1989 Dodge W350 Diesel Build

[barnstormer]

I guess its time to start my thread. My goal is to have a simple, inexpensive, reliable adventure vehicle. So, I bought this 1989 Dodge 1 ton 4x4 diesel from a friend.
Its a good base for an adventure vehicle. Most of the stuff you would want to upgrade on a lighter duty truck is already done on a 1 ton. Dana 60 front, Dana 70 rear axles. The Cummins makes more power than I'll ever need, but even more is readily on tap with a few minor tweaks to the injection pump and such. Its got coolers on everything, huge fuel capacity, etc..
This truck even has some adventure under its belt already! It has made a round trip from Colorado to Honduras and back already, in it present (stock) form.
My plans include:
Paint (desert tan)
New(er) seats, probably from a later Dodge truck
Either a different topper or a FWC or similar pop-up camper
Veggie oil tank/plumbing
Larger tires (probably a 285/75/16, or similar, E rated)
Lots of adventure goodies

Thanks for any input, I'll update here as things progress.

 

[olympiccop2002]

I can't wait to see what you do to it! I love that era of Dodge trucks!

Bjorn

 

[haven]

When you have a chance, please tell us how many miles is on the engine, and the sort of fuel economy you're seeing. There are many claims of very high mpg for a truck like yours floating around the net. It will be useful to get the straight story.

Chip Haven

 

[theMec]

When you have a chance, please tell us how many miles is on the engine, and the sort of fuel economy you're seeing. There are many claims of very high mpg for a truck like yours floating around the net. It will be useful to get the straight story.

Chip Haven

donnyh has a similar truck. On this thread he reports this (with respect to the change w/ his new camper)
All in all, I'm a happy camper, even though my milage dropped from the 16s (19s if babied, 15s driving it like a demon, average 16s) to the 13s, I don't know if it's the extra 800lbs or wind drag, some of both I suspect.

 

[barnstormer]

I'm not sure of the total mileage on the truck. This era of Dodge trucks had a 5 digit odometer. Mine says 21xxx miles. My guess, based on the rest of the truck, is 221k.
I drove the truck about 200 miles to get it home the first day. I'd say it got about 18 or so MPG.
I've heard that plenty of folks can get ~20mpg pretty regularly. It was one of the reasons I chose this type of truck.

Brian

 

[nickw]

Great MPG

I'm not sure of the total mileage on the truck. This era of Dodge trucks had a 5 digit odometer. Mine says 21xxx miles. My guess, based on the rest of the truck, is 221k.
I drove the truck about 200 miles to get it home the first day. I'd say it got about 18 or so MPG.
I've heard that plenty of folks can get ~20mpg pretty regularly. It was one of the reasons I chose this type of truck.

Brian

Very true! There was an article in a recent Diesel mag that pitted the older 12 valve design (albeit in a 2wd truck) against some of the newer, chipped, gung-ho 24 valve engines. Every mod was to gain MPG and dont quote me on this, but I THINK the 12 valve got something like 26 mpg...definately mid 20's.

I love those trucks, good decision. I think in desert tan with some black wheels and a nice ARB up front would be the ticket.

Good luck and take pics in the buildup process.

 

[wild1]

Dodge w350

One of my coworkers had a very similar truck that he flogged unmercifully for nearly 400,000 miles with nothing more serious then a trany rebuild {torqueflite}. They are extremely tough and simple machines and probably as good a base for an expedition truck as exists in the US.

 

[chet]

sounds cool! I had an '89 that used to be my dads and it had over 500,000 kms on it! it had the crappy 5 spd but it got 21-22 mpg (2wd) regularily and got mid teens flat towing a jeep to Rubicon. We had an extra tank plumbed in the back that gave us around a 1500 km range.

I love the original 12V motor as it has no extras. I would look for an intercooler and piping from a '92-93 though. keeps the EGT lower.

 

[barnstormer]

I love the original 12V motor as it has no extras. I would look for an intercooler and piping from a '92-93 though. keeps the EGT lower.

The rub of that (it is a good idea) is that the grill, radiator support, etc. have to be changed to make the later I/C fit. (or a lot of mods).
I wish it bolted right in, I'd have one in a jiffy.

B.

 

[barnstormer]

Moving in the right direction!
Going to look at a FWC tomorrow!

 

[theMec]

Wow! That's the same truck? Maybe I'll paint mine tan.

 

[NorCalBronco]

yeah wow, the paint looks great!

 

[olympiccop2002]

Wow! That's quite a difference. Great job! :wings:

Bjorn

 

[Deleted member 1276]

Moving in the right direction!
Going to look at a FWC tomorrow!

I'm loving this truck even more with the paint job!

Looking forward to seeing where this goes. I love the idea of using this truck as a base for an expo vehicle... solid, reliable, very reasonably priced... awesome.

More pics!

 

[UHAULER]

Any updates on the truck. I'm going to be starting my own project truck, a 1993 f250 4wd diesel 5sp. I love those old 12v motors. My friend sold his 91 a couple of years ago.

If I could build an ultimate truck it would be an 86 f350 with a 12v cummins mated to a 5 or 6 speed.