Classic Dodge Trucks! All About "First Gen" Dodge Pickup Cabs 1972-1993

As you may know, I'm a Dodge freak, a hoarder, and absolutely a glutton for punishment. For these reasons, I always have at least a couple tin grille Dodge trucks around. On today's episode, I take a unique opportunity to compare the three different classic Dodge pickup truck cab styles. The three trucks in question also happen to feature the three different bed styles that were available for the majority of this range of production. This video also counts as a sendoff for my '79 step side truck, which peeled out shortly afterward and headed for Wisconsin. You can see video on that awesome truck now at ‪@stage0garage‬

[@michaelnault5905]

I had an 82' short bed stepside. The cab interior was all utility. It's what I needed at that time. The bed was absolutely practical for hard continuous use.

[@OtherSarah2]

yep. 318 / 4 in the floor, no A/C D150. Tough little beast, go anywhere. 1981 Albuquerque edition. Loved it.

[@noahknowhow318]

That is so interesting about the differences of the roof and fender/door lines! I've literally have had dozens of these trucks, more 70's than 80's but I still have never even realized that!

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Now you’re going to notice! They’re so similar - but definitely not the same.

[@timsherman7068]

Great video! As we are new to Dodges, this helped us learn a little more about the one we just bought. It is a 76 D200 US Forestry Service supervisor truck, single cab with the 318 and 33k miles. Was parked in a garage since 1992 and luckily has pristine interior and exterior with no rips or rust.

[@Roper84]

That's interesting, I have a 1988 Dodge D350 that was also a Forestry Truck. Can still see the faded "Property of US Government" on the doors. And you got to love that seafoam green paint!

[@oliwerkaarre43]

This was a great clip, I recently bought a 73 W100 club cab short bed, been fixing it up

[@kencooper2059]

I've always loved Dodge trucks, had several and drive a 2022 RAM now.

[@kellismith4329]

I love the old dodge trucks, I was always around fords and chevys of that era but never much dodge. One of my friends bought brand new in 1979 a dodge lil red express, I was so jealous I loved that truck, they are still my favorite

[@staceyrenner5418]

Yup, that was actually pretty interesting and informative man. Thanks for the lesson!

[@Roosters_Restos]

Bird bath hood. Out here they are called the rain catcher hood. As for step side vs fleet side most prefer fleet side. If I get one it's sold in a day. Thus why I never will part with my 79. Also 79 was the only year with 4 head light set up. I also wish I would have bought the fleet side warlock 440. Guess it's very rare. It also seems dodge made trucks for all occasions too. Surfer special, mocho package, top hand for Texas guys, and the Californian to name a few. Something about having a d100 with1100hp streetable just gets me there. Not sure why it just does. My first was a 72 d100 long box with a 440 I used to pull a car trailer. Ya it was factory. Second was a 71 lifted 4x4 short box fleet side 383 4spd. I traded a 69 charger for. I was stupid. But the truck got lots of looks. Why did I do that I ask myself that a lot. Today want want to find a 86 to 89 short box and do a 5.7 hemi swap as a shop truck. Trucks are addictive and ddg is a support group called the inablers. It's all your fault, prudence told me so.

[@urielgarcia4567]

I liked the burnout at the end, it surely will be missed thanks for another great video 😁

[@mrsmith2876]

When I was in highschool my buddy had an 83 stepside with a slant six. It was an old gas company truck. Always liked that thing.

[@michaelstrafello7346]

As a former 78 Lil red truck owner I agree on the step side truck being the best looking truck bed

[@youngtiger1]

Thanks for sharing the video of your 10 dodge trucks. I too felt warm and fuzzy inside but saw stars outside 🤣

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

I don’t have ten… I only have like 5, today 😅

[@ivanhakala5136]

Thank you for the great information! I just got a inherited a 1977 Dodge power wagon! 5.9 360

[@richardw.smithjr.6683]

Ramcharger/Trailduster: Best 4X4 from the factory alongside Blazer/Jimmy.

[@wbarney59]

That green and silver truck is gorgeous

[@gb123-ej8wh]

Cool old trucks. They were all common when I was growing up.

[@rameybutler-hm7nx]

I got a 77 green LWB d100 ADVENTURE CUSTOM. It has all the options...a heater, windows, and a floor. Yep fully loaded.

[@jamesmonroe5512]

Great video, I actually just ran across your channel yesterday. I just picked up a 86 D-350 with a flatbed with the LA360 that I plan on swapping to a 5.2 or 5.9 Magnum using the info from your videos. Keep up the good work!

