Does anyone have any parts suggestions for improving the handling of a D-150 Truck (1980)? Like torsion bars etc.....

My son's Ramcharger (1983) has the same problem. Maybe a common fix for both?

bwhitejr

_________________
'72 Duster (Performance 360)
'83 Ramcharger (Performance 318)
'80 TrailDuster (360)
'80 D-150 Truck (See Below)
CompCams 252S, Holley 390cfm, Offy manifold
Ported, Polished and Gasket Matched
P4286813 Springs,0.040 Overbore,
0.090 Shaved Head

www.p-s-t.com

use the polygraphite suspension parts. a big sway bay with the polygraphite links. buy some good shocks and tires.

if the RC is 2WD the same sort of parts will work.

if the springs are really worn, new coils in the front and rearched springs in the rear. the coils can be purchased in different heights if that's your thing.

sb

If you have the 5/8" head rear spring bolts, you might consider swapping to D-100 springs front and rear.

I've heard it will lower the truck a few inches, but I never got to try it on my old 79 D-150.

Budd

Ok... everyone I have ever talked to has told me that in the 80's, the D100 and D150 had the same springs. My dad bought an '85 D100 brand new off the lot and the salesman swore to him up and down that the suspension was dentical to a D150. Rather, it was simply a stripped down trim and interior package (no a/c, etc...) My dad said the door tags confirmed they had the same load carrying capacty. Yet, his does set about an inch or two lower than my '82 D150. I had just assumed it was a difference between the model years. What, exactly, is different between a 100 and 150?

50

_________________
Ed
64 Valiant 225 / 904 / 42:1 manual steering / 9" drum brakes

The D-100 was classified as a "light" half-ton and the 150 was a "heavy" half-ton. The D-150 had slightly heavier springs than the 100 and the engines may have had a different emissions setup, really not that sure though.

_________________
82 D150-225/727
02 Dakota-3.9/5 speed
87 GMC C7000-8.2 Detroit Diesel/5+2

I agree. Chevy used the better description of a "Heavy" duty "Half" ton.

I think the idea was to give a sort of "reserve" capacity of another quarter ton.

My kid brother had a 80 D-100 that sat significantly lower than my D-150.

Budd

The idea was to skirt the emissions regulations that only applied to passenger cars and lights trucks up to a certain GVW rating. All the manufacturers did it then it stuck even after the laws were changed to include those vehicles. In fact the light duty half tons ( F100, D100, C1000 ) have all disappeared leaving only the heavy "150" versions in the lineups.

_________________
David Kight
'62 Valiant Signet, White
'98 Dodge Dakota
'06 Jeep Liberty

Growing older is unavoidable but growing up is strictly optional.

Its funny that you bring up the "100" vs. "150" designation. Til about 78 or so, they were all 100s. Among trucks rated at "1/2 Ton" there can be quite a difference in GVW's. I had a 79 D 100 that was GVW'd at 4800 lbs. So was my '88. My brothers 85, was rated at 6000 GVW, still a "1/2 ton". A "heavy 1/2" can actually be rated a higher GVW than a "light 3/4".
Again, I had a 87 Dodge B 250 van, by the numbers a "3/4 ton", rated at 6400, yet my dads 86 B 250 was rated at 6050. Suspension wise, usually there may be a leaf or 2 different in the back, and different front coils but the ball joints, tie rods,etc all interchange on the "1/2 tons" all the way from 72-93.
On the vans, many of the front end parts are the same as the truck, and "1/2 ton" and "3/4 ton" all interchange, again the only difference being a little heavier spring, and vans interchange most susp parts all the way to 97! Its funny, you can go to the dealer, and they'll ask you for the VIN because they'll tell you that for that year, there are 14 different sets of, say, front springs, yet you look in Moog, and youll see 1 for all.