[Thirty Over]

Hello, New to this forum. Im a fifty something old guy, with a fair automotive knowledge in the area of hot rods and such. My occupation is in the rebuilder/ used car field. One thing to mention, I built an expensive race Vega in the mid eighties. Then I built a budget race Gremlin in the early nineties. I like budget much better.

Now, I have a really nice 35 Dodge 5 window coupe I recieved on trade and it is time to modernize it.

Front suspension : tube axle parallel leaf spring. What can be done to it ? I want to disc brake the front and figure out a more modern steering setup . I do NOT want to Mustang ll clip it.

With the steering arms the way they are, it wont accept any modern 15 ford bolt pattern wheel due to arm interference. There is an aftermarket offset rack and pinion setup for the 30 something ford, can this be adapted?

Is there anyone who knows a little about the 35 dodge and what can be adapted to it with used modern parts? I dont want to build a $40-60 thousand dollar car. It is going to be budget or nothing.

Ballpark vision of this car;.....dead stock body, 318 auto, decent interior "homespun", lowered, no exotic stuff, modern used rear, 15 to 17 inch wheels and street tires, and 20 miles to the gallon. thank you for any replies

[Deuce]

WELCOME to Hotrodders.com
The 35 Dodge coupes are really gaining in popularity ...



I have NEVER owned one but I do find them attractive. Some rodders have been using the UniSteer rack in their rods ... I have one in my 32 Ford project and I like it BUT have not driven it enough to really evaluate it long term.

Here is a link http://www.unisteer.com/mm5/merchant..._Code=UNISTEER but it is SLOW to load because of the video.

Again WELCOME

[Thirty Over]

thank you for the reply. I am thinking the same regarding the steering. From the general response I didnt get, I assume there is not much going on with the 35 suspension. I now suspect I will have to use late 80s s-10 frame and suspension, which I have plenty of.
To mate the s-10 to the Dodge, means I will prob go with chevy power......

[wedgehead63]

Congrats on the ride. I have a 36 Dodge and a 35 Plymouth. My Dodge is running a stock setup like yours. I have a Jim Weimer hub to hub for it if I ever stop driving it long enough to install it. It runs a disc front kit from Butch's Rod Shop. I am not even sure they are still around. Fatman should have the kit also. My 36 was a 20K mile car so the stock steering was nice and tight. Butch used to make a drop axle and a steering box conversion using a vega cross steer. Something to think about.

[NDtruck]

I'm just tossing this out there (no idea at feasibility), but would if looking to keep it mopar all they way thru, could you maybe use an '87 to '91 dakota for a donor suspension?

The 1st gen dakota's were the smallest. it's possible to squeeze a v8 in there (Shelby Dakota's had the 318 in them already), and I believe you can find some lowering options for them as well out on the net...

[h0trod389]

the great thing about hotrods is that you can interchange everything.

the best way, and most expensive way is to call up speedway and order a ford axle for your car.
for around 500 bucks you can have new springs, and a new axle to accept the ever so popular ford spindles.
not to mention that the bolt pattern is the same.
spindles, and a complete disc brake conversion, with traditional steer will run about another 500. so for a grand, you can have a completely new front end.

i, being a complete budjet builder have been wanting to do this. but with my cash flow im stuck to using old parts.
55 ford axles are also a good way to go, parts are readily avaliable and around 300 bucks, you can have new kingpins, bearings, and all new brake set up.

i have a 30 olds i built from the ground up.( try looking up parts for that!) i used a parralell leaf axle, cut the perches off, welded bungs to the axle to accept ford radius rods.
i chucked the spindles up in a lathe to adapt 70ish A body GM brakes.
i used a traverse leaf spring for a suicide front end, altho your car is full fendered, you can do pretty much the same thing, like a stock model A.

i know all too well about parts that fit and dont fit, the only suggestion i can offer you is find something close for a good deal ...AND MAKE IT WORK!

THATS THE GREAT THING ABOUT THIS HOBBY, YOUR ONLY LIMIT IS THE LIMITS OF YOUR FABRICATION CAPABILLITYS! not to mention funds!