New old truck

[wmonroe]

What transmission? Was it still a 727 in that year? If it is, easy to work on and can be made pretty stout since they are often used in race cars. I personally think the front end of your year truck is kind of ugly to be honest but for some reason I love it at the same time. 70 Cornets and Superbees had a ugly front end but its the same way, I love it at the same time.

I need to recheck but I want to say it is the A518. My latest thought for building the tranny is to find a 47rh and build it then sell mine after the swap. It would run so much better with a lock up tranny. I don't disagree with the looks of the truck, one time I look at it and think it's ugly next time I think it looks great.

 

[wmonroe]

Does anyone know the intro date of that basic Dodge truck body style that they used for ~ 20 years? I know it was at least 1976, since my Dad had one, and then he got a 79. I think they switched to square headlights around 1980, and then it was just variations on the grille and trim until the new "big grill / big fender" models came out in the mid 90s and boosted sales. The sheet metal carried through all that time unchanged. That is one heck of a run -- nowadays trucks are getting all new sheet metal every 4-6 years. EDIT: looks like they did have a light refresh around 1981 to the outer sheet metal and interior, but the roof/gutters/etc seems the same. PickupTruck.Com - History - Segment Eleven: 1981 to 1988 Lifestyle Pickups Part 2

It has been pretty much the same from the mid 70's till 1993, with some minor changes along the way. It's too bad that vehicles now are old and outdated if they don't get redone every few years. I guess it helps people always have the latest and greatest.

 

[dodge man]

Picked up the latest issue of Diesel Power mag today. A lot of info on 1st gen Cummins. They showed quite a bit of info on the first Dodge Cummins which was a preproduction truck that Cummins has had and restored for the 25th anniversary.

 

[terryknight]

Picked up the latest issue of Diesel Power mag today. A lot of info on 1st gen Cummins. They showed quite a bit of info on the first Dodge Cummins which was a preproduction truck that Cummins has had and restored for the 25th anniversary.

was that this month's issue? i may have to pick it up. i want my old one back, but they are getting to be so expensive. there is a very nice 93 locally with 132, new paint. guy wants 14K for it, it's been sitting there at least a month

 

[s219]

I actually wish I had my dad's 79 Dodge pickup with the slant-six and 3-speed manual on the column (three on the tree). I spent a lot of time in that truck, and drove it when I was in my teens. Was a darn good truck.

 

[TomSeller]

I actually wish I had my dad's 79 Dodge pickup with the slant-six and 3-speed manual on the column (three on the tree). I spent a lot of time in that truck, and drove it when I was in my teens. Was a darn good truck.

Those slant sixes were really good engines. One good thing about 6 cyl three on the tree trucks was that they couldn't hurt themselves much. They just seemed to run. That was the configuration of the first road vehicle I drove.

 

[dodge man]

Yes I think you are right on the transmission in your truck, its a 4 speed with 4th gear being an overdrive, but no lockup in the torque convertor.

 

[wmonroe]

I actually wish I had my dad's 79 Dodge pickup with the slant-six and 3-speed manual on the column (three on the tree). I spent a lot of time in that truck, and drove it when I was in my teens. Was a darn good truck.

My dad had a 79 power wagon W200 with a 360 4 speed and I wish I had that truck. Lots of good memories with him when I was a kid in that truck.

 

[wmonroe]

Yes I think you are right on the transmission in your truck, its a 4 speed with 4th gear being an overdrive, but no lockup in the torque convertor.

The lockup would be a big help, the engine makes power but without it locking there is too much wasted energy.

 

[dodge man]

I wonder how easy it would be to swap in a latter model, such as a 47RE or 48RE in to your truck. Bolting it up would probably not be that big of a deal but getting the electronics set up might be a problem. I'm sure its been done by a least a few people by now.