WELL I've done that one . Not for you 1988 but mine was about a 1976 I believe.
I only gave 25$ for this old pick-up . Just for scrap, but after I brought it home I put a battery on it & cranked it up . After a little playing it seemed to run find. SO I used it a little on the farm & THEN I PULLED the old bed off & scraped it built a cheap flat bed . SWAPPED FRONT BUMPERS WITH ANOTHER TRUCK . IT now was a straight pick-up that was cranking & running great . AC EVEN WORKED ON IT . i SWAPPED IN ANOTHER SEAT.
... & THEN I found a 3/4 pick-up bed trailer ..& It seemed to have something 4:11's gears not sure what Dodges were . I Wanted a pick-up for the farm ...so I measured them & I PULLED THE axle from the trailer & removed the pickup 1/2 rear axle ... swapped locations with them. I had a time finding one of those U-Joints that one side is for the 1/2 ton & other was for the 3/4 larger joint ... It cost about 35.00 of 40.00 but It fixed it .
& I had absolutely no brakes . But that was just a completely brake job & then I had better brakes than I'd every had on a Dodge. .& the 1/2 ton went under the little pick-up bed trailer . Which I sold for $250.00 & I was almost at even.
... & THAT 3/4 rear axle made that old pick-up really work fine on the farm. IT DROVE & RODE GREAT WITH THE 1/2 TON FRONT END .
... I EVEN later In it's life put a 440 & 727 from an old New Yorker.
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...... & FOR MY Wheels I bought a pair of Chrome spokes for front in 15's & for the rear I found a set of wide maybe 10'' 16's chrome spokes & put on a set of wide mud & snow tires .. loved it & looked great . & I just carried 2 spares.
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.........SO I hope that helps I realize my year models are a lot different than yours .
