Just back from camping in BC and I had to tell about this one:

So there I am putting (more) gas into this GMC in Cranbrook, BC on our way home, and I hear the very familiar sound of a Cummins pulling in. I look over, and there is an early '70s Dodge crewcab in really nice shape at the next pump, did I mention in really nice shape. I started talking to the guy, and here is what he had to say.

It's a '74 D100 crewcab, 2WD, with a '92 Cummins dropped in. He said it was real easy, since Dodge hadn't changed the frame design since before then, the mounts bolted right in and the only "mod" was to drill holes to move the tranny crossmember back a bit. He gets 24mpg pulling a small holiday or car trailer. Wish I had taken a pic or 2.

Our discussion led me to a decision about my old Dodge, that and the fact that I'm guessing that I got less than 10 mpg on this rouder with the wind and all, and I kow the old Dodge was just over 20 mpg regardless of how I had it loaded - never pulled a trailer with it though, so not sure where that would have put it. I'm keeping it to either use the drivetrain, or bring it back to where it should be to drive daily and haul the camper. It will have to be done in stages.

Anybody suggest a good place to get the motor checked out? It has been getting a bit weak for a while. It won't even hold 100 km/h coming south out of Calgary in the "big" hills on hwy 2 or 2A before you even get to Okotoks. I had a tune up and valve set last year, but it actually got worse. I would like to see similar or better economy to what it gets now, but better power would be nice. I have heard that you can get nearly the same power numbers as the new trucks, while still getting over 20 mpg with these. Can anybody confirm or deny this?

Also, I have heard that the chassis in the 2500 and 3500 are the same in the old trucks, so I could put heavier springs in this one to carry the 2400 lb camper. Or maybe an airbag kit. Or pick up an old Ford F-350 crewcab and put it in?

Too many ideas, and not enough money or knowledge.

Thanks in advance for the replies.

 

how many km on the truck ? i have my 93 , it was almost 400 at the wheels , and i was getting 19mpg , but had to watch the egt's when pulling a tralier .
as for springs there the same front or rear , i would put air bags .if it was my truck much nicer to ride.

 

if you go to the post on here for windsheilds it's on the first page the one i am building , 1975 body , on 1993 frame cummins

 

His was strictly an engine/tranny swap into the '74.

I have 385k kms on the '93. The t/c seems to be getting a bit of excessive lash in it, or might be in the tranny. I don't know that much about these Getrags, but I think they're pretty decent from what I have heard, if they get enough lube. And as far as I know, no issues with the 205 t/c - can't go wrong with gear drive.

I am thinking of exchanging for rebuilt pieces for the rest of the driveline , and getting the engine sorted out. This should give me a pretty solid unit for another 3-400,000 kms at a cost much less than a new truck, with reliability that just doesn't exist in these new rigs.

Just checked out your 93/75 - that will look SHARP when you're done.

 

the getrags are a ok trany as long as you don't want motre power , and have them over filled with 3 litres to much oil , if you are going to put a new trany in it , put a nv4500 , there a much much easier trany and last , and you can buy parts for it , as for the old truck the frame is the same , mounts ae the same . there is a few small things but nothing big , if you did want to do it , you want to find a truck that was standard and 4x4 for it just to drop in the hole . guess how i know lol

 

You guys see this? http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Dodge...fCarsQ5fTrucks

I asked my wife if I could buy it when it was $5k??? A 98 12v P-pump and 5 speed manual (changed my mind) would just fit in so nicely.

 

You Could Build That Same Truck For Way Less Then 16g's With A Cummins In It

 

I just wanted to pay $5k for a california truck. The entire driveline would have to changed out. The interior as cool as it is, would have to upgraded. I want to drive the truck everyday. I thought about putting on 40's, dana 70/80. Might even did a dually for the rear. Stacks, of course and a long travel suspension set-up. Such a cool looking truck.

 

Yeah it'll bolt right in, just have to re drill the tranny mounts if you are going to use the 518 in stead of the 727.
Its got a 93 intercooled drive train in it.

 

one of my friends just bought a truck from the south , crew cab long box 4x4 1500 bucks US, and he drove it home lol

 

Moparmax, that is one sweet looking ride buddy. What does it weight in at?

 

Both sweet looking rigs guys, and great suggestions. That one in CA is nice. That would be perfect, but that $16000 price tag is about where I would like the project to come in at. It would be a daily driver for me as well. Not sure if that is a long box or not, which I need as it will be carrying a 10 1/2 foot long camper that weighs 2400 lbs dry.

I scaled on the way into BC and had a gross weight of 10000 lbs with all of our gear in the camper and using the GMC to carry it.

Here's what I am dreaming - crew cab, long box, my old rotary engine and driveline, about 300 or so horse at the wheels. It has gone over 380k kms already, and with some new bearings, etc, hopefully there is enough life in it to outlive another truck.

I was thinking an old (92-98 F350) crew truck. Lots of them around in AB for not bad money. Pull the entire interior out and replace with new seats and XLT bits from a wreck if I can find one. If a better option comes up, I do not have my heart set on doing all of the work this would require. A Dana 80 with discs in the back would be nice too.

 

I like the first gen look. I remember bombing around in a 1/2ton 4X4 360 4 speed manual everything company wagon, awe my yearly days of pipe lining. It might have been a power wagon. I did put a couple dents into the truck. That was back before the days of quads.

 

I agree Mike. The 1st gens look the best. If I could get what I want/need from that body style, I would stick with it, but my daughter is getting bigger, and life just points towards a crew cab seeming like the best option. Since I have the driveline, I might as well put it in something that will work better.

What little knowledge I have of these trucks points at them being far better than anything offered today, just that parts are getting scarce, and the body on mine is pretty rough. Also see what I said earlier about the engine seeming a bit weak. My buddy's dad has a '92 that will hold its speed on the highway with a small trailer, where mine would drop from 100 down to 90 or so - empty - on the hills from Calgary to Okotoks.

 

How much blow-by you have at idle? You smell blow-by on a WOT pull? If you do, you need new rings. If you don't how hot is your egt's? You have smoke or still clear on wot? These motor usually just run and run until you break them, from lack of oil, borken parts. I'm impressed on how tuff that they are. I remember doing things I know would kill a gaser, but my diesel is still going strong. Usually a mid life re-build is enough to bring her back up into the original power levels. You could be running out of fuel or need tweaks to the injection pump. We can help.