318 is a great workhorse and hard to kill. Just that swapping a V6 to a 318 or 360 is so easy and cheap it's a weekend project to pull from a donor Ram or rot box Dakota and install in a cleaner Dakota. It's hard to think of a more beginner-friendly swap.

Different strokes different folks...I'll go quiet on the subject now.

 

The S10's were not an option for me. When dealing with a body swap, both wheelbase and track width are important. I have seen many early Stude's use the S10 for the chassis platform, but the track width is narrower than the Dak's, and the front wheels look too sucked in for my taste. The Dak's have the exact same wheelbase (112") as the 2R Stude's, and the track width of a Dak is a couple inches wider than the S10. When it comes to body swaps, there are always nay sayers on both sides. The "purists", if you will, don't like it. Part of the reasoning from my side is the Dakota offers a much more cost friendly alternative than buying a custom chassis from a hot rod mfg. I looked into those, and almost had a heart attack! I do get what you are saying. I guess I just march to a different drummer.

And the entire body, engine, and drivetrain will be here if you want it.... for a while, anyway.

 

One of my neighbors dropped by today. He brought me a guardian angel he made for shop 2.0 (when it's built). He used scrap steel out of my shop fire to make this. The base is a '94 Dakota front brake disc, an old shovel, A spring off a motorcycle shock, the hook from my gantry crane, and an old gear he had laying around. Okay, it's more like a guardian buzzard... but it will be placed next to the front door after the building is up.

 

Ok, now that is cool. I like it.

 

Looks like the Picasso in front of the Daley Plaza in downtown Chicago.

 

I wouldn't disgrace TheSneeze neighbor's artwork with that POS display @ Daly Plaza...just MHO...everyone has one...just as they do a belly button!

 

Your friend has talent.

 

While I continue to wait for AAA to get off their collective butts and make a decision on my structure claim, my contractor and I have made an agreement to proceed with the demolition before I receive the settlement. I will be paying for this out of pocket. It should begin within a week or two, depending on the demolition company's schedule. I will be extremely relieved when this eyesore is out of my backyard! Seeing a bare foundation will be the official turning point of starting the rebuild. Let's start moving forward!!!

 

We have finally cleaned all of the equipment, tools, and debris out of the building. The next step is to schedule the demolition!

 

Huge news today. AAA has agreed to my structure claim, in it's entirety, and the check is being processed (less my deductible). I have a signed contract with a contractor, and I am waiting to be put on the demolition schedule. What a big weight off my shoulders. Things are finally moving forward. Next Monday is the six month anniversary of the fire.