freight train

Ok, I am a true Mopar guy. Buying items for my next project. Well I have always had a thing for unique and different. I purchased a 1993 W250 cc 5spd truck two years ago for parts (yeah right). After giving it a good bit of thinking I have decided to build something that I have never seen done. Not a crew or RC. Not a jeep or a crawler. I wanted something to stand out from everyone. So I remembered back about 15yrs ago when in my searching the backwoods of PA I came across a very unique factory truck. I found a factory 1983 W200 8ft stepside truck. Now being I believe every diesel was made for work and not play never gave that truck a second thought being the bed is small and not really good but for a cool stance and appeal. Well fast forward to about 14months ago when I wanted something different. I didnt realize then how incrediably rare that bed is. Everyone knows the Lil reds and warlocks but very few even knew a true 8ft stepside was available all the way up to 1984. Very subtle changes but I knew I wanted a 1982-84 with a steel floor just like what I had seen. Well, talk about a needle in a haystack. I litereally called every mopar contact, every truck contact, every contact of a contact and nothing. Most told me it didnt exist. Well I finally talked to the right person. I made a 17hr 1097mile round trip to upstate VT today and picked up my totally rust free 1984 steel floored 8ft (true Dodge) stepside bed.

Here is what I want to build, a 1993 W250, cummins, getrag, np205, 3.54 filled axles, 3-4" suspension lift, single 3" stack with a semi flapper (I like the flapper all black paint. Here is the body components. Please no negative comments please, I looked for this bed for over a year. If its not your taste please keep it respectful. I do understand as I wasnt a fan at first but it grows on you. Picture the all black paint, 285/75/16 BFG allterrains and the single stack. The inside of the bed looks as if its never had anything but pine needles in it, Very clean!!!!

jimbo486

Never been a fan of stepside beds but it should be interesting looking. Can't wait to see it come together. Good luck in your new adventure!

Onemoparnut

Nice project but you need a bigger stack just my .02. But it will be cool when its done.

MARF75

Wow! 84 eh? Looks like leftovers from the 60's era. That will be 1 of a kind rig. Can,t wait to see pics

freight train

Basically the beds only changed moderately from the 60' through the 80's. Like the fuel filler neck in 75 and the wooded floors in 80/81. Plus up until they changed the floors the beds could be completely dissasembled. When they put the metal floors in them they are spot welded together like our beds are. The tailgates in the 60's had DODGE embossed in them where the 70-80's didnt.

I think a huge stack is to much. I had a 3" stack up through a wooded flat bed on my RC donor truck with a flapper on it. I like the pinging at start up.

slicknapier

Very cool, but what about that old dodge that we can just see a fender of?

freight train

Thats a factory 270 super red Hemi truck I picked up out of Woodstock VA about 12yrs ago. I dont know how rare it is to find a pickup that had a factory hemi instead of a inline 6 but I have never seen another.

KRB

And is that a Power Wagon on the other side?

A farmer friend of my grandparents and eventually our neighbor had a '79 W250 with the 8' bed. It looked pretty good I thought. Only one I ever remember seeing.

deanhinsley1963

I think it will be cool. I would put twin stacks 4 or 5 in. Post Pics!!!!!

freight train

^I have only ever seen two others my entire life! Mind you I am only 31, but have been into Dodges for a very long time. I dont know how rare of an option it was but I would say its easier to find a Hemi car than one of these beds. Atleast when you call around for any particular Hemi car everyone knows what you are talking about. With this bed you wouldnt believe how many (supposedly mopar) people out there told me it didnt exist!!!! Or they had no idea what I was asking for until I said like a Lil Red Express but with an 8ft bed instead of a 6.5' bed!!!!

I can promise you two stacks are never going to happen. I am not really a fan of stacks in general but think one would look pretty cool with a flapper. Plus the 8ft side steps are so hard to find. No one remakes them like they do for the 6.5' beds. So cutting a hole in one would be hard enough.

dieselJon

At least 4" for proper proportions. 4" looks just right back there.

Bencie

I think either a single or dual stack setup would perfect for a stepside but I would put em on the outside of the bed like the Express with heat shields, why give up more room in the bed if ya don't have too. I too am not a stack fan but a stepside is perfect for a stack/stacks. Have fun with it, it will be a very unique ride when finished. JMO

kerry.king

I think you've got a great idea man! Can't to see some progress pics.
Good luck!