Hi all, kinda of new here. I have a 79 Lil Red Express & 2004 Dodge Ram 1500. Anyways, the Lil Red is down for engine work but, here's a couple of pictures of when it was still driveable over 1 1/2 yrs ago. I will also be replacing the wheels because they have more rust than they show & I have a set I am thinking of putting on it. Thank you for letting me show it off.
P.S. this truck sat in a barn before the prior owner bought it to flip.
Speed Dragon
01-24-2008, 07:42 AM
Pretty sweet looking truck man. Welcome to DT!
What are you doing to the engine? Basic rebuild or hopping it up a bit?
redx79
01-24-2008, 07:59 AM
Both, the engine is a little tired @ 135k miles of somewhat hard driving.
1baddak
01-24-2008, 09:38 AM
Nice looking Lil Red. I think there still a sharp looking truck.
Ram3500Dually
01-24-2008, 01:38 PM
Good lookin Red. Seems to be in nice shape.
RAM MAN
01-24-2008, 04:59 PM
nice
I want one
one of these days
Ram3500Dually
01-24-2008, 05:03 PM
nice
I want one
one of these days
Make me an offer on my 79. My 78 is NOT for sale :)
redx79
01-24-2008, 05:16 PM
I know of one for sale as well. It's a 79 with recent paint. Needs completed though. Will post more pictures tonight.
redx79
01-25-2008, 03:40 AM
Well, here is some more pictures of 79 Lil Red.
Interior. Needs floors & needs seat redone but, will bandaide while I await because getting the truck move under its own power will top priority.
Engine & Interior Shots.
redx79
01-25-2008, 03:50 AM
And 6 months late here I am tearing into the dash. I put faces on the gauges & had the ammeter converted to a volt gauge by Redline Gauge Works (www.redlinegaugeworks.com) in California. Cost $120 for the work. Also changing the bulbs to leds to make night driving back from a cruising more bearable.
Also, install a CD Player & had a install a NOS speedometer because the other one broke. Also installed a Grant Challenger 860 steering wheel because I wanted to replace the worn Tuff Wheel with a smaller wheel for extra room. Not exact but it works well. Still have the original stuff stored away though.
redx79
01-25-2008, 05:28 AM
Here's some engine work shots. The heads are really far gone & have a severe crack in them. The guides are so bad worn that the machinist said he didn't see much hope for them. That by the time I had them repaired I was better off buying new ones. So, that's what I did.
4404spd
01-25-2008, 05:53 AM
Thats a really nice truck you have. It wont be long and you will be enjoying it again.
redx79
01-25-2008, 07:30 AM
Hopefully so. I had planned on moving all the way to Seattle but plans changed & now I live in the midwest. So, it got drove from Columbus, OH all the way to Seattle when I bought it. I even drove through Glacier National Park & the Cascades. BTW, here's a picture of it at Glacier 7k ft up in the mountains.
RAM MAN
01-25-2008, 11:32 AM
nice
I am considering redline gauges to rebuild the stuff for my Road Runner
thanks for the pics
looks real good
redx79
01-28-2008, 02:47 PM
Thank you. To let you know I actually did the white on the gauges. I bought the kit from www.whitegauges.net & did it myself. They just converted the ammeter to a voltmeter. I also installed the NOS Speedometer into the cluster as well.
I'm now thinking of storing the original engine away & installing a 92-97 360 Magnum in it. Not sure what to do yet though.
dodge310
01-29-2008, 07:57 PM
To bad you dont live in KY. There's a place not far from me where you can get completely rebuilt engines for $550 with warranty... I know alot of people that haven't gotten engines from them and they are excellant.
That is one sweet Red wagon man. Congrats. I'd love to have one.
RAM MAN
01-30-2008, 08:54 AM
where in KY ?
I used to live just outside of Lexington
redx79
02-07-2008, 03:35 AM
Thanks guys. Actually, I have decide to locate a Magnum 360 out of truck, van, or Durango for some reasons mentioned on another board. Will see what happens.
bherder
02-08-2008, 05:24 PM
Hopefully so. I had planned on moving all the way to Seattle but plans changed & now I live in the midwest. So, it got drove from Columbus, OH all the way to Seattle when I bought it. I even drove through Glacier National Park & the Cascades. BTW, here's a picture of it at Glacier 7k ft up in the mountains.
Ahhh .... 'Going to the Sun' Rd .... Been there a few times ;)
67coronet
02-08-2008, 05:57 PM
Where'd you get the tonneau cover?? I cant seem to find one for a stepside.
redx79
02-15-2008, 11:37 PM
Ahhh .... 'Going to the Sun' Rd .... Been there a few times ;)
Oh yeah, been there quite a few times. This one being the most enjoyable.
redx79
02-15-2008, 11:39 PM
Where'd you get the tonneau cover?? I cant seem to find one for a stepside.
It came with the truck when I bought it. I think you can use a 87-96 Dakota application either vinyl or fiberglass cover just to let you know.
Capt Cameltoe
02-15-2008, 11:48 PM
sweet friggin truck :rck: I want one of these bad !!!!
84 Ram
02-16-2008, 12:31 AM
Did anyone see the story in this months Mopar Muscle about the Little (not red) Express truck? It is a 79 truck that has every option of the LRE but isn't red and never has been its all original the vin even decodes it as a LRE. Sorry about hyjacking your thread but all the talk about your LRE reminded me of this story by the way you have a really nice truck. I actually like the idea of tucking the original motor back so that something more modern can be transplanted in, for the reason that you would be waering out a plentiful motor and when it come up time to restore your truck you can freshin up the original and drop the #'s matching motor back in.
