New project truck found!

Well, after months of searching, 6 days of driving and a fellow Moparts member, I found my next race car hauler. It's a 76 D300, 440 auto, 4:10 Dana equipped beast. Needs disassembly for paint and some finishing details but I plan on having it finished by next spring and ready for race season...its exterior will match it's interior...forrest green...lol

Cool!!

Looks like a great starting point. Hope you don't find too many surprises under that primer.

Yeah, initially I was worried about that also but I've spent the last two days crawling all over it with a magnet, flashlight and mirror and I've found no surprises. I've been mulling over whether I should paint it myself or get an estimate on someone else doing it...gawd I hate painting vehicles...obviously I don't have a paint booth so that means prepping the floors, covering up all your stuff, making a mess, cleaning up the mess....blah blah blah....LOL, I'll probably end up painting it

Heard that decision coming.

This is the one mid project from NY? 1st pass looks pretty solid and a starter kit for that Red one that just went thru calisle. Needs a rocker, will assume some more floor work, cab roof looks nice, will assume finish level reflected in price. Don't do body color to match existing interior - it's way too easy to change the interior color for that. How's it run and how much did ya cough up?

Yeah, my cousin and brother both have trucks that need painted so they are both gung ho to help me "engineer" a paint booth , yes, this is the mid project from New York (originally from California), and I have found no rust, it runs well and most of the bolt on parts are only attached by a couple of fasteners that held it together just well enough for the trip home so it'll be easy to disassemble. I know, I know...about the interior color but the interior is in pretty nice shape and I will guiltily admit...I just don't feel like taking it apart...so looks like Green exterior will be the color of choice. As far as price goes I feel I gave a reasonable "project" price... , I believe both the buyer and seller were happy with the deal.

Looks like a great hauler!

Thanks, I haven't been this stoked about a build in awhile, I'm temporarily on hold waiting on the new shop to get finished and it's driving me nuts...I'm ready to get started.

That's the cleanest shop floor I've ever seen. Cleanest shop period:

That First Gen Turd doesn't deserve to be in it.

I now have to clean coffee off my key board Yes, the shop is clean, it's only about 3 weeks old, electrical is supposed to be finished today then I can start building shelves, setting up storage racks, cleaning out storage buildings and moving all of my stuff out of my cousins shop before he disowns me

Has a 77 grille, are you leaving it or going to put a 76 grille on it?

If you go back to '76, I have a set of parking lights I'll sell CHEAP if you need a set.

Yeah, that's the one that came with it ànd the front valance is a 77 also and since they are both in nice shape that's what I'll probably roll with unless I find a 76 that's in as good of shape as this one when I get ready for reassembly.

Nice. there're days i wish i had my '80 back.

If I had bought this project instead of the finished one in red, I'd paint this one red and change the interior color. Just did one black to tan and it worked great. Your mileage may vary and lets see some green color samples. Did I say nice find?

Thanks!, I spent the weekend inventoring parts, removed the bed and assessing brake and fuel system things that need finished, order Ed parts from Inline tube and Vans Auto this morning....and actually I think I've decided I like the green

Nice hauler!
Don't forget to replace those wiper arm bushings.
JMHO.

Absolutely, this is the perfect time to do it, I did them on my 74 1/2 ton about 3 years ago and it currently has one broken as we speak

Love the truck. Would love it more as a crew though. Looks like some roof work was already done on it. Shop looks awesome.

Yeah my "pit crew" ( hangeroners) are gonna love the absolutely perfect jump seats

I asked google to show me some green duallys or club cabs. I saw a couple cool examples.

I think the third pic is the one I'm going with...is that F8 Forrest green?

Cool Dually!!!

Thanks!

My original owner dark forest green 92 ( old picture, has different wheels and LED headlights now ) i couldn't get new pics to post

that is sweet! good luck with it. sounds solid and ready to work. growing up here in FL. Forrest green has been the state forestry division color as long as I can remember. my 85 step side was that color. I like it myself.

