I bought this new and drove it 100,000 mi before turning it into my never ending project. It was originally two tone brown with tan bench seat interior and 318-2 , 727 auto drive train. It is now a LA block stroker 408 tri-power with 518 overdrive trans and narrowed 8 3/4 rear 4:11 gears. The latest change this past winter was to upgrade the interior for the third time. Finally got around to building the console and dash panel that I've wanted for a long time.

 

Very nice truck

 

Dang that's nice. It's especially cool to see a fleetside instead of a stepside.

 

Where did you find the door panel/cards? I am in search for a set, and those are nice!

 

The door panel is stock, I just recolored them with SEM plastic dye. If you are referring to the panel just above the arm rest or at the door bottom, I cut the pieces out of sheet plastic that is used to make street rod door panels. Then you cut what ever you want to be the raised design from 1/8" luan plywood and glue them to the plastic. Cover them with your choice of material or leather. Hope I answered your question, if not let me know. I have a set of mid 80"s door panels if your interested

 

Great, yes that answered my question perfectly. I am about a year from starting on my truck, I am just in the process of gathering information. As most know. Finding parts for these babies can be difficult at time.

Thank you

 

Yep, I know what you mean. If it's an old Chebby or Furd truck you can pickup various catalogs and order up what you want. If your working on these old D series Dodge you have to make your own parts

 

So how hard was the tri power to tune? Back when I could have gotten the carbs for a song I thought about them for my 440 but my carb guy at the time talked me out of it.

 

The 440 manifolds are a better design compared to the small block versions produced. If you ask any knowledgeable small block motor head he will tell you that the restrictive design of the sb six pack manifold gives up HP compared to an Edlebrock air gap and single four barrel, especially when running the 400 plus cu in stroker kits. The six pack on mine was an anniversary present from my wife (no you can not have her) so it stays on no matter what. I have the Quick Fuel jet plates which makes the front and rear carbs completely tuneable and if you look at the picture of the console I made, the two outside gauges are wide band oxygen sensors. They are a god sent when tuning carbs