I'm a Chevy man, but the square body dodge truck is truly undervalued as working trucks and classics. The slant six is one of my favorite engines. I regret selling mine.

One of the best truck ever made 100% classic!

My first truck was a '75 Dodge D150 Adventurer. Got it from a wrecking yard for $500; and aside from fixing it up to pass inspection for the vehicle registration, the only additional money I put into it was for fuel, wiper fluid & blades, tires, oil changes and a radio (it didn't have one when I got it). Good work horse! It had the 6-cyl 225 with 100 HP. When I decided to get a car, I tried to drive the truck into the ground, but no matter what I did, it just kept going. The last I saw of it was when I picked up a VW Beetle that was sawed in half, put it in the bed of the truck and drove it back to the wrecking yard. Along with everything that was in the bed + the truck itself, they gave me $950. After I got '76 Pontiac Ventura, I kept seeing D150's that looked exactly like mine was... always wondered if someone else bought it for the road.

My favorite interior out of the big 3 from the era.

My very first car was a 1966 Dodge Dart with the same 225 ci. slant engine. Bought it for $200 and had to run a lamp cord from the solenoid in through the smoking glass window to start the car. Got many many miles out of it. Sold it on to my sister and she got a lot of use out of it. Not much power, but it ran and ran and ran...

My friend from high school had this same truck with same color combo and the 318. Also had a matching topper. We drove that thing everywhere in the mid 90s it's probably long gone by now but it was very nice back then. Love these trucks!

Long ago everyone I knew who had a 318 powered Dodge in this body style swore it was way less trouble than any other make.

The two blanking plates above the HVAC controls were actually for the 4x4 info lights

if you are a slant 6 fan uncle tony's garage he made a really good video called understanding the slant 6. He goes into crazy detail about how its so different from every other engine.

For weeks I was looking for a Chevy C10..only found rust buckets with either messed up motors or trannys (within my budget of course). I ended up finding a 84' Dodge Ram D150.. body, rockers, foot panels, floor boards, roof seal was all rust free. It checked everything on my list- square body, V8, short bed, 70s or 80s pickup truck, circle odometers, buckets seats. I couldn't find any difference between the two C10 or D150. I couldn't be happier with my purchase. 🇺🇸

My good friends dad owned Mueller Automotive and they had 2 1984 Rams with 225ci and auto trans, both trucks ran all the way into the early 2000's with 500,000+ kilometers on them.

The 72-80 D/W series trucks are technically a third gen dodge truck. Now the 81-93 are the first gen dodge rams. I'm personally a 72-80 guy but I do love these first gen trucks too.

Awe man. You're selling it too quick. You could do all kinds of cool tests with it. Mpg, load the bed to max and see how it drives, max tow it, heck Ike it for kicks. Do a 0-60 then see if you can lightly mod it to improve power. Really neat old truck. Great video guys

I really like the simplicity of this truck. The 8 foot bed is a great asset. The 225 slant 6 is one of my favorite engines from Dodge.

The best things about this truck are the single cab and 8-foot bed unlike the modern 4-door suburban daddy pickups that never haul anything but little league gear.

Proud owner of a 87’ D150 Longbed. Drove her from Tennessee to Florida when I bought her. Original owner bought her with AC, the large towing mirrors, the full gauge package, rear split window, and a lot of extra factory optional features. The trip took 12 hours, had a radiator cap fault, in Tennessee, fixed that, got into Alabama, then the drivers side rear tire blew out, we got back at 1AM. Surprisingly the original spare tire held up from Alabama to Florida. My D150 has dog dish caps as well, they really stand out with the black rims and Garter Blue paint we had her painted in. The paint took two full weeks for the paint shop to match correctly. We bought the truck as it has the same engine as our 71 Charger (318), but there’s a 16 year difference between the two.

Slant 6 with an np435 is a pulling son of a gun. Slant 6 with an A833 is an economical son of a gun

A large part of the reason these aren’t around anymore is cash for clunkers. There were always a bunch in my local junkyard with tags on them during that time.

Our neighbor bought the shortest wheel base Dodge Van, power steering, power brakes, automatic and a/c. Rear was empty, he insulated and made a horse shoe seating in the rear with a table that would go flat to make a bed. Their 5 kids and friends would pile in that thing with a boat behind it and it never failed.

