89 Sqaure body dually, on the cheap

So I picked up an 89 dually for $600 from a tow yard. It runs and drives, needed a few things. Body is really straight, interior is pretty bad. 454, th400.

Here's some pics




I replaced the power steering pump. Still needs a radiator and interior stuff.

So I started looking around for some rims and interior. Friday I found an 83 (or maybe 80, have to look at title) for $600 locally. I went and looked at it. It had been hit in the rear, no engine or trans. Interior is freshly redone, good dually fenders, good grill, no radiator a lecarra steering wheel and Weld wheels with newer tires.

I'm going to swap the seats, the carpet, headliner and all the trim pieces. My door panels and dash are actually pretty good, so I'll keep them. Plus the parts truck has manual doors, and mine are electric. I'll also swap the wheels, a couple underhood items and the passenger dually fender. The 83 had been switched to the 88-91 style front, which is convenient because my stuff is all pretty crappy.

Here's the parts truck



I plan to bag mine. I have a pair of 3" spindles from my neighbor. It'll be a little while before I can get it all done. Need to find some time and a little extra cash. I'll paint it, probably white again. Don't really want to change the interior color, espescially now that I've got all good stuff.















I'm hoping to sell a couple items and scrap the rest and break even. I think I can get about $500 at Adams steel in anaheim for the carcass when I'm done.

Anyways, comments, advice, whatever...

Oh yeah, the pic of the rear of the parts truck show the impact area. The frame is bent and the leafspring looks like a letter S. The bed also hit the back of the cab.

Making a 6 door cab crossed my mind, but I want to finish it this decade...

I'm betting wrecked truck is a 77-80 that's been updated to an 81+.

I was kinda thrown off by the dash pad at first (81-91), but it looks like the washer controls are on the dash which is def characteristic of a 73-80 truck. Plus, it has the '77-'80 door panels. Which I am very interested in if you want to get rid of them. I've been looking for a good, clean set.

In fact, you have a few good parts that I'd like to score if your not going to use them.

What' the band on the back of the cab look like? Did it get munched in the wreck?

...and I take it the tailgate is history, too?

Campy, I PM'd ya back. Your right, it's an 80. The guy advertised it as an 83. later frontend with dual headlights.

I haven't shopped around, but what am I looking at ballpark for 4 bags, valves and airline? From my reading, it looks like the RE7 in front, and RE8 out back might be my best bet for a good ride. Will the RE8 complain if I load to capacity or beyond? I have a couple ideas for a compressor. I have the parts to build an Oasis, I was going to put it on my last tow rig, but never got around to putting it together.

If yo don't know, an oasis is an electric powered York 210. You can buy the whole thing from them for like $700 and up, or the adapter for about $40. It uses a winch motor.

I also picked up a drivers side battery tray at the junk yard. I've always liked having dual batteries.

Well I found RE7's and RE8's for $75 a pop on ebay.

$300 for bags

How many valves do I need? I can think of a few different ways to do it. I guess you should have 1 valve per bag to fill, and another to empty?

The same guy has parker 3/8" valves for $40 a pop.

$320

I guess it'll add up quick.

It'll be a while, so I have plenty of time to research.

Found a radiator today. Local guy parting a 91 burb, $40. I drove it around for a while, stays right at 205, even at idle. Seems high.

It had an overhead console, and I really liked the way it looked, but his was broken. I'll definetely be keeping an eye out for a good one.

I traded the stock spindles from the parts truck for a pair of Belltech's. Older guy wanted to put his truck back to stock.

Been working on swapping the passenger dually fender. What a pain in the arse. I had used a heat gun to remove the glue/bondo whatever it is that is between the fender and bed on the 89.

I cheated removing the one from the parts truck. 3 minutes with a sawzall saved who knows how much time with a wrench.

Had to redrill the mounting holes to get the 80 fender to fit on the 89. I was hoping to be way farther along than I am.

man it would be nice to have all those things sitting close by