Mods
My rig has a built 360 LA with a 4bbl 850cfm Holley carb, rebuilt 727 trans with shift kit, stock np203 transfer case. Through the process of restoring this thing I have touched every nut and bolt on this thing. I did a frame off restoration, used a hillbilly rotisserie to work on the underside of the tub, sand blasted the entire frame, replaced the engine and trans, new Flowmaster exhaust with headers, all new brakes and lines, rebuilt the front end, welded new floor pans, sub floor (using 10ga galvanized steel courtesy of a scrapped out milking parlor), new quarter panels/taillight housings, and most recently welded a different windshield frame on after my “incident”
Build story
I got into old Dodge trucks and drove a 77 Power Wagon through high school, I always wanted a Ramcharger or Trailduster and finally found one. It is a 1978 Plymouth Trailduster (affectionately dubbed “Turdduster”) I got it as a project ride after high school and with the help of my dad and brother poured about 4 years’ worth of blood sweet and tears into restoring it. I purchased a 79 Ramcharger for donor parts and combined the two rigs into my finished ride. I had just completed painting it a sweet army green and was driving it for the second time with the top off into work (after which I was taking it to my bachelor party), when Bambi accompanied by the entire family walked out in front of me. I quickly discovered that my rear brakes lock up FAST, I lost control and rolled it in the ditch. Thankfully, I had bothered to weld the roll bar in, otherwise it could have been messy, the offending deer also survived the incident. With my spirits crushed I took body panels off my 77 Power Wagon and replaced the mangled parts on the Turdduster, I have also replaced the brake proportioning valve with a Wilwood unit that can be adjusted. I am awaiting better tires and rims at the moment, the badass looking mercury Grand Marquis rims and tires move it around currently, and my new philosophy is to just send it, using the rig as a fun toy off road and wherever. I’m not concerned anymore with keeping it clean or straight, my kids love it and I think its pretty mint as is.