Got an '82 D150 Custom w/ 225cid & the NP435 trans. Bought it in '86 for $2500 w/ 48,520 mi. on the clock. No rust or dents. First thing I did was put on a Clifford intake, Holley 4bbl, Clifford headers and some other mods because the slants had issues with the exhaust manifolds getting cracks throughout the plenum and a piece actually fell out of mine. Dyno'd @ 178hp / 4200 RPM Still runs like a champ and gets 18mpg @ 70mph. Will keep it forever.

Yea for brown on tan! My folks’ 1977 Chevy C20 Silverado had that color scheme; 350 V-8 under the hood, that beast went everywhere…

I know you’re at altitude but I think the Slant needs a check up. It looks to have the lean burn system which were problematic and pulled timing for emissions. With a standard distributor and ignition box it may run a lot better. Plus you can find the two barrel Super Six intakes at salvage yards and that will give it a noticeable boost.

After almost 30 years since I last road in my grandpa’s 89 D150, I can still smell the interior of this thing in burgundy red and the 318 puffing away.

My 82' Dodge PU slant six was factory painted blue. It had the creeper first gear. Mine would occasionally vapor lock in high heat. I bought it used and used it hard. If asked, it answered without complaint for many miles.

The father of a friend of mine purchased a brand new 1976 half-ton 2 wheel-drive short box Dodge in the day; base, base, base version with the buzzin’ half-dozen and a 3-on-the-tree. His father used that truck as a commuter and a wood hauler (they lived in the middle-of-nowhere Perry County, PA and had only a massive wood cook stove as their heat source) until around 2001. I can remember that truck being loaded so heavy with fresh cut, soaking wet green wood that the leaf springs would reverse; we would climb on the tailgate, legs dangling off the back, as his father would slowly drive out of the woods and down the dirts roads to home to unload. Brings back memories.

We run a lot of Ford 300s in oil field. At one time they used to use the dodge slant six but they are not a fan of running at a generally low RPM with natural gas as a fuel. But they would still run 2 to 3 years trouble free. But you definitely had to change them over to electronic ignition. And change the intake for the carburetor because they were definitely not made to be out in the weather.

I currently own a Jeep Cherokee with a 4.0 straight 6 and an F150 with a 300 straight 6. Maybe I should keep my eyes peeled for an old dodge!

My grandpa had one of those with the big V8 and loaded with suede and a double din cassette player. I have many memories sitting between my dad and grandpa.

Thanks for a great 👍 video. I had that exact same slant-6 engine in my 1978 Plymouth Volare 4 door sedan,..red exterior with red interior. Somewhat underpowered but a great "bulletproof" and reliable engine that never leaked oil. Keep up the great videos on old vehicles like this.

I had a few slant sixes. One was in a 1974 Dodge Dart. I ran it out of oil until it stalled and wouldn’t crank when I didn’t realize the oil line to the gauge was leaking under the hood. Let it sit overnight to cool, fixed the leak, filled it with oil, started right up and drove it with no permanent damage.

My father had the van equipment of that. 60 gallon gas tank. We drove from the ny/PA border to Texarkana before we needed gas. 27mpg.

This truck is making me miss my 1980 truck . My truck was blue with an automatic. After i put the 2 barrel on it smoked the rear tires with a few guys lifting up the rear a bit.

I keep saying, get an old truck! There’s nothing like it out there. I can tell you, between my 21 ZR2, and my 69 C10, the C10 is the fav. There’s something about just driving one around, sure it’s not modern by any means but, there’s a sense of oneness with it that you can’t find in a newer truck. Yes 8 foot beds aren’t that desirable, however they are meant to work. I love mine with the 8 foot bed, hauls plywood with ease or whatever I can throw into it. The ZR2 has a shorty bed, 5 foot ain’t much to work with… Plus an old engine is so easy to keep running, literally you can find parts anywhere… My 350 is a workhorse for sure, but the inline 6 is just as good. Regardless, I recommend getting an old truck any day, keep it maintained and it will run forever, plus you can fix it for yourself. No electronics to break, simple by design and just plain works…..

1981 was the first year for the Dodge Ram pickups. That body design was produced up through 1993. Not many of those generation Rams on the roads anymore like there use to be back in those days.

In 1985 I was in the market for a new truck and I drove everything. I drove a 318 Dodge single cab long bed,, a 350 Chevrolet single cab long bed, and a 302 powered Ford single cab long bed. All of them loaded. The Dodge was absolutely the worst of the three,, it was weak, the steering was very vague,, and the brakes were spongy,, it was unimpressive in every area... I was actually shocked....

