Hey all,

Well I just got super lucky and found a Mint 1985 4 door truck. :)

The Story:
Life took a change and I had a little boy ( yippee I am a DAD )but the STD Cab was not gonna cut it anymore with the family growing.. so I had to make some decisions..

1st idea: get an ext Cab truck and convert mine to ext cab..
so I went and found an ext cab truck for free from a freind.

2nd idea: get a 4 door crew cab and convert that to diesel and run that. They are Hard to find.

3rd idea: sell my STD cab and buy a newer truck with back seats..

So I got the EXT cab but it needed a lot of work and it would not fit on my frame easily..
So I listed my truck for sale. I had a bunch of tire kickers but no one would settle on a price or come up with money, then diesel fuel raised to $4.00 a gallon and all the calls stopped.

At this point I was getting irriated and wondered if this would work out or not. or would I be stuck with STD cab.

then out of the blew a friend sends me a link to a 4 door for sale but with no pics.. so I contacted guy.. and he still had the 4 door.. WOW. so eventually he sent me pics and it took a few weeks to get it but man I am so HAPPY.. this TRUCK is MINT.

So here are pics of my new project..
towing the truck home:
http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/Picture002.jpg

yes the Chevy has a Cummins :)
http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/Picture008.jpg

Here are other pics.
http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/Picture003.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/Picture005.jpg


So please be patient it is gonna take me sometime to getthis project done but I will update this post as progress continues

Nice rig Ken,congrats on the new addition bro!(not the truck)

diesel swapped in to boot!

the cummins is in the chevy

the cummins is in the chevy

yes the chevy had a Cummins put into it, and now this dodge will also get a Cummins.. us guys in NC like conversions :)

The Plan is to take the drivetrain out of my STD Cab and put it into this 4 door.. then part out the STD cab

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge_92_ctd.jpg

Hey-
Welcome to the crew cab conversoin club.

My own conversion took a serious turn when I took the body of. Now I am sort of wishing I had just dropped in the cummins and gave it a paint job. Now I am in for the long haul.

Your crew looks really nice. Good luck. Check out the link in my signature if you haven't before.

cool another rig brought home . i did see a four door sitting in dayton washington i think it was. on hwy 12. back window was gone wife says we have enough rigs right now. i had my wife snap a photo while driving by but she only got a shot of it straight behind looks like a regular pickup from there . here is a shot of the lot it was on and the backof the pickup. (i think my wife thought if the pictures were bad enough i couldn't find it again.)

just google earth it, you'll find it then.

Hey-
Welcome to the crew cab conversoin club.

My own conversion took a serious turn when I took the body of. Now I am sort of wishing I had just dropped in the cummins and gave it a paint job. Now I am in for the long haul.

Your crew looks really nice. Good luck. Check out the link in my signature if you haven't before.

hey Thanks..

Your build looks great.. I will read threw it all later tonight..

Alright man, looks great!! I'll sneak by soon[coffee]

This kind of wrench'in makes my mouth water....cant wait to see the end product!!!

A Few more pics I took after work today
Drivers side Dash..
http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_2370.jpg

Passenger side
http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_2380.jpg

behind rear seat.. very clean
http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_2374.jpg

Visor storage above dash
http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_2371.jpg

just saw two blue fourdoors dodges on gsa auction both midwest and south east i think. http://gsaauctions.gov/gsaauctions/gsaauctions/ once there click on vehicles then you can do a search for dodges if that doesn't help i can narrow it down some more if i go look them up again. gsa won't let you go to the photos and listings with out each step. just checked one is in north dakota the other is in missouri

just saw two blue fourdoors dodges on gsa auction both midwest and south east i think.

do you have a link?

this is the one in north dakota. look familiar? the one in missouri is its clone. go to the gsa link in my last post.

man those trucks look exaclty like mine..

wish they were closer so I could snag them up..

crazy part is 1 truck says 50K mileage and the other says 76Ki bet mine does have 37K which is cool

well 100% committed now..

I sold the rear axle out of the '92 so now I have no tow rig until I finish the conversion
I have also sold rear tailgate, camper shell...and have more pending deals on the horizon..

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_2605.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_2606.jpg

kinda put your self in a corner. i like that . so far both mine are still movable . hoping to get to pour some concrete first.

A Few more pics I took after work today
Drivers side Dash..
http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_2370.jpg

Passenger side
http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_2380.jpg

behind rear seat.. very clean
http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_2374.jpg

Visor storage above dash
http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_2371.jpg

That is a sweet donee. I wish mine was like that, I'd be done.[laugh]

Well Today was a pretty good day for working on the dirt and gravel..

With the Help of: thecarman and jph0913
I got both driveshafts out, the skidplate off, the transfer case out, the tranny out, hood off, grill off, switched out rims and tires, and the tool box/camper shell is also gone..

pics:
http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_2954.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_2956.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_2957.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_2958.jpg

more pics

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_2959.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_2960.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_2961.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_2964.jpg

sweet man, how is everything else going?

well since I need to be able to move my STD cab out of the way once engine is out to roll new 4 door in.. (engine hoist will not roll on gravel/dirt) I had to get rear axle out of my other spare EXT cab truck and put it in.

