1983 Dodge D150 review from North America
"The Slant 6 in a D150 short-bed is awesome!"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Bought the truck off a neighbor and it needed a new engine, as the owner before him never changed the oil. The Slant 6 is an ultra-reliable engine, but, neglecting oil changes is a recipe for ruining ANY engine over time.
The truck also didn't have a limit slip differential. So I had one installed.
It also has a carburetor, which is problematic, but it is from a different era when all vehicles had them. I'm converting that to fuel injection and installing a 264H Clifford cam to remedy the troublesome 1980s technology.
Door seals wear worn out and cracked due to age, allowing water seepage into the cab, causing rust on the floorboards.
Installed a CD player, as the thing is from the '80s and had a junk radio.
A quarter of a century causes in cab rattles and odometer noises when it's cold.
The body likes to rust, as it's lived its life in Alaska. This is partially fixed, and the truck looks good. Keep in mind it is 25 years old.
Heater control went out. Keep in mind it is 25 years old.
Headlight switch overheated and burned, causing the headlights to flicker while driving on the highway. Burnt electronics smell when this happened didn't help either. Keep in mind it is 25 years old.
General comments?
The truck has a Slant 6, so you don't need a college degree to work on it.
New tires and wheels breathed new life into an old design. It still turns heads as it's the all-American short bed, regular cab pickup. (The Ansen wheels really help:)
The manual transmission helps with the engine to get to where it needs to go.
Reliable and forgiving on maintenance. I'm thankful for the truck!
Recommended reviews
| This is a 20 year old gas guzzlin life saver |
|
| Power and reliability in an unassuming package |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 1983 |
| Year of manufacture | 1983 |
| First year of ownership | 1996 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2008 |
| Engine and transmission | 225 Slant 6 Manual |
| Performance marks | 4 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 9 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 6 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 5 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 165000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 215000 miles |
| Previous car | Honda Civic |
| Date of Entry | 8th October, 2008 |