My newest project has been found! Recently, I just finished a move to a new location. My girlfriend and I moved in with her parents for the time-being, since money's tight. Well, her father has a veritable treasure-trove of stuff here at his house that is just sitting around. So far I've counted three different Chevy 350's, a Dodge 318 LA V8, and a Dodge 360 LA V8. This is also in addition to a number of rear ends he has hanging around, and a couple shelves of Chevy trannies (TH-XXX ones).

But the most interesting find was this old first-gen Dodge Ram sitting outside next to the house, covered in stuff:





I know, I know...it looks like a pile of offal. Well, that's what I thought too until we started asking about it. Apparently it's got a built LA 360 in it! I popped the hood, and there it sat:




Yes, I realize the entire interior is going to have to be redone, and the wiring needs to be completed, but the body and frame are sound, which is pretty amazing considering its age. Apparently he had bought it as a project for his son and him to work on, but his son never did anything with it, so it's just been sitting and taking up space. His wife would be absolutely overjoyed to have it leave, or at least be able to be moved, so she's behind me doing the rest of the work 100%.

It's an '88 D100 (I think...could be a W100, for all I know...this is my first Dodge). The body is pretty sound for the most part; there's some rust starting at the bottoms of the doors, and the rear and front driver's-side wheel arches have some small rust holes, but it's nothing that a little bit of bodywork some afternoon won't fix. Right now I'm concentrating on trying to find out diagrams, parts info, etc. It's got a Painless wiring harness in it right now, which is only moderately hooked up, so I've got to find a wiring diagram for that. Reflectors and light lenses need to be replaced, so I need to find a supplier for those, as well. Any direction in that regard would be greatly appreciated.

It'll be a learning experience for certain, and it's going to take a lot of work...but that's what a project is for, right? When all is said and done, I should have a nice little monster on my hands.

More to come when it gets done!

 

It is obviously not a W100 that is for sure. Good luck.

 

looks like a fun project, have fun buddy!

 

Thanks. What's the main difference between the D100's and W100's? 2WD vs 4x4?

 

D's have no front differential, no front drive shaft, no transfer case, front coil springs instead of leafs, and many smaller things.

 

Thanks for the clarification! It's definitely not 4x4.

 

As I sit here inside the truck, laptop in hand, it strikes me that maybe I should formulate a list of To-Do's and Want-To-Do's so I can keep it handy.

To Do:

• Finish routing and connecting wiring harness.
• Tear down engine, check seals, pistons, etc.
• Replace radiator and assorted rubber bits.
• Replace water pump.
• Disassemble, clean, adjust, and reinstall carb.
• Reassemble interior.
• Fluid/filter changes top to bottom.
• New battery.
• New lenses for tail lights, blinkers, etc.
• New headlamps.
• Adjust bands in transmission.
• New tires.
• New exhaust.

Want-To-Do:

• Make new dash out of welded aluminum. (The old dash is cracked and ucky. No sense reusing it if I can avoid it.)
• Cover dash, door cards, roof panel, visors, and seat in brown-ish leather.
• Install aftermarket sunroof.
• Install aftermarket stereo system.
• Source out replacement bed (I'd really like to find a good condition stepside bed for this thing...)
• Repaint back to deep black.
• New trim.
• New rims.

I'll add more to the list as I think of it, and I'll cross off things as they get done. Suggestions are greatly welcome.

 

When you get it done bring it by the house so I can drive it.

 

Sure, I'll drive from New Hampshire to Illinois so you can take it for a joyride.

 

i would not worry about these thing unless i was told there was problems with them. i would be more focused on the electrical. electrical can be really tricky. one bad wire and the thing wont start or one wrong wire and the thing might burn to the ground. i think the first thing you should do is try to get the engine to fire up as is.


things that would be at the very bottom of my list.

• Tear down engine, check seals, pistons, etc.
• Replace radiator and assorted rubber bits.
• Replace water pump.
• Disassemble, clean, adjust, and reinstall carb.
• New battery.
• New lenses for tail lights, blinkers, etc.
• New headlamps.
• Adjust bands in transmission.
• New tires.
• New exhaust.