vikingminer49er

Thank you to all who have reacted to, or commented on, my hysterical collection of old Dodge trucks. As noted before, all my trucks are available, but as a law-abiding member of P15-D24, requests are to be officially listed in the Classified section of the website; however, there are no rules that I know of for content of personal messages to me. I have seen 1970's sheet metal on 1980's trucks. Speaking of parts trucks, here's another one that I skipped over, and no one noticed. Spotted it next to Truck 51, the 1975 Dodge W200 Parts Truck, when I was out taking photos. Didn't have photos, or files, for the trucks before, which explains why I missed them. Truck 52 is a 1973? Dodge D300 Flatbed Parts Truck, with a 318?-cubic-inch engine and 4-speed transmission. The question marks are because I'm not sure of the VIN. as the door-pillar, printed sticker is no longer readable. Not much left on the truck. Mainly bought the truck locally near Paonia Colorado for the flatbed, plus some other parts that are no longer visible on the truck.

Noticed when I posted the photos of the 1986 Dodge D350, there is another truck I skipped over. Will have to add it to my list. Truck 51 is a 1975 Dodge W200 Parts Truck, without engine, transmission, or bed, that was given to me by a guy I know in Grand Junction Colorado. Truck still has good sheet metal on the remainder, especially the grill and bumper, and some good clearance lights and an old-style spotlight through the roof. Like the in-cab roll-bar cage and the steel fuel tank at the rear of the frame. Still had the transfer case for the full-time four-wheel drive. Have no idea what to do with the truck except to salvage parts for other trucks and projects. Didn't have any photos of the truck, so went out yesterday to get some. See another parts truck I missed. This good go on for a long time.

Thank you for the response on the bumper bolts. An internet search for oval head bumper bolts turned up several sources including this reference from 2013: https://p15-d24.com/topic/32571-source-of-bumper-bolts/. More photo updates from Joe Jarvis, as he works the Hemi engine and transmission into place. Appears the engine and transmission will still need to move to the rear and down for clearance of the radiator and driveline. Will be able to tell more after the grill shell, radiator, hood, and supports are in his shop. Will make the trip down with the parts as soon as the radiator repairs are completed next week. Exhaust manifold and routing clearance continues to be an issue. Looking at various exhaust header alternatives for routing the exhaust either tight to the engine and down between the frame rails, or outside the frame rails and under the fenders and running boards. Still need to consider clearance for the steering setup. Probably be able to tell more after receipt of front suspension parts and k-frame cross member. First box of parts arrived from ridetech for the air bag system.

More photos of the potential Rat-Rod, Rock-Crawler Buggy.

Skipped a truck, and no one noticed. Truck 49 is a 1979 Dodge W100 Parts Truck, with a 318-cubic-inch engine, 4-speed transmission, full-time four-wheel-wheel drive, and short wheel base, purchased locally near Paonia Colorado. This truck is a true Rat Rod, dragged from the pinyon/juniper forest. Normal procedure when a truck is brought home is to clean the trash and debris from the truck, wash it, and evaluate what is remaining, before deciding what to do with the truck, potential value, and where to park it in the truck yard. After the truck was cleaned out, and while washing the truck, the dog told me I wasn't done yet. The dog persisted in sniffing around the cab of the truck trying to tell me what I missed. Removed the seats for the dog to continue inspection. Almost removed the behind-the-seat fuel tank, until the dog focused on the small gap next to the door where there is an opening between the inner and outer sheet metal for the roof of the cab. Removed the interior dome light above the seat, ran the water hose into the dome light opening, and washed out both sides between the inner and outer sheet metal. The dog was correct, as usual, since debris flowed out of each side opening near the doors. Then the fun began. Last thing to wash out of the driver's side opening was a pack rat, who had taken up residence in the truck. When the rat hit the floor, it took off through the firewall, into the engine compartment, seeking refuge behind the driver's-side fender and headlight. Additional washing in the engine compartment sent the rat back through the firewall, and behind the dash and gauges. Thorough cleaning of the back side of the instrument panel with the water hose failed to dislodge the rat. Removed the small piece of the late 1970's dash panel to the left side of the gauges, and uncovered the rat clinging to the instrument panel wiring. A quick blast of water, directly on the rat, sent it down to the floor. Since the dog and I were standing in the open driver's-side door, the rat headed to the passenger's side. By now, alerted by the commotion, Judy was standing in the open passenger's door with a pitchfork. Imagine the horror in the poor rat's eyes when confronted with a woman with a pitchfork. The rat wheeled around to take on the dog and I. The dog grabbed the rat and left the area. We never saw the rat again. So unless the truck comes with a rat, it will never truly be a Rat Rod. The truck is slowly disappearing. First thing to go was a lot of the blue paint during hot-water pressure washing, revealing a white truck underneath in places. Next the short pickup bed, with the chrome steps, like on the Little Red Express of the era, disappeared. Then the doors, front springs, and seats all disappeared. Unless it all disappears, may have to put a cab from one of the 1948 Dodge parts trucks on the frame, and rebuild the suspension into a rock-crawler buggy. Think the prospect of the rock crawler may wait a long time, unless someone comes along that wants it more than I do.