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Awesome! I hope to finally do my Magnum wiring guide video soon!

[@jamesmonroe5512]

@@DeadDodgeGarage I can't wait! Also just curious if you have ever run a AMS Automotive Clutch Flywheel 167419? Supposedly balanced for the 5.9 but seems a little too good to be true for the price ($125 on rockauto)

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

@@jamesmonroe5512 I have not, but apparently they do exist. I just removed one from the '71 Challenger that was behind a Magnum 5.9 and worked great. I can't say what brand that was - and of course it doesn't have the crank sensor slots so it doesn't solve the equation for factory EFI.

[@powerwagon3731]

I have a 1980 W150, 318, 4 speed, short bed, factory lock outs, two gas tank Power Wagon. I love the bird bath! Rusty and trusty.

[@sirswerve2493]

I drive my 73 short bed everyday. love it.

[@donmcindoo2304]

The blue 74 bird bath hood and the wheel openings look like a 71 satellite/RR/GTX. Love the style

[@markusa5521]

Nice trucks

[@kensanders6241]

My dad bought a new PG&E surplus 1972 W200 crewcab short bed with a 360 and 4 speed, 4.10 Dana 60 rear gear. We had it refurbished at the nearby auto tech program in the community college, and towed a trailer from Silicon Valley to New Orleans for the 1984 World's Expo and back. I miss that truck my folks sold it when it was cutting out on the freeway, and my mom told me if she knew it was foing that due to the ballast resistor, they never would have sold it

[@blueduster74]

My buddy San Ayers built a crew cab into a massive beast on Rockwells, military trailer bed and grafted the Ramcharger removable top features into it. BUD is what he called it, it was in Fourwheeler.

[@wiggyjones]

I appreciate the history lesson!

[@daveallen8824]

You probably know, but I remember the original reason for going from F100, D100, etc. was a dodge (heh) to get around smog; seemed if hauling capacity was raised to a certain point, they could escape through a loophole in the smog mandate. Thus, the Heavy Half Chevy's etc.

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Very interesting. That makes sense.

[@T.R.R.Jolkien]

I learned to drive in a ‘70 sweptline.

[@stevenlight5006]

Opps forgot,it was a power wagon.

[@alexgrazioso2506]

FINALLY! haha. Wonderful video as always jamie. Funny you mention the "utilitarian" nature of the stepsides, as they are actually called a "utililine" haha. Also the 100 could come setup as a 3/4 ton. Atleast my 72 d100 custom is.

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Yeah I kinda dropped the ball on the factory lingo on this one. Haha. That’s fine…

[@kikojofraserrano]

Very nice video. Thank you. I am also fan of these trucks. I am specially fond on the 1978's. I have one w150 automatic adventurer an anothe w200 manual which I love the most because of the ratios on gearbox and diffs. Both longbeds. I also have 1978 shortbed w100 with engine 318. The other two are 360. I see beauty on these trucks even rusted with patina or restored. That is what i am doing now. Restoring them. When am i going to finish? The answer is never. I love working on them. Thanks for your video. It is well done.

[@ih302]

People who work their trucks tend to appreciate the extra volume of the fleetside bed.

[@pjofurey6239]

Enjoyable film , loved my DIDGES here in England since mid 1980,s good to learn .they rust real bad over here , I’m hand making a new roof/gutter section

[@jimbo3214]

I love the Club Cab truck.

[@andrewarney4222]

As a heads up, 2002 was the change over year. The 1500's were a 3rd gen, 2500 up was still the 2nd gen body (they were still working out how to stuff the cummins engine into new body. Great video with ALOT of good information

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

I am well aware. I owned a 2002 2500 for a couple years. I don’t remember what I said in this video, but it was probably “2002ish” because I can’t take the time to explain every minute detail like that - especially in a video that was not even about those trucks. Haha. Thank you.

[@daveallen8824]

I had 75 stretch cab 3/4 ton with the 8 foot bed and a 440. You simply could not carry on any conversation climbing hills; the moan from the Thermoquad wide open was terrific. And, yeah, the wheel arches got beat to shit. What a great truck; only reason I sold it was to make room for the kids - those little seats just weren't cutting it any more as the kids got bigger.

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Yeah, it’s a problem. I had a Cummins five speed club cab dually I was just buttoning up when my daughter was born. Couldn’t put her car seat in it so it had to go in favor of a second gen. Oh well.

[@cod8140]

One thing that you didnt see,,,Look at the side of a 7172 Road Runner and look at the side of a 70s pick up! Very similar!!

