1949 AD-kota

[T Hilde]

Here is a record of the last 2 months of the 1949 AD-kota.



First was making sure the chassis would be a good donor. A trip to the shop I had worked at previous would get me the frame specs.



This is looking pretty good.

[T Hilde]

Using some stock front mounts. These were the first things I blasted in my cabinet.





I cut the front body insulators from a semi mudflap that I got from my niece's boyfriend.



A look from under the hood.



I used a piece of 1 1/2 X 4 tubing to make uprights for the front mounts.

[T Hilde]

Since the Dakota chassis is a little wider this works better for the rear mounts. There is a chunk of a heavy duty muffler hanger used as an insulator (this was actually done before the mudflap showed up).



Looking up at the mount.

[T Hilde]

The front of the frame is too long the line shows 10 inches back from the most leading edge.



Here it is cut off and filed. I think it is going to need another 1/2 inch trimmed in order to clear the front side of the inner fender.

[T Hilde]

The radiator support falls right over the sway bar. As you can see in the frame horn picture Dodge used a beefy bracket to support it. I took a 1X2 chunk of rectangle tubing and cut in the mounting holes.



I trimmed a 1/2" out of the mount to set it in the factory brackets. When the sway bar was pushed back up, it rubbed the bottom of the support. The 1/2" tubing shows enough spacing to be workable.



A piece of 2X4X1/2 stock made a nice spacer.

[T Hilde]

Tire fits in there pretty damn nice.



Looking more like a truck.



Fitting the hood is a bit of a fight, but I won.

[T Hilde]

Putting a SBC/TH350 in it. The motor is offset 1 1/2 inch, I think the V6 magnum was 2 1/4" offset.



Originally I wanted to use all that I could from the Dakota, motor too. So I started making mounts to fit in the original bolt locations. By going to the chevy mill the mounts were built off those bases. A mechanical fuel pump will clear (woo hoo).



I still need to finish weld and box a couple places.

[T Hilde]

I used the classic parts crossmember. With the offset I had to trim a bit from the right and weld it to the left.



The side brackets were 1/2" short for me. These were made from 2X3 tubing and use the factory frame mounting holes. The new crossmember is about 6" behind the centers of the original mount holes.

[T Hilde]

I cut the steering column tube by resting the hacksaw against the side of the gear piece, then work your way around. Patience is key.



I have the bearing from McMaster Carr to fit in the bottom, just haven't got that far yet.

[T Hilde]

The wheel is very cracked, but I cleaned it up and spray bombed it to get by for awhile.



The gauges were cleaned up, painted, gaskets replaced, new needle and painted the inside red. By the 80 on the speedo is the high beam indicator, it was drilled out and fit with the newer blue indicator from the dakota cluster.



The AD gas pedal was attached to the dakota unit.



Same was done to the brake assembly.

[T Hilde]

This shifter was laying around from a 80's Nissan. Take off the T handle and machine a piece to fit the piston knob. Push the knob and shift.





This may end up in my brothers project. He needs a shorter shifter and it may be a little short for me.

[Tri5Nerd]

Nice build, keep the pics coming.

Tri5

[PRWFAB]

Glad to see I'm not the only one useing a Dakota frame. For the most part mine is working out well. I chose to use a 4x4 frame. Have to move the motor and trans back 2 inches WOW what a pain in the butt. cant wait to get home to see the pics on yours. My work computer don't allow some pics for some reason
Good Luck I'll be following your progress

[av8tr33337]

Great build. I'm kinda committed to an S10 swap or I would probably go with the Dakota as well.

[53GMC]

I like the dakota swap...i own a 2005 and before i went with an S10 i considered going with an early dakota model but i am watching this one! good luck keep us updated

[T Hilde]

Worked on the column today. Stopped out at the muffler shop for a little stretch.



The guy wouldn't take anything to do it and took the time to show me his '55 second series.



This is just mocked in. I still need to repair the mount area on the dash.



This is the lower end of the dakota column slipped over the '49 shaft. Using this would save some coin on not needing aftermarket joints. Opinions?

[T Hilde]

Fighting with seats today. I put in an original seat to see where it was, YUCK. Tried to fit the Dakota seats in and the were to high. Dak seats are split bench with and arm rest, Plus. But the negative is 8 mounting points. I have some other seats, Nissan buckets and a Taurus split bench, still 8 mounting points. Should have worked on mounting the brake booster and pedal assembly instead.

[T Hilde]

Looks like I am going to find a '88 and up seat. Got the seat riser popped out then went to work on the firewall.



The mount was cut from the dakota firewall.



The firewall was trimmed to fit the dakota mount plate. the rectangle at the top was a bead that needed to be removed.



It was bolted to the firewall, welded and ground.



Dakota booster and master cylinder attached to firewall.



Pedal assembly in place, just need to fab a piece to attach it to the dash.

[T Hilde]

I've been working I swear. You know the excuses, little things that don't post well, forgot to bring the camera in the house, lame ones right?

I'm a sheep, but the 88 and up fullsize seat is so easy and at $21 from the u pull it.





Got the lower column bracket made.



The slot is for the column shifter. Trying to convert some 3 speed car stuff to automatic.



My friend Matt came over to cool up the welder.



More soon, I hope. Football is now back at the college so my ambition is shorter.

[Dan Bowles]

Todd, looking great. How do you like the height of that seat? We did that in Court's truck but went with the stock riser and added more to lift it up. Felt like I was 12 again with that great big wheel and not being able to see out. The top of our seat is at the bottom edge of the back glass.

[T Hilde]

Feels great and a perfect fit. That is the stock riser (as far as I know).

[bjcaldwe]

Looks like the same exact seat and rise I had in my old 88 long bed. I am on the lookout for one myself. My stock seat is complete but I do not have the funds to redo it right now.

[T Hilde]

Originally Posted by bjcaldwe

Looks like the same exact seat and rise I had in my old 88 long bed. I am on the lookout for one myself. My stock seat is complete but I do not have the funds to redo it right now.

I have a decent stocker already recovered. You can have it if you figure out get it to you, Bus or relay.

[bjcaldwe]

I appreciate the offer. You may see if someone closer can use it. What I meant was I am on the lookout for a 88-98 bench seat.

[chev3600]

Any updates on this one? Love to see how the dakota swap is going.