Thanks Scratch, reassembly starts this weekend on the rear brake system and dual tanks, found some NOS parts online and a couple of handy Moparts vendors had some other things I needed

Little update and help needed, all the parts arrived, rear brake lines are complete and bled, front and rear fuel tanks are installed, plumed, wired, new fuel lines from the pump back and new sumps in both tanks. Truck is now disassembled and prepped for primer/sealer/paint, temporary paint booth is built, paint my happen this weekend Now for the help needed...when I got the truck it had zero fuel system installed, it had a one gallon jug bungied in front of the radiator and plumed straight to the fuel pump, the truck ran perfect during all the yard driving ( burned 2 gallons of gas) that I did prior to disassembly for paint...then...installed the complete fuel system, both tanks were blown and vaccumed, fuel lines were new, switching valve is new, sumps are new, both tanks have a vent in the top that I guess used to go to the vapor canister? I plumbed them together with a "T" vent...ok...that's a long story to get to the point...the truck now runs like "S@#T!!! Won't idle, revs up and down on its own when you make it stay running...what am I missing here, any ideas?

Sounds like low fuel level in the carb. Maybe sucking air somewhere or the pump isn't putting out the volume it needs to fill the carb. I would get it running for a minute or so then check the fuel level in the carb or put a pressure gauge on it. Or just pull the line off, put it in a catch can and crank it to see how much volume is coming out.

Thanks for the ideas, I'll go back over all the connections and check the fuel pressure, it came with an AFB installed so checking fuel level will require removing the top of the carb, I was going to do that anyway just to make sure it didn't pick up some trash somehow.

I was thinking about sucking air too except that it would probably leak gas from the same place. Other thought was maybe the one fuel line you didn't replace, if there is one. Clear bodied fuel filters are a good way to see how much fuel is getting pumped to the carb. Maybe go back to the aux fuel can feeding the pump to verify the carb and if it runs good from that, work your way back one connection at a time until it has a problem again.

Thanks for the ideas, only line that's not new is the line from the pump to the carb, and it has a clear filter at the carb inlet but I didn't notice how much gas was in it, I'll check that. I like the idea of hooking it back up to the aux one gallon tank to see if it clears up then working my way back, I'll try that also

Paint it yourself, find the HVLP paint gun and turbine, there is no over spray! All the paint goes on the vehicle. I’ve painted with the same gun-turbine for 33 years. You’ll never go back to a conventual gun.

Made some progress today, painted early this morning before it got too hot and then this afternoon after the sun went down, only have the cab left to do, single stage dark jade metallic...

Couple more...

Update...RAIN...also, just looked at the first bed pic and realized half the bed looked dull...couldn't figure out why until I realized it's the reflection of the plastic curtain hanging from the rafter . Rain (humidity) look to be hanging around until late in the week so I'm on hold....

Looks good! I always liked single stage paint, but now I like using base/clear much better.

Thanks, I finished the cab yesterday, no pictures, have to start unmasking today and then check for touch up needed areas. I tried base coat clear coat once but jacked up the cut and buff so I haven't shot it since, on a side note I did figure out why the truck was running bad after I installed the fuel system seems when a 31 gallon tank is bone dry 5 gallons of gas will not cover the pick up...so yes, the pick up was sucking air and a little bit of gas ...

Couple of questions...does anybody know if there was/is supposed to be a gasket or molding between the Dually fender mount points and bed, I've googled and can't find any mention of it or a replacement listing . Also, anyone know who sells the tailgate trim mounting clips, thanks

Yes there is supposed to be a gasket that goes between the fiberglass flare and the bed. Don't know if they are in reproduction. I have a set here that I can text you a pic of later this morning if you need to see what they look like.
These guys might sell the gaskets...
http://duallyfendersfiberglasstruck.com/_Home_2.html

https://www.cumminsforum.com/threads/what-to-do-dually-fenders-to-bed.240053/



Not sure of clip reproduction. Seems like they could be produced with a 3D printer.
https://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/1607890/re-nos-truck-trim-clips.html


Truck looks great!

Thanks for the links, looks like I found a seal that will work at Speedway Motors and through the links I also think I found the clips at Mopar Truck Parts out in California, going to call them soon as they open

Pic update, waiting on parts to finish putting the doors together, gaskets for the dually fenders and clips for the tail gate trim

perfection!

You did a great job!

Thanks guys Still have stuff left to do...waiting on parts to put the doors back together and the gaskets for the rear fenders. Cant seem to get the dash lighting to work or the horn, so there's that, changed the bulbs and plug in resistor still no worky...I just love working under the dash...not...

