Dodge Product planning flaws

[Princess Valiant]

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.

 

[RustyRatRod]

They just never have made it easy. Build the Ford. That's a good truck.

 

[Dartfreak75]

I think they did alot of stuff based on sale figure projections and stuff like that. How many big block manual transmission trucks would have been sold? I wish they have made an extended cab in the w100. You had to get a w350 to get the extended cab. The 80s d and w series are my favorite trucks and are impossible to find in good shape around here. Im with RustyRatRod buy the Ford thats a dang good looking truck and that 460 is a beast!

 

[jimjimjimmy]

Ford truck chassis and cabs from 89 to 93 are built far better than Dodge if you disagree you got your head stuck up your *** .

 

[WV64Signet]

When I was in the market for a daily driver truck I looked at Dodge... but they only offered locked- in packages with no flexibility....and at the time (this is going back a bit) they were pushing the V-10 engine.

 

[rumblefish360]

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

Each company has its issues.

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

There’s a few really annoying things like, each engine family needs its own K frame, engine mounts, bell housing. There exceptions to the rule, but it’s stuff like that, that drives me crazy.

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?

Sales we’re one issue. Extra machine work saves a dollar, but multiple that over 100,000 cranks to NOT be drilled. EPA - emissions are another. More cost in R&D to be saved. Stroke the small block?

The F & GM camp are just simply more popular and therefore cheaper due to volume.

IMO, Ford has almost always, 99% of the time, under powered there rides. Sure it’s a hot rodders EZ fix. But so is any engine. The GM’s IMO, weren’t as good. Seen more of those busted up than anything. Perhaps it’s the loose nut behind the wheel? IDK?

 

[Dartfreak75]

Ford truck chassis and cabs from 89 to 93 are built far better than Dodge if you disagree you got your head stuck up your *** .

I've never owned one but I know that they are dang tough long lasting trucks. Both my buddys had one as their first vehicle. One was a 89 f150 long bed 300 4speed it had over 250k when he got it and he drove it from 98-2007 it still ran when he got rid of it I tried to buy it but he gave it to his cousin. My other buddy had a 91 f250 long bed 302 5 speed. It was a very clean reliable truck I spent alot time in that truck.

 

[rbkt65]

dodge engineers and planners and big shots, ALL HAD THEIR HEAD UP THEIR AZZ. we went to mopar nats the 1st year in indy. had a bunch of them azzholes looking at race cars and such. we had about a 30 min conversation with them and asked them WHY THEY DON'T BUILD A CREWCAB TRUCK? answer" small, small piece of the pie. i said. look around at the chevys and fords here. still too small they said. i told them, multiply these crew cabs here times rodeos, horse shows, coon dog trials. etc etc and it was like i forgot to turn my volume up. a bunch of DF'S.

 

[mopardude318]

I just don’t like fords. They do some funny weird ****.

with that said, I do own a ‘73 Ford F-350 Super Camper Special. 2 wheeler, 390 with a C5 auto. Decent truck, but it’s kind of a turd and needs a locker in the rear.
I’ll probably LS swap it. Lol

 

[318willrun]

Drop the ball? TBI 454 was a gutless pig, and a 5.9 magnum would haul the mail on them. And I think Dodge figured if you were serious about work, you'd buy a V10 or Cummins. Plenty of manual tranny's behind both

• 460 in 1990 F350: 245 hp and 400 ft trq. Nothing earth shattering for 460 cubic inch/16 valve EFI motor.

 

[318willrun]

Here is my 5.9 Van vs a 454 TBI. IF 454 TBI is the cool factor..... then enjoy ! I've got the video starting on the race against the 454

 

[jos51700]

You gotta remember, dodge was broke in the late 70's until Iococca saved the day. Not the time to focus on anything other than what's keeping the lights on. After Lido came in, things turned around in Dodge truck world in short order, eventually culminating in the stepfender Rams, which put truck world on its ear.

It takes money, and lots of it, to make neat stuff.

Is that d250 a Cummins by chance?

 

[YY1]

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.

 

[Alaskan_TA]

Dodge did better than any big block with the Cummins diesel.

 

[rbkt65]

Hey 318willrun, I read your post, #10, and immediately fell asleep. Just woke up. I enjoyed a 2 1/2 hr nap. Thanks.

 

[RustyRatRod]

Ford truck chassis and cabs from 89 to 93 are built far better than Dodge if you disagree you got your head stuck up your *** .

You might could say the same about the 73-79 IF it's the HD chassis like on the HDF250 and all the F350s.

