It’s happening... First haul!

Nice. Should be a fun project. Will be watching, especially for the Inaugural burnout once it is done...

Ron I'm envious. My "87" 318 has all kinds of issues. However to fix most of it would require engine removal which I keep putting off. I probably will do this summer or fall. The old girl still gets up and goes. Currently I'm still on studded snows but I just ordered some new sneakers for her. I love it when were on the highway and someone wants to display a little horsepower. My truck has 3:90's in the rear. It gets up and goes like heck but then she runs out of breath. That old 318 still runs the speedo out of numbers though.

Man, I love projects like this. Being the natural born greaser that I am, I'll watch everything you show us while you're working on it. Maybe you'll bolt a supercharger on top? Every utility truck needs one, Lol.
Rusty... just call me Smudge.

Hey Ron! Your wrenching on your Dodge! I miss mine. Good on you for keeping the 4sp. manual. less brake-jobs.. I very much enjoyed and depended upon my Dodge products; X2 B300 Tradesman Vans 1974/75 both having 318cu. in. V8's/727-auto. The "Slant-6" was a genuine Mopar workhorse-legend. Remember the Dodge Dart w/the slant-6? or the Polara? Belvedere?

Slant-6! Memories. My first vehicle was my dads 1986 Dodge ram 2 wheel drive automatic with the slant-6! Got it as a birthday gift the day I got my license. Parents had both vehicles filled up and cleaned. Told me to take whichever for the night to go cruising around with, and later that night they called to ask how all was going, and which vehicle I preferred. I said teh truck and they then said happy birthday. Sorry, no pictures that i recall.

Ken Cook wrote:              Ron I'm envious. My "87" 318 has all kinds of issues. However to fix most of it would require engine removal which I keep putting off. I probably will do this summer or fall.  The old girl still gets up and goes. Currently I'm still on studded snows but I just ordered some new sneakers for her. I love it when were on the highway and someone wants to display a little horsepower. My truck has 3:90's in the rear. It gets up and goes like heck but then she runs out of breath. That old 318 still runs the speedo out of numbers though.  

Ken,

Not really familiar with the later model trucks, but essentially they are the same trucks from 72-93. Yours probably has lean burn ignition which has to go. I modified mine to run on a full 12V system, no ballast resistor and a GM HEI unit. Something you may want to look into.

The good thing about having it out is you can replace all the gaskets easily as well as the ancillaries and timing chain which I am sure has stretched by now. You can also have the heads done. Would be like a new truck without too much money spent.

Ron

The slant six is a good engine, it was even an option on my truck however, it’s a little underpowered for this application. The MPG for the 225 slant six and the 318 are virtually the same as you really have to get into it with the six whereas the 318 has plenty of power to move things along comfortably.

I have a 225 slant six should anyone need one.

Ron

Cribbs74 wrote:

I have a 225 slant six should anyone need one.

Ron

It would be a cool old-school marine "inboard" for a small (16ft.) wooden runabout.

I have a Popular Mechanics plan somewhere. My Grandfather had a 12' marine-plywood runabout built from Popular Mechanics plans. It had a 1957 Kiekhaefer/Mercury. 2-stroke 10hp tiller-control outboard.. that would plane-out at 29mph. Good ol' summer days on lake Manchaug in Sutton, MA.

NEW222 wrote:Nice. Should be a fun project. Will be watching, especially for the Inaugural burnout once it is done...

Yeah, I need new tires anyway

I’ll have to keep it tame until after break in...

Got my 78 Power wagon out of storage and fired up yesterday! Right off. the manual choke cable broke in the dash.....so it was a bit tricky with the 4 bbl holley . Under the hood...in the cab...underthe hood,in the cab. Finally got her lit !
Caught this thread late...you done ? 4 spd,2wd...piece of cakeI. I pulled mine out at work on my lunch hour behind the shop. Wife and I installed new engine in the backyard with the engine hoist on a sheet of plywood!......damned fine shape for a 72! She's gonna snort!

roddie wrote:Good ol' summer days on lake Manchaug in Sutton, MA.

