Thread: 35 desoto sf airstream four door flatback

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Since you are grafting frame rails to an existing chassis i would get a frontend kit with rails and suspension. Since you enjoy the building have a look at what canadian Paul Horton sells - they can be found as 'welders series' in google. They make the raw materials for a number of outlets but will sell direct and you build it yourself. Check them out, even if you stick with your existing plan these guys will impress you and they have a bunch of items you might be interested in using.

Would be hard to get shipped to Australia, but with our rego laws non stock front rails would probably stop full rego because would deem as individually contructed. This opens a can of worns because you must meet all current adr's as in 2012,and this is a great pain in the you know what!. This is why i will be either doing the chassis graft with the Dodge front rails or try to shorten the wheel base of the Dodge chassis,i must keep the chassis looking stock to get full rego as a 35 Desoto. If i graft the chassis, i will place the graft possibly in the centre of front door area over a distance of maybe 16" or so to keep the strenght and with full new boxing plates. A inverted "Z" type chassis graft over 16" should be ample in strenght.

Picked up the 36 Dodge D2 chassis,it is the 126" wheelbase one whilst the Desoto has a 116" wheelbase. With some measuring i think the best option is to shorten the D2 chassis by the 10" in the section before it rises over the diff. Iwill box the inner rail after to increase the strenght . This is the only part of the chassis that does'nt change in depth so should be good. Grafting the front from the D2 to the Desoto chassis does'nt look like a good option.The D2 chassis is wider accross the front horns but being a fat fendered car shouldn't cause to much drama as may have to only modify the inner gaurds. Being wider at the front will make fitting the L300 Mitsubishi front end a bit easier as then the rails line up to the front end mounts and will give more steering and exhaust manifold clearance. My brother picked up from evil bay some 35/6 Plymouth parts including headlight stands and which i have now obtained they are 36 ones. Can you buy repo or after market headlights to suit these type of stands?,or do others modify 35/6 Ford headlights to suit?.