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'86 W150 - Lazarus

41K views 369 replies 18 participants last post by  Alex_M 
#1 ·


This is my blue 1986 Dodge W150. It's got a 318 backed by a 727 Torqueflite (or is it the 90-something? They're pretty much the same aren't they? New to Dodges). It's got 88k original miles, but it's been a hard 88k. The body has some rust, floor pans are pretty rough, but the frame is in pretty great shape. It's been a farm truck since it was new.

It sat in a field for 15 years before I came along and traded an old bush hog I found in the weeds for it. About 45 minutes and I had her running. Drove it down on the flat, changed the oil, and drove it home. Popped a tire on the way but she finished out the trip.

The carbouretor was leaking fuel pretty bad out of the float bowl seals, and the float was sticking, so I opted to upgrade instead of rebuild. I bought a 360 intake from Elwenil on here and my girlfriend's dad gave me a Holley 650 to put on it. I painted the intake and valve covers while I was at it.



A neat little thing I did with the air cleaner, as I'm sure most of you know there is PLENTY of room under the hood on these trucks. Even with the taller intake and intake adapter there's still a mile before you reach the hood. I bought a drop cleaner at O'Reilly's, but that sharp change indirection is pretty terrible for air speed. I did a little hammer work and made it a raised air cleaner instead, a'la cheapo velocity stack. Also I can do some tuning on the carb much easier with the air cleaner installed.



Things not pictured, but I'll get some. I replaced the starter motor with a modern gear reduction unit for a 95 Ram, I upgraded to HEI, I cut the exhaust to recycle the cats (it'll get headers and I've got a couple glasspacks I've had laying around.), I ran a fuel tank in the pickup bed (temporary, till I drop and flush the factory tank), and replaced the radiator and hoses. Upgraded to dual electric fans at the same time. Oh! And per the recommendation of crazzywolfie I ran another line to the alternator for better power.

I'll be honest, I hadn't even really looked at the alternator cable. Jeez! What is that, 10ga stranded? I did an additional run of 10ga solid which made all the difference in the world with the electric fans.

I also did some tuning on the carb, finally. Got it idling pretty well with 19 psi of vacuum. Got the primaries partially tuned, but I've still got more to do. I'm going to have to replace the float bowl on the secondary because the needle and seat is stripped and the fuel level is too high.

She's got a long way to come. I've got one seized up brake caliper to replace, new fluid in the lines, new transmission fluid/filter, gear oil, transfer case oil, another oil change, run my fan switch inside the cab. All in all she's doing pretty good now though. Doing well enough to lay a little rubber on asphalt. Both legs no less, being a factory limited slip truck.

 
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#2 ·
Plans down the road, I wanna keep the truck at stock height. I like where it sits pretty well. Springs might be sagged out, so maybe new springs and see if I wanna lower it back to where it is now. New shocks at the same time of course, and I'm going to do a shackle flip in the rear to eliminate the factory lift block. It also needs a new front driveshaft; the slip yolk is super sloppy.

I wanna do 16" Cragar V-5 sheel rims with 285/75r16 (33x11.50) Falken Wildpeak AT3Ws mounted. I wish they made a 16x7 in the Cragar, but I'll have to go for a 16x8.



It need s a tailgate, my neighbor is supposed to be giving me a toolbox, the seat needs new foam and upholstery like mad. Some sound deadening, re-rubber the floors, and a radio is going to be a must. It's gonna get a cam and headers, I'll do some port worm on the heads and have them milled 50-thou, and maybe a ball hone rebuild depending on how the compression checks out warm. I'll want a shift kit in the transmission, too.

All in all, I'm really just trying to build it into a good, fun, reliable driver. I honestly kinda dig the look. I might add some decals and I'm going to have r to do something where there's Bondo falling out of the bed side, but I'm hoping I can blend it to match the look instead of repainting.
 
#3 ·
Replaced the passengers side brake caliper day before yesterday, then she started earning her keep out on our property! She runs pretty fair. I still need to change out the trans fluid and filter. That's next on the list. Also discovered the ball joints are REAL bad, so I'll get some of those on order.

Her plans might get accelerated a little bit. My daily driver lost oil pressure due to a walked cam bearing. Wiped the cam, too. She got new cam, lifters, and cam bearings and then lost oil pressure again the next day. If it's more trouble than a nicked o-ring or a bad bearing then she's getting side-barred and I'll have to fix the Dodge to drive it. The old Land Rover engine just isn't worth keeping if it's bad off.

