Dodge D100 project "Grim Sleeper"

Why not just leave this thread? It's started.

I have a '72 D100 SE. Drove the factory 360 in it, liked it. would walk up hills on idle with 3.23's and 727.

The problem I see with that 318 is that it is small. If you are looking to build something blinding fast, I would urge you to go with a Mopar siamese block and build a small block 440.

If you don't have the cash, maybe set up a stroker kit for the 'teen or a 360.

The more torque you can throw at it, the better. I'd opt to boost the daylights out of a big block, via supercharge and chuck that between the fenders. Big blocks hold up better to boost/ more head bolts, but you could get a small block pushing about 12psi to do what you wanted.

I'd opt for hemi gear ratio or maybe Passon's 4spd O/D ratios with a 4.10:1 rear, maybe just hemi ratios if you don't care about highway.

The truck frames like to break, up by the engine crossmember, on the way down, where they start to head back/ straight. You should do some bracing up there and box some of it in.

Not much in weight savings, other than gas tank to fuel cell, battery in the bed and if you really wanted to get creative, fiberglass hood and start manufacturing aluminum sheet metal, radiator support, ditch the heater, carpet and bench seat. You could ditch the window reg and go lexan on the sides and rear. Glass windshields are nice, though. Leave it ugly and keep the bumper. You could put a tubular crossmember up there and that would help with twist, if you gusset, while boxing in the rails in places.

How fast are you looking to go?