Since these Dodge trucks are so rare it is also more difficult to find parts for sale and that, in turn makes many owners of antique Dodge trucks give up when the truck needs a good restoration.
Sometimes its frustrating to think that if you own a classic truck made by Ford Trucks or General Motors you just have to go to the phone and order your parts or go to one of hundreds of Websites and buy whatever you want. You just have to know how to click your mouse and write your credit card number. With the trucks made by Chrysler the story is completely different.
But you shouldn't give up. After all, you can get much more pleasure out of something that is hard to get. Well, parts for classic Dodge trucks are hard to get, not impossible to get.
The main thing is to be patient and willing to do some serious research because things are improving. Ten or fifteen years ago we didn't have the Internet and things were much harder.
Now you can go to Google, Yahoo or MSN or any other of hundreds of search engines to look for your parts. And be specific when you do a search query because if you don't, you are going to have to go through hundreds or even thousands of Websites about the new Dodge Rams. Search by the year and model of your truck and whenever you look for a particular item for your truck make sure you use the words old, classic, antique or vintage. Again, if you don't, you'll end up with a long list of Websites about modern Dodge trucks.
It is possible that you will find a few Websites published by owners of other old trucks made by Chrysler and also Websites of Mopar clubs and associations. Don't be discouraged if you don't find what you need there and try to get in touch with these people because they may become great sources of information about the availability of parts for your truck.
The auction site of eBay may be another good source of parts for classic Dodge trucks. Go to eBay Motors and use the search box at the top left corner of the page, under the eBay logo. You may have to sift through a lot of items that have nothing to do with what you're looking for but that is the nature of the Internet. Be patient and keep looking. And if you don't find what you need today, go back tomorrow and the day after and next week and next month.
Another thing you can do with eBay is use it for contacts. If you find somebody selling a part that you don't need, maybe you could get in touch with that seller and ask about your part. Many sellers have contacts and they might be willing to help you out. So, go ahead and ask.
The best thing about eBay is that it covers the whole country and it is open 24/7/365. Heck, they have Websites in many countries and your classic truck part might be waiting for you in France or Brazil even! Who knows?
Don't rely only on the Internet though. A lot of parts for sale can be found in other places, like the hundreds of classic car and truck events that are going on all over the place. Swap meets are great for parts. At these events you may find a few vendors who can get the parts you want and, if not you may find other owners of classic Dodge trucks with whom you can talk and exchange ideas and information.
If you are willing to work for your part there are many other resources you can use to look for it. There's a service on the Internet called Craig's List, which publishes classified ads and reaches the whole country. Your local newspaper also may have an ad for the classic truck part that you need.
Finally there's Hemmings Motor News, one of the most important magazines for us lovers of classic cars and trucks. They publish thousands of classified ads every month and you should be researching these ads.
Even if you have no hope of finding your part you don't have to give up. Maybe you can adapt something from another type of truck. Let's supposed you are stuck with a broken front axle and can't find a replacement. Maybe you can get rid of your old front end and install an independent front suspension on your truck. It's a great way to make an old truck ride better and you might even be able to sell the good pieces of your old front end to other desperate old truck owners.
If worse comes to worst you can always try the magic of fabrication. Believe it or not there are many people around you with great tools and lots of talent who may be able to fabricate your part. Go to a machine shop near you and ask. You may be rewarded with a better looking and better performing classic Dodge truck.
Source: Classic Dodge Trucks
Source: Classic Dodge Trucks
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