Since I was all by myself I had to think a little to get this job done.. Yes a dually rear axle is heavy as hell, especially dragging it across dirt, sand and gravel.

So to get it out of ext cab I used jeep winch and dragged it from behind building to infront of it..

then I bolted on spare tires so I could roll axle around

then I used engine hoist to lift back of truck high enough to roll axle into place..

took me about 6 hrs total to do it..

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_2989.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_2990.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_2991.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_2992.jpg

Sweet Dude, why didn't you call me??? How is everything else going? When are you going to finish it? When you get to it let me know how many mods you have to make to fit the intercooler in it?

Sweet Dude, why didn't you call me??? How is everything else going? When are you going to finish it? When you get to it let me know how many mods you have to make to fit the intercooler in it?

everyting is going well just slammed at work and home so trying to work this into it all is getting tough..

if all goes well I hope to have engine swapped by july 20th.. 1st free weekend coming up.

ya I am gonna see if i can fit intercooler , etc with old grill. if not then I will just swap in my 92 grill, etc

everyting is going well just slammed at work and home so trying to work this into it all is getting tough..

if all goes well I hope to have engine swapped by july 20th.. 1st free weekend coming up.

ya I am gonna see if i can fit intercooler , etc with old grill. if not then I will just swap in my 92 grill, etc

From what I have read/seen I would just go ahead and swap the core support and grill over. It should just bolt right in and get you the intercooler.

From what I have read/seen I would just go ahead and swap the core support and grill over. It should just bolt right in and get you the intercooler.

ya that is what I read.. but I kinda like the old grill.. so I think I may be stubborn and try it :)

hell if all fails I will just use the 92 grill

Last night I modified a gasser core support to fit the cross-flow radiator. I haven't done the intercooler yet, but that is next. I posted the mods on my blog with lots of pictures. If you want to use the old support and grill, you might want to check it out.
http://cumminsramcharger.blogspot.com
I am jelous of the quality of your crewcab truck, but I don't envy your dirt floor. Keep up the good work

I got a first gen intercooler installed today in a gasser core support.

I was also able to get a '89 grill on over the intercooler with a little mod. The '89 grill is pretty close to the mid eighties grills. Tomorrow I will see if the '75 grill wil go over it, because that is what I want on my crewcab.
The cumminsramcharger.blogspot.com (http://www.cumminsramcharger.blogspot.com) is updated with lots of pics of measurements and bracketry and the grill mods.

Here are a few pics.

http://bp2.blogger.com/_1LEW_qppPEQ/SGsQO_wyrKI/AAAAAAAAAm4/7cHHfKCtTGY/s400/IMG00182.jpg

http://bp0.blogger.com/_1LEW_qppPEQ/SGsRRQEuaGI/AAAAAAAAAng/NnXiKUK4hCk/s400/IMG00186.jpg

http://bp1.blogger.com/_1LEW_qppPEQ/SGsgHD6sUUI/AAAAAAAAAoo/xJG9AwOBI9I/s400/IMG00211.jpg

http://bp3.blogger.com/_1LEW_qppPEQ/SGsrrvAIWNI/AAAAAAAAAq4/J8MNp3qEY2w/s400/IMG00201.jpg

Troop,

Do you think you could fit a 2nd gen radiator and intercooler, along with the A/C condenser in there and still use a 75 grill? That's what I want to do with my crew cab. I'm still collecting parts right now.

Troop,

Do you think you could fit a 2nd gen radiator and intercooler, along with the A/C condenser in there and still use a 75 grill? That's what I want to do with my crew cab. I'm still collecting parts right now.

This is exactly what I want to do. I have all the parts. Since it will be a 5-spd I won't have to worry about a tranny cooler.

I do not know the answer yet. The 2nd gen intercooler is thicker and the clearance was pretty slim with the 1st gen cooler. I also need to check to see if the condensor will fit in the hole between the rad and the cooler if you cut out the vertical bar. I will look at it tonight.

Bruiser, sorry for the hi-jack.

Looks like the ac condensor will fit inside the openning between the rad and the IC if you cut out the bar. The second gen intercooler is only 1/4 inch thicker, but it is consideably wider than the 1st gen. For the '75 grill, some trimming on the lower valence would have to happen.http://bp2.blogger.com/_1LEW_qppPEQ/SG2w-F3vuEI/AAAAAAAAArA/hDc85N7aidM/s400/IMG00217.jpg

The edge of the 1st gen intercoller is touching the valence at the bottom of the cut-out.
http://bp0.blogger.com/_1LEW_qppPEQ/SG2w-ImxGAI/AAAAAAAAArI/psEYhCTZ5aM/s400/IMG00219.jpg

Troop,

Keep me posted if this realy fits, my crew is really pretty clean and I want the total vintage look. I am going to do the hydro boost and P-7100 setup.

ya ya ya...