Same nostalgia here Roddie. We have a beautiful lake in Hungary, Balaton, where I inherited my parents summer house. My father was very fond of outboard motorboats and managed to somehow import 50HP Mercury then 50HP Johnson and Evinrude motors. (My early touch with great American engines, apart from COX engines..I remember trying to understand the Johnson Manual with an English dictionary on my lap). He towed me and my sister on water skis. What beautiful summers back 45+ years ago! Motor boats are no longer allowed for the public there because of environmental reasons.(so I sail in a midsize Laser instead..)

so it was an orange and white long bed originally?...that just ain't right!

Geez.....blizzard conditions off and on all day here! 70° yesterday!

Today’s progress:

I decided to pull the whole front end off, it make access so much easier and it also allows me really good access to the front suspension. The A-arm bushings are long overdue to be replaced. Now is as good a time as any. I also need to do some welding and metal work on a couple panels. I’ll pull the engine on Monday!

Ron

Cribbs74 wrote:Today’s progress:

I decided to pull the whole front end off, it make access so much easier and it also allows me really good access to the front suspension. The A-arm bushings are long overdue to be replaced. Now is as good a time as any.  I also need to do some welding and metal work on a couple panels. I’ll pull the engine on Monday!

Ron

Ahh, sounds all too familiar Ron.  They start out as a tidy-up and end up a full restoration.  
My currect project was supposed to have a couple of rust spots repaired and I would touch up the paint, just enough to get it on the road.  My son (half owner) wanted to turn it into a little rat-rod, but while he's away (stuck in isolation in another state!) I decided to fix it properly.  There are now so many repairs I have to respray the whole thing.  I had a panel beater do the repairs and I'm trying to teach myself to spray paint.  Might end up a good 50' restoration.
(Looks good from 50' away).  

Is that a Simca? Société Industrielle de Mécanique et de Carrosserie Automobile

You Aussies have some cool cars. I wish we could have received a few of those in North America!

ticomareado wrote:Is that a Simca?    Société Industrielle de Mécanique et de Carrosserie Automobile

No, it's about as French as I am. 1969 Toyota Corolla. Australia was the first place outside of Japan to build them. Assembled here by AMI (Australian Motor Industries) who also built Rambler Hornets and Matadors, as well as Triumphs.

Just a little smaller than Ron's Dodge. 360 ci compared to 65.6 ci. Still a lot of fun.

Is that a Bonneville and an Ossa I see neglected in the corner?  ..or a Rickman? .. Gee....All I did was pull the hood off and radiator out!

Triumph Trident and a Bultaco Sherpa T 350.

I could have gone that route, but wanted to make it real easy. The rad support has some rot because of battery acid and the inner fender has a hole that needs welded, driver fender has a dent down low. So, it’s just easier to remove everything. I would like to clean and paint everything as well.

Loved both Chrysler products I owned, but have not owned one since.

First was a 1965 Dodge Coronet with 273 ci V-8 engine and manual everything. I was told the 273 was a small bore 318 and it was an incredibly reliable engine. Bought it new and drove it for over 12 years and the only change was a homebuilt CDI that all but eliminated the regular distributor and ignition points replacement. Sold it with about 200K miles on the clock, to one of our office secretaries. She was still driving it to work daily almost 2 years later when we last spoke.

Second was a 1973 Plymouth Fury VIP with 440 ci Hemi V-8, automatic transmission and everything powered! Had a 4-barrel carb and would squeal the tires at almost any speed! Loved the deep growl when the back 2 barrels opened up and the G forces slammed you back in your seat! Only work ever required on the Fury was 2 or 3 rebuilt starters and to repair damage my oldest daughter did trying to boon dock with her teenage friends. Would love to have another car like that, but don't think I could afford the gas at todays prices.

Bill

Cribbs74 wrote:Today’s progress:

I decided to pull the whole front end off, it make access so much easier and it also allows me really good access to the front suspension. The A-arm bushings are long overdue to be replaced. Now is as good a time as any.  I also need to do some welding and metal work on a couple panels. I’ll pull the engine on Monday!

Ron

Only way to do it Ron.





Wish I were there to help.  Nothing I like better than being elbow deep in these things.

Following and enjoying your thread.

Bob