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Here goes... have a M715 with Chevy 350 and stock trans/transfer and axles
Found a 2002 Dodge 2500 frame w Dana 60 front, Dana 80 rear, Cummins 6bt, NV4500 HD and NP241HD transfer case. Just started modifying frame to fit M715 body. Gonna be a fun project!
Interesting...I like where your going here!!
I will try and get progress updates and pics uploaded as I go. So everyone can see the glory or the massive epic fail! Either way... going all in.
That does sound like an awesome combination you are going for. I think you will have lots of folks on here wanting to see the outcome. Please keep us posted with pics.
Cheers,
Bryce
241hd...thats the one with the pto port, right? That would be my choice...
Unfortunately no PTO port....... that would have been nice!
First attempt at adding pics
More Pics
Interesting project. Keep us posted. I'm interested in the fabricating you will need to do to mount cab and bed etc.
Off to a good start there.
An aside: I can only seem to get my pics to appear on here as thumbnails too. I'd prefer that they just show up full size.
k8icu, It's already alot of sawzall and grinding to remove the mounts, and I am dreading the new ones. Here are some pice of me starting the frame chop/splice. See pics below.
Pics of the frame cut. Cut 28" out of the passanger side and then the driver side. After that was done I trimmed 2" off the bottom of the front frame to accept the back frame. Cleaned it up by welding the original reducing edge to the bottom.
More pics showing the front half frame and the splice I put in to reduce the 9" tall frame to 7 1/4" so it would accept the rear frame.
First pic is passenger side, but all the rest are drivers side. Sorry but didn't get a pic of the drivers side before chopping up.
I will be putting the back and front frames together soon. Just trying to keep it clean splicing and level!
I'll be watching this one. I have been thinking of doing something like this myself. What configuration was the Dodge originally? Regular cab or extended cab? Long box or short box?
I have a 2001 Dodge 2500 Sport with the Cummins/automatic/241dld. My frame is the extended cab short box.
Thanks for taking the time to post up what you're doing.
I got the frame with the body already removed but the WB was 154 1/2 measured. Looking online that shows a 2002 Quad can 8’ bed.
See reference website.
http://dodgeram.info/2001/dimensions.html
Just leveled out the frame, then bolted the rear and front halves back together. Drilled out the holes for the rear leaf spring brackets and added extra plate over the splice for strength. Slowly getting there. Next up...... reinstalling the rear leaf springs/axles then body mounts.
You said "bolted", I thought "ermagerd, that's not good!", but that looks like it worked out well! Cool build!
Let's see if I can get this to work. Upload pic, preview post, click on thumb to see fullsize, copy 'blahblah.jpg', use http://m715zone.com/vb/images/heavy_...nsertimage.gif to insert fullsize pic.
Hah! It worked! I didn't even realize you could attach here.
http://m715zone.com/vb/attachment.ph...1&d=1541416719
I will let you know if it falls apart but I think it will be ok!
And if not I will weld it up again!
I have to agree with Suby.
A Z cut and weld with fish plates would have been much stronger.
Just my .02.
With that being said I like where you are going with this, I would do a frame swap if I was going to do another build. Upgrading to a modern frame and suspension has a lot of benefits.
Paul
I think it looks fine. I might check the bolts after a bit of use.
Looking for more progress!
Put the Dana 80 rear axle back on and rough aligned it. Also started cleaning up the Cummins engine, NV4500 trans and NP241HD transfer case. A ton of degreaser, towels and elbow grease.
Few more pics. Showing some individual components cleaning and painting. I will be painting the block soon and putting the drivetrain back in to see how this is gonna lay out with the cab and body.
Painted the engine and accessories. Dropped the engine in the frame and started to get the cab set so I can do the cab and bed body mounts. Hopefully the engine mounts don't need to move but feel I might have to push back 4” or so.
Took off the front clip from the old M715 frame and put it on the Dodge frame. Looks like I am going to have to move the engine back about 5-6" but this shouldn't be an issue. I plan on reusing the frame side of the engine mounts and just have my welder buddy make some custom engine side mounts. Next step........ move the cab over so I can start working on the front clip and cab mounts. Will probably have to trim about 1/2" of fender off the bottom so the Dodge spring towers fit. But will wait to do that when I put the mounts on.
Cut off the sheet metal top and removed the seats from the cab. Next... door removal, removing the rest of the convertible frame, and then moving the cab over for fitting on the new frame/cab mount mock up.
more pics of the cab with top removed.
Leveled the Dodge frame with a laser + RV jack/car jack stands, cut the old body mounts off the Dodge frame and then moved the cab over. Next...... welding new body mounts for the cab/front clip.
Looking good!
This is intriguing! any updates?
This is looking great. I am also about to do a frame swap. Thinking of using a GM 2500 LWB truck. Please keep up the pics! Awesome work!
Thanks. I have been doing a lot of body mount work over the last two months. I have the main cab done, front clip installed, back bumper installed and am almost done with the truck bed. Will post pics soon.
Last two months I have primarily been getting rid of the old stuff. Down to just the old Dana 60 and 70 axles now.
pics! please!Quote:
Originally Posted by jhartings
I was wondering if you saw these low profile shock mounts, im doing the same thing and might give these a try and hopefully not have to trim the fenders as much or at all.
https://www.xtremediesel.com/fleece-...0aAuQGEALw_wcB
Looks pretty cool. I never had that big of an issue getting fenders to fit. I trimmed about 1 1/2" and could have done even less than that. They actually fit up pretty well. I am posting pics today.
Alright, it's been awhile since I posted any new pics, but have been super busy. I have cut off the old body mounts and then used 4 x 4" x 3/16" tubing to make new body mounts for the cab, bed and the front clip. Reused the Dodge rubber bushings for the cab and front clip. Ordered some rubber online and fender washers for the truck bed. Next step.......... Take the body back off and clean up my mounts/welds then POR15 the frame.
Pics of the body move.
Some pics of body mounts and front fender fit.
Currently working on the rear bumper. I cut the old one off the old frame and repaired with some new metal. Going to remount on the back of the new (Dodge) frame.
Looks great. Looking forward to seeing more updates and pics.