Either the "search the forum" button is not working right for me or no one on this site has done or even talked about a Dodge Dakota / F100 frame swap. I've searched and searched and keep coming up with nothing.

I know that Industrial Chassis makes a cross member kit to put a dakota IFS under an F100 but has anyone put the whole frame under theirs?
I have a '53 F100 with a Volare setup and am not happy with it and would like to go with something else. I've heard good things about the Dakota IFS.
Just looking for more info. Those of you that have the IC dakota crossmember set up 'Do you like it'?
And has anyone done a complete frame swap?

Thanks

 

If I were to put an IFS on my truck it would be the Industrial Chassis Dakota setup.
Of all the swaps available its the only one design from a Truck setup.
The Dakota Front end is factory rated about 1000 lbs more than the stock suspension.
It has a built in drop and also has dropped spindles available.
I've talked to Steve from IC several times.
(I still drool when I look at the setup.)

 

The old Gibbons kit was a great kit which used heavy duty cordoba suspension.I just stripped down a 1996 dakota standard cab and will be fitting a 56 pickup on it.The wheelbase and track with are almost exact.

 

Old Uhaul do you have any pictures so far? Does the cab fit on the frame nicely or is it going to take some work to make it fit? Are there any other major complication you for see in making the swap? I'd be inerested in any pictures or info you have. Without stripping the truck down and seeing the bare frame it's hard to get a good idea of any real challenges this swap would pose. I know the bed floor in the box will have to be raised to fit the dakota frame. But other than that from what I've seen things should fit pretty well. Good luck I'll be very interested to hear how this goes for you. I think this next week I'm going to start looking for a dakota.

 

I have not set the cab on the frame yet.Hope to do it later next week.The frame does kick up quite a bit behind the cab so i know the bed floor will be raised.I will try to take some pics of the progress.

 

If you want to see the dakota i started with it was on ebay.The item number was #180337594308

 

I installed the Dakota IFS crossmember from Industrial Chassis. Easy install. There are some pics of the chassis in my gallery.

 

V8R, Eric, would you give me a call? I want to talk to you regarding the Industrial Chassis Dakota IFS installation in your F1. Neither of us have enough posts on this forum to send PMs.
I have talked to Steve at IC and came away with the impression that he no longer builds a Dakota IFS for the '48-'52 F1 chassis.
Please give me a call so we can share some information. 217 932-4956(home) or 217 663-5252(cell). Thanks, Tim

 

You bet I'll call. I haven't talked to Steve in a few years, very tallented guy. I know he quit making the hub to hub kit because the cost of the parts from dodge got outrageous, but I would think he still has all the gigs for the crossmembers.