Re: 85 D150 water leak (body)
[Re: volaredon]
#2748031
03/01/20 03:05 PM
03/01/20 03:05 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,122 Auburn WA
Dave_J
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,122
Auburn WA
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I have seen so many of these 1972 up truck cabs with a 3 inch long 1/8 inch wide crack in the firewall in the wiper linkage cowl area. I think its a weak area from the stamping that has rusted out. My son has this issue. of what you have seen is this in a spot where I could easily get my MIG stinger in there and fix the issue? Just thinking ahead. Ive heard of this before, cracks in the firewall area but have yet to see one.... (I haven't had this issue yet, must just have been lucky/ so far) haven't had a chance to check out this area on my truck yet though either. My floor pans are like new so here's hoping that this isn't my issue. good info anyways because I don't plan on this one being my :last" D/W series truck... what causes these cowl/firewall cracks? I wouldn't think it would be cab/body flex, as they are full frame. If they were a unibody vehicle that cause would be more understandable. In the case of THIS truck, I wouldn't think that its /6 would have enough power to "hurt itself"-- relating to body and frame flex.... I had a picture of this crack on my sons truck but can not find in on my hard drive. The cab does get stressed a lot over the years. Mine when going over a un-even driveway the cab will make a 'BONG' noise when it flexes enough on the frame. As far as getting a MIG stinger tip in there, I think you could from inside the cab. But I would have someone in the Cowl area holding a 'Copper' backer plate over the crack so you dont just blow through. I have a huge sheet of dead soft pure copper. I just cut a piece and hammer it into the shape I need and hold it under the hole or crack. Check out Mike Finnegan's "Eastwood' Hotrod TV vid on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=huPdLOIA438
Retired, US ARMY 1973-1994 ASE mechanic, Electrical 1994-1997 Retired GTE/VERIZON/FRONTIER 1997-2015
Posting cheap tech help (CRAP) here since Nov 97, 1000's of posts, some may be good.
03 Suzuki Burgman 650(Burger King) Scooter 65 Formula S Cuda 78 Little Red Express Truck 98 Buick Regal (wifes car)
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Re: 85 D150 water leak (body)
[Re: Dave_J]
#2748057
03/01/20 04:38 PM
03/01/20 04:38 PM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 15,902 Central Florida
larrymopar360
Stud Muffin
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Stud Muffin
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 15,902
Central Florida
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Getting into interesting topic. I've been wondering about boxing my frame, at least in spots. Now you have me wondering about the cab. I don't seem to have a leak in cab now, nor really a lot of flex, but thought it would be nice to make it more rigid. Maybe I shouldn't go off on tangent about boxing, etc. though. Here's your youtube video Dave https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huPdLOIA438
Last edited by larrymopar360; 03/01/20 04:39 PM.
Facts are stubborn things.
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Re: 85 D150 water leak (body)
[Re: volaredon]
#2748168
03/01/20 10:37 PM
03/01/20 10:37 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,590 Freeport IL USA
poorboy
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,590
Freeport IL USA
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If you have any intentions of welding in the area of the bottom of the wiper box, I strongly suggest you pull everything out of the interior, the dash, the heater box, wiper parts, the plastic vent boxes, probably the wiring harness, and the carpet off the floor. You really need to get to a bare metal firewall. There is a lot of stuff in that area that will catch fire from the mig welder sparks that will be flying and some of the materials in the area will self feed a fire that may start. The entire seam along the bottom of the wiper box was filled (often very poorly) with a seam sealer from the factory. If you are welding in that area, the seam sealer really needs to be dug out. A fire starting to burn under a dash is in a difficult location to extinguish and would probably cause more damage the the water coming in would. Its not a quick weld job, I've done a few in the past.
While your checking stuff, it might be a really good idea to check the condition of the metal on the frame ear for the body mounts. The rubber mount will hold water and attract dust/dirt/sand and the grit of the dirt will wear away the metal under the mount. The result of that is there really is nothing keeping the cab on the frame, the metal will wear away to the size slightly smaller then the rubber mount. To check this, all you need to do is put a pry bar between the cab and the frame and see if you can pray the two apart. If its good, it shouldn't move, if its bad, the mount will pull right through the frame, any movement more the 1/8" is highly suspect. If your cab is making noises when the the body and frame flex, I would really check those cab mounts, all 4 on the cab, and the 2 at the radiator support. That hasn't got anything to do with the water leak, other then someone mentioning body/frame flex. That Dodge truck frame and body were designed to flex, up to a point, its the extremes, or the deterioration of the original mounting system, that cause the problems. Gene
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Re: 85 D150 water leak (body)
[Re: QuickDodge]
#2748513
03/03/20 09:39 AM
03/03/20 09:39 AM
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 15,487 Florida
scratchnfotraction
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 15,487
Florida
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exactly why my trucks have no carpet and spray on bed liner inside & out. also why I moved the dimmer switch to lower edge of dash by hood release. water would short out/rust the switch and it burnt up the fuseable link wires on 2 of my trucks. took a while but I found good replacement wire harness for the 85/88 trucks & moved the switch to high ground. couple well placed 1/4' holes to drain floors well and it stays dry and a little damp in wet weather but dry's right up dry weather.
IMHO..they all leak no matter what. so drain it well and ride the wheels off before it rust away.
OH yea, windshield gaskets leak also. mine leaked and run water down the a-piller and then down between dash and kick panel to the floor. cargo light leaked and run down inside cab and keeps seat belt wet and rotting in the bolt area.
Last edited by scratchnfotraction; 03/03/20 09:43 AM.