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

I know it!

[@darrenpaches3731]

I still have a 1979 W200 crew cab with 360, ramsey pto winch and Meyers snow plow that I bought in 2006. First used by Alberta Government it was auctioned to someone who used it for plowing parking lots.

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

That’s awesome!

[@leegoldeneagle9003]

Cool thanks I have the 1987 4+4 318 love it always runs.has over 100.000onit purrs 😁

[@richardbates2367]

I love the look of the dodge stepside bed especially the 8 ft version and there's a single headlight 79 custom trim truck that looks almost identical to the 74 tin grille trucks...

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Nice. Yep. I’m a big fan of the 8’ step side bed. I have two of them now 🙂

[@jjtt7408]

I LOVE THE STEP SIDE FOR A 70 YEARS OLD GUY LIKE ME IT'S A BIG HELP / I WISH IT WAS A 4X4

[@gasser66]

I really enjoyed this one. Guess I have always been a "pick up guy". Bought a brand new Chevy K 10 in 1985, sold it about 3 years back. It was essentially off the road since 1993, only putted around the yard to keep the juices flowing. "Squares" are big deal now, but I say "meh". I was a GM guy in my "youth" as well as my wife of 30 years, but own enough Chevy's and you will become a Dodge Family lol. I was converted by a 1997 Grand Cherokee with the straight 6. For the past 20 some odd years we have been Mopar or No car. In the stable now are two Jeep Liberty's and 2021 sxt Challenger.

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Nice. I like square bodies well enough… but I’m just way too hardcore a Dodge guy. I couldn’t even explain how I ended up like that if I had to. Haha. I’ve had some not great times fixing Libertys… I would love to have a CRD though.

[@richjordan9375]

My first new vehicle that I saved for two years to get was an ordered 1990 W250 Club Cab long bed, 360 engine with the A518 transmission; my family nicknamed it the 'farm implement'. Daily driver for 12 years. Its only problem was that if you hung a 2000 lb trailer on the hitch (well below its rated towing load) it did not want to go up hills without slowing down a lot and downshifting. Was not fun going back and forth across the Rockies. I miss it but would love to pick up a nice Ramcharger...

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Dang. I’m guessing the Cummins was much more expensive at the time? I know that was the case with the second gen. Or maybe you just didn’t want a diesel? It definitely would’ve hauled better. Haha. 360s should have sufficient torque to get the job done… but in my experience, the TBI system they were using then just really sucked.

[@richjordan9375]

​@@DeadDodgeGarage Yeah I had to repair the TBI a couple of times when it started spewing fuel into the engine. Otherwise it was easy to work on and did everything else I needed until we started getting horrible epa mandated winter gas that dropped its city mileage to around 6mpg. Get gas in Indiana (outside of the "attainment area") and magically up to 12MPG again. I let it go when the maintenance costs got too high and our HOA cracked down on maintenance in the driveway. Meh. It never fit in the garage (and not because of other stuff; it was a foot too long!) I looked at the Cummins but it was nearly $4000 more at the time (if I remember correctly) which I didn't have, and I just didn't know enough about them. In retrospect, yeah, should have. I would have bought a big block gas engine had they been available, but of course they were long gone.

[@drifterman2406]

I want that bumper love these trucks

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

The bumpers on the crew cab were special ordered from Blue Lake Offroad. Good quality stuff. My only gripe is that they didn’t put drain holes in the back bumper, and used the wrong type of mounting for lights back there. I had to do some work to fix all that, and there are extra holes next to the lights. Otherwise, awesome stuff.

[@michaelbrooks1458]

79 the only year with 4 headlights the last year ramcharger rooftop was removable. The slinger seals on the front axle sucks but just get outer seals they fit just like a 74 front axle

[@justarandomrussian9948]

bro this guy is living in my dreams

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

I’m living mine too 😁

[@jeffreypinder9398]

That red stepside is perfect to make a 4WD Warlock. Stiffen the frame and add a Cummins.

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

It’s actually donating most of its body to fix a real Little Red Express.

[@KoryBrooks]

I need to find a crew cab so I can measure the lower sections of the doors to add to my shop collection along with my aftermarket gauge panels

[@boosted_red8294]

Ain't nothing wrong with Dakotas. Yours looks clean!!

[@dwaynemedlin8683]

My dad had a 1975’ Spirit of 76’ D 100. No power but oh those brakes. It was a fun truck to get inspected. Lmao .but it was a solid truck.

