thinking this swap will be somewhere in the range of the same price as rebuilding the current engine and trans, especially being able to do the entire swap myself. The dually wielding flat bed will take some cash for all the metal, though. I'm gonna do some research on boxing the frame, too. No reason to get that far into it and not do anything I have easy access to.

 

Nice that sounds like a sweet plan. A rebuild and slight performance parts will help that 440 out. Just about all motors in the 70's and 80's were not the best power plants due to restrictive emission laws.

If you wanted you can check out a few big block installs in Dakotas in the FAQ2 in this section. As well as a custom flat bed build.

 

yes, thank you for organizing the faqs, anyone that hada hand in the creation of any of it. i have read almost everything there (i have 10 hours a day of free time at work) anf there is a ton of useful info there!

 

You are very Welcome!

When you start your write up we will post yours in there too.

 

Well I can tell you for sure the 440 swap is simple enough to do, because I've done it on my 95' standard cab 2wd shortbed. I bought the kit from Schumacher, it was awesome the engine looks like it came in the truck from the factory. I didn't have the fabrication equipment that you have, so that was not an option for me. The only thing is the pan the sump needs to be about six inches measured from the back, but if you have all the fab skills, that shouldn't be a problem. I got mine from Milodon, with the kit that I got from Schumacher. Only other thing you will need is a drive shaft, for exhaust manifolds I used 62-65 b-body manifolds, which I found on e-bay for $100.

 

If you can write up a new post on the swap with all the details. Include tons of pics.