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Re: 85 D150 water leak (body)
[Re: scratchnfotraction]
#2748564
03/03/20 01:13 PM
03/03/20 01:13 PM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 15,902 Central Florida
larrymopar360
Stud Muffin
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Stud Muffin
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 15,902
Central Florida
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Good idea Mike, move the dimmer to high ground, AND I agree, no carpet inside, bed liner inside (I think I'm going to do POR15) and a couple of well placed holes. I have nothing on the floor of mine now, and had posted a question about adhesive backed liners and my concern for moisture getting underneath. I'm eventually going to get a rubber floor and attach the insulation to the back of that so I can easily lift to feel for moisture.
Mike's right, drive the heck out of them after you do your best to protect!
Facts are stubborn things.
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Re: 85 D150 water leak (body)
[Re: larrymopar360]
#2748575
03/03/20 01:29 PM
03/03/20 01:29 PM
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,647 in a cattle trailer down by th...
Guitar Jones
Paddle faster! I hear banjo music!
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Paddle faster! I hear banjo music!
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,647
in a cattle trailer down by th...
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Wow that TSB states "93-and prior"
Just how far prior I wonder? '72
"Follow me the wise man said, but he walked behind"
'92 D250 Club Cab CTD, 47RH conversion, pump tweaks, injectors, rear disc and hydroboost conversion. '74 W200 Crew Cab 360, NV4500, D44, D60 and NP205 divorced transfer case. Rear disc and hydroboost conversion. 2019 1500 Long Horn Crew Cab 4WD, 5.7 Hemi.
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Re: 85 D150 water leak (body)
[Re: Guitar Jones]
#2748717
03/03/20 07:33 PM
03/03/20 07:33 PM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 15,902 Central Florida
larrymopar360
Stud Muffin
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Stud Muffin
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 15,902
Central Florida
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Wow that TSB states "93-and prior"
Just how far prior I wonder? '72 Okay thanks. Was thinking it might be an '81 to '93 thing.
Facts are stubborn things.
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Re: 85 D150 water leak (body)
[Re: larrymopar360]
#2748865
03/04/20 09:57 AM
03/04/20 09:57 AM
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,647 in a cattle trailer down by th...
Guitar Jones
Paddle faster! I hear banjo music!
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Paddle faster! I hear banjo music!
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,647
in a cattle trailer down by th...
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The '72 to '93 is the same basic cab with a few minor changes.
"Follow me the wise man said, but he walked behind"
'92 D250 Club Cab CTD, 47RH conversion, pump tweaks, injectors, rear disc and hydroboost conversion. '74 W200 Crew Cab 360, NV4500, D44, D60 and NP205 divorced transfer case. Rear disc and hydroboost conversion. 2019 1500 Long Horn Crew Cab 4WD, 5.7 Hemi.
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Re: 85 D150 water leak (body)
[Re: Guitar Jones]
#2748940
03/04/20 02:15 PM
03/04/20 02:15 PM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 15,902 Central Florida
larrymopar360
Stud Muffin
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Stud Muffin
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 15,902
Central Florida
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The '72 to '93 is the same basic cab with a few minor changes. I know, but was hoping there was some tweaking when the style changed in 81, and that way my '79 was safe from this possible problem.
Facts are stubborn things.
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Re: 85 D150 water leak (body)
[Re: larrymopar360]
#2749006
03/04/20 05:50 PM
03/04/20 05:50 PM
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,647 in a cattle trailer down by th...
Guitar Jones
Paddle faster! I hear banjo music!
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Paddle faster! I hear banjo music!
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,647
in a cattle trailer down by th...
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I see more northern trucks with this issue than the southern ones. Probably has more to do with terrain.
"Follow me the wise man said, but he walked behind"
'92 D250 Club Cab CTD, 47RH conversion, pump tweaks, injectors, rear disc and hydroboost conversion. '74 W200 Crew Cab 360, NV4500, D44, D60 and NP205 divorced transfer case. Rear disc and hydroboost conversion. 2019 1500 Long Horn Crew Cab 4WD, 5.7 Hemi.
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Re: 85 D150 water leak (body)
[Re: Guitar Jones]
#2751586
03/13/20 04:27 PM
03/13/20 04:27 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,122 Auburn WA
Dave_J
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,122
Auburn WA
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Stealing the picture from that TSB, here is where my son's 74 cab is cracked (Red Arrows)
Retired, US ARMY 1973-1994 ASE mechanic, Electrical 1994-1997 Retired GTE/VERIZON/FRONTIER 1997-2015
Posting cheap tech help (CRAP) here since Nov 97, 1000's of posts, some may be good.
03 Suzuki Burgman 650(Burger King) Scooter 65 Formula S Cuda 78 Little Red Express Truck 98 Buick Regal (wifes car)
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Re: 85 D150 water leak (body)
[Re: Guitar Jones]
#2751615
03/13/20 05:39 PM
03/13/20 05:39 PM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,256 ILLINOIS
volaredon
OP
top fuel
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OP
top fuel
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,256
ILLINOIS
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I see more northern trucks with this issue than the southern ones. Probably has more to do with terrain. Its pretty flat around here, only "terrain" issues are bad local roads haha.... now road salt, and that brine crap that they love so much around here, I can see that making a difference, vs non salt belt areas.....
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Re: 85 D150 water leak (body)
[Re: Dave_J]
#2751616
03/13/20 05:40 PM
03/13/20 05:40 PM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,256 ILLINOIS
volaredon
OP
top fuel
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OP
top fuel
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,256
ILLINOIS
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Stealing the picture from that TSB, here is where my son's 74 cab is cracked (Red Arrows) Thanks for posting that.....
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