[@LottoDub720]

My dream truck is a w350 crew cab(standard rear axle), longbed, 6.7 swapped, and at least 4th gen or up dash center console and seats. I then want to put 6 b2 audio rampage 15 xmv4's in the bed with the rear window as the port as a 6th order system enclosed in a custom camper shell that looks good with the body of the truck. 6 jp83's to power the subs and also add 6.5 inch subs in the cab with tweeters and 6 by 9's too. The top half of the sub enclosure for the 6 15's will be 3 inch acrylic glass with orange rgb around the subs and the windows of the camper shell tinted. I also want to add a 2 inch or so custom wood roof inside with rgb as I know there's no headliners in 1st gens, to help keep the roof from flexing with all those subs and to provide just a little more insulation as I live in alaska lol.

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Sounds like a crazy build. And that is kind of the hip thing. Personally, I have to say… if you want all of that, buy a modern truck. You want a fourth gen engine, fourth gen seats… people think modernizing these classic cars and trucks makes them like a new car or truck. It doesn’t… it kind of makes them a nightmare actually. That’s just my perspective as someone who has to work on the damn things I guess. Haha. I will 12 valve swap one of these some day, but other than that, I’d like to maintain the character of the truck.

[@stephenwest798]

I believe there is a difference in the frame thickness between the 150, 250 and 350.

[@keithert]

I love the 79 stepside but I would change to a bird bath hood. I just love that hood.

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Me too. I think it's one of the tin grille's best features.

[@keithert]

​@@DeadDodgeGarageIn 1984 I worked for a park district that had a 76 or so two door with a wooden flatbed. They told me the flatbed would be removed when it was sold. I later found out it sold at auction for $500 and the bed was not removed. I was bummed. That year I also worked for the plant operations department at my college and they had a Plymouth trail duster that also had the bird bath hood.

[@blueduster74]

It’s funny, I know most of this but never had to apply it. My first 6 D/W trucks were all Ramchargers. Five 81-93 fix roof, and my 79 Pop top I’ve had for 16 years. I finally got a 85 D150 to play with recently. Going to try my hand at the lowered hot rod shop truck thing.

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Dang it! How could I forget about Ramchargers?! I don’t own any but there are a couple at Rocket. I want to do a shop truck like that eventually myself. Should have done it with the step side… I don’t always make the best decisions.

[@blueduster74]

@@DeadDodgeGarage even though I was fully down the Mopar road by the late 90s, I fell into my first Ramcharger by chance. It was a 85 that was a trade in at my dealership. My 72 Duster came to me through a customer who was friends with the owner when I was at JBA Speed Shop in San Diego. And now the D150 came from our nut and bolt vendor rep who just happen to bring it up. It’s always been that way for me. They just find me. 🤣

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

@@blueduster74 That's basically how things have gone for me. Ok, sure, I go out and find them occasionally, but more often than not they just appear - as if by magic.

[@stevenlight5006]

Great trucks ,I had a 2000 for 20 yr. Computer issues very bad idea

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Interesting. Someone else mentioned similar problems with a Dakota. I haven’t had PCM problems with OBD2 systems… except for one.

[@tobylou8]

Love stepsides. Just can't find one.

[@stevenlight5006]

O yea I had a 89 d 150 that's what I trade for 02 .thanks for info .

[@henryknedel5683]

Possible old green drive to MN!! REUNITED with dozen + Big n Small Bro's!! Happy Camper it be!! Have 11 681/2-71s Turn Key Service Duty...

[@GLHS592]

Cool video! I have always loved 1972-1993 (prefer 1972-1980) Dodge trucks. I guess I can trace it back to watching Emergency! when I was a little one. I always thought 70s and 80s Dodges were the best looking trucks. I think they also had some of the cooler packages (LRT/Macho/Power Wagon) offered on pickup trucks. Everybody else thinks they're ugly for some reason. I alawys thought the 1981-1993 sheet metal looked too much like a Chevy. I still like them, except for the 1991-1993 grill. That grill has grown on me a little over the years, but I hated them when they came out. I have a 1980 D150 and a 1998 Ram SS/T. I go back and forth on which bodystyle I like best. I do know I'm not fond of 3rd gen Rams (except the SRT-10) or these new 5th gen Rams.

