74 D100 Adventurer - going to look at - need advice

Going to look at 74 D100 tomorrow. It is a regular cab long bed with the under bed box. Was a 440 truck but has a 318 now. Has the 8 3/4 under it. Been off the road for a few years. Cab is solid - only rust is some on the outer rockers. Bed sides have been repaired before and bed floor has a few spots on it. I should be able to get this truck for a fair price which I figure is worth it with all the good parts. Too bad the 440 is gone but I don't know how rare they are or how hard to get parts for the bed (door is missing for the box on the side of the bed). Appreciate any advice when I go to look at it as I have had mostly newer dodges.

Check the area where the top of the windshield meets the roof. That's a nasty area for rust.

Pull the glove box out & look at the area around the windshield post for rust trail
Sometimes they look solid on the outside but the rust trail from the water you'll see
Look at the way the truck leans & look for the trail

Thanks for the tip. Will check it. Are the 440 trucks hard to find? I think that 74 was the first year for them.

check the frame where the steering box mounts. they are notorious for cracking, and the brace is getting hard to find.

I have a factory 74 D100 with 440, I haven't been able to find any production figures but I know there wasn't very many built, generally you find the 440's more plentiful in the 3/4 tons and 1 tons as compared to 1/2 tons. Mine also has the tool box on the side and my door is in pretty rough shape but I did manage to find a really nice one at my local Pic a Part last year. I have always liked the looks and all the different options and packages that came on the 70's Dodge Pickups and Ramchargers and I see now that LMC Truck is starting to have alot of parts available now for the older Dodges. Good deal!!

Check the floor for rust. I have seen Arizona trucks with rusty floorboards.

A 1974 truck is 41 years old, worth keeping. Especially a 440 truck even if it isn't numbers-matching.

R.

I passed on it as it had some rust on the fender on the drivers side and doors. The bed would be easier to replace and the rockers needed work. The cowl cab corners and floors were all good on it. The guy said he was going to scrap it if it didn't sell by the end of last weekend but the ad was still up. I wish I could have saved it but I have too many other big projects here. Probably could have gotten it for a few hundred.