New old truck

[2458n]

The nice part about your combination is all the engine hop up parts have been proven for some time. Enjoy the parts have to be available for that body style, so rust repair should be doable.Where did you find it?

 

[TomSeller]

I always liked that style of Dodge, particularly in 4x4. Cummins makes it that much better. Very nice.

 

[firemanmike69]

Nice looking truck. If you start to bump up fueling keep and eye on the transmission, they were marginal at stock power levels

 

[Wolfy]

I know a tradesman with a couple trucks of that vintage. He loves his, reliable and great mileage with the old Cummins. He did say though, body parts were not widely available and can be a search to find.

 

[wmonroe]

The nice part about your combination is all the engine hop up parts have been proven for some time. Enjoy the parts have to be available for that body style, so rust repair should be doable.Where did you find it?

My wife is a finance manager at a Chrysler dealership and someone traded it in a new diesel 1500. I was out of town working and she called me and en sent me some pictures. I had my dad look it over and then my wife bought it and brought it home. So technically it is her truck I guess since it's in her name. Lol.

I always liked that style of Dodge, particularly in 4x4. Cummins makes it that much better. Very nice.

Thanks. I too have always like the old "square" style. Of course I also like each of the different generations.

 

[wmonroe]

Nice looking truck. If you start to bump up fueling keep and eye on the transmission, they were marginal at stock power levels

I expect to need to rebuild the tranny at some point once I add fuel. Although it feels pretty good right now, I'm not sure if it has been beefed up at all but there are larger than stock cooling lines and it shifts MUCH firmer than stock.....but I still know my driving style and with more fuel it will be hurting.

I know a tradesman with a couple trucks of that vintage. He loves his, reliable and great mileage with the old Cummins. He did say though, body parts were not widely available and can be a search to find.

I haven't started looking yet but I'm guessing I'm going to have to get parts from the south as southwestern pa road salt does not lend itself to having lots a good useable 21 year old parts.

 

[Wolfy]

One thing I really like about the internet, is you can find almost anything if you look long enough.

 

[Nightforce]

Nice looking rig, the best of luck with it! :thumbsup:

 

[dodge man]

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.

 

[s219]

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.

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