Mods
Frame swapped to a 1998 Gmc 6.5L Detroit diesel savanna one ton dually. Used an oil filled air cleaner.
Build story
Well I wanted something that stands out and that doesn’t come from a dealership. I actually came across this truck 10 years prior to buying it. Remembered how ugly it was an lucky went back to the old farm yard an the guy was willing to sell it but wanted to keep the frame and powertrain. Made a deal and my buddy an I went one afternoon and stripped the cab off the frame piece by piece. And found out it was on a Chevy frame oddly enough. Then started looking for a donor frame and figured the steering being that far forward a van would be best. Came across a 1998 gm 3500 savanna that had been parked an found out the owner was willing to trade for a tuner for his new truck. No brainer, got that for him and installed it. Boosted the van and dad an I drove it an hour home. Then started stripping it down to the frame and threw the dodge cab on it that night, exhaust was still warm. Next day my grandfather stopped in and realized he actually drove the dodge when it was brand new for his at the time boss Roy Bateman hauling gravel. One winter the truck was in the shop and the mechanic at the time “borrowed” it, hoist on the gravel box broke an smashed down on the frame and bent the original dodge frame. Small world, but that story gave me more ambition to get the project going. After working on the truck almost every night an weekends after work for a month I had it drivable. I built a subframe that connected the dodge cab to the gm frame. Kept the steering column from the van and had it all connect just like fact tree! Even Used the vans hydro boost, wire harness an fuel tank. So this unit now has good power brakes power steering cruise control comfy seat from a 2012 Gmc seria and also used the rear tail pipe from that 2012 gm Duramax for now until I get the stacks built and on the flat deck. It had poor air flow from the hvac. So I cut the fan opening bigger and install the heater fan from the van. Works great now. Originally i had thought about building it with a wedge deck for hauling vehicles but realized it would limit the purpose/ use of the truck. So I build a flat deck that I can pull 5 wheel an bumper hitch trailers. Also I can park the quad side ways at the front of deck and still pull our matching old camper with it. My grandpa passed before our wedding so to include his memories we took pictures in front of the truck. Took along time but I finally found a keeper! Wife’s great too!