My dad bought a new 1980 D100 when I was a kid. Short box step side, \6, manual steering, same 4 speed manual as in this truck. Very basic. Spent a lot of my childhood riding in that truck. The sound of that truck takes me back. I guarantee it towed a lot more than 2,000 pounds regularly. His truck put on over 300,000 miles before the \6 finally wore out.

I'll never forget the day I pulled into the driveway of my childhood home, after three years stationed in (West) Germany at the behest of Uncle Sam, for a visit with my parents and younger brother back in 1985. My Dad, a lifelong Chrysler hater and Ford devotee. had sworn that he would never own ANY Chrysler vehicle as long as he lived. So, when I pulled into the driveway and saw a Chrysler LaBaron AND a Dodge RAM D150 under the carport I put my car in reverse and backed up far enough to read the name and house number on the mailbox......Yep.....I was indeed at my parents' house. They had not moved away without telling me. Long story short, my Dad and Mother explained that Ford trucks, like the gutless '76 model Dad had purchased new that year, and the constantly broken Buick Riveria that they had also purchased new pushed them to their limit and made them rethink Chrysler products. Dad traded the Ford for the '85 RAM and drove it daily and as a farm truck till his health failed and he voluntarily turned in his driver's license in 2004. The LaBaron lasted until 2008 when the wheels basically fell off after numerous 1,0000+ mile road trips/vacations and use as a daily driver. They then traded the Chrysler for TWO cars, a new, loaded Buick, and a used four door Saturn. After the passing of both our parents my brother sold off the farming equipment along with the Buick and Saturn but still owns, and occasionally drives, the old RAM D150 with its 318cid engine and three speed automatic transmission. The truck was never pretty but it still runs good and gets the job done on demand.

At 0:37 you said "We're going to fix it up". Maybe add electric power steering from a Toyota, and fuel injection from a Jeep 4.0, and A/C from a Dodge, wait, it's going to auction Sept. 10. Nevermind sorry I brought it up.

Classic commercial in the 80s where they drop on from 15 ft above a sound stage floor to show how rugged they where .

Always love the older Dodge Ram...owned a 1980 D-150 stepside pickup 2whl drive,and 1990 D-150 ,and a 93 D-150. Oh and years ago bought a 51 Dodge Job Rated pickup in 1980.unfortunaly don't have them anymore..my current ride 2017 Jeep Renegade Limited 4x4..Brad frm Vernon British Columbia Canada 🇨🇦.thanks for bringing back some good memories

I had that same engine in my 74 Duster...

Guys. It’s a 40 year old, economy truck. No, the door pulls are not leather. No, they were not going to redesign the dash for lower trim models. We were ok with block-off plates. No, it’s not fast, it’s perfectly capable. No, they did not redesign it every four years. That’s actually a plus.

In 89 those center vents are actually a display system that tells you to check engine, fuel warning, tailgate open(ramcharger only) and the big display was a 4wd display for the w series

I started fixing up one of these with my dad recently. It's a surprisingly dependable truck so far. I'll also note that at 10:35, the middle panel you touched, that's a messaging panel. I believe that'd be where the check engine light and all that stuff would be. Lastly, your video is edited just like an actual TV show, which is pretty cool.

Hi: Yes the slant six 30 degree angle made for a lower hood line, but unbeknownst to most buyers, it also sported Chryslers first attempt at Ram induction, whereby the long intake runners provided 15 more horse power than would a conventional type intake manifold. Then Chrysler came out first with 30 inch ram tubes on the Chrysle 300F in 1960, and in 63 15 inch ram tubes on their 426 wedge race cars. Michael Rzewuski

I agree with this 100% the leaning Tower of power I've had several of these trucks put 300+ on them but the rust belt is not friendly to vehicles

That one has the 2/60 air conditioner. Popular back in the day. 2 windows down, 60mph.

My truck is a 1989 d100 2 door longbox, 318 tbi, 4 speed auto. Color is black and red pinstipes( I think that the d series is rwd and w series is 4wd)

Father-in-law had one, much more deluxe than this one. It had the 318 and was used for many years as the farm truck. He swears it is the nicest vehicle he has ever owned. (and he's 90) I loved driving it as well. The visibility was amazing.

I had a 1977 D150 318 2 barrel, loved that thing! Could not kill it! Wished I had never let it go...

I still use a 84 d100 slant 4 speed on my acreage. It doesn't stop

Nice truck, thank you for doing this video !

