Dodge Trucks....Don Knotts style

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Princess Valiant

Princess Valiant

A.K.A. Rainy Day Auto
Joined
Dec 14, 2011
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So I have never been much into trucks, I have a somewhat contemporary Ford for hauling a lot Dusters around. I don't pay much attention to it other than maintenance like any other good vehicle.

$300. Bucks recently changed my life and how I look at trucks. I ended up with a 70 dodge D100 with a slant six/NP435, 8 3/4 with 3.55 gears.

Like most 50 year old trucks, it looks beat and old fashion compared to these modern mini semis on the road today.
As I looked closer at it, i found it to very rust free, ...no rust in the step in the door threshold at all. The body is dented and and randomly primed but not much rust to speak of. The more I look at it l, the more i think it's the best money i have spent all year. LoL

Who else here is in to dodge pick ups.

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As soon as I googled dodge sweptline, this video came up. Same drivetrain, and makes me want to keep the slanty and everything as it is.

 
I had a '70 Dodge. lift the hood and the fenders are work bench's, not even kidding.
I like the old dodge trucks, including the 1st gen rams. Right now I don't have an "old" dodge pickup truck, just my two ramchargers ('77 & '85) plus my '01 Ram 2500
 
The slanty in the truck is OK. Your just not going to do anything FAST! But it’ll get the job done. I like my new truck. A ‘18/HEMI-8spd. My ‘03 Dakota quad cab has the V6-4spd. It’s OK. Doggie in the summer heat. Lively in the cool and cold days. Sucker goes through snow like a Husky comes alive when it snows. Excellent excellent in the snow.
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I had a 71 D-100 short bed back in the 90's.I swapped out the 225 with a 318 and put a set of the 15x7 police rims on it with trim rings and center caps from a Cordoba. It made a nice little truck. I ended up trading it for a 70 coronet R/T. Bet I couldn't do that nowdays. Only rust it had was in the cowl corners between the hood and windshield. Wish I had pictures of it.
 
I've got a '76 w200 w/400ci, F/T 4wd converted to P/T 4wd(which I highly recommend); '86 D250 w/318ci and 4spd manual; '89 Shelby Dakota, runs very strong 0 to 50mph; and '01 Ram 3500 4wd dually w/v10 which runs like a top but barely gets 10mpg.
I had a '75 Ramcharger 4wd factory 440 truck, loaded, blk/blk, which I kind of customized by changing over to '78 or '79 trim and custom painted it.
 
My first truck was a brand new little 88 Dakota shortbed 2wd v6 auto.
Sold that a year later to buy an 89 Shelby Dakota, which I still own.
In 1993, I picked up $200 76 D100 long bed 318/auto with only 46k on it. Great daily beater. I couldn't hurt it.
In 2000, sold the beater for $800, gave that money to my brother for his 85 D100 shortbed 318/auto. Was also a heat daily beater.
Sept 1996, a month before Jacob was born, bought a 97 1500 4wd extended cab 5.9 magnum/auto.
Absolutely loved that truck, and wish I could have kept it when I upgraded to the 05 2500 more door 4wd diesel in 07.
No issues with the 05. Great truck. Almost love it as much as the 97. Bought it for the specific purpose of better fitting the growing family and dragging the 5th wheel condo up and down the east coast 10-12 times a year.
Somewhere in the mid 90''s I had a 47 International that I was semi-rat rodding before rat rods were a thing. Had an 85? Diplomat cop car k frame hub to hub with the 318 on it that I was going to fit under it. Gave the truck away in 99 when the 69 Fury ragtop came to me from its original owner for free. Just didn't have the space at the time.
 
I have owned two, drove them as a work truck for a Med center for 10 years, an auto body store used them here in town (Hughay Auto parts) mine was 70 and 71 models .
Congratulations Rainy, these are hard to find around here now and would love to have another one day :thumbsup:
 
I've mentioned this a few times, Grampa had an old Fargo, slant 6. Grampa was a farmer so was his truck. Dad called it the "fart n go" lol. Due to a backfire and puff of black smoke leaving the set of lights lol. I bought an 84 Prospector in Saskatchewan and sold it last year when I bought my new '17 Ram.
If I had the gumption I would have an old truck, nothing like it.
 
Buddy had a ‘66 fargo 4x4 shortbox. That thing was a hoot.
Ran it for a many years.

I have had my 80 power wagon for 25 or so years,now its just resting, i run it around the yard in the summer. Soon its going under the knife. Two donor trucks waiting.
 
Have you checked to see if you have the big plate behind the engine , I am thinking a V8 can be installed on some that do, or am I confused
 
I've had trucks for 30 + years, From 440 powered to the Chrysler V6, lifted to stock. Once you get one its hard to be without one!
 
Other people are fretting about whether or not their antique auto will go up or down in value based on the what might happens.
Over past years trucks have tended to bottom out and hold value.
I'm thinking that if you didn't spend a lot for it an old truck will always be in demand one way or another.
So it probably is the best money you've spent in a while.
Looking at it from that angle anyway.
 
Grain trucks are always low mile, good condition generally, but they are usually highly regarded and never seem to sell very cheap!!

Back in 80's I pulled 6 horse goosenecks, with 1 t. chevy 454 crew cabs, 4 speeds. One day I drove to Ia. from Mo. to big used truck dealer and bought a C65 427 5 speed, 2 speed axle, added a 36 inch sleeper box, built a custom hauler bed. what a great pulling truck with that properly geared speed, never need the 2 speed axle!!

Old 60-70 Dodge trucks are a hoot, all size and engine! I had a couple, and love em!

According to Hagerty pickups are HOT right now, for all older and younger generations of enthusiasts, especially C10 chevy stuff!!
 
I had a '67 Power Wagon POS, all rotted out, good bed, mint grille. Moving it around back, my asshat roommates shoved it into a tree, ruining the grille, which I was going to take off. Then I sold it for nothing, and my dumbass sold it with the stepside box, which had nice fenders! I still kick myself for that one. It was a/6 4 speed. Sat nice and high in stock form.

I had my '72 crew cab stepside 4wd W200 that should be under it's in power this year.

Go over to Fortrucks only.com and help another if Joey's sites!
 
For the cost of a trans replacement in one of those new trucks you could replace the entire drivetrain with brand new stuff in Rani's truck.
The more they add and change on the new trucks the less reliable and more expensive they get to fix.
 
Forgot to add, if you want to see a sick build of the sweptline era trucks, @Tincup has one he is working on, it's documented over on FTO.
 
I am keeping the slant for sure, just picked up a 2bbl. Slant setup from fabo members.

The thing I am thinking is keep the NP 345 or swap in a truck 833 OD??

I have a truck OD in my stash
 
I sure miss this truck! Wish I would have never sold it. 1973 Powerwagon 3/4 ton 4x4. 318 with a granny low 4 speed. I bought it with no bed and drove to Alabama to find the rust free 76 Bed that's on the truck in these pictures.

I've been looking for a 60's sweptline 3/4 ton 4x4. Talk about hard to find. I've never owned a 60's sweptline and would love to!

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TrailBeast said:
For the cost of a trans replacement in one of those new trucks you could replace the entire drivetrain with brand new stuff in Rani's truck.
The more they add and change on the new trucks the less reliable and more expensive they get to fix.
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So darn true!!! Have you noticed the ads for the new , is it Chevy??, pickup, the tailgate opens by it frigging self!!?????? ha
 
I love the old dodges the 69-71have the best looking grilles IMHO. Not a big fan of the earlier 4 googley eyed ones. Love the refrigerator door pulls on these old trucks to.
 
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