My New Toy

[GLHS592]

I got the truck home. It rained all night and I hit a storm on the way home. The truck is filthy. I have a few minor fixes to do and some stuff I'm going to change. I gotta have something to tinker with. It sure has a late 60's muscle car feel to it.

I'm not normally a fan of red interiors. I just love the way this interior goes with the black. I'm going to redo the dash. I may see if I can replicate the gauge panel in the same wood/stain as the steering wheel. I may replace the factory gauges with Autometers. I'm going to put a tach where the aftermarket gauge trio is. I'm going to lower it 2"/4". The Phord 9" may end up under the truck. I am going to get rid of the wheels and the white letters. I'm thinking about sandblasting the Little Red Express wheels and clear coating them with argent centercaps. I have a pair of big block truck headers. Down the road, I may build a stroker 440.

http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/qq42/GLHS592/1980%20Dodge%20D-150/1980Dodge_DSC00411.jpg
http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/qq42/GLHS592/1980%20Dodge%20D-150/1980Dodge_DSC00413.jpg
http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/qq42/GLHS592/1980%20Dodge%20D-150/1980Dodge_DSC00410.jpg
http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/qq42/GLHS592/1980%20Dodge%20D-150/1980Dodge_DSC00409.jpg
http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/qq42/GLHS592/1980%20Dodge%20D-150/1980Dodge_P8150010.jpg
http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/qq42/GLHS592/1980%20Dodge%20D-150/1980Dodge_P8150005.jpg
http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/qq42/GLHS592/1980%20Dodge%20D-150/1980Dodge_P8150008.jpg
http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/qq42/GLHS592/1980%20Dodge%20D-150/1980Dodge_P8150006.jpg
http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/qq42/GLHS592/1980%20Dodge%20D-150/1980Dodge_DSC00415.jpg
http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/qq42/GLHS592/1980%20Dodge%20D-150/1980Dodge_DSC00414.jpg
http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/qq42/GLHS592/1980%20Dodge%20D-150/1980Dodge_DSC00416.jpg
http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/qq42/GLHS592/1980%20Dodge%20D-150/1980Dodge_P8150009.jpg

[1966 dart wagon]

very nice looking truck, I too and normally not a fan of red interior but it doesnt look too bad, I like the idea of you getting rid of the cheesy 3 gauges, but what else you gonna do really for more accurate gauges(vs fix the old ones or redo the whole gauge cluster.

I normally am not a fan of chrome rims either but that looks good along with the white letters. Do you have pics the new rims your thinking of using?

Nice purchase though, do these trucks get bad gas milage btw? just a random question?

[GLHS592]

I'm thinking about replacing the factory gauges with Autometers or some other aftermarket brand.

I left the wheels stacked in my parents' garage. I meant to shoot a picture of them.

The wheels are like these.
http://www.allpar.com/history/interviews/photos/wetherholt/show/lil-red-express-truck.jpg

I haven't checked the gas mileage yet, but a 440 with no overdrive sounds thirsty to me. ;)

[bradp]

Nice lookin truck!!! Get rid of the redneck exhaust tips and the wheels and it will be perfect then.

[Juggy]

i vote dually stacks!!! lol

nice truck, always loved them old rams

[GLHS592]

Nice lookin truck!!! Get rid of the redneck exhaust tips and the wheels and it will be perfect then.

:lol: I agree. There is a ton of stuff I want to change. One day, I want to build a stroker and maybe do a Keisler 5 speed swap.

[GLHS592]

I robbed the Dodge hood emblem from my 1985.
http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/qq42/GLHS592/1980%20Dodge%20D-150/1980Dodge_P8160011.jpg
I'm thinking about taking Friday off to clean it up.

[86seeS]

dog dish center cap wheels!!!!

[GLHS592]

dog dish center cap wheels!!!!

My cousin has a set I've thought about. If I could find some cop hubcaps.

[Vigo]

If i had that truck the first thing i would do to it is absolutely nothing.

But im sure that wouldnt last long.. Id just make it a bit longer than you before getting the itch! lol.

Oh, my first mod would almost certainly be to add a hitch ball. hehe.

[glhs875]

Nice Truck!

[Reeves]

Very nice truck.

I like the wheels/tires, but that's just me.

Dogdish would look good as well.

Now all you need to find is a CUMMINS and 6 spd!

:)

[GLHS592]

I like the wheels on a car. To me, they just don't look right on a truck. I just got rid of my Cummins. I'm going to build a stroked 440 down the road for this truck.

[glhs875]

I would quickly do one mod. Get rid of the Ford bed mat!:)

[GLHS592]

That was just to carry the rearend. It will be my oil drip mat when I change oil. Of course, it will be turned Phord logo down. :)

[ScottD]

I've always liked the 72-80 shortbed full size trucks. I really like the red interior with the black paint.

If this were my truck, two things I'd do first are lower it some and get rid of the orange air cleaner and valve covers and replace them with Mopar Performance pieces.

I think some charcoal gray Torq Thrust wheels would look nice. I agree changing up the wheels would be a good thing, I don't think those wheels look bad but I think something else would look better.

[GLHS592]

If this were my truck, two things I'd do first are lower it some and get rid of the orange air cleaner and valve covers and replace them with Mopar Performance pieces.

I don't care for the air cleaner or valve covers either. I would like to have a stock looking air cleaner and stock type valve covers. MP pieces would be nice too.


I think some charcoal gray Torq Thrust wheels would look nice. I agree changing up the wheels would be a good thing, I don't think those wheels look bad but I think something else would look better.

Torq Thrusts would look good, but they are WAY played out around here. EVERYBODY has them. I've always been a fan of slot mags. I got a guy really interested in these: http://www.racingjunk.com/category/421/Drag_Racing_Tires/post/1927888/Weld-Drag-Stars-M-T-Drag-Radials-550.html
If they sell this weekend, I'm going to order the Ansen Sprints in 17".

[blk86trbo]

Great looking truck Kevin!!!

I'd go for the stock valve covers and a factory dual snorkel air cleaner. Years ago I was shocked to fine one in a boneyard on a 1975 Coronet 4 door State vehicle equipped with the 400 big block...unfortunately I let it go when I sold a 1977 Cordoba. It was the same color and physical shape as this one

http://tpigman.com/plymouth/engine2/mill.jpg

But anything you choose should look nice...you'd have to really butcher it up to make a big block ugly!

[Subliminal]

That is a nice truck!

If'n it were mine I'd spend about $1600, buy an older Frito Lay delivery truck, pull the 4BT out of it, and scrap the aluminum body for ~$1200-$1500, stick a NV4500 behind it, swap out the turbo and injectors and enjoy 30 MPG and 30 lbs of boost. :)

[GLHS592]

I got a set of these...
http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_images/4/510/709/38772854029_large.jpg
...and a pair of these.
http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_images/4/510/709/38772854034_large.jpg

[cordes]

What's special about the A arms?

[GLHS592]

What's special about the A arms?

They came out of a late 80's Dodge 1 ton B van. The spring pocket is lower in the arm than in the trucks. They will lower the front about 3". Other than drilling the two holes in each one for the strut rods (seen below), drilling out the pivot bolt hole, and new ball joints they are a direct replacement. I'm going to flip the rear axle for about 5" out back.

Truck arm on the left, modified van arm in the middle, and stock van arm on the right.
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g217/7760adventurer/lowering/controlarms.jpg

[Tony Fields]

Nice truck Kevin!

[GLHS592]

Thanks! Hopefully, I'll think so soon. ;)

[Reeves]

Can't wait to see it lowered.

I still like the wheels that came with it better...but that's just me. I think it adds some sport to it.