Dodge Product planning flaws

[plumkrazee70]

One of my tenants, who always complains about not having money but manages to buy brand new full size trucks every five years...

Told me his 70,000 mile LS 5.3 developed a "known design problem"- and dropped a push rod into the cylinder (!) causing a $5,000 plus non-warranty repair.

??

First I've heard of that.

Is that a common, low mile gm LS issue?

He does tow a trailer with a carpet cleaning machine and a travel trailer.

...but my 170,000 mile Dakota 5.9 tows full size cars and trucks across the state.

Yes, cam and lifters is a know problem with the 5.3. we do them all the time at work. It's especially prevelent on the vvt motors.

 

[318willrun]

Spirit is still wrong wheel drive.

what got me worse than the FWD is no V8 sound. I mean, they had front wheel drive cars in the 60's, but with big blocks the game was changed because of the sound.

 

[Professor Fate]

So I have a 70 D100 slant six truck and I found a 90 ram D250 parts truck. Easy, frame swap, so I'm in the process and then I realize dodge never made a big block ram because there were no big blocks after 78.

Back to the original post-
Princess, be careful with a full-frame swap for your '70- the later frames have a kick-up behind the cab that requires raising the bed a couple inches, which on the Sweptlines looks really goofy since none of the body lines line up anymore- you can get away with it on a Utiline box, though; since there are no gig lines.
The most common solution is a frame splice, welding the later front end to the earlier rear half, putting the splice under the cab (frames are the same width in this location) and fishplating the seam. Extra work, but still worth the effort as it gains you independent front suspension, disc brakes and power steering.
Lots of good info on this on the Sweptline and DTA forums, but they're kind of awkard and require some digging...
Sweptline.ORG - Index page
DTAForums :: Dodge Sweptline Truck General Discussion

 

[JDMopar]

Exactly and dodge guys always have to bring up the Cummins because there is no other way to run. With any luck the diesel will become a thing of the past in non commercial, light trucks.

 

[sireland67]

Really ? I've never seen one ! That would be cool to fond one. I know they had the club can in the 70s tin grille trucks but I've never seen one in the 80s

Dad bought one brand new 78 W-150 club cab short box, he still has it, quit using it.
When he parked it, it would still drive down the interstate with one finger on the wheel.
Rear main leafs were cracked, he was too cheap to put $500 in new set of springs.
360 4-speed 3.55 sure-grip, its an old tank of a truck.

 

[sireland67]

A crown vic swap is pretty easy on a sweptline, my cousin is doing one in his 69.

 

[Professor Fate]

A crown vic swap is pretty easy on a sweptline, my cousin is doing one in his 69.

But she wants to keep it as a 3/4 ton, and that means 8 lugs.

 

[sireland67]

I had a 56 dodge truck that had factory 16" rims in 4.5 bolt pattern. Most likely will not clear disk brakes.
Summit still sells 16" 4.5 bolt pattern rims.

 

[Princess Valiant]

Back to the original post-
Princess, be careful with a full-frame swap for your '70- the later frames have a kick-up behind the cab that requires raising the bed a couple inches, which on the Sweptlines looks really goofy since none of the body lines line up anymore- you can get away with it on a Utiline box, though; since there are no gig lines.
The most common solution is a frame splice, welding the later front end to the earlier rear half, putting the splice under the cab (frames are the same width in this location) and fishplating the seam. Extra work, but still worth the effort as it gains you independent front suspension, disc brakes and power steering.
Lots of good info on this on the Sweptline and DTA forums, but they're kind of awkard and require some digging...
Sweptline.ORG - Index page
DTAForums :: Dodge Sweptline Truck General Discussion

I noticed what you're saying as far as the "kickups" but a slight body lift on the cab solved that without looking too bad on the mock up stage. My friend did the same swap but he wanted a lowered truck and had a hell of a time with the kick ups. I on the other hand don't want my truck down in the weeds so a lift here and there is actually preferred.

 

[MOPAROFFICIAL]

So I never thought I would say this but truth is truth.
Its hard being a dodge fan.

Dodge did some pretty dumb **** over the years and that had a negative impact on the hot rodder and enthusiast to come.

So I wanted to build a bad *** classic dodge truck. My specs were ....3/4 ton, big block, 4x4, manual transmission. Bad *** big truck.

So I have a 70 D100 slant six truck and I found a 90 ram D250 parts truck. Easy, frame swap, so I'm in the process and then I realize dodge never made a big block ram because there were no big blocks after 78. What the H!, Chevy had the 454 and ford had the 460 into the 90s and both were developed into EFI, why did dodge drop the ball?

So I figure, no problem, a 440 will solve that and it should work with the existing np435 from the slant six truck. WRONG!!!! 1. 99% of cast crank 440s weren't drilled for a manual trans (stupid!!, thanks a lot dodge) 2. A big block bellhousing for a truck is nearly impossible to find and when one came up on eBay, it bid up to 8 hundo. (low budget out the door)

Everything on the dodge is expensive and like pulling teeth and I still have a small block.

then I run into this. F350, 460, 4 speed, 4x4, all for 400 hundred bucks, everything on the checklist. Parts are mega available and swapping it to a Zf5 5 speed is affordable and is something that can realistically happen.

Gee, Maybe there is a reason fords, Chevy, and other brands are so popular.

why can't dodge ever make anything easy.

View attachment 1715891059

You need to run a convertor hub pilot bearing and A. Drill a bigger pilot hole than stock with a BIG hand drill OR Drill PRESS to let the input shaft in.. or B. Lop off 1.25 " of input shaft . Some people cut some off anyways to make it easier to drop the motor in 'trans already in car'. Mine is about 3/4. Uses either bushing OR bearing. Not much has been easy or cheap with dodges. You get smart or get out...and the deals takes years to form a stock pile that will keep you the rest of your life.

 

[Princess Valiant]

But she wants to keep it as a 3/4 ton, and that means 8 lugs.

Exactly, more so than a hot rod truck, id like to build one that can pull a trailer loaded with hay or move a few heifers at a time. Down the road I can even see buying a gooseneck RV trailer.