I have logged the first 100 miles after getting the 58 Dodge D100 project back on the road. We have worked out most of the kinks.
Category Archives: 1958 Dodge Step-Side Project
1958 Dodge D100 – Spare Tire Mount
The spare tire mount has been beefed up and a spare has been mounted. We are checking off items from the list quickly. We are really getting close. The boys a VR Garage are doing a stellar job.
Dodge D100 – The Final Push
Well, we are in the home stretch on the 1958 Dodge D100. Glass is in, interior is done. We had a last minute engine swap, after discovering that the motor we put in was a bit worn out. Bed is done. Painted bits are on. Drive train is installed.
Now it’s time to make a spare tire bracket, back bumper, mirrors, bright work install, and a few minor details before getting a logo painted on the doors.
Here she is as of February 2109:
Dodge d100 – Summer 2018
Well, we find ourselves at the beginning of summer 2018. The old 1958 Dodge D100 project is shuffling along. I almost feel like we can see the finish line, but it might be a mirage, as I have said that before. Today the boys over at VR Garage got it back from the painter, where it was clear coated in a satin finish to preserve the patina. I originally was going to patina polish it, but the more research I did told me that unless you are going to store it inside, or pay to polish it every year you are looking for trouble. Also, the polisher has to meticulously polish around the surface rust, otherwise the polishing compound sticks to the rough rusty areas and must be power washed out. There are a lot of rusty areas on this truck (surface only) so I know it would have been a huge project to polish it. The satin finish came out great! I know my friend Erik ‘The Viking” Elbeck is going to trash talk me behind my back to all the hot rod crowd, about what a terrible decision this was, but I can take it. They all think I’m not a real hot rod guy anyways.
So, until next update – here she is:
58 Dodge D100 Update
It has been a while since I gave a little progress update on the D100 pickup. Last year we bought an old industrial building, so the funds to make the Dodge D100 project move along were challenging. The boys over at VR Garage have been steadfast and patient, getting things done as I can get money their way. I have expressed how concerning it was having someone else do the restoration, as it is the first project i haven’t done myself, but I am getting a bit excited as we get closer to completion. Like any restoration, it has cost twice as much and taken twice as long as planned, but I keep adding projects and changing my mind, so it is to be expected. So far we have dropped in a refurbished Chevy 350 small block and added an automatic transmission. All wiring is new. New gauges and surrounds. Disc brakes with new wheels and whitewalls. New and adjusted suspension. New steering column. New tail lights. Replaced the radiator and refurbished the gas tank.
We still have left the interior, a new bed, clear coating the patina finish, painting some detail pieces, lettering on the door. Exhaust. Back bumper. All new glass and seals. And I am sure a hundred more things I am forgetting. But, it should be on the road by summer, as the building remodel is nearing its end and I can concentrate again on finishing up the truck.
Here it is as of September 2017:
Whitewalls all around
Dual headlights replace singles
New gauges and surrounds
Making progress
1958 Dodge D100 Color Rendering
The boys over at VR Garage are moving along with the 58 Dodge D100 project. New motor and transmission are in. Cracks in the frame have been cased and welded. We were talking about some color combinations this week and came up with a nice rootbeer brown flake to compliment the patina. To see what it might look like I mocked it up.
Next it is on to the brakes, suspension, steering, wheels, electrical… oof!
1958 Dodge D-100 Project Update
No, this is not a picture of where the truck is in the timeline of the project. This is just a little inspiration…
The truth is that the truck is sitting in the yard of the lads who are going to help me get it back up and running. After going through the truck and getting the motor to turn over we have decided on a plan of action that includes some items we hoped did not need attention. The engine did indeed turn over, but after looking at the compression we found that four of the eight cylinders did not have compression. We also discovered that it was not the original engine to the truck. Somewhere along the line a larger V-8 had been crammed into the bay and they had notched the frame on both sides to get it in. Where they had notched the frame the frame had cracked on both sides. You can imagine my disappointment. So now, we have a firm plan on the build and with the help of my amigos at the Vintage Rollers Car Club we will be tackling the following:
New (old) motor – We will look for a donor car that has a solid Chevy 350. The guys will rebuild it to ensure it is sound.
New (old) transmission – Same deal here. The guys were trying to talk me into an automatic, but I want to keep the manual 4 on the floor.
New wiring harness – New electrical throughout. I will switch back to the double headlights, instead of the rarer single. I like the look of the double better and have already picked up the double bezels.
New brakes – We will stick with drums at this point but will refurbish them and run new lines.
New fuel tank – We will drop the old and see what it looks like inside and go from there.
New exhaust – Maybe go to double.
Fix cracked frame – I was thinking of bagging it, but will hold of for now, as I am getting in deep on the money front already. We will box the frame where it is cracked and the bagging and disc brakes will happen sometime in the future.
Suspension – Instead of bagging we will drop the whole ride by 3 – 4 inches all around and see how it looks.
Wheels and tires – Wheels will come off and get a tomato red powder coating and white walls will be mounted.
Patina polish – Erik the Viking at Hold Fast Kustoms will work his magic and I will acquire the missing brightwork, which I have already started finding.
Glass – Needs everything except the back window.
Drivers door – The door is cracked in a place where you can’t get enough metal to weld. Fortunately the truck came with extra doors, unfortunately I will lose the matching patina on that side.
There is a long list of things I have left off but this is the beginning checklist. This all told will have me in at around $7,000 without the patina polish.
Stay Tuned!
1958 Dodge Step-Side D-100: The Pick-Up of the Pick-Up
Today was the day I picked up the old beast. I used a hay trailer without a winch and thank goodness my friend, Fatty, had sense to remind me to pick up a couple of chains and come-alongs to help us load it. We stopped and bought some heavy duty straps as well.
It was a bit of a challenge getting it on the trailer once we got there. The kind seller of the truck ended up hooking his modern truck to a chain on the bumper of the Dodge D-100 and we dragged it up on the trailer, nearly dumping it off the side. If it hadn’t been for his help I would have had to leave and return with another trailer that had a winch.
The truck was in pretty good condition. No serious rust or corrosion. A few minor dents and dings. Brakes not functioning. No steering wheel. In need of new windows and rubber seals. In need of new tires. Electrical looks shot. Never been started. damaged door (which is why he had 2 extra doors included in the sale). But great patina.
I immediately towed it over to the Auto Clinic of Bend. Julius and his daughter, JulieAnn, are classic rat-rod specialists. Turns out JulieAnn had been after this truck for quite some time, even stopping and knocking on the door of the owner, who was not home when they knocked. So far 3 people I have talked to had been trying to get this truck. Again, the stars seemed to line up on this for me.
Getting it off the trailer took the assistance of the good guys at the Vintage Rollers Car Club. We all got behind it and pushed and shoved and gently let the brakeless monster off the trailer and onto the lot using a lock wrench on the steering wheel column to muscle it into place.
Once we popped the hood and took a look at the motor it was concluded that the motor is not the original, but it is a period V8. Someone cut the frame to stick this larger engine in, but that didn’t seem to phase Julius, as long as it wasn’t seized. The oil looked pretty good so they grabbed the fan and started to crank. It wasn’t seized! It seems we have something to work with. Next step is to fire it up and see if it has compression. The goal here is to get it running and then see what the path is to a restoration over time. A solid running engine, new brakes, new electrical, new tires, new glass, a patina polish from my friend Eric at Hold Fast Customs and a sound foundation will be ready to roll. Here she is on the lot:
1958 Dodge D100 Step Side
1958 Dodge D100 Step Side
1958 Dodge D100 Step Side – Grill
I’ll keep you posted on the progress.
Vintage OCD 