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

I thought the third gen was horribly ugly and pointless… until I bought my ‘03. It’s the best truck I’ve ever had - and that includes my 2014 ram 1500. I can’t say it’s my favorite look but I don’t mind it now. I don’t like the chunkier front end they got around ‘06 at all. And while ‘03 has electronic engine control and fuel injectors (Cummins, of course,) it lacks all of the emissions junk and the space age complexity of later trucks. I love the 70s and 80s trucks. My favorites are the ‘74 and ‘78. I actually like that ‘93 grille too, funny enough. I think they’re very attractive. The sweptline, now… not so attractive. But I like them too. Haha.

[@GLHS592]

@@DeadDodgeGarage I always hated Sweptlines. I thought they were terribly ugly until 10 years ago. I really like them now. I went to pick up my new (to me) '07 Halrey-Davidson Sportster last Saturday. The guy I bought the bike from went nuts over my '98 Ram SS/T. I have babied it and garage kept it and he couldn't believe its condition. I told him that nobody pays attention to it. I also told him that if it were a GMT-400, it would be worth 3 times as much and everybody wold go nuts over it. I like those trucks, but I don't understand why 2nd gen Rams aren't more popular.

[@beerdiaryshootinmcdaniel8063]

I drove a d100 slant 6 4 speed short bed 1985 years ago. Actually through highschool. Leafs were the same between similar year d150. The only difference we saw at 17-18 years old was the 100 literally only had a bench seat and a steering wheel. No other interior trim. The roof was metal and no cloth headliner, nohting in kick panels etc. Had one 85 with power steering and one 85 without. Seems most 100s were 6 cylinders, although i could be wrong. This was bare bones trucks.

[@kenthawkins2418]

You're a blessed Dude....trucks to choose from...and all of 'em are cool! I like the "step-side" AND "swept-line"...kinda hate to choose favorites...and I confess, I've really drooled over those older crew-cabs. You're right...we see so many of them now, that regular cabs DO seem odd. Lord-willing, I'll have my '83 D150 on the road again soon. Connecticut wasn't kind to it, so there's plenty of "severe patina"😄, but I'm glad I've got it. What do most of the owners of these 40 year old trucks do when it comes to sagging, weak, rusty, rear springs?

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Replacement stock type springs and hangars should still be available. They were the same for so long they ought to be common. Haha. Or there’s always the lift spring option…

[@crashsroadrunnergarage8612]

Kent,LMC truck has just about everything you might need,including springs😀

[@kenthawkins2418]

@@crashsroadrunnergarage8612 Thank you. I'll have to check them out!

[@kenthawkins2418]

@DeadDodgeGarage Just to clarify...are you referring to "coil-overs" or an extra leaf,(or ?)?

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

@@kenthawkins2418 No I was referring to completely replacing the leaf springs. I used to be a bandaid guy (air shocks, add-a-leaf, etc) but these days I'd just get new springs. It's so much better.

[@ACEMIDNIGHT102]

I currently have a 91 318 d150 I’ve been trying to get running. The factory EFI has been challenging but we finally found it had low fuel pressure. Currently the tank is out for a new pump assembly and new rubber lines

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Ahhh, TBI… how low was the fuel pressure? I think they run in the mid teens, similar to the GM systems, but it’s been a while. I have only had a couple brushes with the TBI system over the years, and I can’t say I enjoyed diagnosing them much. The idle control stepper motors are always goofy, and I’ve seen a couple distributor failures and a handful of PCM problems. It’s a relatively simple system though.

[@ACEMIDNIGHT102]

@@DeadDodgeGarage if I remember right no less than 8psi. Service manual says 12psi I think. I don’t think we were getting the volume needed

[@ACEMIDNIGHT102]

I just looked it up and it says 14.5psi is what it calls for. We had less than 10psi

[@buck546]

I loved these trucks over the years I have owned a 76,79,75, and 77 Dodge power wagons. An 83, 84, 95, and 2001 Dodge Rams. All were great trucks. I abandoned the Ram brand when they dropped Dodge from the brand and became too over priced for my taste.

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

I’ve had a 2014 Ram. It was great, in some ways. But I sold it and bought a 2003 Cummins powered Ram 2500. I couldn’t be happier.

[@dantupper1784]

On my '77 Club Cab D250- never used those little chairs in nearly 35 years of owning it. All I ever had back there was a couple of rubbermaid totes for all the extra gear & crap trucks tend to accumulate. I wanted a Crew Cab since HS as for what I do- they just make sense. Sketched one back in HS with a hydraulic crane in the bed, as I was bear-hugging blocks in and out of the trunk of Mom's Pinto at the time.

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Nice. I really want a hydraulic crane in a truck. In fact my genius plan is to integrate it into my eventual ramp truck build so it has more than a single purpose. A mobile crane would be endlessly useful.

