Ok guys... after dabbling over in the Ram section for the past couple weeks looking for input as well as looking at a couple Rams in my area(in my price range), I have come to the conclusion that I am probably better off keeping what I have and making it what I want. Not to mention I didnt find a single truck that the sellers didnt want $1000 to $3000 more than excellent book value when the trucks were in "fair to good" at best.

Anywho... some of you know the history already, but heres the backround:

'95 318 ext cab short box SLT

I bought it about 2 years ago from a farmer for only $2500 with peeling paint and a going out fuel pump. Truck only had 70,000 on the clock (74,000 currently). Good buy I thought!

Last winter it got a new radiator (cracked at 5am at 43 below) and thermostat.

This summer it went for a swim and cracked the block. Again, I got a steal from a local farmer and got a replacment motor WITH ONLY 45,000 on it for $450! Put that in with ALL new fluids front to back, so now I am confident in the truck and basically know it inside and out.

 

The "theme" behind the build is to "black out" and make a "tough truck" (take anything you throw at it.

I have always had an "always be prepared" attitude, so I want to fill it up with lots of storage, gadgets, bars, racks, hitches, bumpers, etc.

We'll see how it goes! Feel free to comment or suggest, good or bad.

Heres how it was as the build will begin.



And here was its day in the pool. Sure didnt look that deep!



Burried in snow last winter



Sorry... I like pictures!

 

removed the running boards, bumper plastic thingy, and the rubber side trim

I know, I know.... it needs paint first of all, but I couldnt turn down the price on this access.

Addition of a light bar:

 

I like that light bar. Doesnt pretend to be a rollbar and doesnt waste half your bed. Sweet.

That kinda the same idea Im rolling with. My paint also sucked, so Im painting my whole truck in Rustoeum Road Warrior. Its kinda like rhino lining only not near as rough. Still tacky though. I love it so far....Ive got my hood done and installed. Im waiting to see how much fender I have to trim to go any further.

This is more for an SUV, but you could build a short....say 1 foot or a little more, high deck system in your bed. You can put whatever rollers and drawer sizes in it you want, and that would let you store TONS of stuff. I made one for my old FJ80 and will make one for the wifes new one when I stop being lazy. Great for gun storage when hunting too. Not sure on the waterproofing part....as mine was in a covered truck.

Keep an eye on my axle swaps if you interested in that kinda thing. Ill be running 1 ton gear very soon. Just gotta source a new front axle, the rear is on its way in already. Plus I like 8 bolt way better than the wierd little 6 these run.

Just take one thing at a time and make it all the way you want it. If you dont like it, learn from it and move on. You can always rebuild your build.

Also....if its a utilitarian truck, paint is the last thing Id worry about. Who cares if it looks good sitting in your parking place if thats the only place it can go.

 

Cool! Looks like a good start. Big tires! Crazy front bumper and push bar and rear bumper. We love pics. Post up as many as you want.

 

Tires may be a little bit yet. Dem dam tings aint cheap!

order in mind right now...
-push bar (this weekend, coming off the same truck the light bar did)
-bumper (maybe this weekend, I have an idea im going to try and you guys can "yay/nay" it
-lights (6 on the light bar and 4 on the push bar)
-paint (needs to happen this summer/fall yet as I dont have a fancy paint shop)

 

Update: Exhaust mod.

As I live in the last wild west there is... I am allowed to modify my emissions system. I replaced the stock cat with a piece of exhaust I had made up.

I replaced the stock muffler (was wearing through anyway) with a Thrush glass pack.
Sounds pretty good, I might say.

I am hoping this will help with performance and fuel economy as I have removed the major "restrictions" in the system.

Total cost here was:
$20 for the Cat replacment tube
$40 for the Thrush tube
$10 for the clamps
-$40 to recycle the old Cat.

$30 total

Factory Cat


Replacment

New pipe


Im not done yet, obviously, as I have to run the rest of the exhaust to get it past the rear end, but I am working on plans for a "quiet" option for things like hunting.

 

Cool! Good deal!

 

Anyone else running glass packs or a turbo muffler on a 318?

 

Sooo.... I have been working on getting my sled ready for snow and haven't had time to work on my truck much, but as usual, I am always thinking of ideas.

My plan was to lift and go with 32"-34" tires, but then I got to thinking about doing something origional.

I have posted these pics before and dont remember where they came from, but does anyone have any idea how hard it would be to put duals on the rear? My father-in-law has a 79 f250 that has a factory rear end, but has a "kit" that allowed for duals to be mounted to the rear. then a modified "universal" fender kit and it looks factory.

Anyone have any thoughts or seen this before?




I dont really like the looks of this one, but I think on an ext cab/short box, done right and with matching dually front tires, might look pretty cool and origional.