Project Festus D100, Elderly iron with an edge for under $10 Grand

[Hondo78]

'Dodge '68 D100 was rescue'd last summer in Arizona, it seemed far to cool to let it deteriorate any further. The truck had the same driver for almost 30 years, the same family for 47, and it has a 45 colt holster mounted to the inside kick panel!

Revival plan includes: Crown Victoria suspension, a Gen III Hemi 5.7 with Ram truck transmission, 8 inches of attitude adjustment, Watts linked 4 bar rear end, down stream turbo and off the shelf 18" diameter rims and tires and A/C. The ultimate plan is to take it to autocross and touring events.

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[andrewb70]

Looking forward to the build. Who knew Ford Explorer wheels fit a Dodge!

Andrew

[Tincup]

Cool build....

[kingcrunch]

Yay! More Dodges. Post lots of pics, i am at home, sick and BORED! :evil:

[Hondo78]

The 5 on 4.5 bolt pattern was a surprise to me as well, the front beam axle is 66" wide so the modern offset Explorer wheels bolt up. Lesson learned, this dinosaur has left and right lug nuts.

Thanks it will be a good build, I have big plans and a strict budget. My limitations being I am in a carport in Scottsdale not an enclosed shop.

The 5.7 Gen III Hemi engine was delivered this morning.
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[Dr G]

Looks cool. Hopefully you have something useful to keep that holster warm :razz:

[kingcrunch]

The 5x4.5" bolt pattern got ditched between 84 and 85 in favor of a 5x5.5 bolt pattern...

[Hondo78]

The 5x4.5" bolt pattern got ditched between 84 and 85 in favor of a 5x5.5 bolt pattern...

I found a donor '09 Aspen which has 5 on 5.5 front and rear, with very nice boomerang upper control arms, I just can't find enough information to remount to the '68 frame, with any accuracy impacting bump steer, roll center and proper caster.

[Hondo78]

Looks cool. Hopefully you have something useful to keep that holster warm :razz:

Good call, I don't have a .45 revolver, something else to be on the look out for.

[Hondo78]

I'm thinking some look like this with a step side https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/05/imagesqtbnANd9GcRXf5m77ykJGiU63AtkbA1M3c-1.jpg

[Hondo78]

Yay! More Dodges. Post lots of pics, i am at home, sick and BORED! :evil:

KingCruch- Here is something to break the monotony of being ill. Removed the bed, axle, springs etc. and set up the rear 4 parallel set up. The Ford 8.8 Rear end supplied the pivot for the Watts Link.126843

[Hondo78]

Watts link will be connected with aluminum struts.
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[jerome]

Watts link will be connected with aluminum struts.

Did that Watts link pivot and bellcrank come stock on some sort of Ford 8.8 application? What did you pull that from?

Thanks

[Hondo78]

Jerome

This 8.8" is from an '09 Crown Victoria, they come with two channel stamped links, the round tubes are my addition with race car parts.

[Hondo78]

I did buy a new watts link Ford OEM style replacement, it just showed up yesterday. New rubber bushings etc. are good quality, it would have been a great parts piece to simply shorten up or build some custom length arms126935.

[Hondo78]

Here is a good pic of the Watts Link Pivot without the cross link installed. Again 2009 Ford Crown Vic. (70.5" wide)126936

[Hondo78]

Mounting the C notches and coil over shocks, finally. 128219128220128221

[Hondo78]

I had the C notches water-jet-cut in Phoenix, I had to clearance the rears due to the new bigger coil over shocks hence the straight cuts above. Best laid plans etc etc.

[Hondo78]

If I do this again, I'll cut the 4 c notches with a 1" square hole in each end so I can align the two outside plates with a common 1" square tube in them, and the inner plates will then be already on plane with the others. Just slide inner plates to contact the frame and weld, already leveled and squared.

[vwmopar]

I think I'd practice welding before I did any structural and suspension fabrication. Just saying. Not trying to start anything. Sweet project though.

[72BBSwinger]

Parallel bars are wheelhop city if they stay parallel.

[Hondo78]

Thanks, I was placing good hot tacks in place I figured I would weld it up nice when we box in the C notches.

[Hondo78]

I cut the front frame rails to straighten them to fit the Crown Vic front suspension, squaring it was not to tough. Getting the height right on the core support was a challenge.128323128324

[Hondo78]

Going to look for some air conditioned shop space on Monday, it's 111 today in Scottsdale, that's 90 at 4:30 AM, I'm just not cut out for working on this in the Arizona summertime. My Air conditioned garage build is at least a year away. (120 tomorrow 6/19)

[Hondo78]

I moved West since the last post, hot here in summer but nice in winter. Dodge / Crown Vic front is mocked up today, wheels on testing ride height and modified front suspension angle with a wedge before welding in the tubes.
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[rjsjea]

You gotta keep that bumper!!!