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Also I’ve never used the little seats either. That’s just dry storage. Haha.

[@dantupper1784]

Ran across a few older Dodge trucks with a section of intertube between the cowl and hood. One had a couple sets of big block valley pan rails pinching the intertube to the hood and cowl, looked like it almost drooped to the distributor when closed.

[@optcyn]

I going to have to sell my 62 D100 sweptside but after having it for over a decade, it never let me down. I love these trucks. 🥲

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Dang it! I really like Sweptlines. I have two and… two halves? Something like that.

[@Ross046]

There are differences in the firewalls over the production run off the club and crewcabs. Mostly around the heater box. Also the '72-'73's had different interior door panels. Later ones won't work due to the window crank studs being shorter. Flusterating. '72's had a significantly different in dash wiring harness. One of the other early quirks is the ignition box mounted to the firewall. Nice with the birdbath hood. All the 72-80 rear taillights grounded through the bed. The later had a wired ground. In other weirdness. The frame tails between utiline(stepside) crewcabs and fleetside crewcabs are slightly different. I discovered this the hard way. But it can be modified.

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Voltage regulator too… same fun. Wiper motor differences. Heater box area. They added welded nuts for the aforementioned modules. There’s a lot of minutiae I didn’t get into. The frame tail difference I wasn’t aware of. I’ve never swapped the one for the other (yet.)

[@LongIslandMopars]

​@@DeadDodgeGarage Minor engineering changes year to year are so much fun.

[@Ross046]

I was so beside myself with the framerail thing I hopped on the four wheeler to go check(actually I went to check my very pregnant cows). But what it is is they're cut off shorter for the utilines. At least mine was.

[@Ross046]

The voltage regulator. What many don't realize(and many parts lookups don't show) is there are two voltage reguators. The one for the high output alternator is slightly thicker. But in all other ways looks the same.

[@christopherwilson7698]

Had a 1989 D250 Laramie with a 318 two tone blue and silver the truck was and is still beautiful and ran like a Champ everyday till the frame rotted away I’m still sad about it getting scrapped it drove itself to the yard Terrible feeling

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

😭 I’m so lucky to live in a part of the country where we usually still have frame rails. Our body rust from rain water and salty air is often ignorable and unimportant. I’ve had many of these trucks, and most had rusty floor panels - among other things. But I’ve never had one on that level…

[@Mopardude]

I have a 84 Ramcharger, been figuring out as I go, from the doors forward are same as the half tons. When I first got it I was just planning on leaving it clapped out and driving it as a beater because I thought finding decent RC parts was going to be a pain in the ass. Finding out its been one of the easier old dodges I have ever owned to get parts for. Mostly because of how much stuff I can get from other dodge trucks. Is that truck coming to SE WI?

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Easternish, right by Lake Winnebago (which I only just learned is a thing)

[@gemininosaga]

Akajsjs we have a 73 W200, a 76 W100, a 78 D100, a 92 Ram Charger, a 99 Dodge Ram 1500 and a 01 Durango.

[@jimbo3214]

I remember back around 1990 I went to the Ford Dealership and wanted to trade in my car for a crew cab truck because of my family of four. Well the sales people throught I was joking and when I said I wasn't then they called me crazy. They said that only had 3 white "fleet" crew cab trucks on the back row. Needless to say I did not buy one from that dealer. I guess I was ahead of my time then.

[@crashsroadrunnergarage8612]

LMC Truck has parts,including springs. My daily drivers are 86 D100 \6 and 78 w150 360 power wagon. Also have 85 w200 360,79? w150 step side 360 frame and drivetrain,87 ramcharger 318 parts trucks. 78 w150 ramcharger 440 and 85 w150 ramcharger 400 mud trucks. Last but not least I have a 76 trailduster 400,all auto trannies.😀😀😀

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Just a couple! 🤣 fantastic!

[@csgilliam]

Technically "1st Gen" is used in reference to Cummins powered trucks from '89-'93 & somehow that lumped in the '81 up Ram & earlier '70s trucks even though the body is different.

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Oh… I’m well aware.

[@zanemartin5564]

Need help, I have a 89 d100 it’s the 86-89 body style I hand swap the front clip for a 77-78 front clip. Would a 78 fenders, hood, grill , bumper and headlight fit right on my 89?