Cool. I have a Greenlight 1/64 scale model of a Dodge RAM from 1982 with that exact color scheme. I never knew they came with a standard straight-six 225 engine and fake air vents. Thanks for posting.

Tourqe is better than horsepower in work situations. That old slant six is a reliable beast of an engine

These were good trucks. Watching you two with your tongue and cheek comments shows how spoiled people have become when it comes to trucks these days and expectations. GM, Ford, Dodge, and Plymouth all had their versions of this type of basic truck back in the day, and they were everywhere. The luxurization (yes, I made that word up) of trucks started around the time this truck was built, and today we have $90,000 trucks people are scared to scratch because of how much they cost. It would be nice if they'd go back to making a decent simple truck for people not looking to get all those features that drive up the price. They could still make the luxury versions too for those who want them.

I miss the window vents and the kick panel vents.

I remember my cousins first truck was a first gen green single cab with long bed 4x4. With th e v8. That thin was indescribable

In my 89 theres also a vent on the passenger side floor for wind to come in

A buddy in HS had a square body Ram 2500 that was a total piece of S but never seemed to die

For safety I would install seats with headrests. I had an 83 Dodge 250 van without headrests, I was hit in the rear by a garbage truck(1993) and still have neck pains.

That's when they made a truck to be a truck. I love those old trucks.

My son and I just rebuilt a ‘85 prospector with 360. Almost burning tires set the advance to 15 deg. It’s pretty hot now with a 4 bbl!

The cheese grater above the hvac controls are either a cubby hole or a message center in later years of this body style or 4wd indicator. Love these old rams, I have several

I miss those quarter windows 😭😭😭

My1980 d150 w 360 is rusting out from the inside just above the drivers side windshield above the drip rail .It has been kept dry and inland from the California coast all its career. By the way 1960 d100 had a flathead 6 still . I had one in 1970-71. I had a 62 d100 step side w/225 slant and granny style 4 speed .I switched the 3.9 rear for a 3.1 and dragged my 392 Hemi flat bottom v driveboat all over Calif. Now that was a good truck. I have had multiple 80's slant 6's and they are weak .The Hydraulic lifters can be changed out with a new cam and still click noisily on some . If your state permits it build a late 60's version for your later truck .The pre 68 or so crank snout wont fit later flywheels and flexplates.

I’ve owned and loved an 88 dodge with the 318. How does the slant 6 compare in terms of normal towing for a farm truck?

I have a 1978 D150 with an LA 360! It runs great, burns rubber on command, and is a clean truck that was ordered to California and stayed west most of its life until I bought it a few years ago!

...the 'fake vents' above the radio is a blanking plate on the 2WD models, if you had the 4x4 the larger 'vent' would be your transfer case information graphic...and I think (if I remember correctly) the one to the right of that plate was for diesel engine information...like the glow plug light etc...

Back in the 60s a friend of mine bought a Plymouth Valiant that had the 225 in it. He put a set of headers on it, along with a 4 barrel carb and that thing would fly. Good times.

You Must do a mpg run that will be interesting.

I had a Dodge Aspen station wagon that got me through college. Slant Six and the overdrive 4 speed manual transmission. At 55 mph, often had to drop into 3rd gear on hills. I would love to have a truck like that.

I have the 92 with the 12 valve. Been in trucks my whole life. I swear this truck is bulletproof.

Nice old truck. I love driving old trucks. No desire whatsoever for a new one. Showing my age I guess.

You can tell he was born after these trucks were no longer being built, and he doesn't live in the rust belt. The reason there are none left is NOT because they rusted worse than the competition. I remember a friends dad buying a 77 chevy that was completely rotted out by 1980. The reason there are none left is because they were used and abused by every landscape and snow plowing company in the country for well over two decades. I know companies that ran nothing but square body dodges until the 94 body style came out. They sold off the old trucks to buy the new body style and several sold their new fleet and replaced it with worn out old square body trucks , or switched brands after just one or two seasons. In the winter of 94 I had one customer that brought 5 new Dodges in to have the frames straightened and reinforced so the passenger door would open again after plowing with them for less than one season. I was a die hard Chevy guy throughout this period and still am when talking about this era truck. But even I will admit the square dodge was one hell of a work truck minus the lean burn BS. Not much for creature comforts, which I found odd for Chrysler, but still a great truck.