Well today and tomorrow are the only days I have had planned to work on the dodge so I am right on MY schedule :)

I got all electrical, hoses, connections off truck today except a few things.
So tomorrow I will be taking out radiator, intercooler, a/c condensor.
(they are all disconnected already)
I would have had it all out today but I can not find a tool I need. so I gotta go for a drive and borrow one..

pss.. here I come John :)

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3123.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3124.jpg

Well I got a bunch done this morning :)

I got the rest of front clipoff
then I decided to see if I could get the engine out by myself..
well hey I guess when you are motivated youcan get a lot done by yourself

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3149.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3150.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3151.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3152.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3148.jpg

So next is to wash the engine and get it all cleaned up..

Pictures of the engine mounting holes in the frame and the motor mounts would be awsome!! Are the 85 and the 92 frame mounting holes the same?

Pictures of the engine mounting holes in the frame and the motor mounts would be awsome!! Are the 85 and the 92 frame mounting holes the same?

they are exaclty the same..

the 85 even has the motor mounts still in it.. and they look perfect but I am gonna replace them with new ones.. not worth the risk

Sweet, can you get those pictures?

pic of empty engine bay

http://inlinethumb20.webshots.com/42579/2294211650010396380S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2294211650010396380kqzGRC)

close up of motor mounts

http://inlinethumb35.webshots.com/18466/2063197410010396380S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2063197410010396380tjXqcb)

here is mount on engine side

http://inlinethumb59.webshots.com/14330/2467328120010396380S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2467328120010396380fCSnye)

Well Today was a GREAT day and a Bad day..

I was supposed to go wheeling at the VT Memorial ride in VA but due to family and other things I was not able to make this trip :(

So I contacted some buddies and we got to work on the Dodge.. which made it a great day..

We got engine, tranny and transfer case in and all mounted up :)

we almost got the driveshafts in but the u-joints need to be replaced..

lots of pics..

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3179.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3180.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3181.jpg

I got front clip off, the old exhaust out, old fuel lines out, and a bunch of other small things out prepping for the drivetrain

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3182.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3183.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3184.jpg

Next I need to hook up the XJ so we could tow the 4 door out and get it lined up for engine to go in..

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3186.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3187.jpg

Here is a pic showing engine and tranny bolted back together getting ready to go in..

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3189.jpg

bunch of pics shoiwng it all going in.. :)

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3190.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3191.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3192.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3193.jpg

And FINALLY the engine in its NEW home :)

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3194.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3195.jpg

Well I went out this morning and got a few more pics..

Here is the bottom on engine
http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3203.jpg

Here is back of engine with tranny attached
http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3199.jpg

Transmission crossbrace in place
http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3198.jpg

and 205 Transfer case mounted also
http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3197.jpg

I also decided to cut an access hole in floor board that I will be making an access plate that can come off if i need to work on top of tranny.. I am not sure why Dodge never did this.. I know a lot of chevy trucks had access panels..

I also plan on putting carpet on the floor, which will help clean the inside up a bunch
http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3200.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3201.jpg

here are the last to pics for now..

First shows the engine in with no engine hoist supporting it anymore
http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3202.jpg

Here shows how close the back valve cover is to the firewall
http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3206.jpg

I also decided to cut an access hole in floor board that I will be making an access plate that can come off if i need to work on top of tranny.. I am not sure why Dodge never did this.. I know a lot of chevy trucks had access panels..

I also plan on putting carpet on the floor, which will help clean the inside up a bunch
http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3200.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3201.jpg

Dodge actually did do this in '72-'78ish. The whole transmission tunnel unbolts in the front and comes out. It might have lasted til about 1980, but I'm not sure. Good work.:cool:

Some more good news..

my freinds parents own a foundry and they are gonna make me a aluminum shifter rod and they are also gonna use my skull shift knob and make an aluminum one of those also..

should be done in a week or so.. once done I will get some pics.. :)

Nice job Ken, she's coming right along!!!!

Nice job Ken, she's coming right along!!!!

Thanks...

ya saturday was a long day.. but we got a ton done..

if all goes well I plan to have it on the road by my birthday :) Aug 14th

no pics, but I got everything wired up except for the 12 volt to the fuel solenoid..oh and I am not hooking up grid heaters yet.. those will coem later but I do not need them in NC..

I also hooked up throttle cable/linkage

windshield wiper and wiper fluid hooked up..

next is to work on exhaust..

Man your making some head way on it. It will be good to see it on the road.

Looking good. Its always a relief when a project is making some headway.

Well we got the exhaust in back to the 2nd crossmember and the front driveshaft is also in.. I would have had the rear in but the driveshaft shop gave me the incorrect u-joint.. so I am going back to them tomorrow morning.

now I need to find a nice quiet muffler to put on truck.