Got the parts for the rear fenders and trim clips, still waiting on door parts, turned on the wipers for the first time and it broke every single bushing in the linkage , got the inside dome light working, ordered new headlight switch and dash light voltage reducer in an attempt to fix the dash lights...getting closer to a test drive

You do fast work.....and it looks nice what the story on the the other Dodge truck with the blue /white top?

Thanks, yeah I'm kind of OCD about working on stuff, I like doing projects but it's more fun to drive them so I tend to work from dawn till dusk just so I can drive it . The blue truck is a 74 318 2bbl Auto, long bed stepside, it was bought new by my grandad, he was a cotton farmer in north east Louisiana, since he was only about 5'6 he hated fleetside trucks because they were too hard to get stuff out of the bed, his old 65 Chevy step side was worn out and the local Chevy dealer didn't have a long bed stepside in stock and according to him weren't very cooperative about getting him one...so down to the Dodge dealer he went...they had this blue one in stock, he had had a good crop that year so my grandmother wrote a check for it (3676.56). My grandmother was an incredible record keeper so I have every single piece of paper from the dealership and the maintenance records. When the first gen diesel Dodge pick-ups came out my grandad said he was going to trade the old blue truck in on one, I begged him not to and told him I would pay him whatever the dealer offered him on trade in, he agreed said he would let me know. The years rolled by, my grandmother passed away, my granddad developed Alzheimer's and began sneaking off in the blue truck and getting lost, driving through fences out into plowed fields and not knowing how he got there. The truck and it's keys were hidden from him as his condition worsened, he passed away with the truck still hidden in the barn. My aunt called me after his estate was settled and offered the truck to me if I would come get it out of the barn and get it running, it was a mess, the barn rats and mice had eaten most of the fuel lines and a lot of wiring but my dad and I got it all fixed and drove it home...that was in 2001. The odometer shows 256k miles, it is rust free, I finally pulled the original engine last year and built a 360 for it but the original engine will be rebuilt and reinstalled soon as I get around to it...long story of the old blue truck...

great story! But don't be a tease...show us that truck!

Here are a couple of pics of the old blue truck, I bought new door seals for it so the doors are apart and my dad and I put the new Oak bed in back in 2006

sweet!

Well, the old/new Dually got it's maiden voyage yesterday, drove it into town to get it inspected, licensed and filled both tanks with gas.
Discoveries...
1. That 4:10 gear sucks, that has to be improved either with a gear change or overdrive,
2. When I left the gas station guy pulled up beside me and told me I have no tail lights, sure enough, get home no taillights, no clearance lights, nothing, headlights a, breaklights and turnsignals....nothing else...looks like I'll be chasing sparks today...ugggh
3. Runs good, stays cool, no leaks, stops good, no wind noise, no rattles
4. Got lots of looks, kid at the gas station in a tuner car asked the "what the heck is that" ...lol

Out here, the first question is...

Is it a diesel?

followed by...

is it 4wd?

followed by...

is it an automatic?

then the final question...

is it for sale?


I had a kid stop by last week asking about the 85 D350 in the driveway and I answered his questions before he asked them. I get about 6 or 7 inquiries a year from folks that stop by. It baffles the ol' lady why anybody would want it and it's no where near as nice as yours. lol

4. Got lots of looks, kid at the gas station in a tuner car asked the "what the heck is that" ...lol

Youngsters.......

The reasoning i was curios bout the blue truck was i use to own a D-100 that color and year before i purchase my Ram but it was the short bed that i built a 360 for it. Kick myself every time i think about why i traded it for

Just a little update...Dually hasn't moved since it's maiden voyage, had to remove the instrument panel and related components and start ringing wires and chasing "repairs" done over the years, managed to loose install everything last night and looks like everything is working but the gas gauge...it goes to full peg on both tanks soon as the key turns on...looks like it's back under the truck I go....

Ok, I'm in need of a little technical expertise here...I've chased wires all day and can find nothing obviously wired wrong, the power wire on both sending units is reading 5.15 volts, the sump grounds are good and I've checked every connection I could physically get my hands on...so why is the gauge still rapidly going to the full peg as soon as you turn the key on and when you turn the fuel tank selector switch to the other tank it hits the full peg on that one also...any suggestions or ideas??? (As a side note, as soon as you unplug the power wire from whichever sump is selected the needle immediately drops to E on that tank only), (sorry, I know that's kinda captain obvious...lol)

Diggin the truck btw - nice find and surprised I didn't see it.

