1989 Dodge pickup

[hoosier.hz]

I have the chance to buy a 1989, 3/4 ton dodge pickup for what I think to be a good price. It is a 5.9 Cummins with a good trans and the heaviest front axle you could get at the time, which I am told is a 4000lb axle. It has 4WD is a regular cab and a long bed. Lastly, if memory serves me it is not geared too awfully low as they go. But anyway, the price is right. The catch is that the parts afore mentioned are the only good parts on it... Desperately needs a new body and frame.

Opinions?

 

[Steve in VA]

I have the chance to buy a 1989, 3/4 ton dodge pickup for what I think to be a good price. It is a 5.9 Cummins with a good trans and the heaviest front axle you could get at the time, which I am told is a 4000lb axle. It has 4WD is a regular cab and a long bed. Lastly, if memory serves me it is not geared too awfully low as they go. But anyway, the price is right. The catch is that the parts afore mentioned are the only good parts on it... Desperately needs a new body and frame.

Opinions?

I love my 99. Body panels are available but "frame" could be a real show stopper. If it can be patched that's one thing, but if it is terminally rotted, I have no clue where or how you would source a frame.

 

[timcasbolt]

They were a game changer at the time. Not intercooled yet, but a good, reliable worker. The ones with automatic transmission were a 727 3-speed and a 3.07 Dana 60. Reports of 25mpg were not exaggerated.

 

[hoosier.hz]

I love my 99. Body panels are available but "frame" could be a real show stopper. If it can be patched that's one thing, but if it is terminally rotted, I have no clue where or how you would source a frame.

I would have to buy an entirely new frame

 

[Steve in VA]

I would have to buy an entirely new frame

Ouch. The swap over is no easy chore. I've done 2 Land Rovers and it's not a weekend job.

 

[deene]

I have the chance to buy a 1989, 3/4 ton dodge pickup for what I think to be a good price. It is a 5.9 Cummins with a good trans and the heaviest front axle you could get at the time, which I am told is a 4000lb axle. It has 4WD is a regular cab and a long bed. Lastly, if memory serves me it is not geared too awfully low as they go. But anyway, the price is right. The catch is that the parts afore mentioned are the only good parts on it... Desperately needs a new body and frame.

Opinions?

The frames on the 1st gens were notoriously underbuilt. Finding one, depending on where you live is a can do but might be more expensive than you prefer. The 1st models of non intercooled had head gasket issues, most got changed but not all so depending on miles, you might get into that. non intercooled had bigger injectors and would "haze" more. If a standard trans would be 3:54 or 4:11 gears. 3:54 were standard. If an auto, like one of the previous posters said would be the 3:07. The early trucks had problems with cracking the cabs at the area from in front of the door going up to the windshield, and also frame rivets. Parts off of a gas truck body wise will work but not the frames. They do get good fuel milage if a manual, and while they dont pull like the inline pumps do of the second gen, will do well if turned up some, (12mm wrench and a screwdriver). The autos were only a 3 spd with no lockup converter so burned more fuel, if its 4:11 you cant run over 60 mph unless you put a heavier gov spring in the pump, and your mileage will be terrible, but will pull anything you want with the right traction.

 

[hoosier.hz]

Ouch. The swap over is no easy chore. I've done 2 Land Rovers and it's not a weekend job.

Darn

 

[Steve in VA]

Darn

Well, it can be done certainly but all the little things like brake lines and wiring make it less simple than "take this off and put on new frame".

 

[JMOR]

Sounds like 36 year old dumpster material to me

 

[hoosier.hz]

Sounds like 36 year old dumpster material to me

The engine alone is worth more than what I can buy it all for

 

[TerryfromSWIowa]

Motor and trans and rear end are good for a swap into another body. Old Ford or Chevy dually would be cool.

 

[Sean Feeney]

Ford F250 6.4 with a grenaded engine

 

[Steve in VA]

The engine alone is worth more than what I can buy it all for

Ya know, the first gen motor etc will drop into a second gen and those are readily available. I know of 3 gasers near me that are non-runners and could be a donner. Might be a whole lot easier to do than a frame swap.

 

[timcasbolt]

You tube is full of 5.9 cummins swaps. I remember seeing a very impressive 70 Monte Carlo that looked great rolling coal.

 

[used red MN]

Hoosier, tell us where you thought this post should take you? Surely you knew utilizing this engine and front axle from a pickup you claim is otherwise junk would require a fair amount of wrench turning. Only looking from the outside in, quickly running through your previous posts it doesn’t seem to me like your really into much wrenching. I would suggest you let this “good deal” pass you by. A good deal like this is much more solid and plays out best when you have the means to complete the circle. For example, having the means to acquire a Dodge truck that someone mistreated and ruined the engine. By looking at your previous post I also determined you are a young man in college, so there is another piece of the pie.

 

[EFV]

What is different about the frames ? Saw a man build a daily driver 2WD 5.9 by using 75 Dodge
X-cab pickup. I asked him about installing driveline in older truck, was told all the bolt holes for
doing swap were already in frame. It was a true bolt in.

 

[Destroked 450]

5.9 works well in a Ford

 

[Keith True]

The frames on the 1st gens were notoriously underbuilt. Finding one, depending on where you live is a can do but might be more expensive than you prefer. The 1st models of non intercooled had head gasket issues, most got changed but not all so depending on miles, you might get into that. non intercooled had bigger injectors and would "haze" more. If a standard trans would be 3:54 or 4:11 gears. 3:54 were standard. If an auto, like one of the previous posters said would be the 3:07. The early trucks had problems with cracking the cabs at the area from in front of the door going up to the windshield, and also frame rivets. Parts off of a gas truck body wise will work but not the frames. They do get good fuel milage if a manual, and while they dont pull like the inline pumps do of the second gen, will do well if turned up some, (12mm wrench and a screwdriver). The autos were only a 3 spd with no lockup converter so burned more fuel, if its 4:11 you cant run over 60 mph unless you put a heavier gov spring in the pump, and your mileage will be terrible, but will pull anything you want with the right traction.

I don't think the frames on the second gen were any better.When the frame got bad on my 96 about 10 years ago I replaced it.I bought a solid framed 95 extended cab with a 360 gas in it.Everything was bolt up.I did have to take 6 inches out of the middle,because my truck was a single cab.I also had to move the rear cab mounts ahead to meet up with my cab.My cab was rusty also,and I was going to patch it.My friend at the junkyard said he thought he had a solid one.He did,in a gas truck.So I gutted it and put it on.The wiring harnesses in those trucks are simpler than I would have thought.All plug and play.

 

[ss55]

Hoosier, tell us where you thought this post should take you? Surely you knew utilizing this engine and front axle from a pickup you claim is otherwise junk would require a fair amount of wrench turning. Only looking from the outside in, quickly running through your previous posts it doesn’t seem to me like your really into much wrenching. I would suggest you let this “good deal” pass you by. A good deal like this is much more solid and plays out best when you have the means to complete the circle. For example, having the means to acquire a Dodge truck that someone mistreated and ruined the engine. By looking at your previous post I also determined you are a young man in college, so there is another piece of the pie.

If you are a young man, concentrate on your education and career until you can get firmly established, then you will be able to afford all the hobbies and toys you want whether new, used, or custom made.

 

[Farmall m farmer]

If you really want a first gen I would wait and save up your money and buy a nicer one parts are getting hard to find and not cheap but I would recommend a pre 91.5 because no computer and still cable driven speedo