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3249.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3253.jpg

Bruiser,
Does your truck have an 8 foot bed? Do you still have your rear driveshaft dimensions & parts list available? This could save some of us some re-engineering in the future. In other words are you using the almost standard 28" length from the rear differential to the bearing support, then having an custom driveshaft made from there forward to the slip joint off the rear of the transfer case? Or, did you use a longer length rear drive shaft to the pillow block bearing and have a custom front section fabricated to the slip joint on the transfer case?

Thanks & appreciated!

Bruiser,
Does your truck have an 8 foot bed? Do you still have your rear driveshaft dimensions & parts list available? This could save some of us some re-engineering in the future. In other words are you using the almost standard 28" length from the rear differential to the bearing support, then having an custom driveshaft made from there forward to the slip joint off the rear of the transfer case? Or, did you use a longer length rear drive shaft to the pillow block bearing and have a custom front section fabricated to the slip joint on the transfer case?

Thanks & appreciated!

-the 92 CTD was a standard cab with an 8 foot bed.
- the u-joints are 1410 and it had a one piece driveshaft

- the 85 is 4 door with a short bed..
- the u-joints are 1310 and it had a twp piece driveshaft.

Here is how I am fixing the rear.. I am taking the yoke of my rear axle on the 92 and swapping it onto the rear axle in the 85 so that way I can run the 1410 u-joints.

I am then cutting off the yokes off both driveshaft the two piece and the one piece from the 92.. I am then welding the 1410 yokes from the 92 drivehaft to the ends of the 85 driveshafts..

once that is done I will take it to a driveshaft shop and have them balance it..and i will put in new 1410 u-joints on

oh and at the sametime I will be shortening the front driveshaft of the two piece driveshaft.. it is about 1" to long for the brace to line up perfect.

I will do my best to take some pics of it when I build it this weekend

I do know that the double carbon joint in the middle of the driveshaft will be my weak link but for now I am gonna try it and see if it works.. if it has issues I will weld in a 1410 double joint..

oh I forgot to mention that the front drivshaft that was in my '92 truck bolted right in to the '85 with no modifications

Well got some more done :)

I started ripping apart the engine wiring harness more.. it is juts nasty

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3282.jpg

then Yager offered to help me get the beds off both trucks so I could easily get to fuel tanks and other items..

and Man that worked out AWESOME.. so thank you very much for the redneck crane :)

here are some pics of us lifting the beds.
http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3254.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3255.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3256.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3257.jpg

SO we got the 1st bed off with easy and then went on to the next...

just as easy

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3258.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3259.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3260.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3261.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3262.jpg

after that was done JOhn and Yager took off the reciever hitch for me..

so I can put it onto the new truck.

and then the fun started on the fuel tanks

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3280.jpg

what we found out was that yes I screwed up and I broke the fuel return line.. oops

so we took the sending unit apart and we drill out the extra line, and sealed off the original return line and yippee it is all fixed.. ( I did not get any pics of that work being done)

then we modified the fuel tank holding bracket and got the tank mounted..at the same time we also ran the fuel lines and return lines up to front and connect them up..

only thing left to do is one more modification to fuel tank strap.. I need to extend the back strap on the tank to make it work correct.

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3273.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3266.jpg

then of course while i was bent down trying to help John I hit my head on the bed bracket and guess what I saw the rear cab mount was broken.. (oh CRAP)..

so we took out the bolt and made a new metal plate and then welded it all up and bolted it back together :)

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3263.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3264.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3267.jpg

I also swapped out the steering I made for my '92 so I would have good steering on the '85

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3271.jpg

and here is a pic of the return line we made using flexable fuel line

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3272.jpg

The crane rules!!!!

Looks like your build is coming along pretty nicely.:cool:

Great project! I love following along...........

If you like that crane, how about this one I built out of my pipe bender to lift sawed concrete slabs out of my garage for my motorcycle lift install.....

http://images25.fotki.com/v900/photos/3/36012/5117246/IMG_0689-vi.jpg

http://images26.fotki.com/v887/photos/3/36012/5117246/IMG_0688-vi.jpg

http://images26.fotki.com/v891/photos/3/36012/5117246/IMG_0687-vi.jpg

More here:
http://public.fotki.com/Rbertalotto/machine_tool/motorcycle-lift-ins/

Great project! I love following along...........

If you like that crane, how about this one I built out of my pipe bender to lift sawed concrete slabs out of my garage for my motorcycle lift install.....

http://images25.fotki.com/v900/photos/3/36012/5117246/IMG_0689-vi.jpg

http://images26.fotki.com/v887/photos/3/36012/5117246/IMG_0688-vi.jpg

http://images26.fotki.com/v891/photos/3/36012/5117246/IMG_0687-vi.jpg

More here:
http://public.fotki.com/Rbertalotto/machine_tool/motorcycle-lift-ins/


Impressive, I didn't think a GM suspension would support that much!![laugh]:o:o

i like that idea also..

a few of the guys around here have also mounted engine hoists in the bed with reciever hitch type setup to lift engines, axles, ect into there beds..

