Got a Dodge squarebody!

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Grit dog

Full Access Member
Joined
May 18, 2020
Posts
6,970
Reaction score
12,220
Location
Auburn, Washington
First Name
Todd
Truck Year
1986, 1977
Truck Model
K20, C10
Engine Size
454, 350
Haha funny thing is I know how bad the electrical systems are. Used to keep these and Chevys and fords running side by side.
The electrical is amazingly clean and totally un touched. So there’s that.
My dad used to say they won’t even run in the rain and if a dog even pees on a tire they might not start!
 

Grit dog

Full Access Member
Joined
May 18, 2020
Posts
6,970
Reaction score
12,220
Location
Auburn, Washington
First Name
Todd
Truck Year
1986, 1977
Truck Model
K20, C10
Engine Size
454, 350
Well most all of the lights work, radio and horn make noise.
And it runs, on a Gatorade squirt bottle…engine is quiet and healthy sounding.
And it goes forward and backwards a little.
But good ole dodge electrical. One tail light is stuck on…lol.
 

Derick C.

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 15, 2014
Posts
849
Reaction score
1,691
Location
Auburn WA
First Name
Derick
Truck Year
1990
Truck Model
1500
Engine Size
454/700r4
Might be time to get yourself a trailer.
Sweet lookin project, I've always liked those trucks but never had one.
 

Turbo4whl

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Oct 30, 2019
Posts
3,125
Reaction score
7,254
Location
Downingtown, PA
First Name
Wayne
Truck Year
1974
Truck Model
Jimmy
Engine Size
350
Don"t try and pry a stuck distributor rotor off. Bend the dizzy shaft real easy. Then it only fires half the cylinders. Take a small ball pin hammer and hit stright down on the top. Pull the broken pieces out of the dizzy.

Check the firewall where the master cylinder mounts, they crack there. Radiator support cracks too.

Nice find!
 

TotalyHucked

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 24, 2020
Posts
3,671
Reaction score
11,854
Location
Auburn, Georgia
First Name
Zach
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
Sierra 1500
Engine Size
5.3
Eww, you bought a Dodge? :doublepuke:



















Oh yeah, I did too lol. Looks like a real nice truck! That would be a cool one to do a mild drop on with some 20" steelies painted like the originals and use the original caps and just cruise it as is
 

89Suburban

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Dec 7, 2010
Posts
24,772
Reaction score
6,635
Location
Southeast PA
First Name
Paw Paw
Truck Year
2007
Truck Model
Chevrolet Tahoe LT
Engine Size
5.3, 4WD
Man this is killin me!! I have had MANY of these old Dodge trucks/Ramchargers. Good luck with it, try to save the old girl. Can I ask how you got it and how much?

One of them I stabbed a GM HEI distributor and CCC carb system off a mid 80's GM, really made a huge difference in drivability.
 

Grit dog

Full Access Member
Joined
May 18, 2020
Posts
6,970
Reaction score
12,220
Location
Auburn, Washington
First Name
Todd
Truck Year
1986, 1977
Truck Model
K20, C10
Engine Size
454, 350
Might be time to get yourself a trailer.
Sweet lookin project, I've always liked those trucks but never had one.
A reg cab long bed is the absolute longest vehicle you can put on a Uhaul trailer. Of course I told them I was hauling a Hyundai…or they wouldn’t rent it.
Glad it was local trip just from Lynnhood to home. 52mph max speed, that short little trailer get the uncontrollable wiggles at 53mph!
 

squaredeal91

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 10, 2023
Posts
2,534
Reaction score
4,579
Location
Cave junction Oregon
First Name
Greg bush
Truck Year
1991 SB
Truck Model
K30
Engine Size
5.9 Cummins 12 valve
Did Dodge start paint matching them to U-Haul because they spent so much time getting towed?
You must be registered for see images attach
That's a great idea! Make it look like a u-haul
Truck from the period. That would be cool maybe lol
 

RecklessWOT

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 20, 2015
Posts
2,556
Reaction score
4,764
Location
New Hampshire
First Name
Kevin
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
V10 Suburban Silverado
Engine Size
350 TBI
Might be time to get yourself a trailer.
Sweet lookin project, I've always liked those trucks but never had one.
I was SOOO close to buying a car trailer until Covid screwed up the supply chain and I waited too long because I figured they weren't going anywhere. By the time the 24 week waiting period was up (or however ridiculously long it was) and they finally called me, I had changed my mind. Even if I tow a couple cars a year, I can't justify spending like 4k for a cheap trailer. I don't have a race car that I tow every weekend or anything. Those Uhaul trailers are actually pretty decent little trailers, and for 50 bucks a day you can't beat it. Assuming the price doesn't go through the roof (which I doubt because it's been $50 for 15 years or so, maybe longer I had just never towed a car before then) it would take 40 years for that $4k to pay for itself lol. And used trailers around here at least, you'll pay like $500 less than a brand new one and it will be rusty with dry rotted tires and brakes that don't work
 

Goldie Driver

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 19, 2018
Posts
4,042
Reaction score
6,634
Location
Houston, Texas
First Name
Britt
Truck Year
1980
Truck Model
GMC K1500 Suburban
Engine Size
350
I had 1977,damn good truck till i burnt it to the frame

Similar issue on a '77 Ramcharger, but it burned from the firewall back and gutted the interior. Worst part was it happened while a buddy of mine was driving it ...

Dam Dodge electrical. Never understood that as the vans had the fuse box inside as well and did not have electrical problems that I know of. Not sure if the vans ran an ammeter setup, though.:think:
 

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
44,157
Posts
950,592
Members
36,271
Latest member
jstewart7501
Top