1958 Dodge D-100 - 2007 Top Truck Challenge Competitor

Al Rhodes purchased his rare Dodge 11 years ago for the express purpose of plowing snow and gathering firewood. After a few years he bought a tractor to do those things so he began modifying the D-100 for trail duty. What he ended up with is this unique, TTC-ready machine that he still uses around the homestead for chores. We'll see if it can complete the ultimate chore of seven brutal events in three days.

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.	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.	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.
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.	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.	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.

Specs

Owner name/city: Al Rhodes/Sandpoint, Idaho
Vehicle model: '58 Dodge D-100
Occupation: Mechanic
Engine/aspiration: Propane-fired 440ci V-8/Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, 3-inch exhaust, Flowmaster muffler
Transmission: TorqueFlite 727
Transfer case(s): NP205, 32-spline, twin stick
Suspension (f/r): Three-link coil with wishbone upper, four Rancho RS 5000 shocks/Four-link coil, four Rancho RS 5000 shocks
Axles (f/r): 2 1/2-ton Rockwell, Ouverson Engineering Ultra Locker, Boyce pinion-brake kit, and hydraulic steering/2 1/2-ton Rockwell, Ouverson Engineering spool, Boyce pinion-brake kit
Axle ratio: 6.72:1
Wheels: 15x12 Eaton steel with custom centers
Tires: 46x19.5-15 Mickey Thompson M/T Baja Claws