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

It all basically bolts on, but 1) the radiator support is different, most importantly the headlight mounting is in a different position - which can be accounted for by fabbing some brackets to mount the earlier headlight buckets in the right spot, 2) a couple bolts in the headlight area of the earlier fenders won’t have receiving holes, but that’s fine, and 3) you also need the wiper pivots and cowl panel, as the later cowl is taller and doesn’t match the hood. Also, your ‘89 doors have a body line which the earlier fenders don’t have. This will be an obvious mismatch unless you change the doors. If you change the fenders and doors and get rid of the body line, they will no longer match line on the bed. As I understand, it is possible to run the bird bath hood (and cowl panel) and an earlier grille with the later fenders. That may be something to look into, as it would save you several headaches. I have not done that myself.

[@dre4011]

More on RamChargers?? & Trail Dusters If ya'll got any around??

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

We actually do have a couple trail dusters. I completely forgot about those during the making of this video. Haha. I will do something on them eventually.

[@Brianscoronet]

On the narrow beds, rear fenders were the same from 1955 to 1979.

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Really, almost the entire bed was the same. Almost.

[@stevenlight5006]

75 4x4 long bed 318 auto nice truck ,no power steering.

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

No power steering? Or broken power steering? I’ve never seen that generation of truck without it.

[@isaacburgess9277]

So I have a 1990 dodge ram d150 and it’s a 5.2L and I found out it has 3.9L throttle body and injectors in it if I just change the fuel injectors should that fix the issues or would I have to change whole throttle body. Because it will struggle to stay on and acts like it’s not getting enough gas and I’ve replaced just about everything.

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

That’s interesting. Unfortunately you’re beyond my area of expertise there. I have done very little with the TBI systems, beyond some no start diagnosis over the years.

[@jerryfarmer5989]

Oh and the step side beds were the same from like '58 to '82.

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

I have touched on the amazingly long run of that step side bed in my power wagon series. The basic DNA dates back even further than that to the second series Power Wagon. It’s awesome.

[@alanharman702]

I have a 1982 d150 short bed single cab.what year of doors would work for replacement?

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

1981-1993

[@harveyr2546]

I still own a 1986 dodge ramcharger 4x4 with a 360

[@jayjones6904]

Had pw 48 six others warlock to then five or six ramcharger and trailduster older had hard time getting in and out 89 ramcharger girls talked me into Nissan crewcab 4wd i would rather have ramcharger back lol ty for adventure brother

[@blackbettythemudmower]

First gens are the best

[@mopartron3030]

I have a 1972 D200, I wish it had the provision for the extra gas tank in the bed but it has a goofy setup where the filler neck is on the rear driver side of the cab. Main tank was behind the seat which I removed so I can slide the seat back farther. Unfortunately now it only has the 20-gallon secondary tank under the bed so I'm looking to swap a 30-gallon tank into it as it only gets 10 mpg with the 360 and 727 trans. I also want to swap an A-518/46RH into it to increase the highway mileage.

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Yep... Most trucks in that time only had the cab tank. The beds (at least later ones - can’t say I’ve ever seen a ‘72, now that I’m thinking about it) were made with the two pockets for filler necks to bed tanks, but it’s rare to see one with both openings present. An overdrive sounds like a good move to me. But 10 MPG sounds… at least a bit worse than it should be. You probably have some whacky rear axle gear contributing to that. You should have a Dana 60, so getting a different gear set should be doable.

[@mopartron3030]

@@DeadDodgeGarage it's a full-floating D60 with 3.54 gears, I think most of the reason for the bad mileage though is I'm currently running 33" A/T tires and the 1406 carb I put on isn't in good shape. Both of which I'll be replacing.

[@kevinsimpson5910]

Can anyone answer why there are 1974 4x4 d200 adventure trucks out there. They're advertised as original drive train

[@ryansoltess6006]

I wonder why the grey First Gen Crewcab has the stamped oval around the doorhandle ? I'm i seeing things?

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

It’s not quite an oval, it’s a factory indent that’s sort of a rounded rectangle. They all have it from ‘77 or so. The rear crew cab doors don’t however, as again those were never updated.

[@jasonkaiser5150]

I love the 72 -80 body. Didn't like the np-203 full time transfer case.

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Agreed. It works well enough - but I much prefer the 205.

[@michaeladamo6279]

Will that door work on ram chargers?

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Yes, as long as they aren't the earlier model with the half doors. I somehow completely forgot about Ramchargers for this video. Haha.

[@xXtoyhippieXx]

id like a single cab85-90 short bed i have a 440 id love to swap into it

[@ofivenojoe]

First gen D 100 1961-71 sweptline In 64 you could get one with a 426 wedge

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

The CSS! People refer to these as “first gen” because they are the first generation of trucks to be called Ram, and they are also the first generation of Cummins trucks. Also, the D/W designations were used before ‘61.

