1982 D50 4x4

[Jpwoody]

Hi guys I posted back in February about the D50 I had bought. Works been slow on it, but it's slowly coming around. I'm going to use this thread as a build log to keep my motivation up and to pester you all when I have questions (and boy do I have things to ask)14039

A list of dones and to-dos (will update as I go)

Work Completed:
Sparkplugs Replaced
Sparkplug wires replaced
Distributor Replaced
Battery Ground Replaced
Oil changed
Coolant flushed
"Fog" lights pulled
Tach installed
Fuel Filter Changed
Oil filter changed
Air filter changed
Rad cap replaced

Work to be done:
Compression test
Replace tail light lenses
Get thermometer worker
Replace suspension bushings
Replace transmission mount
Evaluate suspension issues
Replace Rad
Replace coolant hoses
Replace thermostat
Replace shifter bushing
Fix steering column cowling
Replace muffler
Fix exhaust pipe
Install Stereo
Add bucket seats
Replace clutch cable
Replace headlights
Replace carpet
Replace coil
Replace/cover dash
Install Weber carb
Fix parking break
Replace brake pads
Get bigger wheels/tires
Fix body rust

[Jpwoody]

So I installed a tach today which revealed that the wiring in this thing is atrocious. Got it working and removed some accessory lighting the last owner had installed. Can anyone point me in the direction of an explanation for the fusebox?

14040

Ace battery job (secured it better today). Will lock it down once I get a new battery.

14041

What's supposed to go here?

14042

[Jpwoody]

Also, my temp gauge doesn't work. Is this where it gets its reading from?

14043

[Jpwoody]

Oh and a shot of the whole engine compartment.

14044

[Jpwoody]

Good news! Gave the truck a compression test today. All four readings were between 140-150. Pretty happy with that. Anyways here's a shot of the tach and a semi cleaned out cab.

14058

14059

[Jpwoody]

I think I'll replace the coil this week. Can anyone suggest a specific make?

[ragragtimetime]

Oh and a shot of the whole engine compartment.

14044


you are missing air inlet duct...so she's sucking hot air instead of cold...part #7 in diagram:

http://www.group1autoparts.com/auto-parts/1984/dodge/ram-50/sport-trim/2-6l-l4-gas-engine/engine-cat/air-inlet-scat

[ragragtimetime]

I think I'll replace the coil this week. Can anyone suggest a specific make?

i've spent $ in the past on an msd & can't complain....however...i replaced the coil in the 1983 with one i purchased from rockauto for $2.00 (they don't have it listed anymore) & i noticed a difference.

3066781728100492

This discount code expires on June 21, 2015 so don't wait!

[ragragtimetime]

i hope my observation is incorrect....but it looks like your rear cab mounts need weldinghttp://www.mightyram50.net/vbulletin/attachment.php?attachmentid=14039&d=1431852647&thumb=1 (http://www.mightyram50.net/vbulletin/attachment.php?attachmentid=14039&d=1431852647)....been there done thathttp://www.mightyram50.net/vbulletin/attachment.php?attachmentid=9562&thumb=1&d=1398383243

[Jpwoody]

Thanks for the feedback ragtime, are the MSD coils finnicky? That's what I've gathered from reading some of the threads here but maybe that's just the high-performance ones? I think I'll improvise with the duct for the time being because I'm going to fire a Weber onto it in a month or so.

And weird, I don't think I've really noticed this till now.

14062

I'm going to pull the seat and carpet pretty soon so I think I'll have a better idea then. I'm going to get a buddy to weld up a new exhaust pipe/muffler combo and seat bracket, so I'll give him another case of beer to get this taken care of too. Good eye!

[pennyman1]

Geronimo has the same MSD original Blaster coil on him since 1981 - but I can't vouch for the new ones.

[Jpwoody]

Thanks Pennyman, that's good to know.

Didn't get too much done this weekend, ArmourAll wiped the interior out, and put in some floor mats, and most importantly put in a new car smell air freshener haha. Getting Noah's Weber kit from him on payday, which is exciting.

[Jpwoody]

Well guys, I'm going to be in a cast until late August and will probably need some pretty good physio for a while after that. So it looks like the truck is on moth balls for the time being. Thanks for the support.

[Jpwoody]

Don't mean to necro thread, but I am back! Just purchased Noah's carb kit, and will be working on the truck as soon as the snow is gone, which this being Canada isn't for another 8 months or so, but that's besides the point!

[Jpwoody]

Hey guys! Got the D50 running last week, did a little bit of highway and town driving with it after putting some oil and a new battery in it. It ran a little rough, but not too terribly considering it hadn't been driven since October or so.

A shifter bushing I had ordered from eBay arrived today. After unscrewing the stick I think I found why it was shifting so loosely: there was no bushing at all! I was expecting at least a badly worn one. Took it for a test drive up and down the grid road and it's day and night compared to what it was.

16513

Anyways, I'm going to put in a new radio and a gauge pak next weekend, should be interesting to see some of the readings I get for temp and oil pressure.

[geezer101]

These bushes eventually grenade and disappear into your gearboxes' nether regions. Yeah, you really notice the difference between having and not having the bush. And you don't get the annoying shifter chatter either.

[Jpwoody]

Put in a water temp gauge (part of a temp, volt, and oil pressure pack) today. Was happy to see the thermostat kick in and hold a steady temp of ~90c. On the other hand, this truck keeps giving me excuses to spend more money on it :grin: