Questions about older Dodge trucks

[ghostrider]

Hey folks, newbie here. My family's had plenty of Dodge's in the past but I'm looking at getting MY first Dodge. My dad has a 2002 3500 dually with all the fixings and he even had a WWII-era Power Wagon.

That being said, I'm looking at getting a 1st Gen Ram. Something in the 1985-1993 range. I'm particularly looking for the base model 2WD Ram (going for that "plain is the new cool" look) which I think was a D100 or D150 for many years. Reminds me of your typical city street department truck or Dukes of Hazzard/Smallville truck.

Tell me if I'm off my rocker or within reason to find the following:

Red exterior
Red or Black interior (may limit the model year)
Low miles/little if any rust
V-8
Manual trans/2WD

Example truck link:

http://images.google.com/images?q=t...PW/P0012409.JPG

If you know of any for sale with these features let me know. I want to put dual exhaust on it, lower it an inch or two, new rims/tires, K&N, bed cover, tint, new stereo, etc. Anyone know of some good parts links? It seems NOBODY makes parts for the 1st gen Rams.

Thanks for helping a new guy out!

JJ

[85Ram150]

I have a 85 D150, but its not for sale. I have found that most that I haveseen that are 8 cylinder are autos, most ive seen that have manual transmissions are the 6 cylinder(d100). I inherited mine, am the 2nd owner. Anyways, Ive always had good luck on findings with www.trucktrader.com or www.autotrader.com Those are the same listings found in thse $1 magazines you can get at the local convienience store. About your color selection...all of the red(factory painted) dodge rams I have seen have red cloth interior. I know the SE Royal(what I've got) comes with chrome moldings, rubber moldings, just a little flashier than the bare body, just since you stated "plain is the new cool". Since your going for v-8, I'd go for a 318, there beter on gas than a 360, still have some power(atleast my rebuilt oe does), and are
easy(ier) to find parts(in my opinion). good luck..................

[Jcturner03]

this may be completely irrelevent but i had a chrysler fifth avenue with a 318. it had over a 100,000 miles and ran like it was nobody's business. it never used oil but now gas that was a different issue. never the less i recommend the 318 for the v8 choice. welcome to dodge talk. i am a new member myself and this is my first experence with a dodge truck. i hope to find that a dodge does me better service than the pos ford i used to have and the crappy chevy that i am driving now. again welcome to dodge talk and i hope this helps.
Sincerly,
John

[oldschoolmuscle]

I have a d150 that is also not for sale short bed 318 with the 3 speed 904, painted lime light,i am goin to bag it in the back and some nice rims and i am buildings a blown stroker motor a little ways down the road i love my truck. i think it would be a nice truck to fix up for you. good luck and keep us informed

[ghostrider]

Thanks! Every little bit of info helps. I'm really curious to see some of the options that 1st gen owners have on their trucks. I'm especially curious as to when the side molding started? It seems like like 1980's if I'm not mistaken. Not sure if that's what I want on mine or not. I've been keeping my eye on the trader Web sites and eBay. I think I might have a shot at finding what I am looking for ...

Thanks again,

Ghostrider

[85Ram150]

I have a 85, it has the side trim, I think the Rams had it ever since the grille/headlights were changed to the square healights. I could easily be wrog, just tating my observations so far...

[ghostrider]

I think 85Ram150 is right. The more research I do the more I'm finding that out. I've got my eyes on a truck similiar to what I described in my initial post and it has the side molding. I might look into removing the side molding although I fear that the paint will be brighter under the molding and look stupid if I remove them. Hopefully buffing would blend them together somehow.

[85Ram150]

the side moldings are held in not with the sticky 3m tape(like those vehicles of today), but with screwed-in patic clips that when the molding is pressed into these clips, it locks in place. This is what i see from other rams that are missing side molding(the black trim, not the chome). And the clips are white, plastic, and screwed into the body. when removed, i guess a little bondo body filler would work, then some touch up paint. It would look funny to have shiney/unfaded paint underneath the molding and leave it that way, less you could add that they are racing stripes......

[speeddragon190]

actually, they had side moulding all the way back to 72, i have a 73 D200 w/ side moulding. the V8 4-spd trucks are hard to find, but they are out there. i had a guy offer to sell me a short bed 85 w/ a 318 A-833 4-spd OD for 600 bucks about six months ago, starting to think i should have bought just for the darn bellhousing, i can't find one anywhere. the the 833 4-spd OD is the physically same as the regular ratio 833 4-spd used in the muscle cars, except that it has a different gear set(obviously) and has a much bigger input shaft bearing retainer, which is why it uses a different bellhousing from the regular 4-spd. i've been trying to find one of these bellhousing for a year, to put an OD in my 72.

i'll vouch for the 318 too, you won't find a more reliable motor in my opinion. and you can get plenty of power from them, too. Mopar Muscle just did several build up's of these engine in the last couple months, one of which put out 357 hp on the dyno. i rebuilding the original 318 in my 72, w/ a full roller valvetrain, steel crank, and KB pistons.