Hey all, Just got my first ever truck, it's a '84 W250 with the 360. She's in need of a LOT of work. It belonged to my mother-in-law's cousins deceased husband and has been sitting in her yard wasting away for the last four years. It wouldn't run the last time she cranked it so she was just going to part it out so I took it off her hands for a few hundred $$. My first question (Probably of many) is what is the difference between the 360's in the '84? Next to the engine vin number (W) in the Haynes manual it says "Federal" what does the Federal mean?
New member trying to figure out first truck
- Thread starter tatey2457
- Start date
Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.
crazzywolfie
Senior Member
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2013
- Posts
- 16,431
- Reaction score
- 3,192
- Location
- under the truck
- Ram Year
- 81 93
- Engine
- 5.2
i think the federal just refers to what type of emission equipment the truck came with from the factory. looks like a pretty good base to start with.
tatey2457
Junior Member
- Joined
- Apr 8, 2013
- Posts
- 4
- Reaction score
- 0
- Ram Year
- 1984
- Engine
- 360
Thanks for the response. I've started tearing down the top end to do the head gaskets etc...The engine was covered in old oil from blown valve cover gaskets. I'm keeping it totally stock but is there anything I should be looking out for?. This is the first 360 I've worked on.
Engine bay is a mess! Intake looks pretty good after a clean and enamel coating though.
Engine bay is a mess! Intake looks pretty good after a clean and enamel coating though.
Attachments
crazzywolfie
Senior Member
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2013
- Posts
- 16,431
- Reaction score
- 3,192
- Location
- under the truck
- Ram Year
- 81 93
- Engine
- 5.2
i don't think there is anything you really need to watch out for. with old trucks one of the biggest problems is just old wires and bad connection.
crazzywolfie
Senior Member
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2013
- Posts
- 16,431
- Reaction score
- 3,192
- Location
- under the truck
- Ram Year
- 81 93
- Engine
- 5.2
i am not saying you have to rewire anything. i am just saying that there are a few week spots that could be improved. one of the biggest problems tends to be with the headlights. putting the headlights on relays removes the stress from the stock headlight wiring and can also make them noticeably brighter. if you do lot of driving on back roads at night i would also recommend to setup your low beams to stay on when you turn the high beams on. makes a huge difference on how much you can see. also on the older trucks the dimmer switches can sometimes fail with age since they are on the floor but you can replace one of those for about $5. when they are bad sometimes the headlights won't work at all. other times the lights may just stay on low or high beam.
tatey2457
Junior Member
- Joined
- Apr 8, 2013
- Posts
- 4
- Reaction score
- 0
- Ram Year
- 1984
- Engine
- 360
Ya I get that but if you see the state of the current wiring job, it needs it. I'd rather get it done now while it's in pieces than have to get in to it down the road. Thanks for the tips with the lights, sounds like a good idea.
Similar threads
