Wednesday, February 18th, 2009
Dodge was founded in 1914 and is based out of Auburn Hills, Michigan. Dodge manufactures, Classic Trucks , passenger vehicles, muscle cars, SUVs, pick up trucks and sports cars. Dodge is manufactured in over 60 countries worldwide. The company was originally founded in 1900 by the Dodge brothers as the Dodge Brothers Company to supply parts to the growing automotive industry in Michigan. Dodge did not begin manufacturing their own vehicles until 1914. Dodge became a part of the Chrysler Corporation in 1928, was part of the DaimlerChrysler merger from 1998-2007 and is now part of the new Chrysler LLC.
Horace and John Dodge were the brothers responsible for the founding of the Dodge Company in 1900. Their business produced chassis and engines for the growing automotive market in the Michigan area before they released their first vehicle in 1914. Their first model was the Dodge Model 30, somewhat of a takeoff from the Ford Model T. Dodge, like many other vehicle manufacturers within the country, produced models for military use. The first time that Dodge’s vehicles were used by the United States military was when the United States sent troops into Mexico on the Mexican Expedition which was in search of Pancho Villa.
Dodge, prior to the war years in the United States, produced many luxury liner models such as the D11 4-door sedan. In the 1950s and 1960s Dodge began producing more and more coupes and sedans. A couple of their models were the Dodge Coronet 440 sedan of 1966 and the 1977 Dodge Diplomat sedan. Once Dodge became part of the DaimlerChrysler merger in 1998, their design and success took off at an even higher level.
Once the merger took place the company began reworking the designs of many of its successful models to make them more attractive to the customer. Those models that Dodge redesigned were the Intrepid, the Stratus and the Neon.
Aside from their passenger vehicles, Dodge Trucks has become widely popular with their pick up trucks, SUVs, Classic Trucks and vans. Their pick up trucks have become the backbone of the company and are most known for their durable pick ups. Dodge’s first civilian pick up truck was the Power Wagon, which was released shortly after the conclusion of World War II. The Dodge Dakota and the Dodge Ram are two of their most popular pick up trucks on the market today.
Throughout their history, Dodge has gone through a handful of name changes, which means they have also gone through a handful of logo changes. Their first logo was a circular emblem with the letters D and B intertwined for Dodge Brothers. The logo Dodge used until the mid 1990s was the pent-a-star, which is a pentagon with its five points and a star in the middle. Their current logo is the Dodge Ram head. It appears on all of their models except for the Dodge Viper. The ram head is also part of the company’s slogan which is, “Grab life by the horns.”
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Thursday, September 11th, 2008
Because gas prices are climbing at a steady and steep rate, a lot of people who require the use of Classic pickup trucks for their personal or professional lives find themselves suffering. Generally, those people who use trucks on a daily basis, especially for their jobs, need such a big vehicle because they are carrying heavy loads. In such cases, a lot of them prefer a pickup truck diesel rather than a gas powered truck, because these pickup truck diesels are specifically designed to tow or carry extremely heavy loads without showing ill effects.
For the most part, the same Big Three names which make the more popular gas driven pickups also make up the most favored diesel engines: Dodge, GMC, and Ford. Harley Davidson, Cadillac, Nissan, Toyota, and even Mitsubishi all have at least one brand pickup truck diesel as well.
The capabilities of the exterior of a pickup truck diesel engine have an effect on their interiors, which are generally designed to be roomy and comfortable for the passengers, even when the Classic truck is engaging in rough activities. For that reason, some sort of sound cushioning or even sound proofing is often incorporated. The windows are thick, the chassis is built solidly and sturdy, and there are usually double layers located within the doors. Most pickup truck diesel engines also have intake resonators and exhaust systems with low restriction, which further blocks out the effects of road noise and rough terrain.
Most pickup truck parts diesel engines come fitted with multiple valves which is designed to offer the maximum amount of power, which in turn allows diesel trucks to pull and carry heavier loads, thanks to high amounts of horsepower and torque - generally 300 horsepower or better, and 365 feet per pounds of torque or better. The majority of them also have electronic throttle control systems. These make for high quality transmissions which can handle all different types of altitudes equally well. Their steering systems are also advanced, because handling heavy loads safely and confidently is important.
It may be beneficial to look into purchasing a pickup truck diesel driven. Research shows that their outdoor capabilities can actually save money in terms of gas and maintenance, especially during a long run of time. That being said, they might be for everyone, but those who rely on their pickup trucks may want to consider them; they provide excellent standard safety features as well, which is just as important if your job requires you to frequently haul heavy loads or drive through rough terrain.
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Monday, September 1st, 2008
No matter what make of Classic pickup truck you own, chances are you want to change it from the way the factory supplied it. Whether you use your vehicle for work, off-road play or some of both, you can find performance parts, accessories and customization products to make your Classic pickup truck unique. When you want your classic pickup truck to look and perform better, accessories will help you customize it.