Also have a parts carb on the way from 440power, so I'll get a new float on the secondary and get it tuned up right. I think I need a stiffer accellerator pump spring also.might just shim this one with a couple washers for the time being.



 
#4 ·
Also just ordered a set of stainless headers for $66 using some PayPal balance I had. Once they're in and installed I'll get some pictures and a sound clip of that, too.
 
#6 ·
Thanks! Not quite north; I'm down in the southwestern corner of Virginia, not far from Bristol.
 
#8 ·
Never been to Vermont. That's pretty neat though!

The headers came in. For $66 they look really nice. I mean, they're not perfect, but they're darn good for that price. I look forward to getting them in. They've got sort of a wide mounting flange, so I may not even need to pick up any set screws to plug the heads. We'll see when I get back out to work on it.

 
#9 ·
Test fit of the driver's side is successful. Looks like I'm going to have to work on the trans kickdown a little because it's in the way, but a little radius in it should fix that right up.

I don't think they would've cleared with the factory starter, but I'm using a starter from like a 95 Ram which is gear reduction, so no problem.

 
#10 ·
There we go. I just sorta kicked it a couple times there where the screwdriver is. Seemed to fix it just right.

Also, looks like the factory flange will fit right on if you're a cheap skate like me.

Down side, looks like the studs that came with the headers are metric and the factory bolts won't fit, so I'll have to pick up some standard thread studs and nuts. Still, not complaining for the price.

Oh, and also I'm gonna have to tap out the top bolt on the starter up to a half inch. PO or somebody stripped the threads out. There's enough to grab a little, but not enough to hold. That's no big. I've got a half inch tap and some bolts laying around.



 
#11 ·
Looks like I am also going to have to pick up some grub screws and plug the small ports. The flange is just shy. Maybe I'll just booger some weld into them instead.

Here's my other ride. This has been my daily driver, but I just replaced cam/lifters/cam bearings because of oil pressure issues, and guess what just returned? Oil pressure issues. At least I got the cam broken in first.

I've gotta tear back into it soon, but if it's not a simple fix then I'll be getting the Dodge road-worthy and these are the tires that will be going on it. 33x11.50x16s (technically 285/75r16s). Hoping it's just a jammed relief valve or a nicked o-ring. We'll see.

 
#12 ·
Ok, Fastenal didn't have any studs, nor 6mmx1 set screws (which I tapped the head for), nor 5/16" fine thread set screws (which I had a tap for). I ended up getting some 5/16” threaded rod, a 5/16” coarse tap, and some coarse set screws. I'm not whole-ly upset; I always like adding to the tap collection.

I just remembered I forgot to get any bolts to connect the exhaust. That's ok; I'll grab them next time I go to Lowe's. I could use to double check the length anyway.
 
#13 ·
Alternator upgrade! The front bearing on the alternator on my family's 07 Silverado went out. Instead of putting in new bearings, my mom opted to buy a new alternator. Good for me! The core charge was only $11, so I'm gonna keep that sucker and stick a new $4 bearing in it. With a new pulley on the front, that will make me a nice little 145 amp alternator for the Dodge.

Also got studs cut. Need to file the ends and then I'm ready for header install.



 
#14 ·
Got the starter bolt tapped out to a 1/2-8 thread. Pain in the rear. Had to use the ole "farmers tap wrench" cause I couldn't get a real one in there, and could only get 1/8 of a turn at a time. Got it anyway, all fixed up.

Also, I was wrong! The flanges on these headers will easily seal the exhaust bypass deal. Thank goodness, cause I was not looking forward to trying to get at those rear two ports.





 
#15 ·
Headers installed! Started it briefly; still got some buttoning up to do. I'm having a little trouble still with one nut even after I bumped the tube in a little. It helped, but there's still some contact happening and I didn't get it tight yet.

Also had to do a little "adjusting" on the transmission dipstick tube. Hammer and a 2x4 did the trick.

Next up, I think, is gonna have to be spark plugs wires. A quality cap and rotor after that. I am having a little issue on start up that I need to work on. She was starting up extremely well, but I used her for a good amount of time about a week ago; on and off all day. Today was the first time I've tried to start it since, so maybe it was just from sitting, but I'm not for sure. We'll see tomorrow. Anywho, got a video of it running below.





