New member here, I just picked up my very first Chrysler product, actually 2 of them. I found a couple P200 postal vans on marketplace locally for very cheap, and dragged them out of the woods where they'd been sitting for the past 30 years.

The current plan is to fix up the blue one to go back on the road, and the red one will donate some parts the blue one is missing, and will probably get sold later on. Right now I've just started working on the blue one, and after a couple hours work, a new coil, and new ballast resistor, it starts reliably, runs smooth, and will drive around the yard. Next up on the list is all new brakes front to back, new fuel system, and some cooling system work, along with wheels/tires.

Currently I've got a few questions, but I'm sure I'll have more as I go through it. Does anyone happen to know what bolt pattern the wheels are, and what size rims it would have had originally or if I can buy a set of say, Ford rims and use those? The blue truck has 16" split rims which I doubt are original and will be replaced, and the red one has 19.5" steelies.

My other question is about parts compatibility. It likely needs a radiator and possibly a fuel tank, but I was wondering if anyone happened to know what these trucks share those parts with? I assume D100/D200, but not exactly sure

 

I have no clue on your questions...... But those are really some cool projects...... As for wheels... I know on my 1968 D200 i used a set of Ford Wheels that matched to bolt pattern. Those where 16" wheel s and worked great for what i needed them for.
Keep us posted on the progress, we will be glad to help as much as we can on the advist side...
Cheers

 

Cool, so I'll look into Ford wheels then. Maybe alloy wheels from an F250?

 

I think those a like 6-7 lug???? Not sure the late model will work to you hubs? But i'm not 100% sure...

 

This Should help you out for making a good call.....
https://www.jegs.com/tech-articles/e...5JuPT-d_9ZxYSN

Also Note.... The Center hole may be a different size.... So you may have not center hub support? or The hub center may not be large enough?
You have to check that as well when doing crossovers...

 

Did some more work yesterday, I've got the radiator, water pump, etc out and replacements ordered. Next weelend will be that and as much of the brake system as we can get done. Fortunately this slant 6 leaks so much out of everywhere that I haven't snapped a bolt yet, even with all the rust. Also got the fuel system hooked back up. There was nothing wrong with it, I guess the previous owner just unhooked it for no reason? Runs a lot better now with the fuel pump hooked up rather than just a gravity feed from a gas can

 

Sounds like a solid plan so far..... May need to change that filter a few times just to make sure yalls don't get any unnecessary junk in the carburetor....

 

i did let it push some fuel through the lines before I hooked it up. The tank looked pretty darn good checking with a bore scope. Just had maybe half a gallon of pretty bad fuel, so should be fine after a filter or two and a tank of gas

 

Sounds good... Good progress !!!

 

Yeah, it's going really well! Just stinks I only have one day or less each week to mess with it

 

Well, Just got to make good use of that one day.... Order parts on the off time for the next day of work.... Keep us posted... Cheers

 

Exactly! I don't have a day next weekend, but I have the radiator ordered and I'm gonna drop it off with a friend to have him weld up some new mounting brackets on it to match the original, so it's ready for next time. I think brakes are next, cause it's much easier to do the lines going through the front behind the radiator rather than through the drivers floor

 

Share some photos along the way if you can...

 

Will do! I always forget to take pictures but I'll try. I think I've decided that the bodywork is gonna be done in a farmer sort of style- cut out the rust and treat it, then rivet some galvanized metal over the hole with some panel bond. The structure will be done right though, and the floor in the back. I think I'm definitely gonna leave it weathered and crusty looking though, so I think the farmer fix fits better

 

or sand it, rust convertor, and rattle can it... or a couple cans of bed liner should fix it up....

 

Got to work on it again today for a bit. My buddy and I were able to get all the front brake lines off, the new master installed and the lines for the drivers side run, but ran out of time for much else. Just gonna hook it all up to the original wheel cylinders for now, hopefully we can make it good enough to at least be movable around the yard till we can finish it. I also was able to get the front of the engine back together with a new water pump and thermostat, should be all good once I find a radiator

 

Awesome.... Good Progress !!! Keep chipping at it.... Cheers