Devil Dodge
Q Me (19) and my friend (17) recently acquired a ’65 Dodge D100 3⁄4-ton and are planning on making it a tough 4x4. It has a lot more body rust than we in initially thought, but the frame is perfect. That’s why the truck is an asset to us, plus the price was an offer we couldn’t refuse: free! Our main concern is that the transfer case is done for, but the previous owner has a ’69 D100 3⁄4-ton 4x4 with a perfectly good transfer case (the rest of the truck is junk). Our truck has a slant-six (225, I believe), and the parts truck is a V-8 (318, motor is blown). Both transmissions are four-speed standards. Would the transfer case from the parts truck fit into our truck? If not, is it best to get a new or used transfer case?
We hope to have the truck in the bush by this summer. We are painting it flat black with flames in the General Lee orange. The truck’s name is Devil’s Queen. I will send pictures of her when done.
Ryley
British Columbia, Canada
A Your truck should have a divorced NP201 transfer case. A short driveshaft connects the transmission to the transfer case. The ’69 should have the newer NP205 transfer case, but it is also divorced. The swap should be very easy indeed. Your best bet would be to swap the entire crossmember with the transfer case on it from the ’69, as the mounts may be different. The crossmember may be riveted in place, so you may need to grind and drill the rivets out and then bolt it in place on the ’65. The shift linkage and driveshafts may need some adjustment also, depending on U-joint sizes.
I would be very curious as to why the NP201 failed. The slant-six isn’t the most powerful engine in the world, so I’m not sure why it would kill such a robust transfer case. You may just have linkage or driveshaft issues. Either way, the Devil’s Queen should be a very cool truck to go bashing in the bush with. Keep us posted as it comes together.
Nuts, I’m Confused
Better Inside Than Out
Q I have a ’97 Suburban K2500 with a 454ci big-block and a ’93 two-door Tahoe K1500 with a 350ci small-block. The Tahoe has lots of miles, but the motor, trans, and suspension are worn out. The Suburban is in awesome shape outside, but the interior is messed up. I wanted to know if all the suspension can be swapped to the K1500 along with the motor and trans. Do I also have to swap out the torsion bars to carry the load of the 454? And the rear leaf springs? Do I have put on traction bars due to the extra power? Also, would I have to get driveshafts made or will the ones from the K1500 fit? I know I’m going to have fun swapping wiring and the dashboard along with its mounting brackets, and the steering column, but is there an easier way to go about this?
Billy Bob
A Before you start swapping the drivetrain I suggest you look at LMC Truck (800.562.8782, www.lmctruck.com), a company that has everything for the interior of your ’97. I would not waste time swapping that stuff to the Tahoe. The ’Burban is bigger, has better parts under it, and a 3⁄4-ton frame and suspension. Sell the Tahoe, fix up the Suburban, and enjoy the larger truck. You may be able to scrounge some interior parts from the Tahoe, such as a seat, to better outfit the ’Burb, but I do not believe the 3⁄4-ton front suspension parts will easily adapt to the 1⁄2-ton Tahoe.
You brought up a question that a lot of readers come across, so I’m going to award you this month’s Nuts, I’m Confused prize, a gift certificate from LMC Truck. LMC offers a huge inventory of parts for most domestic trucks and 4x4s through its catalogs and website and can help in fixing up whatever you have in your driveway. The idea of swapping powertrain and suspension is often a larger project than simply upgrading the interior of the running driving vehicle, especially if it is a larger capacity such as a 3⁄4-ton. Whatever direction you go, LMC can help supply replacement components.
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