My 1982 Project Thread

[Basilisk]

I thought I'd start a thread here so I can share my ideas and my progress on my truck, and get some feedback and/or pointers.

I got the truck last December (2013), my dad traded a quad for it. It's a 1982 Dodge Ram W150 step side. Before we got the truck, it was sitting for a couple of years. We're using the truck as a project for my dad and I. I'll be taking her to college here in about 2 years, to Flagstaff.

Tell me what you guys think. I'm personally pretty proud of the truck (my first truck too).

Thanks for looking! I'll keep you guys updated, and I'll start posting up some pictures of what we've already done too, here soon.

(I'll try to get the pictures uploaded here soon, should be in the comment below)

 

[Basilisk]

Here's some pictures I took when we first got her home. Looks basically the same still though, right now.

 

[Basilisk]

Here's pics of under the hood. It has a V8 318 engine. When we got the truck it had a big 750 cfm carburetor on it, we replaced it with 600 cfm Edelbrock.

It's not super clean. The previous owner tried to do a quick rebuild for the engine. It leaks oil. We picked up a nice 360 last weekend to rebuild ourselves to replace the 318.

 

[PCA4208]

Cool truck. When rebuilding the engine make sure to pick up a book called How to Rebuild Small Block Mopar. There are some tips and tricks to rebuild these engines. Mainly like unknown freeze plugs on the block, or replacing the little oil galley plugs.

Good luck, you should drop a cam in it, Summit makes their own cam and lifter combos. they are fairly cheap for a good cam that will really wake the engine up with a 4 barrel and a good exhaust.

 

[Basilisk]

Thanks! Alright yeah I'll be sure to pick up one of those. Not sure yet if we'll drop a cam in the 318, but definitely in the 360. Yeah the exhaust on the truck needs some work, that'll probably be one of the next things we work on.

Thanks again, I'll keep updated as best as I can on here.

 

[PCA4208]

Cool. Yeah I was talking about the 360.
Put some headers on the old girl. I did it to my 79 truck and it really woke her up.

 

[DodgeAddict]

Do a Magnum if you can or at least Magnum heads You won't regret it

Here's how one looks done with A/C & serpentine using mostly all Chrysler made parts except for intake carb & fuel line

 

[rusties93LE]

You could do a little red express clone, but with your own unique twist.

 

[dodge dude94]

Nice rig. Fairly uncommon to see a W-series truck with the Utililine bed. Not in bad shape either. Welcome to RF.

 

[crazzywolfie]

its not that uncommon to a w series with a utililine bed. its not like it is a long box utililine bed which is rare.

looks like you got a pretty good truck to start with. i agree that a new cam could really wake the engine up and you can usually get them cheap from summit
this cam sounds good
http://www.summitracing.com/dom/parts/sum-k6900/overview/make/dodge
[yt]uk0USBvh8AU[/yt]

 

[Bully's Performance]

Cool looking truck, there are so many directions you can take it! If you need any parts for it be sure to look us up we would be more than happy to get you anything you need

Thanks
Jeremiah

 

[Basilisk]

Thanks for all the comments everyone!

Is that what the bed type is called, utililine bed? I've always heard it called a stepside.

Yeah it's not in bad shape, definitely needs some work but that'll come in time. I'm not set in what direction I want to go with the truck yet, just been toying with ideas in my head at this point. I'd gladly hear any ideas you all have. Thanks Jeremiah, I'll definitely look you guys up.

 

[crazzywolfie]

each brand had there own name for it. dodge called them utiline.

also the cam i suggested should be good no matter what direction your build takes. it is considered a RV/towing cam which is great for big vehicles like our trucks. i am putting something similar in my truck when it warms up.

 

[Basilisk]

Oh alright, thanks. Okay, yeah I'll start looking into that. It's finally starting to warm up here, we spent this last weekend hooking up new sound/music in the truck. Not something the truck NEEDS, but its always good to have haha

 

[crazzywolfie]

lol. you always need tunes for when your working on it so not a bad place to start.

 

[Basilisk]

Hey guys! We got new tires for the truck! Sadly 1 of the rims shipped to us was the wrong size, so we couldn't put all four new ones on. So we came up with the next best thing... we took a spare off my dad's dodge that was the same size. (We'll change the spare tire with the new one once we get it.)

Here's the tires when we got them home.

We replaced the calipers, replaced 1 rotor, and repacked the hubs on the front.

 

[Basilisk]

We took the truck down to the island. The tire in the bed is the new one that doesn't fit. I love the new tires, makes it look more like a "truck." Gained an inch or two off the ground. I'm thinking it might need a 2 inch lift, not decided yet.

 

[Basilisk]

Here's the side with the off tire...