Products we wish someone made

[RCCUMMINS89]

Everyone adds to to the good idea pile..... even bad ideas lead to the generation of good ones.

[Mark Nixon]

I wish they made more knowledgeable vehicle owners.
The biggest thing that a 1st gen needs is owners WITH A CLUE.
That usually starts with the basics, oil changes, running proper fuels, quality oil/air filters and the like.
You WILL need a good working knowledge of electrical and fuel systems, else, if this is your first rig and you have no patience, you might as well set the thing on fire and save yourself some grief.

There! I ADDED to the shti pile end of it!

I have nothing I feel that needs to be made that being a bit more observant and spending a few more dollars won't solve.
Even trim and body metal is out there, if you know where to look and who to ask.
The biggest thing is patience and spending a few $$$, it is only money, after all.

If you're having wiring issues, fix the electrical load problems!
CHANGE OUT the old, worn out switches (headlight switch for one) and components with higher resistance and FIX YOUR GROUNDS, then the problems will likely go away.

Adding on a device? Run an extra wire from the battery, DON'T tap into the already aged harness that has 20-odd year old components still hooked to it.
Look for chafe spots, if the wiring support clips are broken, tape them up and use a LOOSE FITTING zip tie to support them to the original body tab/support point, or go find the correct wiring support clip and replace it.

Buy a service manual!
Keep 1stgen.org in your favorites, as well as Dieseltruckresource.com, both of these sites are excellent resources for the 1stgens and have great members who know their shti about these trucks.

Mark.

[RCCUMMINS89]

Apparently Mark is having a rant day, LOL I know what those days are like.

[Mark Nixon]

Apparently Mark is having a rant day, LOL I know what those days are like.

Actually, I am having a VERY GOOD day!
People showed up that said they were going to, parts left, people were happy and that means that I am also a happy camper.

What chaps my ass about topics like these, is the same thing as when I used to see these SAME topics on the old Mopar forums, and it reads like this:

People ask for "new" repro parts for their vehicles and either they won't pay what's fair for them, or they complain that they "aren't correct" or "they don't fit right".
Never mind that some places won't even consider redoing something unless there's a significant sell-able, or even pre-sold amount of a given item, other wise it's not profitable enough for them to do it.

For our trucks, I have 1 or 2 cases that prove my point:
NV4500 Bellhousings were on a National back order for over 2 years, because Chrysler didn't see fit to do a run of an item that was no longer needed for a vehicle no longer current in the automotive market, with 2004 being the last year a diesel had an NV4500.
Chrysler DID do a volume of these and now wants ~$375 for these and I'm getting $250 shipped for USED ones, with a fork.
I get yelled at for asking it. Oh well.

1991-1993 OEM (lettered) D/W 150-350 Chrome grille shells.
A lot of people were and STILL ARE asking for them, and finally Dodge got a run done, now everyone complains that ~$300 for a NEW OEM grille shell is "just too much"! Is a $300 part really that much of a bother on what is proving to be a $8000 to $20,000 truck in beautiful enough condition to even DESERVE a grille that nice?
Think about it, it's THE MOST NOTICEABLE and notoriously damaged piece on these trucks. THEY GET NOTICED!

1994-1998 12 valve throttle cables; These have been scarce for a year or so and, YEP, on interminable N/B since at least this past March. My best guess, IF Chrysler re-stocks them, is to plan to pay ~$75 to get one.

But yeah, I'm just having rant day.

Mark.

[RCCUMMINS89]

I have a tendency to agree with ya on anything regarding body parts, ect....
1st gen people are flat out cheap, no way around it.
My point of this thread is mainly in the performance side of things..... Taking notes on products that I would be able to produce/fabricate/have made, ect... for our trucks that people wish anyone made.
I'm not going to mess with any factory replacement part.... maybe bumpers, steering arm, otherwise it would be only aftermarket things. The reality of it is, $300 dollars (for example) is dirt cheap for a replacement grill.... and 1st gen buyers aren't willing to pay it.

[dazedandconfused]

If i have the cash im willing to pay. Money is just tight for me right now.

[ellis93]

300$ is not cheap for a chicken siht plastic grill fellers,especially when you can buy the same chrome plated pos for 125 w/o the letters. I'd pay a little more for the letters but not 175.
FWIW...people that pay 15 to 20gs for one of these truck are nuttier than a squirrel turd.

[cmann250]

FWIW...people that pay 15 to 20gs for one of these truck are nuttier than a squirrel turd.

If we could have qutoes in our sigs here, I would ask your permission to use that one. That's just brilliant!

[ellis93]

Nuttier than a port-o-potty at a peanut festival,this is a dog eat dog world and your wearing pork chop underwear. There's a few more.

[RCCUMMINS89]

FWIW...people that pay 15 to 20gs for one of these truck are nuttier than a squirrel turd.

Yes, that is expensive. I won't pay more than 4500 for one. I paid 3k for my donor truck, w250 std. cab long box, 5 pseed, 200.000 miles, brand new paint job (hit a deer) and a good looking flat bed.

[m880cummins]

I'm working on custom steering shafts and easy hydroboost conversions this winter. The hydroboost will consist of lines and fittings, adapter plate to firewall and the option of a mastercylinder. You provide the booster unit. Shafts will be 2 u joints and a DD shaft/slip coupling. Steering shaft will be a bolt-on setup running approx $125.

Charlie

[Mark Nixon]

I'm working on custom steering shafts and easy hydroboost conversions this winter. The hydroboost will consist of lines and fittings, adapter plate to firewall and the option of a mastercylinder. You provide the booster unit. Shafts will be 2 u joints and a DD shaft/slip coupling. Steering shaft will be a bolt-on setup running approx $125.

Charlie

Don't take this the wrong way, but if you plan to sell these as a kit, keep in mind the legal liabilities if a product you manufacture and sell fails in a major incident and is suspected as the cause or a contributing factor.

You might want to look into the product liability laws before you get too invested in it.

Mark.

[RCCUMMINS89]

I'm working on custom steering shafts and easy hydroboost conversions this winter. The hydroboost will consist of lines and fittings, adapter plate to firewall and the option of a mastercylinder. You provide the booster unit. Shafts will be 2 u joints and a DD shaft/slip coupling. Steering shaft will be a bolt-on setup running approx $125.

Charlie

What Mark said.... However please pursue, someone needs to do it.... I'd like to, but I also like to stay on the perforkance end of things.

[CumminsPower59]

I'm working on custom steering shafts and easy hydroboost conversions this winter. The hydroboost will consist of lines and fittings, adapter plate to firewall and the option of a mastercylinder. You provide the booster unit.

You could always just make the adapter plate and a bushing for the booster rod. Just a quick adapter kit, no need to cut and weld or do whatever to make the booster rod work with the Dodge brake pedal assembly. Lines and boosters can be found at parts stores and wrecking yards, adapter kits and what not aren't

[RCCUMMINS89]

Do you have a prototype for your steering shaft yet?