Are we all just SOL for anything dodge now?

[sparks57]

Are we all just out of luck for getting any parts for our trucks???



This is absolute BULL. I can't find anything for my truck in terms of the dodge part of the truck through the dealer, and finding it anywhere else is extremely time consuming and ussualy fruitless.



I have needed several things lately, and I've been SOL on all of it because DC only had to keep the stuff for 10 years.



I think they need to bump that law up to 15 years.



But anyways, I just had to vent.



The other thing that I need is one of those stupid little blue light bulb covers that goes behind the gauges. The one that was in there fell out the other day, and when I opened up the dash I noticed the bulb cover that was in there was not the right size.

 

[midwestdually]

i feel your pain:{

 

[banzaitoyota]

I was able to get the correct battey cables for my 92 from the Stealership

 

[Greenleaf]

Not had difficulties yet. So far so good. Ya gots ta shop around. Lots of stuff out there. If ya can't find it, just ask!



Scott

 

["Mad Max"]

parts stores

CB -I think those little bulbs are available new at the local Kragen's or other parts stores. If you take the original in you can probably match it up. They might even be on the little Help racks i the isles. Also, NAPA's books will probably have a picture of the bulb to match it up. If that works postthe results because it's only a matter of time till mine burns out too...

Hope that helps... . actually now I'm curious so I may dig a bit and see what I can find out.

- S

 

[sparks57]

It's not the actual bulb, but the colored cover to it.

 

[Sled Puller]

Greensburg Machine And Driveline.



Specializing in DANA/SPICER performance driveshafts and modifications, shortening, bearing kits, tri-axle shafts, race car shafts, circle track.

Greensburgh Machine carries a complete line of cross-over U-joints, performance SPICER joints, Yokes, front axles for Dana 44/60's. They make some of the the strongest truck pulling drive shafts on the market, and cut fly wheels for ceramic clutches.



"we fabricate obsolete parts,"



and overhaul OEM axles and driveshafts.



724-837-8233 Shop 724-433-0527 - cell





You may want to make a note of this shop. The owner BLEEDS Dodge 1st Gens, and back, well before the Cummins.

 

[dpuckett]

CB-



I empathize with you completely. I have given up on finding any parts here, or having to wait a week for them to come in. That is where the TDR comes in . No one around here rund these puny six cylinder engines.



Last time I was at Wal Mart, they had colored 168/ 194 bulbs. I may get green ones next time I have to do dash bulbs- match my guages with their green covers. BTW- where do you get the TINY bulbs that go in the ISSPRO EV guages? You'd think, ENHANCED visibility, BIGGER bulbs, but these things are the size of a BB. Ok, maybe a soybean, but no bigger.



Daniel

 

[CDegner]

Don't use the green bulbs. Use the blue! Believe it or not, the bulb covers in our truck are actually blue. Iv you use the blue bulbs, it is an almost exact match.



I know, your dash looks green. So did mine... and it still does with the blue bulbs. Don't ask me why, I don't know.



I had a couple burned out bulbs. I went the route of replacing the ALL the bulbs. in the dash. Unfortunately, the bulb/holder is a one piece assembly. Went and bought the bulbs and separate holders. Now the holders don't make as good of contact as the originals. It is like musical dash lights. Which ones will be on tonight?



Carl

 

[sparks57]

Yes, the covers are blue.



Blue+yellow=green.



The light from the bulb is yellow, and the cover is blue.

 

[quikshft]

I mess around with 60's and 70's vintage Dodge/Plymouth musclecars. In the 80's when interest in these cars was starting to climb, the way to get obsolete parts or even replacement parts was a visit to a wrecking yard. You wouldn't believe the cars I used to see in a selve serve yard in Fresno California 10 to 15 years ago. Once there was a demand for reproductions of original parts for these old cars, the aftermarket tooled up and started making available to the hobbiest some very nice quality repops. (some not so nice but... )

I'm afraid that in the case of 1st generation Dodge diesel pickups the demand is not going to justify the expense of tooling up for some of the things we'll find we need. Choices are to bail (I sold a couple cars I KICK myself for letting go, because I didn't believe there would ever be 'correct' parts available to help in the restoration) and the second choice is to improvise. I think improvisation will be satisfactory here. Part of what drives many people to restore (restore = return to ORIGINAL condition) is the higher degree of value (read $$$) that a nicely restored vintage musclecar will have. For us with the 1st Gen CTD's I don't think this will ever be an issue, we want the trucks to look and work (and perform) well, if an original part is available and works well, we'll use it. There's no reason to use an original part if an aftermarket part will work better. For example I run a points ignition in my '71 SuperBee... that's really nuts when there are reasonably priced electronic units available, but they just aren't "right". If we can't find original parts for our trucks, then we'll find out what works well at places like the TDR and keep our trucks running. That's what makes the sharing of information here so valuable and why it's indeed fun to come here, I learn something that's going to save me some time chasing down problems with incorrect cures, and I'll save money by fixing problems with cures that work the first time. My concern is that I'm not able to help others too much here, I'm still learning about these trucks and what it takes to keep them running, so I appreciate that there are guys here who will answer the same old questions over and over to the benefit of others like me.

 

[dpuckett]

Originally posted by CDegner

Don't use the green bulbs. Use the blue! Believe it or not, the bulb covers in our truck are actually blue. Iv you use the blue bulbs, it is an almost exact match. /B]

I knew that, but, my guage light covers are green. REmove the blue covers in the dash, and the green ought to match the guage lights, though I have yet to prove or disprove this. BUt if your guages have the 168/ 194 bulbs, you can use teh blue bulbs in there.



Daniel