latest project, 88 shortbed

Picked up another shortbed today. It's an 88, it runs and drives, rust free except for the bed. V6 auto. Needs some work. First thing is to repair the frame from the steering box breaking it, or I should say cracking it. I'm going to design a heavy duty brace for the front frame. Might add a few pounds to the front but I'd rather make sure it's safe. Might go small block turbo setup, been wanting to try something like that.
For 300.00 I couldn't go wrong.

SWEET! 300$ is a steal just for the parts alone. the ram head is 200$ now days. LOL!

grill surround looks good which is a +++ the grill inserts are getting tuff to find also.

looks to have 10" rims all the way around, that's a lot of stress on the box/frame.

turbo does sound fun.

what gear does it have behind the v6 auto? 10 bolt or 12 bolt?

the deals just fall all over you

That looks like too good of a deal to pass up, both cases are easy fix, a little welding and plating on the frame ,patch panels are available for the bed.
Not to be biased but I like the turbo idea,plenty of room for that in the engine bay

There is already a brace made to stop the frame cracking in that spot. It bolts up to the frame with the steering box and has an arm that bolts to the crossmember under the radiator. Nice heavy piece. https://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/ubbt...k-in-stock.html

I have a nice grille, and front bumper from a 78 truck. Going to do the 360, 518 trans. Dana 60 rear. Going to do a single turbo setup until I figure out the turbo thing. I'm going to figure out the V6 running issue so I can sell it. I haven't even looked at the trans. yet to see if it's an overdrive or not. Whatever it is it will be sold as well.

Not likely an od in that year.
I just picked up a 46rh for mine this winter(will need driveshaft and fab up a mount),will rebuild and install next winter.
Would love to get a dana 60(out of my budget),but will settle for a 8.75.

I'm going to pick up a dana 60 3/4 ton rear and send to moser for new ends and axles and should be good to go.

my '88 had the V6 with the 5 speed OD.
Nice score, and I paid $300 for mine and it had the same bed rot.

Nice score, and always glad to see someone saving one!

Sweet truck, Killer price.
Wish I could find 'em around here like that.
I'd be a collector.

I had an '87 with the slant six and a 4 speed overdrive years ago.
Wish I had kept it, but you know what they say.
Wish in one hand and spit in the other.
See witch fills up first.
Enjoy your toy.

Brought home another one today! Same money as the red truck. Parting it out though. Need parts for the red truck. I'll post pictures later. Now I just need someplace to keep them

Where are you in KY? I'm in the market for some straight doors and fenders, the ones on the '92 I just bought are pretty beat up...

I'm in Florence Ky

That's more like southern Ohio, y'all! lol

I live in KY, NOT OHIO! LOL!

The parts truck

The other side

not bad at all. I see a nice passenger side headlight bezel....

Fender are good, one door, had a really nice dash that I already sold, new tires that are already sold. It has a ton of good stuff on it. Going to use the frame on the red truck. My basement is getting full again. lol

After today I'm on vacation for the next 9 days so I'll be hitting the little red shortbed pretty hard getting it in shape. Installing the grille and bezels, 78 front bumper, maybe get the frame swapped out.

pics plez.

I like following along on your projects.

I found a free 67 polara 440/727 in the woods and drug it home.. LOL! not a sweet find like you run up on but it does have a couple nice pieces left.

this thing must have sat out in the field for 20+ yrs.

all the steel carb linkage is rusted away, 50% of both valve covers rusted away, rockers/retainers/springs/head bolts, alt pulley rusted off, valley pan rusted 80% away, oil pan/dust cover sound super thin/rusted. hope to save the cast iron block/heads

but a nice 67 square bore intake, throttle clamp bracket, 3 piece PTK rods/levers/bellcranks.

nice cast iron crank pulley/damper

nice set of rear dump manifolds

hopefully some good hard parts like crank/seal reatianer rods

complete BB 727 hope it has some good stuff left inside.

scored a mid 80s 4x4 rolling chassis for free, weathered sb/ alum intake/headers trans VB = MIA but xfer/shafts are there.

farmer asked me "YOU REALLY WANT THAT JUNK?"

you come out here and load it you can have it free.

so....where's your pics at Scratch?

Finally in the garage, grille is in. windshield is out and should be in tomorrow.

No windshield

gotta love that grill

It's a good thing I keep lots of parts.

Can't wait to see how it turns out.

Saving another square-body!

Good job!