Dodge '87 W350 Cab & Chassis Dually

[mattressking]

Well I don't venture over into the dodge forums much at all, so this is where I'll dump pictures as I go...

1987 W350 Cab & Chassis. It is a retired California Fish and Game truck that thankfully didn't get the common floor/roof rust. Currently a 360 with Np435/Np205.

Plans are sorta simple, I picked up a full width dana 70 rear axle to swap out the cab & chassis D70. Next is where I'm debating....2.5" or 4" and then 33s or 35s. Truck will maintain the stock coined wheels, just add rear spacers. Once its relatively cleaned up to my liking, it'll be time to swap in a 12v.

Back when I first picked it up during the summer my buddy was kind enough to let it sit in Reno while I was overseas. While I had Christmas break, I took a very quick day and a half 1300 mile jaunt from Idaho to the SF bay area and back with a couple stops at In n Out, a semi-ok but the only decent burrito between Idaho and Winnemucca....I finally have the truck and axle here.

I'm slowly starting to clean it up and removed the Fish & Game vinyl. Overall the paint is pretty good considering its past life so I will only be cleaning it up, no repaints. The tray....will probably get a coat of black paint and either relocate the box or get a different box, not too sure yet.

 

[Whiskerz]

I like it. I worked at a Dodge dealer in the way back. Some pedal pads and a seat and it will look great. The 360 can make great torque for days in a truck.

 

[mattressking]

I like it. I worked at a Dodge dealer in the way back. Some pedal pads and a seat and it will look great. The 360 can make great torque for days in a truck.

Exactly, it’s going to get a good cleanup and replace the missing bits once it warms up and I can strip interior down and reassemble.

Slowly but surely tires are showing up, 7 weeks out for the rear spacers to arrive…. These will fit real nice, very happy I didn’t opt for 33s.

 

[mattressking]

Baby steps....rear axle is loose, I just need some time/light to actually swap over and then swap yokes/install new pinion seal. Once the '93 axle is installed, the rear outers will push out 2.5" then the spacers will kick it another 3"....so for those that are athletes, not mathletes.....5.5" more poke out back.

Good news….no lift needed, but it will get 2.5” front and 1” rear bump.

 

[mattressking]

Still waiting on rear spacers - likely they won’t go on until after Singapore.

Ran up to Spokane/Coeur d’Alene to buy a VE-pump motor, hopefully can get this stabbed in place in the next month or so once I’m back. Since I’ve got a few days before I leave I stopped off in Pendleton for one of my last decent burgers for the next few weeks….

Motor will just get cleaned up , injectors, turn up the fuel with a HE351CW. 900ft lbs is the goal so it’s a nice reliable truck with ac.

Also found a mint gray dash at the junkyard so I yanked everything to change interior color to gray.

 

[mattressking]

Also yanked the narrow c&c dually rear end for the full width Dana 70, yanked the 3rd out of the old diff and cleaned it all up and stabbed under the truck.

 

[mattressking]

Paperweights arrived and I spent no time waiting to install. This thing is wiiiiiide now I love it.

 

[Rockymtnreaper]

You need some vintage mudflaps! "Idaho, the gem state"

 

[EWheeler]

You need some vintage mudflaps! "Idaho, the gem state"

Yes.

Hibid

Idaho State Vintage Mud Flaps (1 - Pair) 19" Wide x 14" Long | eBay

Not printed! They are un-drilled and ready to be mounted on your custom application. They are horizontal orientation and are 19"wide X 14" tall with rounded lower corners. Add these to complete your ultimate barn find vibe!

www.ebay.com

 

[mattressking]

Yes.

Hibid

Idaho State Vintage Mud Flaps (1 - Pair) 19" Wide x 14" Long | eBay

Not printed! They are un-drilled and ready to be mounted on your custom application. They are horizontal orientation and are 19"wide X 14" tall with rounded lower corners. Add these to complete your ultimate barn find vibe!

www.ebay.com

Great minds think alike - I've had those bookmarked for a while! There were some old Idaho cowboy supply mud flaps from a shop up the road that I wanted to find also.

 

[87BJ74]

This is sweet. I have a huge soft spot for the first gen dodges.

 

[mattressking]

Process has begun…

Once the motor is picked up by the buyer I can start clearing out space and cleaning in preparation for the entire swap….

