4 door crew conversion...Need input

[pwerwagn]

Ok, so I recently stumbled across an 84 W350 crew thats been wrecked. Ironically, the truck was my uncles years ago, and it was fully restored and was an amazingly clean truck. It sold for ~10K$ about 4 years ago, with a 360/4 speed in it. Was CLEAN. Well, the current owner wrecked it. Front clip is gone. He then sold the motor. So, as the truck sits... It has a 60 front, 60 rear, 435/205 combo, Frame, bed is decent (shortbed, what I want), but has some dings. The biggest problem, is the drivers side front door/back door are pretty much unuseable. Im afraid that finding a back door will be hard?

I have a 93 4x4 ex cab auto truck (complete), that I want to pull the drive train out of and put in the 84. Then I also have a 74 power wagon, that I will put the 60 front from the 84 under.

So... my first dilemma. How much is a Cab, frame, axles and trans/tcase worth? I fear finding a rear door is going to be tough? I see complete running 4 doors go for ~2500$ occasionally, and this guy wants close to that for this truck. But I also realize a dana 60 front is ~1000$ depending on the buyer/seller...

I think I know my answer but I want reassurance haha.

--Jeff

 

[pwerwagn]

I forgot to mention my other "issue". Ive always wanted to build a 72-79 4 door, with a 74-76 grill and paint it like a 77/78 macho. BUT... the 72-79's are HARD to find useable.

So, Im contemplating either a 80's 4 door with a 93 grill, all white to match my 3rd gen.

Or, a 72-79 4 door painted like a 77/78 macho.

HMMMMMM.

 

[Shadrach]

I think if you look hard enough , even on here, you will find a good rear door, especially in NM with your climate. I know where there are some but I'm too far away. It can be off any year. The interior trim panels are different on the 80's trucks. Just remember it will cost LOTS to build, because it's hard to know where to stop. Shadrach

 

[DVolk]

Watch craig list there out there !!!!!!!!

 

[pwerwagn]

I've watched craigs here for a year just for a 4 door cab period... and this is the first 80's 4 door thats popped up that I've seen. I have a buddy that runs south coors truck salvage here too, and he said they are getting pretty hard to come by. I guess there is enough to do before needing the door, that I should be able to find one during the build haha.

Im already planning on it costing LOTS more than I realize. Oh well... thats what money is made for right?

 

[JHumphries]

I have a 79 D250 crew cab with all of the sheet metal, just not all assembled. The leading edge of the cab was rusted and the previous owner cut it out and started to weld on the replacement. It has sat outside. The cab has a lot of surface rust on it. I was planning on junking the whole setup, as I don't have the money or time to build it like I want to. I would much rather it go to someone who is going to use it. All of the suspension is from an 84 D150, though. I have almost all of the parts to reassemble the truck tucked away in boxes or another truck.

 

[RSchwarzli]

Thanks for starting a thread on this!



Well, you have a plan. That is step one.



Two, rear door is easy. car-part.com has many.



As for merging three trucks, that will be cheaper than having one and buying parts for it. I know that now!



What you really need to be mindful of is just how much time and money will go into this. I have 3-4000 hours into mine. Dollars I dont even want to know. And I am still not done!



If you really want to do it, it can be done and the parts are out there. Look up some of the Dodge truck sites that sell parts and you can locate what you need. Really it comes down to how much drive you have. In other words, you get into year 5, do you still want to go at it, or are you ready to give up after 1?



My thoughts.

 

[pwerwagn]

Eh, I never really "finish" anything, but I never quit either. I have a 74 that Ive been building since 97... but I get it to a drivable stage, drive it for a while, then tear it back apart and improve.

Also have a 95 ranger I just got 90% done, class 7 desert race truck.

I see where you are getting at though. My sorta plan right now, is to get the 4 door, throw the 93 front clip and all on it and the 93 drive train (the 84 has 4. 10's), and get it drive able. Then go from there. It will be a never ending project, but Im the person who get something and keeps it. I still have my first truck, 77 power wagon macho, that I bought when I was 13 haha.

Thanks for the input guys. Im dealing on the price of this 84 now, I hope we can come to an agreement and I can get this started.

