Well pulled it around and did some more work this weekend. Looks like the fun will begin now tracing electrical gremlins. Finally got brake lights, 4 ways and blinkers working. Only problem with that is the 4 way fuse in the engine compartment has no power to it. If I jump direct from the battery to the fuse holder they work but unhook it and you loose em. Also have issue with reverse lights. It would appear power is not getting back to them. I have power at the reverse switch but in reverse I have nothing and if I jump the pluggin I have nothing. Bulbs check out good with direct power so must have an open somewhere. We'll see what happens I guess

First we got some leaks to fix, water pump started leaking, near as I can tell needs new gasket, leakin way to much to be a weap hole, not a big deal since I hope to switch out radiators from the manual to ditch the tranny cooler and put in a nice fan shroud, also see the transfer case has a nice drip where the two halves meet

dodge in all there glory had to use 2 different 4x4 shifters, so im waiting on one from an nv4500, as well as some shift boots in better shape, got my auto 4x4 shifter rigged up to work for now, hopefully that will put an end to working underneath this thing and i can finally drop it back to stock body height, I got some decent free 35s for it, trying to decide if I wana do a 3-4 inch lift or leave it as is, least dodge is easy, blocks in the rear coil spacers up front, wish my donor was light duty 3/4 ton so I could just steal the blocks/spacers from it

 

No you don't wish that, because then you would be doing an nv3500 swap. The coil spacers will swap over just fine. I wouldn't recommend more block out back. Go for an add a leaf or new springs, or a shackle flip if you want more flex. Also, if your donor truck has the axles still in it, put those under your 1500 as well.

I think i'm done telling you what to do for now.

 

i didnt know 3/4 tons got the NV3500, is this going to have the 60/70 for axles then or 44/60 set up? Im considering swapping axles but since I dont plan to keep the rig forever I'm not sure, I had a $300 offer on the axles, im not sure if thats good or not?

 

3/4 tons never got the 3500.

 

Light duty 3/4 tons got nv3500's if they werent autos I think. Since yours is an HD 3/4 ton v8 truck you have dana 60's front and rear.

 

I honestly dont know, I cant believe they would put the 3500 in a 3/4 ton truck even if it is a gasser, but I know dodge has done some dumb things too so could easy be

 

I don't pay much attention to the LD 3/4 tons, as I have yet to even see one.... I am thinkin' they were a tad rare. Not to mention they stopped making them in 96? I think...

 

Light duty 3/4 tons are worthless anyway. It used 1/2 ton axles with 8 lug outers, and a bit heavier suspension. Basically a 1500 with a good tow package. What's the point.

 

couldnt tell ya, the truck im thinking of was a 94, was my donor to do this exact project to my 96 1500, miss that ol truck, thing was mint inside and out, but things changed and ended up with my Cummins, which I have been glad to have so tough call, the Cummins is exactly what I wanted for a truck, my I6 Cummins, 6spd, 2nd gen body, and 0 rust (ill have to let the dash slide on this one lol), being the last year of the 2nd gen body was a bonus, lots of added bonuses of a 3rd gen, like no vacuum shifting front axle lol

got a little side tracked, my reasing in thinking it was a Light Duty is I swapped coils hoping to lift my halfton a little to compensate the add-a-leaf out back, but it did no such think, tape measured out to exact same height,and one person who came to look at the axles told me front was a 44, at this point I had no clue what was what, but I do know it had an NV4500 trans, well thats what it came with, i assume that was the trans he dropped out of it

 

Well heck. Maybe I'm wrong. It happens often haha. Either way they spacers will fit. Just gotta chuck some AAL's at it.