I have an '88 D150 short bed, 2wd, with 5.2L 318. I bought the truck off a farmer about a year ago, he had the thing sitting in a field for about a year before i got it. All in all it's a good tuck, runs great, drives good, and looks good, no major damage to the body other than rusting around the wheel arches. I just reciently started tearing it down, to get to the frame, there is a lot of rust on the frame due to the sit in the field. The two main beams that run the leangth of the truck are in good condition, but some of the cross members are in bad shape, is cutting and replacing them and option? or would it jepordize the integrity of the frame? I have spent the better part of the last year searching for aftermarket parts for the 1st gen. dodge's, and like most have come up empty handed, so for the interior and most of the other "custome" parts I'm going to have to fabricate myself, (luckly I have a grandpa with all the tools and equipment i need,, LOL).

Things removed so far:
Front quarter panels
Hood
Grill
front bumper
bed

Next to be removed:
Interior
cab
engien

Then the real fun starts.

 

I'm interested in how this goes. Maybe with what you do to yours I may be able to use for mine. lol.

 

pics would be good. what color are you painting it?

 

Cutting and replacing cross members is a solution and will work. I would be sure the main rails are stabilized with clamps and temporary braces before I cut the cross members.

 

This is a pic showing the truck before I started removing anything, the only thing I had done in this is take off the bump gaurds.



This one shows where I have taken out the bench and replaced it with a pair of captain chairs, I have also removed the carpet, trim, and head liner.

I plan on painting the truck blue and yellow, of course that may change as time goes by. Right now my main concern is taking care of the rust issues, and the mechanical issues. Then I will start playing with the cosmetics.

More pics to come as I continue to get closer to the frame.

 

Has anyone else noticed that there is very few aftermarket parts for the 1st gen Dodge? I've spent the better part of the last year searching the net for anything from engine mods, to custome dashes, and from what I have noticed, most people have had to make or have made the parts that they want,, anyone else have this prob, or am I just looking in the wrong places?

 

draco: join the club. All of us have seen this. There were not a great number of these trucks sold originally and there are just not enough of these trucks left out there to support an after market.

 

Alright, so it seems that I will be making a lot of home made "custome" parts in the future, lol. Which in the long run is great, just means that my truck is really going to be "my" truck, a "one of a kind" so to speak. I like that idea.

 

i don't think that is why there is not much of an after market for these truck. i think there is just as many old Dodge truck out there as ford or gm but Dodge make really good farm truck and farmers don't need custom truck, they just need trucks that will get the job done.

 

*Update* Just started a new job and haven't had much time to play with the truck, but I am in the process of gutting the cab. So far i have the gauges and the dash out, next will be all the heating and air ducts, then all the wiring, followed by the stearing wheel and column (need specialty tool for stearing wheel which is why that will be last). Once I finish with the cab next will be preparing to remove the engine, and transmision. New pics will be posted soon.