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Hey-ho...
Butch.. newbie here. I have a 1947 Desoto 2 door sedan. Was actually a parts car and a huge mess. I'm going to bring it back to a modified drivable ..hopefully everyday driver for myself. Really had no drivetrain to speak of so I'll probably end up putting a 318/727 setup in it.. sorry purists. Regardless I'm anxious to get it up and going. Have already done some body work and floor pan work, but much more to do. Really like the looks of the DeSotos.. never see them at the shows or cruise-ins.. so looking forward to having something unique. Will be interested in reading all the stories and seeing the great pictures of the DeSotos that belong to you all.
Thx.
Hola Butch
Kinda like making a good "sandwich" - start with the two pieces of bread.
At The Front - make or adapt a Fan Shroud to fit to The Radiator. The
inside diameter must be 20 -19 inches. Fail to this and you'll always
Over-Heat.
For The Rear - keeping your S-11 Rear Springs - install a five bolt - first series
Rear Axle Unit for a Dakota.
The 318 must have A Car Division Left Exhaust Manifold and A Dodge Truck
Division " Rear Slump" Oil Pan. Fail to do this and nuthin will fit.
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Or
Acquire a two wheeled drive V6 Dakota that has a Regular Cab/ Long Bed and use
its Frame - Drive Train and etc.
The First Series Dakota's all have a Wheel Bolt Pattern that is the same as The
1947 S-11's.
This will require you to un-attach The S-11 Body. Roll it's S-11 Frame Assembly away.
Un-attach The Truck's Body and take it away.
Move The Engine-Transmission Assembly a foot to its rear ( on The original truck
frame ) and then lower The S-11 Body to The Dakota's Frame.
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Or
A Chrysler/ De Soto 250 Cubed Straight Six and Transmission.
*
S-11's had 236 cubes
*
Rodger & Gabby
Colo Spgs
FltSgt@outlook.com