[@jasonglisson1690]

Do you want to sell any of your trucks. I'm definitely in love with that crew cab. all your trucks are awesome.

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

The crew is not mine actually. The owner has a lot of money wrapped up in it. The extended / club cab is mine, and I will likely be selling it when the engine install is done.

[@jasonglisson1690]

@@DeadDodgeGarage ok cool what are you doing to put in it.

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

@@jasonglisson1690 It will be a pretty freshly rebuilt 318. Four speed, part time 4x4. It's a pretty neat truck.

[@nathanieljones7981]

How are the trucks? Reliable? I’d love to have a 360-400 powered Truck Single cab Short bed and make a lil hot rod out of it

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

I have always found them to be decently reliable. Electrical gizmos are the most common issues - voltage regulators, ignition modules, and the firewall connector in particular. Even so, I think they are really good trucks. We are actually going to be building a short bed hotrod in the coming months. It’s going to be awesome.

[@BEANS_GARAGE85]

Can someone tell me if a box off a 91 long box can fit onto a 85 long box

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Absolutely, it will fit fine. There will probably be different trim on the ‘91, but it is the same steel and will bolt onto the truck.

[@ChiruStone]

Im guessing for what i see that u could make a Van version of this video. Would you please? Hehe

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Haaahaha. At the beginning of the channel I had one from every series of Dodge Van from the 60s to the 90s and I had every intention of doing that. Unfortunately I never got around to it and now I’m down to just the two high tops. But I have done a handful of Dodge van videos and will definitely do more.

[@ChiruStone]

Hahah oh well! Im gonna look em up. Im rebuilding an 83 (engine and all) and i can use all the insights i can get. Thanks man!

[@TheFrogfeeder]

Bro, I’m going sat to get a 1984 w350. My plan is to put my 1970 sweptline body on the 84 frame… what can you tell me about upcoming challenges?

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Huh. I’m doing almost exactly that myself, but 91 frame. I have seen it done online plenty of times but have never attempted myself before, so I really don’t know the extent to which things have to be modified. But I will soon… my assumption is 1) squaring and centering cab, 2) modifying and/or changing cab mount brackets, 3) adapting steering, and 4) wiring

[@TheFrogfeeder]

@@DeadDodgeGarage I also heard that it’s difficult to get the bed to line up because the hump over the rear axle is different

[@TheFrogfeeder]

@@DeadDodgeGarage Ian’s I’m in the same boat, seen videos and seen end results before, but never attempted myself. I hope your swap goes well buddy, I’ll be watching

[@TheFrogfeeder]

@@DeadDodgeGarage I was debating on using a Cummins truck for my 1970 swap, but I already have a 92 Cummins club cab w250, and the 70 has a pretty tough 360 in it, and I really like having a v8 too. I also have a 67 power wagon with a slant 6… love me some old dodge trucks

[@patrikramberg3787]

Mmmm clubcab bird bath

[@Ian-of9oi]

Don’t think I ever heard of a guy breaking the crank on a 318. Can I ask how it happened?

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

A complete lack of oil… I think I figured out where at least some of the brand new oil went, but I’m not totally sure.

[@lordterra1377]

Step side is how trucks should look. End of story.

[@tryandtakealaska3797]

your wrong gm started extra cabs in late 1982 starting in the s10 i have a 1982 s10 extra cab short bed it was built in 9/1982. thanks for sharing

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

I’m talking about full size trucks.

[@Ripsaw17]

Is the power wagon for sale

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Negative.

[@scottmccoy5688]

King of the World, Scott Anthony McCoy grandson of Austin McCoy looking for an extra can truck with a long bed like in the advertisement above. With fuel injected 440, great all American muscle trucks !!!👑🌎🐺👍👍👍🍀

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Almost none of what you just said made any sense to me. Lol. Anyway, good luck.

[@jerrywalker9592]

The club cab was the same cab untill 93

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

…did I not say that?

[@sandyv4819]

People actually hate the step sides? Well fine by me the more people hating the cheaper they will be to get. Just gotta get my hands on a short bed first. Currently got a 86 long bed thats gonna be my baby untill a club cab pops up. I wonder if i could somehow turn my single cab long bed into a short bed club cab

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

More step sides for me! Especially the 8’ - I’ll take all of those you’ve got… I mean you could, as it’s the same wheelbase. But so much work for so little reward. Haha.