falconvan
Well-known member
Always wanted a fire truck but didn’t have the room for it. So this is the next best thing. This originally came from a fire department in Kentucky and passed through a few owners after it was retired. It still only has 72,000 miles on the clock and the old 230 inch flat six and four speed runs awesome. It’s got some rust out from sitting with the passenger window down. The passenger side of the floor I’ve already fixed and the bottom of the door is toast so I found another door. The steering and brakes are horrible; someone transplanted a Chevy steering box on it which is junk and the original brakes aren’t big enough to stop a truck half this size. The rear springs have a huge overload pack; I guess for when it was loaded with equipment.
So the plan is to upgrade steering and brakes, lower it, fix the rust out, and replace the crispy original wiring. I’m keeping the 230 and the four speed; it just runs too good to change it. I bought this 88 Dakota; I’m going to swap the front frame stub and the rearend to make it a little more highway friendly. Seems like the cheapest and easiest way to do it. It’s not getting major bodywork or paint, I like the character the way it is.
So the plan is to upgrade steering and brakes, lower it, fix the rust out, and replace the crispy original wiring. I’m keeping the 230 and the four speed; it just runs too good to change it. I bought this 88 Dakota; I’m going to swap the front frame stub and the rearend to make it a little more highway friendly. Seems like the cheapest and easiest way to do it. It’s not getting major bodywork or paint, I like the character the way it is.