I have been also thinking of doing the same :)

Update.. I dropped of starter at my buddies starter shop to have him rebuild it/clean it up.. figured why not while it is out of truck..

we got fuel tank mounted up last night..

as for the driveshaft issue.. I found out that i need another yoke.. so i made some call s and a buddy of mine has an extra 2 piece shaft I am gonna get.. so once i get that I will start making new shafts..

hope to have those done by next weekend..

great thread with nice pics!

keep them coming

LUV the profect, I do hope you were joking about a nice queit muffler. You were weren't you?

well, wife took camera with her on trip so NO pics

but I got valve covers painted, intercooler tubes painted, entire front clip including radiator, intercooler, a/c grill , etc all on..

if all goes well I hope to finish up the engine bay this weekend..

Wife got back from her trip so I got the camera back and got some pics..

Here is the reciever hitch mounted

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3487.jpg

I built a rear 2 piece driveshaft out of 5 shafts that I had..

The gist is the driveshaft has 1410 u-joint on the transfer case side, 1350 joint in the middle and 1350 int he rear on axle side.

I still need to sand them smooth the paint them, and get it balanced.

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3497.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3496.jpg

Here is some good stuff.

I got the entire engine back together, I replaced all hoses with new ones ( radiator, heater hoses, etc )

I also painted the valve covers, intercooler hoses, and air intake hose..
this is the color the truck will eventually get painted.. it is called Gun Metal Metallic Blue

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3489.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3488.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3492.jpg

I also got entire front grill and everything in

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3493.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3494.jpg

Awsome dude---does it run?

Awsome dude---does it run?

Thanks...

I just got the starter back on friday evening after a rebuild..

and I did nto have a chance to get it installed since I lost one of the bolts ( oops )

once I get the starter in I could technically start it, but I need to get clutch installed and all the pedals in.. so looks like maybe next week or weekend if i get lucky.

The early style grill will fit over an IC, you can get it to fit by trimming down the back side to make it thinner. Here is my old crew, with a Bank$ IC

http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q258/rumblefish85/Crew%20Cab/crewcab003.jpg

I also would've swapped the rear axle from the 92. Your gasser 1 ton likely has a Dana 60. Mine did too, and I felt it was a ticking time bomb with my "spirited" driving style. Looks good though. I wished I would have built one instead of bought one already done. Alot of the work done to it was shoddy, and I got tired of fixing it all the time just to be able to get to work. Thats what lead to my selling it. If I'd built it myself I would know it was done right and not have a huge rats nest of wiring under the dash. Good luck with it.

Well I got starter in and wired up tonight, got inner fenders bolted up, got front bumper on, and all light in front wired and connected

few pics.

starter in
http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/Picture 024.jpg

other side showing valve covers and inter cooler tube
http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/Picture 026.jpg

and all pedals installed
http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/Picture 027.jpg

front bumper on
http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/Picture 020.jpg

lookin' good!!!!!

lookin' good!!!!!

wait till you see the bling I had made for the insdie of the cab :)

well????? where are they?????????

Well I got some more done today...

I should have taken better pics of how I got the clutch master installed and working, but I was greasy and working hard so no pics..

the gist: I took the braket off my '92 that the master was bolted to, and had to cut it down some and then I had to weld the bracket under the dash of the '85.. it worked out great.. and there is NO new pressure on the firewalll so I do not have to worry about the pressure cracking the firewall like I have seen on other conversions..

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3550.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3548.jpg

I also put the correct front tires on the truck, and man these fender covers work very well :)

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3549.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3551.jpg

Here is the gooseneck hitch that I am gonna use to make one for my bed

these pics so it open, closed, etc

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3555.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3556.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3557.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3558.jpg

Here is a test piece that will be going in the truck..the final one is still being made..

it is an all aluminum shifter

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3554.jpg

make sure and lube that hinge pin in the hitch . i have had them stick in the down position from lack of use over winter.

Well I wanted to see how the paint color that I choose for the truck would look so I painted the bed today..

it is lighter then I thought it would be.. but good enough for me :)

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3559.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3561.jpg

Lookin' good!!:D:D

looks good

Well got the exhaust on..

I bought a muffler from a fellow DTR member..

M110189 (https://dynamic.donaldson.com/webc/WebStore/search/item_detail.html?section=10211&item=21593)

it has a 4" inlet and outlet so I had to modify that to work with my 3" exhaust.. down the road I will get all 4" pipe, but I just need to get this truck running and I wanted it to be a lot qiuet then it used to be..

here is pick of where exhaust exits
http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3576.jpg

showing muffler from the rear
http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3577.jpg

you can kinda see how big this muffler it is
http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3578.jpg

this pic shows how I had to modify the 4" into 3"
http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3580.jpg

IT RUNS :)

well today I got the truck all wired up and it started right up 1st try with no issues :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoNFEdOpO3o

Awsome, when do you finish the paint?

Awsome, when do you finish the paint?

I painted the bed friday..

if i can get out of work at decent time tonight I plan to paint back of cab so I can get bed back on truck this week..

once I get bed back on, I will be driving the truck to work :)

so list of items to get done to drive it: is fix fuel pedal, hits floor at 3/4 throttle, connect wires to fuel sending unit, fill tranny and transfer case of fluids, and get rear driveshaft in.. all these little things will be done this week..

