I have a chance to pick up a 3/4 ton Dodge truck from a buddy:

-1977
-Extracab, stebside bed
-some kind of V8 (what would it be?) one cylinder dead (no further info right now)
-some kind of granny 4 speed (SM4??)
-Tcase?
-12" lift springs on all 4 corners
-44 front/60 rear - 8 lug
-winch bumper (no winch)
-Q78 swampers (36") on 15" wheels - tires are practically BRAND NEW.

Is it worth $1k?

Considering picking up a donor Dodge V8 for it and wheeling it as a temp rig - or shoot - maybe even swapping the Dodgel 60 front I was gonna put in my Toy :p

Any thoughts? If I part it out - do you think I could get my money back out of it? ANybody know what engine, tranny, and Tcase would be in this thing?

:confused:

Swap in the 60 front and a 440 and wheel it.

Originally posted by runninghuff
Swap in the 60 front and a 440 and wheel it.

Yep! You'll have a V8, 1 ton axles, and enough lift to clear whatever tires you want to run. Slap your toy body and front d60 on there and GET IT!!!!

In '77 chances are good that it's either a 318 or 360; however it could also be just about anything else, too. If all the stickers are gone the displacement will be cast into the block (different places depending if it's an LA, B, or RB). Transmisssion will be an NP435, and with a married NP203 unless it got swapped for something else (NP435 has 6.68 first gear, 2.01 in the NP203 range box, add a 205 in a doubler and calculate the crawl with whatever diff gears you want). Those tires will run ca. $700 for the set (new) let alone the 8-lug 15" rims. Any Chrysler V8 gets $800-up in the junkyards here, without anything behind the crankshaft flange, and no guarantee as to condition. There's 150% of the purchase price in those two items alone. Those springs probably cost close to $1K when new, also.

Probably the dead cylinder is a valve. If you pull the head and take it to a shop, it'll most likely be a $40 job unless there's a bunch of other stuff gone or the seat is torched.
If it were me I'd grab it, stuff that 60 under it and mount the 42's, spend the $200 for an engine rebuild kit plus $100 for a good machine shop to rework both heads, and wheel the piss out of it. Room for six (but probably not if they're all my size).

Sounds like a good deal to me, especially if it runs and is driveable/wheelable. I can't imagine what 12" lift springs would be like :eek: I'm glad I don't come across deals like that, or mind would change as much if not more than yours :D

Originally posted by Bones
I'm glad I don't come across deals like that, or mind would change as much if not more than yours :D


And people wonder why I flip-flop on my buildup decisions, I come across stuff like this all the time! :p


Hmmmmm.... some good stuff so far.

Best part is it is a buddy, and he said he would let me pay 2 monthly payents of $500 each :cool2:


Hmmmmm....


Is there any way to get EFI on these Dodge motors?

If it is a 77 3/4 ton the motor is probably not a 360 or 318 It should be a 400. If it is a small block the dist is in the back, the big block had the dist in the front

If it really is a 400 there isn't a good OEM swap to EFI, and you'll be limited to one of the aftermarket systems like Edelbrock or Holley ($$$$) or making something up on your own ($$$ + lots of time and effort). However, a good Quadrajet would be an easy swap. If it's really a 318 or 360 (my '77 3/4 ton IS a 318) then the hot ticket for EFI is a heads-up swap off a Magnum. But if you're going to go to all that trouble, just drop in the complete Magnum, IMHO.

I went with the Quadrajet on mine, and have yet to regret it for an instant.

If you run mud, those tires rock! Deepest tread that Interco offers and the 35.5x10 size is great to get you through the deep stuff. If it was me, I'd buy the truck and wheel it till it don't go no more :D

Thanks Lloyd - awesome info :)

I will see if I can get more specifics about it asap....

Still not sure if I would just buy it and sell it off in pieces, or try to use it (Since I already have a TBI 4.3L, TH350, Toy dual cases, TH350 adapter)... But the rear 60 fron the Dodge would be REAL useful to me....

Part of my recommendation to use it was based on something you've posted about that's also an issue for me - kids. One advantage to this thing is that it's already got enough seat belts and room, and inside the cab too. I know outdoor seating like Camo's "rubibus" is cool in nice weather, but it's not always so nice when we're out - sometimes it rains, there's mud, and snow bashing is fun; heat in a closed cab makes it much better for the family.

Well, got a call from my buddy tonight - price dropped to just $500 - and whether I decide to wheel it or not, there was NO way I could pass that up :)

Gonna pick it up this weekend, so I will glady post pics and more info once it is here...

Originally posted by DRM
Well, got a call from my buddy tonight - price dropped to just $500 - and whether I decide to wheel it or not, there was NO way I could pass that up :)

Gonna pick it up this weekend, so I will glady post pics and more info once it is here...

do it! that thing is prolly worth way more than 500 alone just parting it out

If you want to unload those wussie Q78 tires let me know.

Ron

Originally posted by DRM
Well, got a call from my buddy tonight - price dropped to just $500 - and whether I decide to wheel it or not, there was NO way I could pass that up :)

Gonna pick it up this weekend, so I will glady post pics and more info once it is here...

HELL YEAH DAVID!!!

Originally posted by brector


HELL YEAH DAVID!!!

Now don't get too excited - no clue whether it will become a trail rig or parts donor, or even just sold for some fast profit, but I am not cutting out any of my options yet ;)

Well look what followe me home tonight :D:D:D:D

http://www.tennessee4x4.com/toyota/images/dodge/dodge-01.jpg

http://www.tennessee4x4.com/toyota/images/dodge/dodge-02.jpg


Now I just gotta figure out what to do with it :p

David I'll double your money if you want to sale it!!!!


You came out smelling like a rose.

More pics in the Dodge section:

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=46712

Focus man focus. You have now got a d60 rear(possibly an HD housing) and enough stuff on that rig to make an extra 1200 to 1500 if you part it out. That will have a disc brake front 44 which is soaring in popularity right now. I would part it out and sink all that dough into the toy. JMHO and have fun with it either way.

That's a bad ass truck. For the deal you got it for I would keep it like it is and use it just to knock around in. I wish I came across deals like that. The new tow rig looks good too.