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1958 Dodge D-100 - 2007 Top Truck Challenge Competitor

Medium Rare
By Ken Brubaker
Photography by Sean P. Holman, Ken Brubaker
1958 Dodge D100 Drivers Side View
Rhodes did a good job of beefing... 
   
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1958 Dodge D100 Drivers Side View
Rhodes did a good job of beefing the exterior while retaining the D-100's overall factory look. He shortened, boxed, and added crossmembers to the rear of the frame. The exterior boasts a rollcage made from 2-inch 0.120-wall HREW tubing. There are also custom front and rear bumpers made from 10-inch 0.250-wall channel steel and each has four 5/8-inch shackles integrated into their design. The custom rocker protection is made from 2x3 0.250 rectangular tubing. Up front there's a Warn HS9500i winch. The truck is painted "Equipment Yellow" and rides on 46-inch Mickey Thompson Baja Claws mounted to Eaton 15x12 bead-lock wheels with custom centers.
1958 Dodge D100 Coil Over
Up front is a custom three-link... 
   
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1958 Dodge D100 Coil Over
Up front is a custom three-link coil-spring suspension. The link bars are made from stout 2-inch, solid cold-rolled steel and each end has 3/4-inch chromoly spherical rod ends. The suspension also includes two Rancho RS 5000 shocks at each wheel, poly bumpstops, and a pair of Mac's limiting straps mounted at the same points. The suspension locates a 2 1/2-ton Rockwell axle with Ouverson Engineering Ultra Locker, Boyce pinion-brake kit, and a custom pinion-brake guard. The Boyce hydraulic steering has its own cooler.
1958 Dodge D100 Rear Suspension
Like the front, the rear suspension... 
   
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1958 Dodge D100 Rear Suspension
Like the front, the rear suspension also has 2-inch-diameter solid cold-rolled steel link bars with 3/4-inch chromoly spherical rod ends, two Rancho RS 5000 shocks at each wheel and a pair of Mac's limiting straps mounted at the same points. The difference is that the rear system is a four-link design. The rear axle is also a 2 1/2-ton Rockwell and it has been beefed with an Ouverson Engineering spool, Boyce pinion-brake kit and a custom pinion-brake guard.
1958 Dodge D100 Engine
Power comes from a propane-fired... 
   
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1958 Dodge D100 Engine
Power comes from a propane-fired 440ci engine. M&S Engines did all the machine work and it features a custom-ground camshaft. Other mods include an Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, PerTronix II distributor and coil, a Melling oil pump, a Powermaster 140-amp alternator, a Painless waterproof ignition switch, a K&N air filter, and a 3-inch-diameter dual exhaust. Rhodes estimates that the engine produces 300 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. This power is sent to a TorqueFlite 727 transmission that has been beefed for hard use with racing clutches and bands, a manual valve body, a TCI aluminum pan, and steel planetaries. To ensure the trans stays cool there are a pair of heavy-duty coolers. From there the power is sent to a divorced NP205 32-spline transfer case where the power is split to the axles via custom 0.250-wall driveshafts with 1410 and 1350 U-joints. Further, Rhodes installed longer transmission and transfer-case vent tubes and they have K&N filters on the upper ends to keep crud out.
1958 Dodge D100 Bed
The Dodge's original wood... 
   
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1958 Dodge D100 Bed
The Dodge's original wood bed has been replaced by 3/16-inch diamond plate. The bed serves as a secure mounting location for the engine's radiator and the transmission cooler-both mounted together and cooled by a pair of 12-inch Flex-A-Lite fans. Also in the bed area a pair of propane tanks, a pair of batteries, a Powertank, a NAPA high-lift jack, an aluminum floor jack, an 8-ton bottle jack, and storage boxes for other trail essentials.
1958 Dodge D100 Interior
Rhodes retained the lion's... 
   
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1958 Dodge D100 Interior
Rhodes retained the lion's share of the stock interior, opting only to add a few upgrades. Several are visible including the Honda Accord-sourced seats, flush dash-mount gauges, B&M Z-Gate shifter, twin-stick transfer-case shifters and the always-in-fashion ammo box console.

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