So far it’s getting…

Intercooled 6BT w/ HE351
New oem lift pump, oil pan and some other misc bits
‘93 core support swap
Getrag 360
Hydraulic clutch assy - also junkyard find
Diesel tank
Pristine replacement ‘87 interior harness I pulled from junkyard
Clean NP205
Uncut/unmodified grey dash assembly

Then I can do the lift and misc maintenance. Hopefully with the mild parts the motor will make in the ballpark of 350whp/950wtq…

I swear being able to hunt junkyards again for parts has been so great - I’ve been able to piece together a really solid truck for a fraction of the price…..can’t do that with Toyotas anymore

And I found some nos yellow cad hardware….I couldn’t help myself

 

[mattressking]

Empty slate now prior to power wash and scrub. Upside, the junkyard 91-93 washer bottle came clean in ultrasonic and fits in the factory holes perfectly, just needs one additional hold drilled for the metal bracket.

Next is pull the fuel lines and gasser tank for the diesel tank and drill clutch pedal hole.

 

[mattressking]

Little bit of progress.

Finally punched the hole for the hydraulic clutch. Since this was the year right before they all went hydraulic, I had to source the pedals and master bracket....thankfully the junkyard came in perfectly for this. I also found a new tool - knockout punches. Works great for punching through steel clean.

Junkyard has yielded so many parts for this truck, I love it. Even found the coveted steering box stiffener on a D150 and a neat oem brake line heatshield (only helps the V8 trucks, but I'll still use it.

Then started re-assembling the front of the motor as cerakoted parts arrived. Hopefully I have the timing cover back today, then the front will be finished. If everything works out....I might actually drop the motor in place this weekend.

How did I find the center? Glad you asked - I rigged up a Fj60 spring bushing with a tight fitting socket so the transfer punch would be in the middle. Worked perfectly!

 

[Kmehr]

I did a 12v swap into an 84 crew cab about 10 years ago. miss that truck!

If you want a pretty cheap ride quality enhancement, check out a 63in chevy rear spring swap and "jungle Jim"'s chevy front leaf swaps. Made a huge huge difference in my trucks ride quality and the springs are easily found at junk yards for cheap.

 

[mattressking]

@Kmehr Sweet! 1g crew cabs are great looking trucks, there's a good base for sale in town here, but zero desire for another project. Good call on the springs, sorta have my plan in place but waiting until everything is back on the truck so I can measure out what I want.

Just slow progress, cleaning and resealing the accessories. Motor appears to be in great shape as I pull the driver side accessories off. Should hopefully have it back together tomorrow and ideally set it in place this weekend. There's a lot more going on but....I lose interest in photos unless I'm somewhat cleaned up, most of my nights are filled with ultrasonic and scrubbing parts clean....which is hours it feels.

 

[Kmehr]

@Kmehr Sweet! 1g crew cabs are great looking trucks, there's a good base for sale in town here, but zero desire for another project. Good call on the springs, sorta have my plan in place but waiting until everything is back on the truck so I can measure out what I want.

Just slow progress, cleaning and resealing the accessories. Motor appears to be in great shape as I pull the driver side accessories off. Should hopefully have it back together tomorrow and ideally set it in place this weekend. There's a lot more going on but....I lose interest in photos unless I'm somewhat cleaned up, most of my nights are filled with ultrasonic and scrubbing parts clean....which is hours it feels.

Sounds good and good work! I spent years wrenching on mine so if you have any questions hit me up. The other big piece of advice I can give is get a good muffler and some sound deadening. The 12V is LOUD. You’re already ahead with a much quieter rotary pump but still. Mine was 90+ db on the highway doing 80. The coolness wore off reeeeally fast.

 

[mattressking]

More effort....not a lot of in depth pics, just moving along. Motor is now complete and ready to go in the truck....hopefully this week once the firewall paint dries.

When people complain about the cost of Toyota parts....I recommend looking at the cost of 6BT oem parts....it's higher and made in nearly every country. The castings are quite nice in comparison to Aisin. I do hope that I can get the wiring sorted out - plan is to use the 12v glow system out of a 1HD/HZ since they both share a 12v grid heater.

Still have to clock the turbo, fingers crossed I can keep the factory wastegate without interference......

Very proud of my filler piece to convert early firewall to late hydraulic.

Apparently in my usual habitat....yes this are rainbows as @Roastchestnuts pointed out

 

[mattressking]

First NOS part arrived for reassembly….

Heater valve! The current ones are junk in comparison. Original still sealed up but since I found this - I preferred not having a leak later.

Then the motor came out to get setup to drop in, thankfully @The Machinist and my neighbor were kind enough to lend a hand while setting it in….no pictures though, it was dark.

Thankfully the motor has both Nippon Denso alternator and a remanufactured Denso starter….just need to start hashing out this Toyota glow system next.

 

[Hokie LX]

Just found this thread and am glad I did. Following. This is such a sweet truck!