I know there will be a lot of very biased opinions, but I just have to ask. Should I keep the Dodge?

I initially went to help out a friend, put in a tranny in a 87 ranger, and when I left, he said, "since I brought you over here, take the gas hog home."

I didn't know he wanted me to keep it until a few weeks later, when I asked him when he wanted to come get his truck. The joke was on me, he told me to let him know when I wanted a Bill of Sale. Other than being Dodge, it is a good truck, 1/2 ton D-100 rwd, 318, 727TF, dont know the rears, all original, busts off the first time. Besides, I don't have any other fullsize trucks to tow with. Unless I borrow my dad's Chevy, which would prove Chevy superior in his mind.

I am a Ford man myself, and prefer sticks, but my tranny came out of my 96 ranger (M5OD), then the carb went out on the 84 4x2 (solenoid, couldnt find a replacement), and the tranny was already burnned up in the 84 4x4. (5th auto in 3rd chasis, which is why I prefer sticks).

If I keep it it will get an Edelbrock performer intake, 500 cfm man choke 4bbl, and a set of Summit headers. Later I will rebuild it with a stroker crank and RV cam. All in the name of better MPG. Well.......except the stroker crank

Honest opinions please, and remember this is for going as cheap as possible.
No telling me how inferior it is, or what I could do with a Ford. I know, I have built fords, put 302s in rangers, and watched my uncle build his last 390 (he liked to jump coke cans with his car, dont remember which body - I was only 7)
The only thing about Fords, how do people put 302s in 4x4s? Oh well, plz help

 

What year is it? Was it free? Remember the saying never look a gift horse in the mouth.

They do guzzle the gas. But I guess if you just use it for towing you will be fine. They sound really good with headers. The late 70s dodges were of good quality. Quality was very poor in the 80s and 90s.

 

78 d100 2wd 318 2bbl 727 torqufire auto

Had factor air, not much left

I guess it was payment for installing the tranny?

One small problem, the blinker and flasher switches dont work, brake lights are straight wired, but other than that, its a jewel

Evhaust pipe is rusted out just past "Y" pipe, so I think it is all original

 

.......Moved......

 

if it's a good solid truck keep it. who cares what brand it is.

 

I agree, keep the dodge if its a solid truck. You could always sell it and buy a ford with the money, but i would keep the dodge.

 

If you want to give the Dodge to me, I'd keep it! The 318 is a good engine but if it has over a 100,000 miles and still has the factory timing chain/gears you should change them ASAP. The cam gear has Nylon teath and they will strip without warning.

 

You can't go wrong with a free vehicle, at least in my book... And as autos go, the Torqueflight 727 is a pretty decent one.

But as for your 84, why don't you just get rid of all the electronic junk, and go with a simpler carb and 70's duraspark II ignition system? This is a VERY simple thing to accompolish.

 

I had a pair of '78 Dodges. Very good old trucks, I like my Fords but I'd take another '78 Dodge if one came my way without hesitation. Same for '79s.

 

I had a Dodge 318 and it gave me good service. I don't think you can beat it at that price.
Dono

 

Thanx guys,

Im goin to keep it. After all, my family is always telling me I need to give those ole Fords a rest. I'll probably rebuild it after I get done restomoding my 73 LTD. Now, if only I could find those Badger pistons everyone keeps talking about. The last time I checked, Dynagear bought Ohio piston & pin, and discontinued the specialty pistons. Oh well, I'll figure something out.

Thanks again for all of the help

 

I got to admit thats about the only way I would own a dodge , if it was free, so I vote keep it, what the #ell

 

Them 318,s are good engines and AMC put some of the 727 trannys in the Jeep Wagoneers and they held up pretty well. Keep the truck.

 

If it was free id take it then sell it too some dummy for 3 grand!

 

Hey it was free, keep it and build it up. A little milage tip for that 318 though, the Dodge motors get worse milage when they had a 2bbl vs. the 4bbl, the trick with the 4bbl and the good milage was the Carter thermo quads had very small primarys so they got better milage then a similar engine equipped with the square bore carbs. A lot of the Dodge guys advise against stroking the 318 due to the fact that you can take a 360 and go bigger yet but keep it reliable. 93+ heads make a huge diff as well.