My first car was a '77 Plymouth Volare with a slant 6 225. Sounded like an old sowing machine but that was a very solid motor. The transmission on the other hand was the reason I had to get rid of it. I miss that car.

Check the throttle cable and linkage. I suspect some stretch or slack. Your foot to the floor may be be translating to wide open throttle at the carb. Adjust accordingly. You might find some additional 'free' power.

Slant 6 was a great engine, no argument. Ford 300 and Chevy 292 had higher displacement (duh) seven main bearings and gear-driven timing. Better? Cummins engine saved Dodge trucks in 1989.

The Grates above the heater controls on my 88 W100 are for the 4x4 indicator lights. My truck is the first year TBI base model 318/5.2 4 speed with Granny low Non A/c. Original 96,000miles. My W100 is a very basic reliable trucking . I got lucky my has a few small dings dents and scratches with a some faded paint Other than very mild surface rust on the under Carriage, the body is Straight and she never fails to fire up and go when I need it.

One thing hardly ever brought up about the old Dodge trucks is you can't reach the dash without leaning forward to anything. Another thing it's about impossible to find the wearing items like the glove box lid. And since 1979-80 used a 4 headlight system having a mint grill is a gold mine.

I have an 87 D150 with the 360 V8. I must have a different transmission. First is very much a granny gear and I start in 2nd almost every time.

I saw an old Dodge Ram commercial from 1984, and what I found interesting is that they advertised that truck as having the best rust-through truck warranty in America at the time. 5 years or 100,000 miles, whichever came first. It was also advertised as having the most rust resistant galvanized steel than any other truck on the market. Both of those claims should have been taken with a grain of salt back then.

That's the truck I learned to drive in. My Grandpa taught me how to shift the gears and let me loose on the Wyoming prairie at 10 years old

Very cool truck and video!

My dad is an original owner of the 82 225 and we still have it and I'm in my early 30s and must not be a healthy engine because ether not at our at half throttle easy up to 40 decently quick and 30 mpg no way and the steering wheel is as big as the original the wood makes it thicker obviously but slow to Accelerate not to how you all were explaining italso how many times did yall think it dint crank or turned off sence it goes very quiet and barely rocks when warmed up at idel my dad and when I drove it after getting my license we both majority of the time would crank then Rev so that we knew it was on MAN I LOVE THAT TRUCK

As someone with two first gen Rams (one which I daily), they suck for aftermarket support

Give me a GMC longbed 3/4 ton. 400 - 400 Turbo transmission. Any day 🇺🇸🏁💪

I have an 82 D250 with the 318. I'm a Ford guy at heart, but man I love that truck. It's the simplest truck I've ever laid my hands on. I don't care about the newer American trucks, but all of the old ones were good. Chevy C and K Series, Dodge D and W Series, Ford F-Series, all of them were very good. If I had to choose, it would be any of them.

That truck needs a 2 barrel carburetor and intake I put one on a slant 6 it really gave it more power

55mph is an efficient speed. Anything over 65 and aero really hurts efficiency.

Had a '84 225/6, 4spd. But it had propane conversion. Insanely cheap to run, but definitely under powered on propane. Never left me stranded, but when propane went from 30 cents a liter to a dollar. And she was getting pretty clapped out, rust, needed front end rebuilt, new clutch, and brake caliper. Ended parting it out. My '80 Powerwagon has reverse colour scheme. 360, 4bbl, with the granny 1st gear. Plain Jane long box Clubcab, 4" lift and 35's. It gets way more looks and thumbs up than my '18 Powerwagon. Sadly about the same fuel mileage.

A 2,000 pound towing limit on a half ton. A base Toyota Tacoma with the 2.7L 4 banger has a 3,500 pound towing limit. Amazing how far things have come.

Thanks for jacking up the prices on these practically over night now they more than 6k

I’ve got the exact same truck. Mine is an 83 Blue with air conditioning.

How are you going to fix the driver front lean?

FYI above the heater control the small window to the left was for 4 wheel drive engaged an the bigger window on the right was the message console center for check engine or brakes malfunction, etc.

Growing up my neighbor had two of these. I’m sure he still has them!

I have a 1989 power ram 4x4. With a 318. 165k miles. Runs great.

Classic 6cyl, if you down shift they don't really go faster they just get louder

I would love to have that truck as it looks just like the '83 short bed 318 I had back then ✌💖☮

Not sure if it's still available but MOPAR used to sell an 11 sec hop up kit for that 225 slant 6.