 
#16 ·
So..... Turns out you can't get the spark plugs out with these headers installed. Anywho... Guess I'll just leave them till I get the heads milled and then I'll grind out the flanges some while they're off.

Another thing! Forget to get washers while you were at the store? Pocket change works well in a pinch. Just drill a hole in the middle.



 
#17 ·
I guess I did need spark plugs wires. In all honesty, the ones on there might've actually been on the truck since '86. I broke the one I pulled off earlier trying to get the plug out, so I went down to advance and got a universal Accel set. Got them together and on and DAMN. She fired right off and revved smooth right off the hop.

These are solid wires, but the only electronics on the truck is the $8 HEI module, so I'm not worried about it. They were the cheapest Advance had ($25 after 25% off), and if we're being honest I really wanted the yellow. That said, why on Earth are the Accel Super Stock wires a different color yellow than the Accel Super Stock coil...

Up next, reindtall the trans kickdown, some kind of exhaust, trans fluid and filter, radiator could use to be mounted better.

Then we get into the good stuff like floor pans and re-foaming the seat... Or just pulling one out of the junk yard, dependent on cost.

Oh, and I guess i should actually flush the fuel tank and run new hard line at some point instead of running out of that jug in the bed with soft line zip tied under the truck, but priorities y'know?

 
#18 ·
My parts carb came in from 440power. I'll be using the secondary float bowl off of it because the needle and seat in mine is stripped out.

Also debating on sticking these 72 jets in my 650 (it's actually a 670 Street Avenger, but the SA ports are actually the same size as a standard Holley despite being rated higher). I've read these street avenger carbs tend to be jetted pretty lean. Especially once you throw a cam in, which I plan to do on top of milling the heads about 50 thou.

 
#19 ·
Got the carb disassembled and soaking in vinegar. Taking that corrosion off really quick. Honestly, everything in this carb seems to move pretty well. I've got half a mind to get another float to rebuild this one and keep it on the shelf for a future project.

That said, I have already lost the primary float bowl. We'll see if it turns up I guess...

 
#20 ·
Finally got around to tinkering with the secondary float and sticking those 72 jets in the primaries. Seemed to review happier, but still doesn't like snapping the throttle open. Something to do with the ramp or the squirter string I'm sure. Those the right terms?

Anyhow, got some more playing to do for sure. If anyone has any tips on the carb I'm all ears.

 
#21 ·
Also, should be reconnecting the trans kickdown and putting some mufflers on this weekend.
 
#22 ·
Alright, decided I didn't want to wait. I welded up something vaguely resembling exhaust this evening. Stock "flanges", cheapo benfs from OReilly, and a couple glasspacks I've had laying in the back yard a few years. They'll just kick right out the sides at the front of the doors. If I decide to get fancy I might out a couple turn downs on them.

 
#23 ·
Finally put the mufflers on. Quietened it down quite a bit, but still not quite quiet. Sounds like dog s*** now, honestly.

Also think I'm gonna go back to the smaller jet size and play with the accellerator pump ramp. Once I put theufflers on it didn't seem as happy with the bigger jets.

I need to air up one of the tires, too, so I can get back to using this thing.

 
#24 ·
I take it back. I just put some fresh gas in the tank and took it for a spin. That jet change was perfect. I can actually do WOT pulls now. I couldn't go past 1/2 throttle before.

Got the idle screws set and she's putting like a kitten. Sounds a little better too. Still not great, but good enough.

Might have to raise the idle speed some. I'll see next time I drive it if it dies in gear.
 
#25 ·
Forgot to roll the window up, so I went back and did that. While I was at it I popped her in gear to see if it would stay idling. Sounds like it's idling well in gear, so the idle speed might be good.

While I was at that I also got distracted and sharpies the old farm use tag back in. It had faded completely back to white from being on the truck so long. I colored it in with green since I had it on hand. Now I can take the truck to the gas station when I need.

 
#26 ·
Finally changed the transmission fluid today.... Jeez! I've never seen so much metal. It wasn't flakes; it's full on shavings. You could cut yourself on them.

Looks like this trans probably isn't long for this world, but I put the new filter and fresh fluid in. I'll run it till she pops and go from there.

One of the previous owners LOVED silicon, too. There's RTV everywhere. Even the trans pan... Yikes.

 
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