Yes. I used a 4-1/2 grinder with a cut off wheel (s). It took four or five of them, along with a saws all

 

Ouch...... I never had much luck with those, especially on long cuts.... The disc would get jammed, and literally explode.... Kinda excitin'...... Sawzall works good though..... Just be careful what's UNDER what you are cutting.

 

I cut and welded a temporary tube to brace the rear of the fenders. I also tried my hand at using a sheet metal hammer. I was able to straighten and weld prep the bent corners of the new (to me) tail gate.

 

Just a test fit of the bed on the Dakota chassis. I am taking a lot of measurements, and looking what needs to be removed/added to make the bed mounts.

 

The top rear corners of the chassis will end up being notched, lowering the back of the bed 2 - 3". The large front Dakota brackets supporting the front of the bed will need to come off. Partially or completely is yet to be seen. This fitting was to determine what is in the way to get the bed a lot lower.

 

The front of the truck is coming apart, slowly. Even with penetrating oil, most bolts just snap. It will go back together with all new fasteners, so that doesn't bother me. The only exception is the force required to break the bolts off. I usually end up with cuts, scrapes, or an injury. Yeah, this will take some time to remove.

 

Working on stuff that is truly old, and has had a chance to weather for several decades... makes it interesting to get apart. If you have the room, I might be tempted to just use an impact to break the bolts off, and call it a day. Easier on the hands.....

 

Some of them the air tools just won't reach, and the heads will strip. Old stuff is fun... old stuff is fun... old stuff is fun...

 

Yep. Been there, done that.

 

I have been all over my plasma torch, cut off wheel, and flap wheels. These are not very accurate tools, and can be quite difficult to control. To get the OEM front bed mount brackets offf, I cut as much as I could using the plasma torch. Then the cut off wheels to cut the remaining bracket pieces, trying to be careful and not cut into the frame wall. Next the flap wheel(s) to grind off the excess and welds and to smooth it all down.The first one I was a little too aggressive and got quite a few nicks in the frame wall. I will weld over those, and grind them smooth. The second side I was more careful, so less will require rewelding. Since I had my grinder out, I went at the rear axle the same way. Several spots require welding on that as well. Plasma torches can really get after the metal.