As for fun of gas gauges: full tank displayed is zero or near zero resistance in the sender / wiring. Kinda why they never read full but anyway ya didn't mention resistance across the tank senders (90 ohms empty, 0 ohms full). Maybe try it other way: go to sender lead at dash ckt board, look for a ground instead of some resistance, make the ground go away.

Okay, climbed under the truck this morning and got the ohms readings, rear tank 11.9, frame tank 10.8,...when I put gas in it last week I managed to get 15 gallons in the rear tank and about 25 in the front...the ohms readings makes me think they're almost full??? They gauge reading on both tanks is going past the full mark about a 10th of an inch

10 ohms, sender to any ground, is about right for about full and shouldn't read past the full mark on the gauge. I'd still be interested in a resistance reading from the gauge lead to a good ground as it sounds grounded there. If it's the same 10 or 11 ohms based on which tank is selected, run them down and see what happens. If it's lower at the gauge than at the sender, ya got something grounded that shouldn't be. Tank selector switch issue?

Well...after laying under the dash and under the truck almost all day with jumper wires, test light and ohm meter I got frustrated, unplugged the hot side to both sumps and bolted the truck back together, everything works but the gas gauge...if it runs out of gas on one tank I'll just switch to the other . While I had it apart I installed a NOS Sun Super Tach II that I had on the shelf, took the truck into to town to grab something to eat and top off both gas tanks, no rattles, no wind noise...man this thing runs out nice....at 2900 RPM@70 ....on a side note, I found some burnt wires in the driver's side frame rail that could be the fuel gauge issue but I will have to pull the frame tank to further investigate and I'm not doing that until I get my lift installed in a month or so...

The fuel gauge didn't work in my 74 when I got it. Found some cut wires along the rockers, fixed that, still didn't work. Turned out the circuit board was bad. Soldered a jumper wire from the sender to the fuel gauge nut on the back of the board and now it works like a champ.

Well the old/new Dually got some work in this weekend, drove it on a 160 mile round trip to pick up my brothers 80 model SWB to put floor pans in it. Averaged 65-70 mph@2800-2900 rpm and got 8mpg. Really happy with the way it drives, cab is tight, wind noise is minimal and all things (except the gas gauges) seem to be operating normally. I have the beginnings of night blindness so I'm going to be looking to upgrade the headlight performance, my trip back in the dark with "old school" headlights was not fun on the dark two Lane country roads between here and my brothers house not real fond of hog or deer hunting with the front end of this truck...

I put a headlight relay on my old car, and it made a huge difference on the headlight brightness. I added the super bright sealed beams before, but the relay kit did more for me then the super bright lights did. Gene

Aside from the gas gauge, the new addition sounds like a happy camper. That's a simple circuit, so it will be a dumb problem.

As for old age and road kill:

I ran deer whistles for a while and kinda think they helped but could be placebo effect. I've missed a ton of deer but did clober one and bambi did not cross the road. I hit it doing at least 45-50 in my RC and hit the thing square and flat with the front end in the dark going to work. Driving between a lake and a field I saw one on the right, spotted his buddy on the left, thought I had room to shoot the gap, bozo punched it and [tried to] cross in front of me. I was back on the gas too and bam!

Dented the already dented fender when it spun around, broke a head light and that's it because I got the shoulder / head right in the grille guard. Before and after and ya can see where the grille was bent under the head light - get the full width.

Ouch! Lately around here the hogs have been worse than the deer and with most of them being black or dark colored I need as much light as I can get to see them, I passed a spot on the road that night where somebody had hit a sow and at least 4 piglets all at the same time, there was skid marks and pig remnants all the way into the ditch

Couple of updates...got crackedback's new harness installed, new halogen headlights installed and built a "Harry homeowner" headlight alignment board, the harness installed perfectly, no fuss/no muss and the lights are nicely bright and whiter now The gas gauge is still goofy, it slowly moves from full to empty as you're driving, within approximately 100 miles it will show empty even though it still has 20 gallons n the tank

Bugs to sort out and all...she sure do look sweet!

Nice Truck Rob!! Glad you got that where you can see at night. Nice to see your shop up and going.

Nice job on the installation and headlights.

Thanks for the purchase and if I can assist in any other way, call or email.

Rob