Well Since we may have a hurricane heading our way I decided I better paint the back of truck so I can get bed back on..

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3588.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3589.jpg

Well got the yoke off.

Used a BIG pipe wrench to hold yoke and a cheater bar to break nut free.

So I got driveshafts in, got 4x4 shifter in, and got bed on truck..

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3593.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3594.jpg

Ken,

She's lookin' sweet!!!

Well took the title down to DMV on Friday and got plates for the truck..

then I finished up all the little things friday night..
I filled all the fluids, botled on 4x4 shifter, botled on regular shifter, etc..

Saturday took it to inspection station and it passed :)
Actually all the guys there were just staring at it and talking it up with me..

So truck drove great... no big issues, I do have one vibration that I need to find...but everthing else works great..

The only other thing I need to make is a tranny cover plate

So here are some pics..
http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3722.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3723.jpg

I also put the bucket seats in if from my '92
http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3725.jpg

and here is part of that bling.. I have a freinds parents make a all Aluminum Skull shifter for me, and a aluminum shifter :)
http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3728.jpg

Dude,

She rocks, bring her on by!! Soon

Dude,

She rocks, bring her on by!! Soon

I may be able to do that.. you got some dinero for the springs :)

WOW!! Awesome thread. Great pics too. I love those 1st gen 4 door trucks. You have done an insane amount of work on that and it looks great. CONGRATS!! [guitar]

WOW!! Awesome thread. Great pics too. I love those 1st gen 4 door trucks. You have done an insane amount of work on that and it looks great. CONGRATS!! [guitar]

thanks man.. I really like how it turned out so far

I LOVE IT. Can't wait to see more. GREAT JOB. Sorry for the caps, I'm excited.

Well the Truck is OFFICIALLY a DIESEL in the North Carolina system..

I got the registration Officially changed over this morning..
Lady said that if someone ran a carfax it would show the change, but shoul dnot be discrepency since the DMV made it official

Well I am slowly getting the little things done..

Need to have it all done by Oct 4th weekend for its 1st wheeling trip :)

Here are some more pics of the painting I did today..
So far I have entire bed, tailgate, back of cab, and now roof painted..

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3755.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3758.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3757.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3761.jpg

I gotta say, Ken you have done a great job with this. You other guys need to see what he has done.

PS. Did you find the D-60 front spring hold downs?

Ken, nice work, very nice job. Enjoy it!

Just wanted to say Thanks to all that helped me WIN :)

http://www.dieseltruckresource.com/dev/showthread.php?t=219201

Ken- Great job! Just for kicks and giggles what do you think you'll have in the truck when its all complete?

Well Took the truck on its 1st full load and it towed great..best part was i had no issues :)

this load was 15,380lbs..
I held it at 65 with no problems and averaged 12mpg..the trip was almost 900 miles..

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3804_small.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3805_small.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3806_small.jpg

Look good Ken,

I got my trailer/camper issues solved, so I will be able to tow the jeep wilth my camper in the bed. I have not weighed mine yet but I think it should be around 16500

What does your truck weigh empty?

love to see pics of these old pickups in use. save a little blue paint for the stripe on the camper. just kidding. i have been running a brown canopy on my red chev since it was close to new in 84. love having my buddies razz me about it. i just act like it doesn't bother me in the least.

My mouth is watering. I wonder................................if I was to tell the wife that a project like this will kep me out of her hair......................HMMMMMMMMMMMM???

Well took the setup on another wheeling trip.. did GREAT again. and got 12mpg again ..

this time took wife and soen with me and they really enjoyed having the 4 doors.. well worth the time and money spent..

now I need to find a warm weekend and a few hrs to finish off the paint on front half of truck..

then next is to get back on WVO tank I made for my other truck , that is going to now go into this truck.. and while I am under there I am gonna add the air bags.. always more projects to do :)

here is a link to the tank I built for truck
http://www.dieseltruckresource.com/dev/showthread.php?t=132414

Well I know a lot of folks will hate me for doing this next mod.. but for me Good mirrors and visibilty when towing is worth it.

so yes I welded on my new style dodge mirrors.

Here is my old 1st Gen with the mirrors on it.. you can see they tilt up some..
http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/000_0509.jpg

so this time I took more time and made a new mount so they sit level, plus we braced then with some bends in steel so they woul dnot shack when driving down highway.. and so far at 70mph no shaking :)

ok on to the pics:

they are only primer for now but will be painted to match rest of truck once i paint the rest of truck..

