Topic: How's this for a bugout truck?

[John Florida]

Prepper and homestead vehicle 4x4 Dodge D50 diesel engine

[Glock32]

Growing up we had a Mitsubishi pickup, and the things are virtually bulletproof. The body finally rusted away, as the powertrain continued to run fine. Ours was a gas engine, but the diesel should be even tougher. I'd love to have one. I'm guessing that one is something like an '83 or '84.

[benb61]

The first vehicle I bought new was a 1984 Mitsubishi Mighty Max S 2WD.  It had the 2.6L in line 4 and sipped gas.  I installed a 3 inch body lift and a 2 inch suspension lift, offroad tires, 3" double tube front bumper with brush guard, 3" double tube rear bumper, roll bar and nerf bars, Hella light bar on the front bumper and roll bar all powdercoated in black.  The truck was red and all that black steel made it look really mean.  I loved that truck.  I was young and I abused the crap out of it till it finally died in 1995.  Boy do I miss it now.

[Glock32]

Yep ours had the 2.6L and it was a solid engine. My dad and I used it to haul way more than a compact pickup should be expected to, and it always managed. I learned to drive a manual transmission in that truck and will always remember it fondly.

[John Florida]

Growing up we had a Mitsubishi pickup, and the things are virtually bulletproof. The body finally rusted away, as the powertrain continued to run fine. Ours was a gas engine, but the diesel should be even tougher. I'd love to have one. I'm guessing that one is something like an '83 or '84.

   It's an 83 diesel,which is why it,s interesting at all.

[AlanS]

Growing up we had a Mitsubishi pickup, and the things are virtually bulletproof. The body finally rusted away, as the powertrain continued to run fine. Ours was a gas engine, but the diesel should be even tougher. I'd love to have one. I'm guessing that one is something like an '83 or '84.

   It's an 83 diesel,which is why it,s interesting at all.

Does anyone else find it odd that small diesels are no longer made? I'd love a 1/2 ton diesel truck.

[charlesoakwood]

Diesel is destructive to the environment and is to be phased out and replaced by CNG.  Da Bomb.

[Libertas]

That's just wrong, CO!

[AlanS]

That's just wrong, CO!

True, but it's still funny as Hell.

I looked at this one on ebay a while back. Late model with a 4 cyl Cummins conversion. If it was only 4wd....

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1500-/251176351533?forcev4exp=true

[charlesoakwood]

It needs original suspension or better.
Bet that four banger's strong. Does it
have any electronics or is it all mechanical?

[John Florida]

It needs original suspension or better.
Bet that four banger's strong. Does it
have any electronics or is it all mechanical?

 4-53 Detroit Diesel in a '89 Chevrolet C1500

  This has no electronics. It's a 453 detroit.

[charlesoakwood]

Love to hear that blower wind up.

[AlanS]

It needs original suspension or better.
Bet that four banger's strong. Does it
have any electronics or is it all mechanical?

On the fleabay Chevy, it's an older Cummins with no electronics.

That Detroit looks heavy. Literally and figuratively.

[charlesoakwood]

Yeah, looked 'em up, most were put in 1 tons to 3500's.
Check out this good lookin' 54 Chevy: http://www.dupontregistry.com/autos/Search/DRauSearchDetails.aspx?itemid=851776

That Cummins is a good idea but for bug out purposes it would be better in the original truck.  An old, pre-electronic, Dodge/Cummins would be a good bug out project.  Probably a Ford or Chevy also.   

[AlanS]

That Cummins is a good idea but for bug out purposes it would be better in the original truck.  An old, pre-electronic, Dodge/Cummins would be a good bug out project.  Probably a Ford or Chevy also.   

As much as I like the Cummins, I despise Chrysler vehicles. That's why I prefer the conversions. And most of the conversions I've seen were with the old 12v which has no electronics.

[John Florida]

It needs original suspension or better.
Bet that four banger's strong. Does it
have any electronics or is it all mechanical?

On the fleabay Chevy, it's an older Cummins with no electronics.

That Detroit looks heavy. Literally and figuratively.

  The Detroit is a 453 which is only a 4cyl,not bad for weight.

[charlesoakwood]

http://www.adieselengine.com/new_page_1.htm
Detroit 453   1100 lbs
Detroit 453T  1300 lbs

http://cumminsdieselspecs.com/12v.html
5.9L 12v Cummins Specs
      approx. 975 lbs,
                905 lbs dry.


Looks like it would depend on one's skill level.  For me it would have to be an old '98 or back Dodge.  As for as "Dodge" goes, bought a new 3/4 ton in the '80s with a 318 - 4bbl, and a granny 4spd.  The motor and drive train were as good or better than any other - keeping the doors on, glove box shut etc. was a different matter.

I do like this Chevy - http://www.dupontregistry.com/autos/Search/DRauSearchDetails.aspx?itemid=851776

[John Florida]

http://www.adieselengine.com/new_page_1.htm
Detroit 453   1100 lbs
Detroit 453T  1300 lbs

http://cumminsdieselspecs.com/12v.html
5.9L 12v Cummins Specs
      approx. 975 lbs,
                905 lbs dry.


Looks like it would depend on one's skill level.  For me it would have to be an old '98 or back Dodge.  As for as "Dodge" goes, bought a new 3/4 ton in the '80s with a 318 - 4bbl, and a granny 4spd.  The motor and drive train were as good or better than any other - keeping the doors on, glove box shut etc. was a different matter.

I do like this Chevy - http://www.dupontregistry.com/autos/Search/DRauSearchDetails.aspx?itemid=851776

  The weight is one of the reasons the 453 has been around as long as it has and it's a two stroke diesel,212 ci. of durable power. They're so tough that when the trucks and construction equipment they were in was all done in they pulled the motor and stuck it in anything that needed a slave engine and kept right on going.

  And if memoru serves you can bolt them in sequence to each other and go fron a 4 to an 8 and on and on.

[ChrstnHsbndFthr]

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/grd/3519110125.html