Hey there guys, new to the forum and this is the first 225 I've built.

I picked up an 85 dodge d100 short bed red cab prospector last year off of craigslist. Always been a MOPAR fan and after my dad sold his last project this looked like a solid candidate. The truck came with the axles, transfer case, 4speed, and a 360 to convert it to 4x4 but I was talked into keeping the 225 because well it's different. After doing a ton of research about it I've converted to a believer that these are just cool as hell. So the plan is to make it into a resto mod street truck. We have already lowered it 4" in the front with B series lower control arms and 6" in the rear with and axle flip for a nice stance. Located a A833 with overdrive from a donor truck with pedals. And the stock 8 1/4 rear end was kept but changed the gears to 3.91 with a MOPAR sure grip.

So to the question....
Since we have never built a 225 before I'm looking for a recipie for a reliable motor that is close to warmed up as I can do without being full blown race. The whole idea was a fun truck that can eat mustangs and camaros from stop light to stop light. And take it to local shows

So far this is what I have come up with but open to any and all ideas!
Decked block .010"
Bored .030"
Erson HiFlow cam.....??
Full port and polish head
Bigger valves.....??
Offy 4bbl intake
Holley 390 blow thru conversion
Torque Storm pro charger
Electronic fuel pump w/ regulator
Already have MSD box
Mellng oil pump
Hooker headers
Pistons.....???
Compression ratio....?? 9-1?
Do I need forged rods....??

"well it's different"

I know that means different things to different folks, and slants do intrigue me, but a non race truck application choosing between a slant and a 360 seems to be a very different choice for me. What you are proposing is comparably a lot of money/effort/sorting, that will not in the end be worth to somebody else near what it might be for you, in seeking different.
Your choices all seem pretty much in line, after your first decision.
Good Luck with your project, you are at the right place asking the right questions.

Thanks jcc

Agreed to what you said, investing the money and time needed to get the end result I'm looking for will never be returned if I was to sell it. That being said over the last year I've been reading every article and forum page to learn as much as I can about the leaning tower of power. And the fact that it's just different and most people rip it out for a small block makes me want to build one more.
Plus I'd like to watch people's faces when you open the hood as they go "ohhh!"

I have never done a turbo motor, so I am not commenting on that,

but I do have a D150 with an A833 OD and 3:73 rear gears and the slant motor built more for low end daily driving and not racing from stop light to stop light.

with that in mind you may want to re think going with a manual transmission.

I like my manual tranny a lot and would not have my truck any other way, but you should research trying to find a HD clutch pack and pressure plate that will hold up in drag race conditions in a heavy vehicle like a D150.

The stock clutch pack may explode if pushed to 6500 RPM, and certainly is not long term durable in a drag strip environment.
Some folks here at .org have done other one off clutch - pressure plate combos, do some searching here and you will find the posts.

If you want to race it, get a built 904 and the right torque converter. You can get something off the shelf that will work fine. Be aware of the pre and post '68 crank shaft pocket size change.

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Doo Ron Ron and the Duke of Earl are friends of mine.....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uX8Nj8ABEI8

Since your truck is a D150 with slant six, your reference to street racing is funny - don't do that. I also have a short bed 85 D150 with 225 and I'm happy to merge on the expressway. I'd like my truck to perform more like it had a 318, but its okay the way it is too. Keep us posted on your truck. Check out this one, I think the motor is basically stock other than the supercharger https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTRl6rCvm5s

This sounds like a fun and unusual buildup.

I would shoot for 8.5:1 comp with forged pistons. The stock rods are plenty good for 300-400 HP if you rebuild them with new bolts. I would balance the rotating/reciprocating assembly.

With the Torqstorm, you will get 6-8 psi boost, and so you should stay below about 22-24 deg max advance (mechanical) under full boost. You can shorten your mech advance slots in the dist (weld) to do this, or get what I use, which is a locked distributor and MSD 6AL-II digital programmable with a MAP sensor.

Yes, you will have to pay attention to a good clutch setup from McLeod or Spec or other possibilities on this site. I do not have a "drop in" for that, but search this site. A stock clutch (9" or 10") will not hold up.

