What changed visually from model year to model year?

[RSchwarzli]

When I walk up to a first gen, I can always tell if it is a 89-90 or a 91-93. That's easy.



But it is hard to tell from the exterior why year in those two ranges are. If you look at the dash of a 89 you can see the dash is different from a 90 but as far as exterior???



Anyone know what changed on the exterior between the years? I believe some had amber turn signals while others had clear, but other than that...



Anyone??



If we need to, post up a good pic of you whatever year stock truck and we can do a comparing.



Thanks.

 

[NIsaacs]

At one time, back in the day, I could tell on the '67-72 and '73-79 Fords, but I think you about mentioned all the changes on a Dodge. They were not ones to change much and still don't. It will be fun to search tho, there might be more then meets the normal eye



Nick

 

[jgillott]

Don't have a picture of it unfortunately, but my former '92 extended cab LE package truck was a 2 tone red and white. There was a pin stripe between the upper and middle paint colors. If I remember correctly, that stripe came about after the front end change. I could be wrong, but I don't remember seeing that on the earlier trucks.

 

[JHumphries]

From the Good Book
1989 Dodge Trucks
"The D350 dual-rear-wheel pickup was added to the model lineup in order to maximize the load capacity of Cummins-powered pickups and chassis cabs. "


Pickups:

• D250 Wheelbase 131" 8 ft box
• W250 Same as D250
• D350 Wheelbase 131" 8 ft box
• W350 Same as D350

Chassis Cabs:

• D350
  • 131" wb 8,700 lb GVW
  • 135" wb 10,100 lb GVW
  • 159" wb 10,500 lb GVW
• W250
  • 131" wb 8,510 lb GVW
• W350
  • 131" wb 8,750 lb GVW
  • 135" wb 10,100 lb GVW

Also of note: "Dodge produced 17,000 5. 9-liter Cummins diesel-powered trucks in 1989. However, dealers took orders for 10,000 more units than the factory could build. "

 

[JHumphries]

1990 Dodge Trucks
"Diesel-powered trucks were also given the Club Cab"


Pickups:

• D250
  • Club Cab Long Box
  • Long Box
• W250
  • Club Cab Long Box
  • Long Box
• D350
  • Long Box
• W350
  • Long Box

Chassis Cabs:

• D350
  • 131" wb 8,700 lb GVW
  • 135" wb 10,100 lb GVW
  • 159" wb 10,500 lb GVW
• W250
  • 131" wb 8,510 lb GVW
• W350
  • 131" wb 8,750 lb GVW
  • 135" wb 10,100 lb GVW

The same wheelbases continued through 1993 with one addition:
1992 "Also new for D/W350 pickups was a dual rear wheel option for Club Cab models"

1993 "A heavy-duty snow plow package was available with the 5. 9-liter turbo-diesel engine on the standard cab and cab-chassis models. A super-duty transmission oil cooler was offed. It actually became available late inn the 1992 model year as a dealer-installed option on standard and Club Cab pickups with the 5. 9-liter diesel with automatic transmission. "

"On December 5, 1991 Dodge built its 100,000th Dodge Ram Pickup equipped with a Cummins turbo-diesel engine. Dodge was beginning to make serious inroads into Ford's larger share of the light-duty diesel engine truck business. Ford and Navistar were working night and day on updating their V-8 diesel and meanwhile Dodge was walking away with their customers. "

 

[JHumphries]

So, to make a short story long:
If it is a Club Cab with the old grill it is a 1990
If it is a one ton Club Cab it is a 1992 or 1993

Those are the big changes. Unfortunately the pictures are all black and white, so I can't help much there.

The few pictures I just looked at on Google, 1989 and 1990 both have amber lenses on the front turn signals. 1991, 2, and 3 all have clear lenses.

 

[Greenleaf]

The dash is different between 1989 and 1990???



What is the difference?

 

[NIsaacs]

When did they quit using the Ram on the hood? 91. 5 maybe, same as the grill change?



Nick

 

[Paychk]

Last of the hood Ram was 89, I believe.

 

[DThibault]

I have a 92 parts truck that I think is still stock and there is a goldish colored ram on the hood. Should I put it on my project 91?

 

[RSchwarzli]

"The D350 dual-rear-wheel pickup was added to the model lineup in order to maximize the load capacity of Cummins-powered pickups and chassis cabs. "



:

Wow! Thanks for all the info! Very detailed.



One issue with this line though... . pretty sure duallys were already available! :-laf

The dash is different between 1989 and 1990???



What is the difference?

89 and earlier had a yellowish coloured speedo and cluster. Was also a slightly different style.



As for the moulded plastic, 89 and earlier had a speaker in the dash just above the glove box.

When did they quit using the Ram on the hood? 91. 5 maybe, same as the grill change?



Nick

Last of the hood Ram was 89, I believe.

As far as I know, it was sometime in the model changeover from 90-91. My 1990 came with it from the factory. I have also seen some 91s with it. Not sure if they were owner added though.

 

[Greenleaf]

Hey, Schwarzli ... ... ... .



Is that you in the video standing, in front of your 90 at the Columbus IN campground... ... ..... ?!!??



I love to get out there. I have much on my plate with operating a blacksmith shop and working full time... ... . JLeonard thinks I work part time, with a government job, but I resemble that remark!!



Scott

 

[RSchwarzli]

Hey, Schwarzli ... ... ... .



Is that you in the video standing, in front of your 90 at the Columbus IN campground... ... ..... ?!!??



I love to get out there. I have much on my plate with operating a blacksmith shop and working full time... ... . JLeonard thinks I work part time, with a government job, but I resemble that remark!!



Scott

Depends on if you are wanting to make fun of the shorts like HH does.



Well, you will get another chance. The idea is to do the plant meet every 2 years. So that marks 15 months for you to find some free time.



And don't worry about JL..... he thinks many things! :-laf:-{}

 

[RSchwarzli]

The dash is different between 1989 and 1990???



What is the difference?

Also forgot the speedo cluster is fed by a cable... . not electronic.

 

[JLEONARD]

And don't worry about JL..... he thinks many things!

And he likes to get off track:-laf

 

[RSchwarzli]

Whittle ole me?