13th Jan 2010, 21:35
I started driving full-sized Mopar slant sixes in the 'sixties, in Long Island, NY. Salerno Taxi in Roslyn Heights started buying even-model-year Fury I's in 1962 to see if they really were tougher than Checkers. They were. The sheet metal was so strong in Mopar's 1962 horizontal fins that hitting a young tree would do as much damage to the tree as it did to the car.
Slant-sixes of the early 'sixties had tried-and-true breaker-point distributors and noisier, but reliable, solid lifters. Nor were they slow. Salerno, at least through '66, ordered only 225's with three-on-the-tree. With that package, he got better reliability, better fuel economy, fewer and cheaper repairs, skillfully coordinated drivers and cars that would climb the snow-covered, steep 14% grades in the Village of East Hills during the winter months.
A rich kid I knew got a 1965 Mustang with a 289 four-on-the-floor for his high school graduation gift. His ego needed a build-up, so I acquiesced to drag-racing him. I figured he couldn't lose to an old taxicab with over 400,000 miles on it (whose only engine maintenance (other than adjusting the valves at 90,000 miles) consisted of changing rolls of toilet tissue and topping off the oil in the canister on the right-side firewall. That old cab left him in the dust.
In 1981, I found a 1966 Dodge A100 Compact Truck" commercial van (170 slant-six, three-on-the-tree, 3.91 ratio locking rear differential) with a zillion miles on it. It had been donated at the 'end' of its service life, retired from the road, its former life reduced to moving trash two weeks a year at Indian League of the Americas' pow-wows. (Has anybody seen Richard Shipley?)
I gave them $100 for if, towed it to a nearby repair garage, paid another $800 to restore it mechanically and drove it another nine years. It got 20 mpg highway-or-city, fair weather or foul, summer or winter. With its old-fashioned king pin-and-bushing suspension with shock absorbers and leaf springs at all four wheels, not only did that old truck ride "like a Cadillac," it climbed ski slopes my four-wheel-drive Jeeps could only dream of. I retired it because I was afraid of getting a shock absorber up my butt!
Imagine my horror a few years later when I bought a 1984 Dodge D100 3.7 liter (225 c.i.d.) with the Overdrive 4 and "Lean Burn" Electronic Ignition. It is E.P.A.-rated at 26 mpg highway. That test must have been for a run from Pike's Peak to Colorado Springs. Oh my, are they ever slow! But they still haul tons without sagging or dragging, ride smoothly and seldom break.
ethix2@yahoo.com
28th Oct 2010, 05:24
I have a 1985 D100 Custom Ram, slant six (I'm guessing 225), 3 speed with o/d.
I bought it used with two previous owners about 2 years ago with 85K miles on it, though I wouldn't doubt if it really had 185K miles. Lots of cosmetic and functional issues. I've resolved the important functional issues and worked on the cosmetic with rubbing compound and a good cleaning.
However, it doesn't leak or burn oil.
19th Nov 2010, 16:02
I have a 1985 custom 100, or D100 with the slant six, and I can say they are one of the most durable engines they have put out, not to take anything away from the V8 318. The only thing that holds it back is the wiring harness, and the single board computer. They changed everything that year from before and after, as if to say they are in a class of their own. 1981-1984 were the same. Then there was 84-85. Then there was 85-89. The trucks put out from late 1984 to late or mid 1985 have their own year and style.
10th Jun 2011, 18:55
I have a 1985 Dodge Ram D100 Prospector short bed.
I am having a very difficult time searching for parts for this truck. Each search field insists that the 1985 must be a Ramcharger or a D150, or basically anything but a D100.
3rd Jan 2012, 21:27
I have found almost anything for a D150 fits a D100.
Great trucks. My D100 is a 318 V8, and is a great runner.
Boots Yarber.
1st Aug 2014, 01:57
The word custom means it came with the slant 6. The body style is the same as a 150 model.
25th Jan 2015, 20:09
Man, what a blast your comments about Salerno Taxi were for me. I drove for Salerno as a summer job between semesters in college, and so did 2 of my friends, who I will pass along your comments to. Thanks for the memories. Ken Merena.
kmerena2002@yahoo.com
22nd Dec 2016, 02:15
I own an 85 D100 Custom. Came factory with a 318. It has 84xxx on the chassis. Burnt a piston up in the motor. I now have a 318 poly to put in it. It has zero miles. Complete rebuild with everything. Need help though. Since it came out of a Charger, the oil pan is up front. I kept the old oil pan and was told they could be interchangeable. Any ideas on this?
31st Dec 2008, 14:33
My first new car, was a truck, a 1985 D-100 Custom. Had the 225 slant-6 and a 3 speed O/D, and little else. Paid $7489 for it. Water pump started leaking at 90,000 miles, lifters started tapping at 110,000 miles (never fixed that). It was the most reliable vehicle I ever owned. I overloaded it many times with dirt, sand, lumber, but it just kept running. After driving it for 15 years, and 226,000 miles, I traded it in for a Ram 1500 Quad cab. I've had to replace the transmission, front end, AC, starter, and water pump. All before 100,000 miles. Boy do I miss my old D-100.