By Brian Brennan – Photography By Brian Woodwick
The story of this build centers around a brother who died, as it was reconstructed in his memory as a tribute. Most of Divers Street Rods’ (DSR) customers engage in discussions about their projects. Still, for this build, they made a special effort to listen closely to what their customers were expressing, according to Tim Divers of DSR. This project was not just about a vehicle, it reflected a relationship, cherished memories, and a 1947 Dodge pickup truck.
When it came to the paint color, we encountered something unique. The customer brought in a can of Kodiak Chew, a type of smokeless chew, pointed to the green hue, and expressed that it was what they wanted. While disassembling the original bed, we discovered a preserved bug with the same green sheen. Naturally, we decided to include it in the final build—after all, it’s a bed bug in the correct color!
DSR’s modifications included chopping the cab by 3 inches at the rear and 3-1/2 inches at the front. DSE also reshaped the front fenders to accommodate 1942-46 Chevy truck headlights and narrowed the grille by 6-1/2 inches. Additionally, DSR sectioned the upper grille and used it to create hood sides, channeled the cab over the frame, and widened the rear window by over 12 inches while removing the wing windows. We reshaped the rear fenders from a 1947-55 Chevy, extended the 1947 Dodge stake pockets, and narrowed and sectioned a tailgate from a 1948-53 Dodge pickup. To complete this transformation, DSR incorporated an aluminum hood, custom roll pan, wheeltubs, bed structure, custom running boards, and the aforementioned bed bug. Rich Thayer masterfully handled the body and paintwork using a custom House of Kolor green, followed by a HOK Black Pearl. (Thayer owned a business named RJ Customs and, for many years, provided contract work for DSR.)
The chassis features an Art Morrison 2x4x6 frame with a 116-inch wheelbase modified by DSR. This modification includes custom crossmembers made from 1-5/8-inch round tubing, along with engine and transmission mounts and a front-end cradle for the engine and transmission coolers. DSR also created a custom aluminum gas tank that holds 24 gallons.
For the front suspension, we utilized AME components based on their Sport IFS, which features Wilwood ProSpindle drop spindles, Strange double-adjustable coilover shocks, and a 1-1/2-inch-diameter front sway bar. The steering system is based on a Detroit Speed rack-and-pinion and is complemented by a Flaming River tilt steering column.
The rear suspension incorporates additional AME components based on a triangulated four-bar design and features Strange double-adjustable coilover shocks and an AME 3/4-inch sway bar. Central to the rear suspension is an AME Ford 9-inch housing paired with a Currie Enterprises third member equipped with 3.70 gears connected to a Truetrac differential and Strange Engineering 31-spline axles. The brake package consists of Wilwood Superlite six-piston calipers with 14-inch drilled-and-slotted rotors in the front and Wilwood Dynalite four-piston calipers with 14-inch drilled-and-slotted rotors in the rear. Finally, the master cylinder is a Kugel Komponents 90-degree mount brake, the mounting bracket for the power brake assembly.
Wheels and tires can make or break the appearance of any hot rod, and this 1947 Dodge pickup is no exception. The Wheelsmith aluminum Artillery-style wheels measuring 18×9 (with a 6.5-inch backspace) are fitted on the front, while the rear features 19×12 wheels (with a 7.5-inch backspace). The hoops are made of polished aluminum with billet centers and painted in the same House Of Kolor Black Pearl as the fenders. The rubber chosen is the Kumho Ecsta 265/35R18 for the front and 355/30ZR19 for the rear. The Kumho Ecsta line of tires is an ultrahigh-performance, all-season, known for excellent traction, quiet rides, durability, and outstanding high-speed performance and is ideally suited for a 600hp V-10 with an aggressive suspension.
While not uncommon, the Dodge Viper V-10 still turns heads and catches the attention of rodders. Consequently, a Dodge Viper Third-Gen V-10 with 505 ci provides all the “motion” this Dodge pickup needs. This is undoubtedly advantageous alongside the 600-plus horsepower and 625 lb-ft of torque. Arrow Racing Engines assembled the aluminum block, aluminum heads, a Comp Cams camshaft, and Comp pistons. The EFI is sourced from an Aeromotive VaporWorx returnless fuel system featuring a Gen 5 Camaro ZL1 fuel module at one end and a K&N tapered oval air cleaner at the other. A Dodge Viper ECU is utilized, thanks to Scot Rickford of Prefix Corporation for his expertise. The ignition system incorporates a Dodge Viper distributor-less ignition paired with a stock coil, plug wires, and two XS Power S975 batteries. The custom exhaust system features 1-3/4-inch custom 304 stainless steel tubing fabricated by DSR, connected to a pair of MagnaFlow mufflers via a 3-inch stainless steel exhaust pipe. The exhaust system is coated with silver ceramic. A TCI-prepped six-speed 4L80E, equipped with a TCI torque converter and a Lokar electronic Sport Mode shifter, transfers all this power to the rear. A Be Cool custom crossflow radiator cools the V-10, while a Setrab Series 6, 34-row cooler supplements the transmission, both working together to ensure optimal temperatures. Drivelines Northwest crafted the custom driveshaft.
DSR removed the factory dashboard and redesigned it for easy bolting in and out. The custom gauge panel features Classic Instruments from the Nickel Series (voltage, water temperature, 140-mph speedometer, oil pressure, and fuel level). An American Autowire system, paired with a TCI trans wiring package and Hotwire Auto for the Viper V-10 engine, provides all the necessary wiring, which was managed at DSR. Interior comforts include the Vintage Air Mini Gen II and a Flaming River tilt column topped with a Lecarra Mark 9 steering wheel. The custom fiberglass bomber-style bucket seats were upholstered by Scott Divers at DSR using Carob-colored Andrew Muirhead’s Premier from Douglass Interior Products and a German square weave for the tan carpeting. The headliner is Alcantra Dark Brown Suede (5833).
If you’re curious about who owns this amazing 1947 Dodge pickup, so are we. Tim from DSR says the owner is genuine and loves his hot rods, but, as they say, he is a recluse hot rodder. MR
Check out this story in our digital edition here.