While it’s possible to get some accessories from the Classic Chevy, Classic GMC, Classic Dodge, Classic Ford, Jeep, Mazda, Nissan or Toyota dealer where you bought your truck,you will find a much bigger selection of items online. You may also get better bargains shopping this way. Some popular makers of Classic pickup truck accessories include Westin, Dee Zee, Outland, Auto Ventshade, Warn, etc.
Exterior accessories
There are many types of exterior Classic pickup truck accessories to enhance the appearance of the outside of your Classic truck. They include air dams, bras and masks, bug shields, bumpers, fender flares, graphics and emblems, grille guards, hood ornaments, hoods and scoops, mirrors, racks and cargo accessories, roll pans, running boards, splash guards, tool boxes, truck steps, tire covers, visors, wings and spoilers and wiper cowls. Select items that will complement your Classic truck’s basic lines and that will work well together instead of looking cluttered.
Interior accessories
Installing interior accessories is all about improving the comfort level when riding in your Classic truck. Some examples are volt accessories, cargo trays and liners, consoles and racks, dash covers and trim, door accessories, floor mats, horns, instrument panel covers, pet accessories, seat covers, seats and steering wheel covers.How about adding some electronics to enhance your ride? Choices include CBs and scanners, cruise controls, GMRS radio, GPS and navigation systems, power inverters, radar and laser detectors, remote starters, security systems and antennas. You might also want to upgrade the standard radio that came with your truck to a stereo CD or satellite radio system.
Accessories cushion the load and improve the ride
Trucks are all about hauling things, so why not do it in style? Classic Pickup truck accessories for your truck bed include cargo control, bed mats, bed liners, bed protection, bed rails,tailgate accessories and tonneau covers. You might also want towing accessories like hitch balls, hitch mounts, hitch covers, hitch steps, hitch wiring, hitches, tow hooks and straps,towing mirrors, winch accessories, winches and winch mounting systems.By improving your Classic pickup’s suspension and brakes you make the ride both smoother and safer. To do this, you might need anti-sway bars, bars and arms, bushings and shackles, hubs, lift kits, lowering kits, shocks and struts, skit plates and trusses and springs. Adding more lighting not only improves the truck’s appearance, it also improves safety. Some typical lighting pickup truck accessories are accent lighting, auxiliary lighting, back-up lights, bulbs and lamps,driving and fog lights, headlights, interior lights, light bars, light covers, light guards, marker lights, neon lighting, spotlights, taillights, tow lighting and wiring, turn signal lights and warning lights.
Electrical and exhaust systems are essential
If your classic pickup won’t start, it doesn’t matter how good it looks. If you’ve got this problem or fear it might happen, try buying alternator accessories, battery accessories, battery chargers, chassis wiring or jump start systems. If the problem is on the exhaust end, you might need catalytic converters, exhaust systems, exhaust tips and extensions, headers or mufflers.To do all this work yourself, you’ll need some tools and equipment. Useful items include tire pressure gauges, car care products, computer software, creepers and seats, diagnostic equipment, engine hoists and stands, garage and parking accessories, jacks, stands, ramps, paint, sanding materials and abrasives.
And once your classic truck is tricked out to your heart’s desire, get out your camera. You’re going to want to showoff your new, improved Classic truck to all of your friends.
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Thursday, August 28th, 2008
If you plan to use your truck like a car, desiring quick, quiet acceleration and rarely ever haul a heavy load and don’t plan to it for a long time,you may want a gasoline engine. Gas engines run smoother, fuel is easier to find, and gas engines start easier in cold weather.If you plan to use your truck for towing, value good fuel economy and plan to put plenty of miles on it, you may want a diesel. The price to buy a diesel truck is really high, although they can offer you a lot in return.
Here are the leading vehicle manufacturers,
Classic Dodge
The 3500/3500SLT Dodge Ram Heavy Duty trucks are the newest Classic trucks on the road, but the Ram didn’t have enough power. Classic Dodge promised more powerful engines for the 3500 platform and they delivered on that promise.The new base engine is the gasoline that’s not only the most powerful engine of the group but also revives the well known and historical Hemi name.
Classic Ford
Classic Ford helped the truck market to where it is today when it introduced it’s international engineered power stroke diesel back. Before, these diesels were poorly built and no match for the big gasoline engines.Super duty Classic Fords were sold with the optional diesel engine. This engine helped to put Ford among the leaders in diesel trucks, as they had more than they needed to dominate the market.
Chevrolet/GMC
The Classic GMC 3500/4500 twins Silverado HD and Sierra HD both come standard with GM’s gas engine. This engine is ideal for ton trucks where towing isn’t a concern. The upgrades start with the gas that’s based on Chevrolet’s venerable big block engine. Over the years, diesel trucks have proven to be effecient with mileage, great for towing, and easy on maintenance. Unlike gas engines, diesel engines do not have spark plugs, which means you won’t need to get them tuned up near as much as gasoline engines. For those who like to haul heavy loads on a frequent basis, diesel is the way to go. You can get quite a few miles per gallon, and diesel trucks are built to go miles or more before the engine needs to be rebuit,making them a purchase that is more than worth your money.
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