Passenger side
http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/DSCN5172.JPG

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/DSCN5176.JPG

Drivers Side
http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/DSCN5174.JPG

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/DSCN5175.JPG

yes windows still open
http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/DSCN5177.JPG

pic showing inside
http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/DSCN5180.JPG

That is VERY nice. Love the mirrors, very well done.

wow I am doing the EXACT same conversion in my 4 door 1985 W350....Mine is also ex-government except I brought it down to the frame to do a ground up resto. As soon as I can figure out how to post pics, I'll give you a look at my project.

i love using things a second time but ,,, well . i think i will pass. but don't let me stop you.

a few pics to add showing pic a little further back


http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3984.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_3986.jpg

nice rig...
I also have one, but mine is an 80 ex BLM truck

Well I was lucky enough to WIN a DIY bedliner kit on Pirate4x4..

the giveway was from Second Skin: http://www.secondskinaudio.com/products/diy-bedliner.php

so today I sand blasted my bed, since it had some thick paint already on it, then I sanded it and then cleaned it.. WOW that was a lot of work..

then I taped off the truck and got to work..

the bad news is I lost all the pics during the prep process.. CRAP

So I went back out and took new pics of the finished truck..
this is up close shot
http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_4521.jpg

another up close to show texture
http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_4522.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_4520.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_4519.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_4516.jpg

here are a few more pics

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_4518.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_4523.jpg

and here is with flash on so you can see it really is BLACK

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_4514.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_4515.jpg

as for a review.. this stuff is AWESOME..

it was very easy to work with, went on very easy.. If I get another truck I would buy this and do it again.. well worth it..


I will report back once it has been on for a few weeks

is that brush or spraygun or spraycan? fill that four door up and drive it out to the west coast i have forty acres to turn around on .

Is that bedliner a rubber based product, or some kind of urethane?

is that brush or spraygun or spraycan? fill that four door up and drive it out to the west coast i have forty acres to turn around on .

I used the spray gun they sell on there site.. worked great.

Is that bedliner a rubber based product, or some kind of urethane?

it is a rubber based product..

Let us know how it holds up. It looks great.

That is a sweet looking crew cab. nice work

Hey Ken,

What is the part number or a link to the center clearance light that you installed in the center of the bed? Looks like it was made to go there!

Hey Ken,

What is the part number or a link to the center clearance light that you installed in the center of the bed? Looks like it was made to go there!

I bought it at Northern Tool

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200313841_200313841

Item# 127617

and yes it works great and is very bright

Well sorry to say no pics.. but this weekend I ripped out the stock dana 60 rear axle with 4.56 gears/open and put in a dana 70 with 3.55 gears and a posi. I run 33" tires and WOW what a difference a gear change does.. I can actually run 65 and have a conversation with someone..

for now I just took out front driveshaft just to be safe... I plan to drive it for a few weeks with the 3.55 and see how i like it.. worst case I will regear to 3.73 but we will see.

Good to here Ken

Let me know what your RPMs are as those are the same Gears in my RC

Ken,so you got the rear end in and it sounds like all is well so far. I'm hoping to start on my truck either this week or next week. I already have the dually rear in my shop and haven't messed with it yet. I'm moving the 85 flat bed out to the shop this week end and then the 92. We have to yank the engine on my 85 first because Phil has it sold. The 92 engine and wiring harness and steering column with cruise is going into my truck. I'm sound insulating the whole cab and doing a complete front end rebuild. I'm hoping to have it back on the road by end of summer. Hopefully a new paint job will be in there somewhere also. I need to get up with you and see what all you have done to your truck.

Awesome job, Ken![guitar] That truck looks great, love the conversion, pics and the read....thanks.

Hi Ken,

Sorry to bother you, but I have a question and I think the answer might help shed some light on the crew cab conversions in general.

I'm having some issues with my Xmember fitting/engine alignment. The donor 1990 W250 has a frame that is about 1.5-2" shorter/not as deep as the 1972 W200 Crew cab... This sets the xmember down a couple of inches and the engine looks to be tilted back too much + the upper braces that attach to the top of the frame rail do not reach.

Did you run into this problem at all? Which xmember did you use, the one that came with the 1985 crew or the diesel? The crew Xmember I had will not work because it was for a divorced xfer case auto setup...

Well, good news.. took the Truck on a 900 round trip to PA and back with about 16,000lbs and it did AWESOME..

I averaged 11.8 mpg for the trip.
I did notice that the truck was slower when taking off from a start and the EGT's did climb faster when on big hills. but nothing that made me worry.

but at 65mph the truck just cruised along nice and quiet with no issues at all.

so looks like the 3.55 gears are gonna stay.

Hi Ken,

Sorry to bother you, but I have a question and I think the answer might help shed some light on the crew cab conversions in general.

I'm having some issues with my Xmember fitting/engine alignment. The donor 1990 W250 has a frame that is about 1.5-2" shorter/not as deep as the 1972 W200 Crew cab... This sets the xmember down a couple of inches and the engine looks to be tilted back too much + the upper braces that attach to the top of the frame rail do not reach.

Did you run into this problem at all? Which xmember did you use, the one that came with the 1985 crew or the diesel? The crew Xmember I had will not work because it was for a divorced xfer case auto setup...

I will try.

I used the Gas Crossmember that came in the truck. I then made a extended plate out of 3/8" thick steel that attaches to the stock crossmember which then lets the getrag bolt to the extended plate for support.

