Well, this sucks.

[abeemanator]

So I have been searching for a crankshaft for my truck for a while now. I've been thinking about it and even if I did get a crankshaft, I would have to also get a head gasket, connecting rod, crank bearings, seals.etc, On the truck I would have to get new front shocks, motor mounts, brakes, power steering .etc. But I have decided to go ahead and pull all of the parts off of it that are good, like the sport instrument panel, rear shocks, muffler, universal fuel pump, Weber 32/36 (duhh), $5.88 Wal-mart universal interior light .etc.

But here is my question. Should I scrap my 87, and keep the above listed parts, or should I sell it as is? I have never taken a vehicle to the scrapyard, and I would rather someone else bought it and use it as a parts rig.

[l.k.]

dont scrap it ...you would be surprised at what someone else on here might need that you dont. plus these trucks are few and far between in my area. whats does your grille look like? i might be interested in that. i would just keep what you want and let us other members buy what we need if anything and then let it go unless you need the money to get another one or just dont want to deal with parting it first.
I HAVE CRANKSHAFT, RODS, MOTOR MOUNTS----> ARE DAMN NEAR PERFECT/NEW CONDITION
LET ME KNOW ABOUT THE GRILLE...AND I MIGHT NEED FEW OTHER SMALL THINGS THAT MY PARTS TRUCK IS LACKING....

GOOD LUCK WITH WHATEVER YOU DO.

[camoit]

Do an engine and trans swap. You will be glad you did. Go out and find another one same year or close to it and use one as a parts truck. That's what we all do.

[abeemanator]

Well, my grille is broken by the drivers side. I know out in the east they are very hard to come by, but here in the west they are very popular, here in my town there are about 5000 people, and I have seen about 10-15 of the Ram 50's, and both my neighbors have one, the one closest has a 70's to early 80's Ram 50, and the other one has a 88 4x4 Ram 50 that has a blown tranny, and will probably soon be sporting a 4.3l S10 engine and tranny. I did put a for sale ad on the boise craigslist, as someone may need one for parts. Believe me, I don't want to get rid of it, but I just don't have any money to fix it and my Step dad says it has become and eyesore and the engine is taking up too much room in the shop (although he is the one who gave me the Mighty Max in the first place).

But I want to buy a Yamaha IT 175 or 250, the guy im buying it from is not sure what it is, and make it street legal and ride it. The thing about the IT is I can beat the hell out of it on the weekends, and ride it to school on Monday. I have done that in my truck, and it has started to show, such as worn springs/shocks, bent fenders, way loose steering, poor braking, and not to mention how much stress it puts on a engine and tranny that is not designed to drive off road. The 2.6 is built with more torque, but if it's not enough, shove it in 4 low and off you go. In a 2wd 2.0, if you get in a tight spot, you have got to floor it and hope the wheels don't brake loose. (I tried to drive to a small pond out in the mountains, and I went down a hill that I thought I could make it back up, but with the stock 14"s, older tires, and no lift, It either hit the ground on the rough spots, the tires would break loose, or the engine wouldn't push it up to the top (even with a Weber 32/36)) Now the 84 Toyota my grandma has given to me has a 2.3l 22R (Although I would rather the performance of a Mitsu engine), 4x4 with low range, 31/10.50 R15 tires. With that I can get it into places I like to explore and be able to get out. I have also burned my clutch to the ground when I got stuck in some sand, but i took the Toyota through the same stuff, and If it got stuck, I just put it in 4x4 and off I go.

You see where I am getting at? I would much rather have a 4x4 pickup than a 2wd, because of the places I go, and not to mention the winter in the Max would be horrible, I'd probably get the damned thing stuck in my driveway. Or if the Toyota wouldn't work out (because my grandma may learn how to put a contact in, but Farm-ville is too high on her priorities) I may not be able to keep it, then I could ride the Yamaha IT, better on gas, and more fun. But if I can come across an engine, I might just save my Max, if not, then it will have to find a new owner, as I need to get rid of it, or get it going again before my Step dad blows a gasket and takes it to the scrapper himself.

[abeemanator]

Yeah, a parts truck would be awesome, but the only thing I have found, someone wants too damned much for something that looks like they just pulled out of a field, or I just cant find one for sale close enough.

[abeemanator]

How it sat most of the time
http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/285491_249074235113651_100000332301244_875798_6193 301_n.jpg

2wd at it's greatest

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/47602_173192799368462_100000332301244_448300_66845 33_n.jpg

Spray painted stuff (Now its a sport cluster!!)
http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/260196_218213914866350_100000332301244_763425_3976 604_n.jpg

Custom dash clock/thermometer (Now is a real dash clock) and working A/C charged with R134a, custom carpet, and a Dual POS xd1222 tuner

[abeemanator]

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/248355_218213931533015_100000332301244_763426_7609 590_n.jpg

[abeemanator]

CL ad for the posting (Is $400 too much?)

http://boise.craigslist.org/cto/2704665709.html

[l.k.]

i guess i need to bring my car trailer and some cash next spring when all the shows start so i can get me another parts truck. I have seen 10 of these in the last 10 years.....lol
good luck bud.

[joey_crandall]

man that sucks for you guys not on the west coast theres so many of theses things here, and there all over the junkyards. sorry about your truck to man its a real bummer, hope you can keep it and get it running. look on startquestclub, maybe you can find the junk to swap a starion 2.6 turbo, those guys over therte are cheap asses, usually. i know theres a bunch of ohiho members

[abeemanator]

Yeah, I think I will strip it out and I am going to make a trailer from the bed and take the rest to the scrapyard.

[abeemanator]

So i got the truck cut in half today, a lot of different sites I looked at they said to cut the frame from under the cab and twist it into a tongue, What I plan on doing is using two 4"x1" rectangular tubing, and have the ends cut somewhere around 45° to create the tongue and then have a 2 inch square tubing welded at the front to support the hitch. I will sell you parts if you need some.