80 d50(project throw back D50)

[roro13]

My plans are static dropped with loud paint job and some 15x10 wheels. I want to make it sort of a throw back weekend cruiser. It has been sitting since 1993 and has some classic 90s mods custom painted tailights, pink grill and the bed is hinged so you can tilt it back and see the pink frame.
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo353/rodd013/d50.jpg
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo353/rodd013/d50withtop.jpg
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo353/rodd013/d50front.jpg
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo353/rodd013/d50rear.jpg
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo353/rodd013/d50int.jpg
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo353/rodd013/d50engine.jpg
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo353/rodd013/15x10wheels.jpg

[camoit]

Wow man you got your work cut out. If you restore it to it's former glory it will look Old School Cool again.... A nice drop and a dancing bed would make the old school look complete.

[parrell456]

I've never seen a first gen with the roof chopped and I gotta admit, I'm diggin' it! Cool project!

-RHP

[roro13]

I've never seen a first gen with the roof chopped and I gotta admit, I'm diggin' it! Cool project!

-RHP


Thanks. I got lucky and the top is in decent shape. I have a weber conversion on the way and should have it running soon.

[camoit]

Please tell me you are planning to change the steering wheel. It just does not fit the look.

[roro13]

Please tell me you are planning to change the steering wheel. It just does not fit the look.

LOL. That is on list of things to do! I may be going for an old school theme but that steering wheel was ugly when the truck was new.

[roro13]

I put the weber on it saturday and it runs great. I need to get some wheels and tires on it and then i can move on to repairing the floor pan and the rockers.

[roro13]

I got wheels and tires for it today. 15x8 Centerline Stars with 205/50/15 tires.
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo353/rodd013/centerline2.jpg
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo353/rodd013/centerline1.jpg

[pennyman1]

Take a good look at that last pic - that tire is too narrow for that wheel. If you hit anything like a hole, curb etc, the tire can unseat from the rim and come off causing an instant flat and loss of control. In Cali years ago, the trend was to put 195-50-15 tires on 10" wide rims until the CHP outlawed it as being unsafe. You need at least 225 cross section width to make it safe.

[roro13]

Take a good look at that last pic - that tire is too narrow for that wheel. If you hit anything like a hole, curb etc, the tire can unseat from the rim and come off causing an instant flat and loss of control. In Cali years ago, the trend was to put 195-50-15 tires on 10" wide rims until the CHP outlawed it as being unsafe. You need at least 225 cross section width to make it safe.

I know they are too narrow. I bought the wheels with the tires already mounted on them and will be changing them out when i start driving the truck. I really feel sorry for the poor guy who mounted the tires. I worked at a tire shop in the 90s when a lot of people were running those narrow tire wide wheel combos and it sucks getting the bead to seal on them.

[roro13]

http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo353/rodd013/d50weber.jpg
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo353/rodd013/d50newwheels1.jpg

[pennyman1]

Its looking good - glad you knew they were wrong - keep up bringing it back. Have you come up with a name for it yet?

[roro13]

Thanks. Now that I know it runs (and how much fun it is to drive) I need to repair the rusted floor pan and rocker panels. I have not thought of a name yet.

[camoit]

I know they are too narrow. I bought the wheels with the tires already mounted on them and will be changing them out when i start driving the truck. I really feel sorry for the poor guy who mounted the tires. I worked at a tire shop in the 90s when a lot of people were running those narrow tire wide wheel combos and it sucks getting the bead to seal on them.

I think they called it "Tippy Toes". Personally I thought it was as the dumbest thing I ever saw. Or they got the tires from Goodwill...... Now it's 36 inch rims and 1 inch of tire, speakers in the grill and a paint job and a logo that says something like Mt. Dew, Swisher Sweet, Trix, now it's Viagra. Next time I see one I'll snap a pict. All I do is laugh at them.

