What do you guys think?

[Select]

I am working on a deal to trade my 67k mileage 01 Dakota R/T on a black on black 68 SWB step with 454/400 turbo, 4 barrel Holley, headers and a 4.11 Posi with the AC needing a charge. The truck needs a fan shroud, guy says it runs a little hot on the highway. Sounds to me like it needs a bigger radiator. From the pics I have as of now it looks straight and clean, interior is in really good shape with factory buckets and alloy wheels. With this driveline combo do you guys think it'll run pretty strong? The 454 is out of a 80's truck. The engine bay looks neat and clean. He's going to send me more pics when he has better light. Does this seem like a likely trade. He's more into older hot rod builds and this truck seems to be done as far as he's concerned and wants another project. I figure he could resell my truck to fund other projects. Thanks in advance.....Mikey

[GREASEMONKEY72]

well first off if you like the truck then its a fair trade but other than that i still think its not a bad trade off, the running hot on the freeway is a flow problem and a bigger rad might be the answer, never know till you get and figure it out, but with a 454 it should run pretty strong and itll be stronger than your current truck, but i wish you luck with it and let us know what you do and ofcourse

[see ten]

Make sure to take a little magnet with you and go over all the common areas for rust! Rockers, corners, bottoms of the doors, under the battery inner and outer fender.

[connman]

That radiator problem may be as simple as a new thermostat. That would be a cheap fix.

[mnunn454]

Another aspect to consider:
Unless there's another black Monday in our future, 10-15 Years from now, the C-10 will still be worth 10-15K. Doubt that'll hold true with the Dakota.

Nor will the Dakota get you into a car show or foster as many, waves, beeps, and second looks as you drive down the road.

[Select]

Well guys/gals, i did my trade. Today I went and saw the 68 and had to have it. The rockers have ben done but need to be cut a little and readjusted, should be simple to fix. I need new inner finders and the bed supports, the bottoms are rusted. The passenger side door has a little rust bubbling on the rear corner, nothing a cut off wheel and a patch panel can't replace. The cab corners and floors are good as well. I don't know how to post pics as of yet but here is the ad for it.

http://dallas.craigslist.org/car/313068686.html

I traded the guy my truck and he didn't even test drive it, super cool guy. The truck comes with a custom yet to be installed fuel cell for inbetween the rails Blazer type and a 3/5 lowering kit and a few other odd and ends. Hopefully I'll figure out how to post pics soon. Now I see why everyone is so excited about these trucks. Seems really cool when you are on the outside, even better when you a part of it all............Mikey.

[GREASEMONKEY72]

kudos on the trade, looks like one *****in truck and i bet she runs to, would love to see some better pictures of it if possible?

[Select]

I'll have to do a search on here to figure out how to post pics. I think I resolved most of the overheating problem today. The P/O put in a cut off in the inlet side of the heater core to "keep some of the heat out of the cab". It was shut off and wasn't allowing any flow throughout the engine and back to the radiator. The antifreeze was just sitting in the water jeckets getting hot causing the extra heat. It still needs a shroud but I'll get to that in the next few days. The 454 turbo 400 with 4.11's will get up and go, a lot better than the R/T ever would. So far I love it. Now I have to start tinkering with it and later on do a full build.......Mikey

[mnunn454]

I have a 454/TH400/3.73 combo and love it. Glad you do too. Sucks gas though.

If mine doesn't sell this summer (shrinking my monthly motorhead maintenance obligations), I'll put a beefed up TH700 in it to improve highway revs and mileage.

[st1x10]

Give us some pics, I am sitting here waiting to see this sweet truck.