My Dodge Truck Project (Cummins Inside)

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Ugly1

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Oct 26, 2021
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When you consider the longevity of *most* dodge trucks, that's a pretty safe bet as for not sending many replacements.

It's too bad too, I liked the styling on all of the older ones. Still want an affordable priced 70s trailduster (or would take a ramcharger) someday, but, don't want to deal with all the rot.
You want a running one or a rebuildable one? Trailduster or Ramcharger brother has a number or Ramchargers and one trailduster for rebuilding
 
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ck80

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You want a running one or a rebuildable one? Trailduster or Ramcharger brother has a number or Ramchargers and one trailduster for rebuilding
Either way amounts to the same thing for me. I'd be swapping it for a slant 6 225 with a 727 trans and running relatively stock tires.

But, those 1970s removable metal tops seemed to rot like heck down here. There were 4 'high school era' vehicles that are on my list to replicate, I've given up on finding the originals.

* 60s mustang, notchback, black with blue stripes and black interior, 289v8/c4.

* 1969 or 70 k5, 250 I6/th350/4x4, hugger orange with black interior

* late 70s international scout II, 345v8, auto or manual, 4x4

* 1970s Plymouth Trailduster, 225 slant, 727, 4x4, dark blue with white top, blue interior.

But, one thing I neither want to do, nor pay for it, is body shop welding rust repair. I'll source and hang better fenders, doors, etc. But don't want to hunt for a rot free removable top, don't want cut fenders/flares on the tub, so on so forth.

Someday maybe a desert southwest truck will pop up or something, but, haven't really looked either.
 
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Nov 4, 2012
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When you consider the longevity of *most* dodge trucks, that's a pretty safe bet as for not sending many replacements.

It's too bad too, I liked the styling on all of the older ones. Still want an affordable priced 70s trailduster (or would take a ramcharger) someday, but, don't want to deal with all the rot.

I love those trucks. Perfect candidate for a 4BT swap.

 
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ck80

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I love those trucks. Perfect candidate for a 4BT swap.

You know, you're probably right about that. But, might need to use a 1980s version, I'm not sure how the removable cap-to-windshield version would handle the torque.
 
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Only if there was a modern truck/truck based SUV on the market like that.
One could argue that the new Bronco is close. You could probably include the Wrangler too but it's sort of it's own thing. Still, 2 door, removable top, four wheel drive and solid axles.

I might catch some flack for saying it but I kinda like the new Broncos, the base model especially. The steelies look good. It's still laughably overpriced and hipsters and frat boys will ruin anyone's desire to be associated with it but I like what Ford did with it. Check out the heritage edition that is coming out soon.
 

Ugly1

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Oct 26, 2021
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Lost in the woods of NH
You know, you're probably right about that. But, might need to use a 1980s version, I'm not sure how the removable cap-to-windshield version would handle the torque.
Probably would depend on having the roll bar that came factory in some. I’ll see how this weekend works out and can post a few pictures. My brother’s yard makes a Mopar man cry.trucks and cars. Where you out of ck80?
 
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Oct 14, 2008
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Either way amounts to the same thing for me. I'd be swapping it for a slant 6 225 with a 727 trans and running relatively stock tires.

But, those 1970s removable metal tops seemed to rot like heck down here. There were 4 'high school era' vehicles that are on my list to replicate, I've given up on finding the originals.

* 60s mustang, notchback, black with blue stripes and black interior, 289v8/c4.

* 1969 or 70 k5, 250 I6/th350/4x4, hugger orange with black interior

* late 70s international scout II, 345v8, auto or manual, 4x4

* 1970s Plymouth Trailduster, 225 slant, 727, 4x4, dark blue with white top, blue interior.

But, one thing I neither want to do, nor pay for it, is body shop welding rust repair. I'll source and hang better fenders, doors, etc. But don't want to hunt for a rot free removable top, don't want cut fenders/flares on the tub, so on so forth.

Someday maybe a desert southwest truck will pop up or something, but, haven't really looked either.
Apparently, I missed driving a proper Slant 6. My 77 Van had a Slant 6 with many holes in the block, I swapped a 318 from a very rotten 80 Van. Man was my Sister In Laws 86 mint Dodge regular cab 2wd one of the most gutless trucks for acceleration I have ever seen. It did tow and I know they are mostly indestructible. There is no way I could have drove that truck stock, so gutless.
 

ck80

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Apparently, I missed driving a proper Slant 6. My 77 Van had a Slant 6 with many holes in the block, I swapped a 318 from a very rotten 80 Van. Man was my Sister In Laws 86 mint Dodge regular cab 2wd one of the most gutless trucks for acceleration I have ever seen. It did tow and I know they are mostly indestructible. There is no way I could have drove that truck stock, so gutless.
You want 'gutless', I drove an 83 s10 blazer 4x4 with the carburetor-version Iron Duke 2.5 .... you know, the one that made 25% less hp than the 2wd s10s.

It was slow, but indestructible/unstoppable in the snow.

I've got fast cars for when I want fast, slow for when I want slow, same with the trucks. For what it is the 8.1 isn't bad, but the 79 silverado with the 69 dz 302 is better ;)
 
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Supercharged111

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Oct 25, 2019
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You want 'gutless', I drove an 83 s10 blazer 4x4 with the carburetor-version Iron Duke 2.5 .... you know, the one that made 25% less hp than the 2wd s10s.

It was slow, but indestructible/unstoppable in the snow.

What do you know about snow, GA boy? :p
 
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