Project "Cedar" 95 V10 4x4

[slickice]

Cedar tree destroyed the Cab of my 95. In the process of a total restoration. This truck was in extremely good shape except for the typical Dodge paint and dash. I've ordered tons of new parts and will post as the project moves along.

 

[slickice]

 

[MADDOG]

Good luck with the project.

 

[slickice]

The Donor Truck... This one was in great shape all around.

 

[slickice]

Sanded it down last week and was getting ready for Epoxy Primer. The hood and fenders were in really good shape. Just had to fix a few dings. The entire truck will be sprayed with Tintable Raptor Liner.

 

[MADDOG]

So is the plan to swap the body to the V10 chassis?

 

[slickice]

Breaking down the V10. Cab removal was coming next.

 

[slickice]

Yes. The V10 has 92,000 babied miles. I bought it new in late 1994, and hate to get rid of it. This has been a huge project over the last couple of weeks.

 

[slickice]

Got the cab off with a mini excavator. Stripped the V10 down and replaced the 25 year old Rancho 9000 shocks with 6 Bilsteins. The frame had some light surface rust, so I wire brushed it all and sprayed with a Rust Resolver Black. Replaced the front and rear gear oil with Royal Purple. All new plugs and wires, along with new ignition coils.

 

[slickice]

Just sprayed the firewall with Second Skin Spectrum.

 

[Joe w.]

Wow that's alot of work and looking good so far. I hate that a tree fell on your truck.

 

[slickice]

Thanks. I'm fixing to pull the wiring harness from the V10 cab, and get that sorted out. I also have a lot of aftermarket car stereo wiring to salvage. I'll also try and salvage any plastic pieces as we all know they are nearly impossible to find in decent shape. I did get the LMC dash in last week, which will be nice. I haven't had a decent top dash in a while.

 

[slickice]

V10 Wiring Harness is out. Hopefully setting the cab this afternoon.

 

[392DevilDog]

Awesome progress. Rust has completely invaded my 99 V10 quad cab.

I have been patiently getting body parts. It is going to be a father son project with hopes it will be my sons high school ride.

Will definetly be following along.

 

[slickice]

That's fantastic that it will be a father/son project. My V10 really didn't have too much rust. I live in the South, so that may play a part. I've been wire brushing any surface rust I come across, and then spraying a rust preventer. I got lucky with a really clean, no rust, donor truck for any body parts I needed. I've since sold it and recouped a good bit back. Good luck.

 

[slickice]

Rolled the V10 chassis under the cab with these heavy duty casters, and a tractor on the front end. Replaced the power steering pump, idler pulley, and tensioner pulley. The pump was a pain and glad I did it now while it was easy to get to. Waiting on new silicone heater hose to arrive today before I button the cab in.

 

[slickice]

The cab is on! I'm blessed to have a great friend help me along with this project in his shop. I won't show how we got it on, y'all would think we were nuts! Ha Ha. I used Energy Suspension Cab Mounts, which went in perfectly. Carpet is coming out next, along with the dash. Replacing heater core and evap. core. Going to use kid gloves removing the dash, as it's in great shape. The entire floor, roof, and back wall will be sprayed with Spectrum.

 

[slickice]

 

[Spike95]

I’m jealous! Wish I had the space and time to do a restoration that deep. So satisfying to see pics of everything freshly painted. I’m sorry it took a fallen tree to force the project on you though!

As long as you have to fully pull the dash for a transplant, you already know that the plastic’s days are numbered. Might be a good time to look at adding some structure to the inside of it with some fiberglass and perhaps even some sound deadening material.

 

[slickice]

That's a really good idea. I couldn't believe the condition of the interior when I found the 97 donor. I thought I had a nice interior, this one schools mine. I took the seat covers off, thinking they would be rough. Man they look brand new! I definitely will do something to reinforce the plastic pieces. These seats are also power, whereas mine werent. Ill be stepping up in the world. Ha Ha.