Im new to forums and wanted to start a build thread to chronicle my build and to have something to look back on after everything is complete. The sticky up top has been bookmarked for quite a while and mostly just used the search function to answer most of the questions I had with my new ride.

Some back story. Had 2010 Tundra crewmax 4x4 to serve as my DD and tow pig. 90 miles a day at 13 mpg started to hurt the old wallet so I traded it in (along with my man card) for a cough....Prius.

Anyways, I acquired this gently used '92 Dodge D350 club-cab dually for basically free. Drove it around some, put the title in my name, insured it, and enjoyed it.



The specs when I received it are as follows:
1992 Dodge D350 Extended Cab Dually 2wd
Stock 5.9L with 373k+ miles (ODO is broken)
Locked up Getrag 5-speed (Shaft broke; its a long story)
Straight exhaust
Leaks everywhere from everything
No rear brakes

Upgrades/replacement parts currently installed:
Newly rebuilt getrag. All new bearings, gears, etc.
Rebuilt Injection pump; flow tested, turned up some just to make it fun
16" Ford alcoas
Shiney 5" tip, you know, for the ladies
New crank position switch
New acorn style lug nuts to fix the wobble issue in the front end with the new rims.

Known problems: <--This is basically a list of crap that needs to be fixed before I am comfortable driving it long distances

1. Brakes are shot; rears dont work at all; No fluid in the reservoir
2. Front end shakes sometimes at speed probably due to the alcoas
3. Doesnt charge (even after the new CPS)
4. Speedo/ODO no worky
5. fuel gauge no worky
6. A/C no worky
7. Cruise no worky
8. Window motors are on their last leg
9. Wiring is in terrible shape
10. Rust in the top of windshield drip rail
11. Busted *** windshield
12. No radio
13. Paint is halfway eaten off by chemical that was accidently sprayed on it by the OP
14. Interior needs alot of cleaning and replacing
15. Battery cables barely holding on
16. Dented to hell tailgate and bumper

Plans for the build;
1. Get it road ready; Basically where I feel safe enough to drive it long distance; New brakes, new tires, etc.
2. Paint job after some body work- thinking semi-flat black
3. Limo tint
4. Some fuel and turbo upgrades
5. LEDs replacement bulbs elerywhere
6. 4x4 conversion (at the end of the list)
7. Bedliner
8. Profit?

I plan to use this thing to haul a 30 ft. gooseneck with my rock crawler on. I rebuilt a '82 toyota truck from the ground up, basically twice. Phase two of the rebuild was completed last month, so now its time to dump a little coin into the Dodge.

A pic of the dirt squirrel after she rolled out of the shop for the first time in 10 months:


As it sits now:


Build thread can be found here if anyone is interested http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/toyot...-squirrel.html

I look forward to sharing the evolution of the this project with all of you.

 

To fix the AC, speedo, charging issue I am having, a PCM test is first on the list. If its bad i will be in the market for a good used one or just break down and get a remanufactured one from Vatozone.

Maybe replacing the crap battery cables will fix the problem, but probably not. Alternator checked out fine.

Next is new brakes front and rear. I have everything sitting there waiting to go on, pads, shoes, wheel cylinders, etc.

Then its on to trailer brake wiring. I plan to tacle this stuff once i get back from offshore in Venezuela. Beautiful country though.

 

Well the speedo/odo issue is commonly caused by the adapter on the Trans messing up. Also the little plastic gears inside the cluster that turn the odo get brittle and break. That causes the odo to stop but the Speedo will still work in that case. No Speedo = no cruise. Find the cause of the Speedo issue and cruise may start working.

 

Brake problem if likely due to leaking wheel cylinders. Imo these rear brakes are a pita to service.

Like the Toyota, what's in it? Also i see aggie in the name and Texas inspection and reg stickers on the dodge. Where you located?

 

I read the sticky on that as well. Also read that a bad pcm could cause the Speedo to not work? I bet that whenever I put the transmission back in I didn't swap the Speedo gears and assembly over correctly. I will check on that when I get back from offshore.

 

I ordered all new shoes and cylinders for the rear and pads for the front. When I got the truck it didn't have any fluid in the rear cavity of the master cylinder. I put some in, ran it, and saw it leaking down the rims. Knew the cylinders were shot at that point.

I'm located in east bernard, about 40 miles SW of Houston. Went to A&M and used to drive a Tacoma, hence the user name.

Yota has a Dana 60 front with 5.13s, locked, chromo axles, flanges, 3/4 ton brake conversion, full hydro steering, 57" ford leafs up front on a stretched frame section using a sky manufacturing spring hanger. Rear is a van width 14-bolt , 5.13s, spool, 3/4 ton brakes, Artec truss , 4-linked, 1.25" heims, 16" profender coilovers. It has a 4.3l Chevy (which i can't seem to blow up), th350 to toy/d300 doubler, radiator and fuel cell in bed.. 44" skinny boggers on custom recentered H1s. Internally caged and a bunch of other crap.

Haven't gotten to take it crawling since the new axles, links and doubler went in. I can't wait to test it out.

I notice you have a highly modified yota as well. Post a few pick-up. Where do you wheel it?

Thanks for the help.

 

You have your work cut out!! Good looking rock wagons!! The boys in East Bernard going to have a football team this coming year? Good luck with your ole truck!!!

 

Yeah the work is definitely cut out for me. Most of it is poor maintenance from the PO. EB should be pretty good again this year after winning state last year. Should be exciting to watch.

 

Your story sounds very familiar. The 91 was my first in high school and had transformed into this. I sold my 2001 lifted Tacoma and bought my Dodge as a pull rig and also have a lifted Tundra Crewmax that is the wifes DD and grocery getter.

 

The 91 has cherokee 4 or 6" coils all the way around, 60 front 70 rear with 5.88 gears and Lincoln lockers. 4bt Cummins with 5x.016 injectors, hx35, 3200 spring and pump maxed out. Turbo 350 trans and 205 case. Fixing to pull the th350 and install a 5 speed. The Th350 won't stay together behind the Cummins.

The ramp in the above pic was 3' tall. It's not a crawler so i didn't think that was to bad for flex. It's on full width axles and low center of gravity.

 

Nice yota.

I kick myself everyday for trading in my Tundra. It was a great truck, just got terrible mileage with the 35's.

 

Yeah they are a beast for power and will pass dang near everything on the road except a gas station. If i got a long haul to the lake i usually hook the Dodge to the boat to save some money.

 

You boys have some cool toys and a big toy box lol. Ive kicked myself a few times for selling most of mine. Toys help keep the boredom down tho. I almost fell over the other day when the wife said we needed a side by side, that was a first for her wanting to spend $$$$ for something fun!!!

 

Yep. No wife or kids makes things a little easier when it comes to toys.

 

Wish i could say the same. I need to get rid of at least one toy to make room for new addition to the family.