 

[pwerwagn]

Some of my other projects. Dont have pics of em all. Im kinda hoping the crew can be a project with my dad as well. He helped me alot with the 74, would be cool if he could get in on the 84 as well. He just finished a ground up on his CJ7, so now he has the time.



74 dodge W100. Started life as a half ton, bronze metallic and I bought it in 97 99% stock and original. This is it a few years back, looks better now, has different rear suspension, lowered a bit, etc. Has a built 360, built 727, 205, 44hd front (soon to be a 60 if I pick up the 84), 14b rear, lockers, 5. 13's, etc... the ONLY thing I didnt do myself was the window tint. Everything else was alllll me.



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This is the class 7 ranger. Me and 3 other friends have been building it for about a year and a half. Started as a stock 95 ranger. Still has a stock 4. 0/5 speed. I just finished building the 9" rear for it last weekend, and it got to take its first drive. Has ~28" of rear travel, and right now the front is strapped at ~21" but that will prob change a bit.

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My dads 86 CJ-7. Started life as a totally stock CJ, now its a 350TBI, nv4500, 1000% line-x'ed hemi orange, lockers f/r, 4. 10's, 4", etc...



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And my 04. I bought this with some of the mods done, but Ive re-done pretty much everything on it.

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[pwerwagn]

I have a 79 D250 crew cab with all of the sheet metal, just not all assembled. The leading edge of the cab was rusted and the previous owner cut it out and started to weld on the replacement. It has sat outside. The cab has a lot of surface rust on it. I was planning on junking the whole setup, as I don't have the money or time to build it like I want to. I would much rather it go to someone who is going to use it. All of the suspension is from an 84 D150, though. I have almost all of the parts to reassemble the truck tucked away in boxes or another truck.

I am going to really consider this as well. Can you send me pics of it? I have a soft spot for the 72-79 trucks.



-- email address removed --

 

[pwerwagn]

Found 2 doors within reasonable distance on car-part.com. Thanks for that heads up.

 

[JHumphries]

Check out these guys as well. It may say Lil Red Express, but door seals and hardware are the same.
http://www.dodgeconnection.com/DodgeConnectionHome.html
I will try to get some pics tomorrow.

 

[pwerwagn]

Did some more wheeling and dealing on the 4 door last night and got him down some. Here are some pics of it. It has a bed, just not in the pics.

How much you guys think its worth? No front clip. No motor. Has 435/205 still, drive shafts, and f/r 60's. Interior is all there. Drivers side front/rear doors are pretty much not useable.

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[RSchwarzli]

Looks nice and solid. That is a few points on his side.



No front clip is on yours.

 

[pwerwagn]

I think I'm gonna pick it up this weekend. Got it down to 1K$, figure I probably won't find much better for that price, and my 74 can finally get a 60 front under it.

 

[RSchwarzli]

That was the number I was playing with in my head.



I say its a good deal.



Be sure to post some big pics when you get it!

 

[Flexiheep]

1K sounds reasonable, I gave 400 for just a cab shell, glass and doors 3 years ago. I think if it has the interior in it your doing well, things like the seat risers for the bench are nice because the crew has the flat floor in front.

Good luck with it don't forget to find the crew conversion thread in the conversion forum, lots of good tricks in there... ...

 

[pwerwagn]

The "this would be nice... " thoughts have already started.

My 93 is an auto... and my "hmmm, Id rather have a 4500" thinking has already started. So has the "I have a spare 913 pump laying around. . "

 

[pwerwagn]

What do you guys think I should title this as? Im leaning towards the 84. Here in NM its cake to get them to put diesel on the title.

Has anyone sold the parts from their ~93 donor truck? Ill have a cab, long bed, frame, and a few other parts I wont need. Im going to use a lot of the 93 interior because Id prefer the grey over the tan that the 84 has.

Also, what about the dash? I'm kinda thinking of using the 93 dash, since Im using the 93 clip. What do you guys think would be "cooler"?

 

[RSchwarzli]

Older = no emissions, less hassle. Mo opinion.



Also what the what ifs. That is a costly road! :-laf