Category: Classic Trucks

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For sale, and looking

We are nearly wrapped up with our current project , and looking for the next build. I am offering one of my personal projects as a starting point.

Or may be interested in building your dreams. Please use steve@industrialchassisinc.com for communications. There are a few of you using my eBay account, I don’t like using that for off eBay discussion.

Floating this out there for those interested. F100 Crew-Cab project, Frame was repaired, straightened and lengthened 29″ to build a custom crew cab.

Chassis is done, Dakota IFS with Full-size truck rotors, Wilwood calipers up front, new premium parts, powder coated, Bilstein shocks, new springs, etc.

Rear is a Ford Truck Dana 60, with upgraded axle bearings, Dutchman axles, Wilwood brakes, new gears and bearings. Power-Lok diff, Ridetech coil overs and air bags for load on a powder coated four link with panhard rod. Frame is fully boxed and a very stout X-member. Hydro-boost brakes. I was building this to be a long distance hauler, something that could easily pull a 20-25′ enclosed trailer.

If you were to contract someone to design and build an identical frame, it would exceed what I’m asking here.

Body work was started, floors are nearly complete, I have most of the body work and bed, seats, mechanicals, but in poor but fixable shape. The goal was to use

56 rear doors, shortened a bit. Use stock window mechanisms, keep the vent windows etc. Trying to make this look as much like a factory build as possible. This is a personal project I have lost interest in. I have an Arizona title in my name for this. Included are a set of 5 Wheel Vintique 17″ X 7″ steel Ford style wheels with caps and rings. Wheels are powder coated Navajo White.

There are other items I have for this project not included with this sale. Example, I have a modern Cummins turbo diesel four cylinder and six speed auto that would be a fantastic power unit, but I realize it’s not everyone’s preference. I will be selling those items separately. I would consider finishing this for you as a project and may make a deal for the powertrain I had reserved for this.

I have 30+ years of experience building custom trucks, including sheet metal fabrication and body finishing, wiring and plumbing. Please contact me for further information.

  • Render of the design goal
  • Front suspension as it currently is
  • Current rear suspension
  • Current picture of the body

Below are two examples of trucks just finished as an example of the quality of work we do.

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An opportunity for those interested

I would like to talk to any parties interested in purchasing any or part of the product lines, (’32 Ford products and Dakota Based Products) I will consider contract for continued consultation and further product development. I have some product that is in development that would match current market moves, as well as full frame/chassis ideas. If you are interested, please contact me through info@industrialchassisinc.com

Please take note the following:

I have discontinued making the Dakota Based product line as well as the Studebaker and ’32 Ford products and want to concentrate on full builds only.

If you or someone you know would be interested in continuing the production, please contact me through the email above. This is an advertisement to sell the product lines, not additional product.  I am currently concentrating on private builds only. Not doing any job shop or repair work at this time. I am only interested in unique, pre-1965 hot rod and custom builds where we can showcase our skills.

For all other inquiries, please hit the forum listed at the very top of the page. I am limiting my time working on the website, I may be slow in responding to your inquiries.

  • Boxing plates not included
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More new stuff on the website

I have been working on getting the framework done for the new features I want for the website and fixing some of the dumb stuff I had as place holders. Still not done, but happy with some of the progress.

What I received in feed back from customers was navigation on the store, difficulty finding product and such. So my solution is to put multiple paths to find what you are looking for. At the top of the page are categories based on what you have. Not completely finished with them at this point. What I intend is a bit of information, history and links in each and everyone of those by make and year model.

I will also be working on updating and adding new product. So far I’m pretty happy with the new Theme Plugin from www.woothemes.com . Those guys have been more than helpful getting me going after my crash.

Soon we will have some project updates too. We currently have three full on turn-key projects. The 53 GMC is painted. Thank you Cam at Fury in Color! Rick’s 40 Plymouth is making progress, and we took possession of Bob’s 1964 Ford pickup. Look for pictures of that one soon, it’s really eye catching (in a good way!)

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Ball Joints 2.0

In my last post, covered the Chrysler style screw in ball joints commonly used on Mustang II front ends. Today I want to talk about the Dakota ball joints and some misconceptions being run around the internet. There are a few generations of Dodge Dakotas now, I concentrate on the first two, being 87-90 and 91-96. Both are pretty much the same, the ball joints are exactly the same.

I have run across a few people trying to conflate the 97 up (3rd Gen) Dakota ball joint issues with the earlier First and Second generation trucks. In the 3rd Generation Dodge made quite a few changes to the Dakota’s front suspension. Almost a complete redesign. About the only thing similar is the lower control arm spacing and bushing size (yes, they will fit our kits) and the upper control  arm rear mounting bolt is in the same location. But that’s it. The rack mounting and angles are very different and the upper control arm became symmetrical for cost cutting reasons. The other major changes are in the spindle and ball joints. They bare no resemblance to the 1st and 2nd gen trucks. The ball joints became significantly smaller and the orientation of the lower ball joint changed from tension (pointing up) to compression (pointing down) making dropped spindles pretty much impossible.

 

Have a look at the line up of ball joints here. From Left to right, the 1997 and up Dakota/Durango ball joint, The K772 Ball joint used in most Mustang II type set ups, The K778 joint used in the 87-96 Dakotas (and many other full size cars and trucks) and then on the Right is the K7025 used on the Dakotas and several other full size cars and trucks. Visual confirmation would show you, this is robust stuff. History can confirm that these larger ball joints were not failure prone. Sure, everything wears out, this is why we recommend using premium quality repair parts when building your car or truck. Not only will you see a longer service life, you will get a better ride quality with parts like the MOOG joints and bushings we suggest.

I suppose shocks would be the next topic, stay tuned!

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More new product in the store

Recently added are dropped spindles, engine mounts and a few other goodies.

Like this, a bolt-in transmission crossmember for stock Model A frames. Allows you to use ’35 up style transmission mounts and a 48-52 Ford F1 brake and clutch pedal set. 

 

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1955-1959 GM Dakota kits very soon. AND MORE!

Been working on the design for the newest kit to our line. The 1955-1959 GM Truck Dakota kit. We will have this ready by the end of September in two forms. Our standard kit that accepts the stock ’87-’96 Dodge Dakota componentry and this will be our first venture into a tube control arm and coil over front end! Yes, you read that right we are going to offer tube control arms very soon. I have been working on the design and the fixturing to get these to a reasonable cost. So look for an official release of the newest kits very soon.

We have also been working on engine mounts and bolt on anti-roll bar mounts. I have some almost ready to go for Ford and Chevy engines in the 35-56 F100 kits. I need to check fitment on the others before we release them.

 

 

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New information regarding springs and brakes

I do my best to keep up with information on all of our products. I was recently informed that the earlier 1973-1982 Dodge D series rotors for the 3000 pound front axle take a different bearing and are not compatible with the Dakota spindles. I made a quick note on the D-series caliper bracket selection about this change and will soon update all of the information to reflect the correct interchanges.

This morning however, was a question about springs for the Dakota IFS kits with 302 Fords. This is a work in progress and as I gather more information about the spring selections I will add it to the list to help you guys get the most out of your front end. This new information about the spring selection is in the Dakota Tech section.