Think these should be the pieces headed for the swim in the three tanks, Copper, Nickel, and Chrome. Pieces not being sent, if ever, are door handles and hubcaps. Strongly considering electric-remote, power windows and door openers. Need to decide on tires, wheels, and if using original hubcaps, finding two more.

Brought out the small acetylene-air torch to put some heat into the bumper bolts. The two replacement bolts twisted off, but the one chrome oval-head bolt was salvaged. Three areas on the bumper were cracked and farm welded.

More photos from Joe Jarvis. Engine and transmission will move farther back and down. Apparent problems are clearance for the exhaust, and the 2014 Dodge Charger Hemi engine does not have an on-board power-steering pump. The 2014 Dodge Charger electric-hydraulic, power-steering pump was located in front of the passenger's side front wheel, between the splash guard and the front bumper. Probably won't use the air-conditioning compressor mounted on-board the engine, in what I would consider the normal power-steering pump location. Planning on having the front and rear axles removed and the frame sandblasted and sealed by next week. Will be hauling down the grill shell, radiator, lower radiator supports, hood, and radiator/hood support rods next week to keep the project going. Need to finish gathering up the chrome pieces to send off for chrome plating.

Received a photo from Mr. Joe Jarvis, American Iron Hot Rod Shop, in Grand Junction Colorado, showing the 2014 Dodge Charger Hemi engine and transmission placed in the 1938 Dodge RC Pickup frame and cab, for trial fit. Told him I need at least three photos to take up space for an update. Hope to get more photos soon. Checked on the radiator and fuel tank repairs yesterday. Western Slope Radiator is busy with multiple repairs, but has started work on the radiator and fuel tank for my truck. Will probably be another week before they are done. Comprehensive insurance coverage is in place for the 1938 Dodge RC Pickup for replacement of value, in the event of loss during the build. Slowly continuing work on a new truck barn for future project work and storage of finished projects, including the 1938 Dodge RC Pickup. Have received a budget estimate from a potential contractor, contacted the insurance agent for check on replacement and insurance costs, contacted financing source for loan value and costs, and contacted my structural designer to prepare construction drawings. As expected, everyone thinks I over-design, and over-build. The concrete walls for the cattle/hay barn are well-suited for the cattle and hay, for which it was designed and built. I am being convinced the concrete walls are not necessary, or desirable, for a heated truck-repair and storage structure. My structural designer has convinced me a steel-frame structure, in addition to being more cost effective, would be better with a 20-foot-bay spacing between steel frames. He recommends a 50-foot-wide span, and 60-foot length, a 20% increase in usable area for minimal cost increase. So, although the two large barn structures will not be identical, they will be similar. We can use the same metal sheeting for the walls and roof. The steel-frame, gable-end structure can have a higher center-aisle clearance and lower eave height. Insulation of the lower wall sections will be better than the concrete wall sections. Hate arguing with someone who's right. Since I can't win the argument, will go back to the potential contractor(s) for new budget estimates. Worst that can happen is the structure will cost less, and won't have to borrow as much money.

Truck 50 is a 1986 Dodge D350 Pickup, with a 360-cubic-inch engine and automatic transmission, purchased locally near Paonia Colorado from a previous co-worker this past year. Uncommon features of the truck include bucket seats, sunroof, dual stacks, and a narrow bed on a dual-rear-wheel drive. Really didn't want another project, but Judy is a good friend of his daughter-in-law, and had me go look at the truck. The guy was cleaning up his place, and wanted his grandson's project removed. Like a good neighbor, we helped clean up his place, and got one more truck around our place. He turned down my offer, arguing that since he couldn't find the key, and the truck was missing the tail lights and radio, he should take less than I offered. First time that ever happened. Managed to load the truck onto the hauler, by disconnecting the linkage to get the transmission out of the park position, and minor steering adjustments by side-pulling with the guy's tractor. Before I unloaded the truck at our place, hauled it down to the locksmith in Delta Colorado, and got a new key for the truck. Truck came with 5-mounted wheels and tires, an extra wheel in the bed that doesn't fit the truck, and plenty of well-used spares. Of course, the one side with the single-rear wheel and tire didn't hold air. Got enough tire on all four corners to roll the truck around. Now the truck will probably sit in my truck yard until I can find someone to help clean up my place.