[roro13]

I think they called it "Tippy Toes". Personally I thought it was as the dumbest thing I ever saw. Or they got the tires from Goodwill...... Now it's 36 inch rims and 1 inch of tire, speakers in the grill and a paint job and a logo that says something like Mt. Dew, Swisher Sweet, Trix, now it's Viagra. Next time I see one I'll snap a pict. All I do is laugh at them.

We have a bunch of those "DONK" cars here too. I have no problem with how anyone wants to fix up their cars (I bagged my 64 impala) but when you lift a car that high and throw those heavy wheels on them without upgrading the brakes and steering parts you are asking for trouble.

[roro13]

I have had everybody i know on the lookout for a tailgate for the D50 and it paid off big time! I just bought this 1981 arrow. The older guy who had it had someone work on it and they broke a spark plug off in the head and he just wanted to get rid of it. I paid $300 for it and let my buddy who found it for me have the seat out of it for his s10. It is an automatic truck with a/c and is in great shape except for the dented tailgate. LOL
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo353/rodd013/81arrow.jpg

[Fordubishi]

Now you have a parts truck or a parts runner to get stuff for the other truck. :)

[camoit]

Just what you needed. A parts / fiberglass mold truck.... We expect to see a full work up on both trucks now. Just kidding.. Keep a running total of how much money you spend and if you can find a time clock. The hours would be a good addition to the thread. I wish I had picked up one before starting my project.

[roro13]

The Arrow is in great shape and has a 2.6 with an auto trans but has a spark plug broken off in the head and I belive it jumped time. The D50 has 2.0 with a manual trans and runs great but needs a lot of rust repair on the floor pan and rockers. I need to decide if I want to repair the 2.6 or put the 2.0 in the arrow. Will the 2.0 bolt up to the auto trans? I know next to nothing about these trucks but now I own two of them. LOL

[parrell456]

Wow, I wish I could find solid trucks like that where I live; I'd have a fleet!

-RHP

[camoit]

Look in the manual and source info section for a full factory manual. I want to say that the auto and 2.0 are narrow blocks. I think there is some information started the wiki about just that. Somthing like Engine type and markings.

[roro13]

Wow, I wish I could find solid trucks like that where I live; I'd have a fleet!

-RHP

I have not seen many around here. I bought the first on just because it was a good deal but after I got it up and running I really like it. I also like the fact that they are not real common like most of the other mini trucks running around.

[roro13]

Look in the manual and source info section for a full factory manual. I want to say that the auto and 2.0 are narrow blocks. I think there is some information started the wiki about just that. Somthing like Engine type and markings.

I am going to try and fix the 2.6 and get the Arrow back on the road and then figure out what I want to do with the D50. I seem to always have more projects than I do time and money!

[86goldmightymax]

I'm glad to hear that your saving the Arrow. The first d50/max I ever liked was a Root Beer brown 81 Arrow, lowered on chrome 15" Nuggets. An older girl in my home town had it.

Good luck with it

[roro13]

I'm glad to hear that your saving the Arrow. The first d50/max I ever liked was a Root Beer brown 81 Arrow, lowered on chrome 15" Nuggets. An older girl in my home town had it.

Good luck with it
I bought it for parts but it is really too nice to take apart.

[derek6790]

Hi nice weber conversion!. Which kit is that? Is that an electic choke weber for a 5 speed? I would like to find the same carb for a 2.6. Please tell me where you found this kit.

[roro13]

Hi nice weber conversion!. Which kit is that? Is that an electic choke weber for a 5 speed? I would like to find the same carb for a 2.6. Please tell me where you found this kit.

Thanks. It is the WK614 kit. Yes it is an electric choke Weber for the automatic transmission trucks but doesn't seem to mind being on my 5 speed truck.LOL. I got it on Ebay for $260 shipped and it came with a Weber 32/36 DFEV carb,chrome breather,manifold adapter plate and all of the installation hardware. I also added an electric fuel pump that i got at the local parts store for $45 and it runs great!