If I get some time this week I will try to get a pic of it.

well now that I am trying to decide what to do about camper/trailer setup.. I need to get a gooseneck hitch mounted..

So started at 8am today and we had it in at 2pm..I still need to put the lights back in, etc.. but that can wait till tomorrow.

I had a 1/2" piece of plate plasma cut at Hamilton Machine shop
http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_5305.jpg

found the spot for it to go.
http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_5306.jpg

plate laid down to see if it will fit.
http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_5306.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_5309.jpg

then I welded the plate to the frame and to the cross member that holds the rear shocks.. we also made little filler tabs to support front to rear movement( we did not want anyway for it to flex)

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_5310.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_5311.jpg

flipped the bed up to cut the hole for hitch

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_5312.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_5313.jpg

then put the bed back on to drill the mounting holes
http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_5314.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_5315.jpg

we layed the hitch in place and bolted it down, then remounted the rear shocks and we are done..

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_5317.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_5318.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_5319.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_5320.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_5321.jpg

Final pics of hitch in bed

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_5323.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_5324.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_5325.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_5326.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_5327.jpg

Man awesome build. Im in the prosess of trying to wrangle me a 82 w350 crew cab if the guy will ever part with it to put every thing out of my 93 d350 in.I hope mine turns out that good.

Well I had a 100% free day today so I figured what the hell why not paint the truck :)

started at 8am and was done at 3:30pm.. only thing left to put on is the part where the wipers go and the mirrors.

Not to bad for a paint job on dirt :)

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_5353.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_5354.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_5355.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_5356.jpg

Well I guess I did something bad because Karma just stuck it to me.

As some of you know I just finish painting my truck this weekend..

so here is what happened:

I had 2 - 10 foot pieces of tube attached to frotn of my XJ with winch connected to the top. John H and myself use this as a crane to lift things and move them around the yard.
you can see how I had truck parked with crane attached to jeep
http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/camper/100_5345.jpg

well I left winch controller connected to winch ( DO NOT DO THIS) and with all the rain something shorted out and the winch turned on and pulled the winch cable in.

this then caused the bars to fall forward and bend in half, and my brand new painted truck was in front of the XJ so the bras hit the roof and dug in, gouged the roof, the passenger side glass and the passenger door. VERY BAD. and the winch kept going until the cable was all the way in.. which makes me believe my battery is now dead in jeep and winch is probably burnt up.. or winch rope is broke, or johns snatch block.. Sorry John.

I can repair it all in time and of course with money, but man I gut just dropped when I walked outside this AM to see the destruction. The good news is NO ONE was around when this happened so we are all safe..

Ken C (having a bad day, after such a great weekend)

well here are some pics of dodge.. will not have pics of crane until I get home

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/DSCN2729.jpg

Door
http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/DSCN2728.jpg

Glass
http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/DSCN2723.jpg

Door
http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/DSCN2725.jpg

Roof
http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/DSCN2726.jpg

Roof
http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/DSCN2727.jpg

Oh man sorry to see that, I was just gonna comment on how nice it looked. Well it still does I guess, other than that side.

I know what you mean about the bad luck thing. I just fixed up my truck from a deer hit this summer, put a Buckstop bumper on painted to match the truck. Three days after it was on the truck an old lady cut a corner to short and caught the bumper, all it did was scuff the paint on one side, but I did have to repaint it. But, anyway, great job with the crewcab. I'd love to be able to do one someday.

pics of crane setup

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_5362.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_5363.jpg

Well Got some pics of truck painted and cleaned up..

yes it was raining and the light was crappy

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_5502.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_5503.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_5504.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/100_5505.jpg

Mirrors on that truck are sexy!! That truck all around is VERY nice looking! Great Job.
On a side note,
When are you painting my truck?

well here are some pics of dodge.. will not have pics of crane until I get home

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/DSCN2729.jpg

Door
http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/DSCN2728.jpg

Glass
http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/DSCN2723.jpg

Door
http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/DSCN2725.jpg

Roof
http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/DSCN2726.jpg

Roof
http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/dodge/DSCN2727.jpg


Yeah i understand the frustration of just getting the project out on the road to finding you did this....
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff223/Moparmax/Beast/06-01-09_1717.jpg

Sorry to hear your bad luck.

But that truck is just so beautiful.... The only thing what would make it look better is the long bed. Then you could have everything what Dodge wouldn't offer anymore until 2010.... :cool:

I just fell in love for first gens...:cool:

mmmmmm, long bed....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v372/iker42/100_5502.jpg

awwww you didn't chop the water reflection in the bottom too?? [roll]

Cool deal!

thats for comparison, haha

plus i got lazy and gave up at doing the blacktop

Pics from this weekend.. truck doing its job :)

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/camper/100_5646.jpg

http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/camper/100_5647.jpg

wife and son in driver seat
http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/camper/100_5648.jpg

whole setup
http://www.impaks.com/images/ken/camper/100_5649.jpg