Judy loves her show truck. She brought home the Blue Ribbon from the Delta County Fair Parade last August, and she proudly displays all her ribbons from the local Fair. Our kitchen is wallpapered with ribbons from her cooking. Keith Martin, Editor and Publisher of Sports Car Market, The Insider's Guide to Collecting, Investing, Values, and Trends, was the guest celebrity at the Gunnison Colorado Car Show a few years ago. He selected the Palomino, along with four other vehicles, to give an exhibition on valuation. He gave us a very high value for an old 1979 Dodge pickup, based on condition and uniqueness of the Palomino. Not sure Judy would sell the truck now. https://www.sportscarmarket.com/about/keith-martin

We drive the Palomino occasionally for fun adventures and parades.

Rather than purchasing imitation-Navaho-blanket-style, Chinese-made seat material for the Palomino, I located a place in New Mexico, about halfway between Gallup and Shiprock, and about ten miles off the paved highway, known as the Two Grey Hills Trading Post. Took them the best remaining seat panel from the Palomino, and asked to have four seat panels, in the two different sizes for back and bottom, made as replacements. Of course, the Navajo artist made whatever she wanted. Notably, she only used the undyed wool she had available, and made whatever design inspired her. So, all four panels are different. Took the blanket panels to Duncan & Sons in Grand Junction, and had them made into new seats. Although not original to a 1979 Dodge Palomino, they are original to this 1979 Dodge Palomino.

The dealer decal on the tailgate of the Palomino indicates it was originally delivered to Lamar, a small town in southeastern Colorado. The truck was advertised in the High Country Shopper, a local-circulation, classified-ad, weekly publication, and purchased locally in Crawford Colorado. When I saw the ad, I hurried to Crawford with my checkbook, and drove the truck home the same day. Truck is a relatively rust-free western truck, as can be seen by the condition of the floor. The original seat material was removed, and the original manufacturer was determined to be SMS Auto Fabrics of Canby Oregon, south of Portland, in the heart of Navajo country. Contacted SMS Auto Fabrics, and found out they no longer had the original material available, since they had sold the remainder to a Palomino collector in California that has about a dozen of the trucks.

More photos of the Palomino as received.

Truck 48 is a 1979 Dodge D100 Palomino Pickup, with a 318-cubic-inch engine, automatic transmission, long wheel base, power steering, power brakes, tilt steering wheel, mechanical cruise control, stereo radio, and air conditioning. The Palomino was a special trim package produced from the last week of January to the first week of March in 1979. As a trim package, Palominos were produced with any combination of engine, transmission, wheel base, options, and in both two- and four-wheel drive. This one was one of the first produced at the end of January 1979, and has the single round headlights, left over from the previous model year. Most 1979 Dodge pickups were equipped with the quad rectangular headlights. The unique features of the Palomino include the two-tone brown paint, like a Palomino horse, the Palomino name on the tailgate, the southwestern-style graphic stripes on the sides, and the imitation-Navajo-style seats. Compete mechanical restoration of the truck has been completed since the video was taken. The exterior of the truck remains, and will remain, untouched, as it is the only indication of the originality of the Palomino trim. The seat material was in very poor condition, and has been re-done for riding comfort. This two-wheel drive, long-wheel-base, automatic-transmission truck is a pleasure to drive. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAoiZh7PEws https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzNF4VMeU_g

1977 Jeep CJ5, completely stock, except for the custom paint, stereo, and leather seats. High torque at low rpm with the 256-cubic-inch 6-cylinder engine and 4-speed transmission. Period-correct, aftermarket, removable Acme fiberglass top and doors. We use it occasionally in the late summer and fall to explore the old mining areas in western Colorado. Not intended, equipped, or used for rock crawling. Pleasurable drives through the high country. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tN3ACWQdB98 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZZwqEI91KI

Trucks 46 and 47 are a two-fer, 1976 Dodge M880 Military Pickups with 318-cubic-inch engines and automatic transmissions. One in camouflage paint with a front-to-back rack. One in olive drab with a communication-shelter, tie-down anchor in the bed, that technically makes it an M884 version. Interesting features include the heavy-duty suspension and axles required by the military to rate these trucks as 1-1/4-ton capacity, also known as 5-quarters. Produced with manual steering, the normal power-steering pump location was designated for a 24-volt alternator for military use. Trucks were issued with a black-out light kit that included a dash switch, a front driving light mounted in the grill, and small clearance-type lights for the four corners. These truck also have full-time four-wheel-drive.