SI Valves has 1.70/1.44 valves, which are a perfect upgrade.

We can talk more about cams and such as you go on... There is nothing "bolt on" about this buildup, so take your time and think everything through.

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

Great info guys!

So just a clarification on the end goal for the truck. I by no means intend to race it. I would have put a back half rear clip on it with a race set up. It's going to be a fun cruiser with some oomph and the cool factor of a 225. I concluded very early on this wouldn't be a 400 hp motor and am ok with that

Really good tip about the clutch!! I had briefly looked at them but since the build hadn't progressed to the trans yet that was on the back burner. This weekend we are installing new floor pans and mocking up the tunnel for the stick.
I'm the kind of guy that needs 3 pedals

I'll add those valves to the list Dart270 and definitely be in touch with more motor questions!

If you get a Spec clutch, be SURE to get the high end one (stage III?) that uses an 1800 lb diaphragm. The other kits they sold several years back are 1200 lbs and can't hold anything...

Make sure to search this site for other clutch options...

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

I was just on Brewers performance and they sell Performance clutches for all A833. My tranny is from a truck so 23 spline and 143 teeth on the flywheel. Is a clutch for a slant different then say a McLeod performance clutch?

If you have a 143 tooth flywheel (LARGE clutch for the Slant 6), then you are good to go. I believe about anything that will work for V8s will work on your flywheel/bellhousing. You will want to confirm that you have the 143 tooth absolutely definitely for sure before you buy anything. I would go with a 10.5" clutch in that case and it does not need to be super heavy duty for your application. Almost all Slant 6s, including most trucks, used the 122 tooth flywheel with a 9" or 10" diameter and not much is available.

Best,

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

Fail.

The late 143 tooth flywheel truck bell only works for the NP235/435 and the low mount starter... the A-833OD will not bolt to it. The easiest clutch to add to the 143 is any clutch used with the 383, which will be more than enough for any slant, that also opens up options for using better facings as well... (It's too bad they are unobtanium, but the best solution would be the mid/late 60's B-body slant six taxi 11" clutch bell and direct A-833 combination)

Currently I have the only adapter to make this transition from an A-833OD to that bell, but it isn't 100% tested yet... and some issues have come up with the OD tranny and the 12:1 NA engine I put in front of it, so if you have a non iron A-833OD after you put the nuts to the transmission in any gear but 3rd, you may be looking for another replacement and a tow truck. I do know that if you don't mind cutting up the tunnel a Lenco works perfectly fine behind this set up.

I would not trust any spec clutch, I put a Stage 4 puck with a solid hub behind my 11:1 motor and it failed to clamp after a few runs at the strip like Lou said, and it was the heavy duty clutch cover (more spring pressure)... I wish we could get a McCloud group buy like the original run, or just a run of dependable McCleod covers...

Thanks for clarifying, DI. I am not so familiar with all of those combos. Good to know about the "better" spec clutch too. I have not tried mine yet...

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

Now I'm a bit confused...
The 833OD was out of a d150 as well (year unknown, at least an 81) and it came with a bell housing and flywheel which we bolted right up to the motor from my truck.
I'll have to check this weekend and check the tooth count again.
If it is a 143 tooth count are you telling me there are zero options for a more robust clutch over stock?

As far as I know they never used a 143T flywheel with any Slant 6 / OD transmission combo's. They were all 122T flywheels.
Never knew that existed either!! Learn something new every day.

McLeod will do a run of the pressure plates if we buy 100 of them. Ask me how I know.

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2 Mopars come with Spark plug tubes. One is a world class, racing machine. The other is a 426 CI. boat anchor!

12.70 @ 104.6

I just read the 4 speed trains article by Doug Ahern.
This cleared some of my questions up. I'll have to 100% check which flywheel I have as that will determine what clutch I need.
If I read this right and it's the pre 81 over drive trans it will need a 124 tooth flywheel.
If it's a post 81 to 87 trans it's unclear what will and will not fit