 

[RustyRatRod]

Drop the ball? TBI 454 was a gutless pig, and a 5.9 magnum would haul the mail on them. And I think Dodge figured if you were serious about work, you'd buy a V10 or Cummins. Plenty of manual tranny's behind both

• 460 in 1990 F350: 245 hp and 400 ft trq. Nothing earth shattering for 460 cubic inch/16 valve EFI motor.

Dodge had what that competed with it in a gas motor?

 

[RustyRatRod]

Drop the ball? TBI 454 was a gutless pig, and a 5.9 magnum would haul the mail on them. And I think Dodge figured if you were serious about work, you'd buy a V10 or Cummins. Plenty of manual tranny's behind both

• 460 in 1990 F350: 245 hp and 400 ft trq. Nothing earth shattering for 460 cubic inch/16 valve EFI motor.

I agree with her. They dropped the ball. BAD. NO rear wheel drive car for what? 27 FARKKIN YEARS. Yeah they dropped the ball and broke it to pieces.

 

[318willrun]

I agree with her. They dropped the ball. BAD. NO rear wheel drive car for what? 27 FARKKIN YEARS. Yeah they dropped the ball and broke it to pieces.

I thought we were talk'n trucks... but ok, but we can head there... they went without a rear wheel drive car for 2 years. '88 Grand Fury was V8, rear wheel drive and the Viper in '91 was rear wheel drive. 2yrs is a far cry from 27 yrs. LOL
And, the OP is talkn' frame swapping, Big block swapping, and we are ending the project because of a pilot that can be machined in the back of a crank?????

 

[RustyRatRod]

I thought we were talk'n trucks... but ok, but we can head there... they went without a rear wheel drive car for 2 years. '88 Grand Fury was V8, rear wheel drive and the Viper in '91 was rear wheel drive. 2yrs is a far cry from 27 yrs. LOL
And, the OP is talkn' frame swapping, Big block swapping, and we are ending the project because of a pilot that can be machined in the back of a crank?????

You know what I meant. They went without for 27 years as far as a pony car. NO competition for rustang of cajunko. That's what I'm talkin about.

And yes, she better end trying to drill a cast crank for a pilot bearing. In all likelihood, whoever drills it will break into an oil passage. I've seen it happen a good. SGBARRACUDA Roy (RIP) had it happen to him more than once. No way would I do it.

 

[318willrun]

You know what I meant. They went without for 27 years as far as a pony car. NO competition for rustang of cajunko. That's what I'm talkin about.

And yes, she better end trying to drill a cast crank for a pilot bearing. In all likelihood, whoever drills it will break into an oil passage. I've seen it happen a good. SGBARRACUDA Roy (RIP) had it happen to him more than once. No way would I do it.

... just for the record, I destroyed any and every 5.0 Fox body with my 4 door Spirit R/T, factory DOHC Intercooled turbo 4 5-speed manual, FWD. That, my friend, was fun !!! Factory production faster than the Z28's and 5.0 GT's.

 

[RustyRatRod]

... just for the record, I destroyed any and every 5.0 Fox body with my 4 door Spirit R/T, factory DOHC Intercooled turbo 4 5-speed manual, FWD. That, my friend, was fun !!! Factory production faster than the Z28's and 5.0 GT's.

Still no pony car. Spin it however you want.

 

[318willrun]

Still no pony car. Spin it however you want.

From trucks to a Pony war... LOL. I love FABO
OP is welcome to buy a Ferd, Chivy, Yota, or a HOnda Ridgeline. None of our permission is needed. She put a 4 speed behind a 440 in a Dart, certainly it can be done in a truck. They came factory that way...

 

[barbee6043]

Dodge did better than any big block with the Cummins diesel.

Fast forward to what '88 or 9? when Dodge went Cummins. Beats the poop out of any gas big block of any ones.

 

[Princess Valiant]

I thought we were talk'n trucks... but ok, but we can head there... they went without a rear wheel drive car for 2 years. '88 Grand Fury was V8, rear wheel drive and the Viper in '91 was rear wheel drive. 2yrs is a far cry from 27 yrs. LOL
And, the OP is talkn' frame swapping, Big block swapping, and we are ending the project because of a pilot that can be machined in the back of a crank?????

Didn't mean to start an argument, especially amongst people i hold in high regard, you know I'm one of your youtube channel fans, so I'm not trying to fight over an internet thread. It was more me thinking out loud and frustrated with our beloved brand.

It's a lot more than a crank that wasn't drilled. It's a ton more issues that can only be solved with a very deep Prada purse.

I am still going to tune in to you regarding small blocks because I am going to finish my dodge truck project but it's just not going to have the list of options and features I had wanted. But it's still a cool old truck that is going to be a very well tuned 318. It's just going to be a cruiser truck not the goose neck hauler that ford is going to be.