Sweptline.ORG

Hey All.

I just recently bought a 1970 D100 shorty stepside off of ebay. Originally from Nevada and got her from the last owner in Santa Barbara CA where it has been for a year and a half. 318, 4spd on the floor. Looks pretty original and apparently was the sellers daily driver. It has 105 orig miles on it too. I'm new to having mopars in general but have always been a fan. I stumbled onto this site when I was doing a search for parts I might need. Seems very hard to find anything out there. Glad to see there are some parts are availble through members on here.
The truck should be showing up this Saturday in Buffalo NY (had it shipped). Then it will be heading to Ontario Canada where I live.
I did have one question. I understand why they are called sweptlines, thats obvious. But what is a Utiline?

Thanks.

Your new truck is a "Utiline. That describes the narrow bed,
Sweptline really is the name for the full width bed.
Just to bring you into the Dodge family,
avoid using the Chevy word "step side"
Welcome

Thanks, will avoid that phrase.

Welcome! We actually had a thread about your truck while it was listed, I placed an early bid on it myself, but it quickly went past my budget. Judging by the pictures it looks like you got a solid, clean truck.

Nice looking truck. I've never seen a Utiline (utility line) with the upper and lower trim on the cab. This is a guess on my part but I would say because of the trim on the cab and a slight difference in paint color on the bed, that the bed was swapped. Some previous owner could have added the trim, or even ordered it new, but that's less likely than a swapped bed. It also has the cab drip rail trim which is kind of rare for a Ute.

Russ wrote:Nice looking truck. I've never seen a Utiline (utility line) with the upper and lower trim on the cab. This is a guess on my part but I would say because of the trim on the cab and a slight difference in paint color on the bed, that the bed was swapped. Some previous owner could have added the trim, or even ordered it new, but that's less likely than a swapped bed. It also has the cab drip rail trim which is kind of rare for a Ute.

You just beat me to it. When we had a thread about this truck here there were some items that seemed unusual about the truck. I had asked the seller for a picture of the VIN plate so I could determine how this truck was equipped from the factory. The seller said he would send me a picture but never did so I'm wondering if he had something to hide. Maybe now we can get to the bottom of it.

I had noticed that the colour was slight off on the box compaired to the cab but I'm hoping I can buff and polish it to make it look more uniform. The owner didn't have much history. He had it about a year and a half and had got it from a friends brother who was going through a divorce. He couldn't afford to keep it anymore and after talking to him on the phone his story seemed solid. Here is the VIN # D14ABOU123609 If anyone wasn't to decode it. As for the bed being swapped I wish it was a sweptline box instead. But I do like the truck with the currenty utility box. I liked it enough that I bought it. I was suprised it didn't go for a higher price on ebay. A truck like that here in Ontario is very rare. And my plan was to buy it fix it up and detail it. Drive it this summer and see if I can flip it and make a profit. That is unless I really fall in love with it.

Serial Number D14AB0U123609
Make Dodge
Model D1 - D100
Body Style 4 - Conventional Cab with Sweptline box; Compact Hi-Line Wagon
Gross Vehicle Weight A - 6,000 lbs or less
Engine B - 225-1 Slant Six 2V
Year 1970
Plant U - Missouri
Wheelbase 114,128
Rating 1/2 Ton
Build Number 23609

So it does look like it had a Sweptline box and came with a slant 6. What does the plate say for wheelbase? The VIN decoder doesn't specify that. Just curious if the cab was swapped or if just the bed and engine. If I remember correctly it has a 318 in it now.

Welcome to the site. Many here watched
the auction. Looks like a really nice Utiline. Did it make it
to Buffalo? If I'd have known, I would have met you when
it landed to check it out. Enjoy it and keep this site handy
for general B.S. and assistance whenever you're in need.
John

It does have a 318 now, and obviously the box is different so forsure we know its not original. I really wish it did have the sweptline box. I don't have the truck here yet. Arrives in Buffalo May 5th. Last time I tracked it the truck was in Missouri. Supposed to make it to Buffalo on May 5th. I'll take some pics and get a good look at her then.

Just tracked it again. Currently in Linden NJ

Welcome Blair. Do whatever it takes to meet up with John in Buffalo. He is one of the few guru's of the sweptline world.
U stated it has 105 original miles. Im curious how many other original miles it has?

Be very leery of low mileage claims. These trucks have rather iffy gauges, pretty common to have them swapped out multiple times. And it is simple to access/roll back the odometer in them. Very few of these trucks can be documented as garaged/warehoused.

Your truck looks really good with its Utiline conversion. The mid-grade Adventurer trim makes for a nice contrast. I've always thought short wheelbase trucks need Utiline/Stepside/Flareside beds, the wider beds seem kind of an afterthought. I know my father-in-law's 85 C10 Silverado shortbed would look better as a stepside.

The most important thing is to enjoy it. Excellent condition so should be a really nice driver. I think you will find you really like the truck once you get your hands on it. Mine is a beat to death longbed farm truck, and more fun to drive than the 93 Ranger it shares the yard with. Gets better mileage too (318/727 vs 2.3L 4 banger and 5spd).

Welcome to the family.

Somebody put some nice work into that
rear bumper.
John

Current location of my truck is Kanona, NY. Getting closer!

to the site! Awesome truck, I saw it for myself! It passed through Evansville, Indiana on April 29th. The trucker said it was from Washington going to New York. I give him a business card to put in the cab for you so you could find this site but it looks like you already have. Congrats, thats a nice one!

First sorry about bumping an old thread but i just find it hard to imagine @WD your getting better gas millage in the dodge! Is it your gearing? Whats the secret, cause i figure in my power wagon that id be lucky to get 6mpg

66sportfury wrote:First sorry about bumping an old thread but i just find it hard to imagine @WD your getting better gas millage in the dodge! Is it your gearing? Whats the secret, cause i figure in my power wagon that id be lucky to get 6mpg

6 is way too low no matter what you have.

Ranger needed a tune up really bad. On the rare ocassion it behaves longer than 2 days at a time it now averages 28mpg. Dodge gets 8-12, 2bbl 318/727 with 3.55s and LT235/75-15s on all four corners. In dire need of lowering and yet another carb. Last time I drove my 49 Dodge truck, 218L6/3spd with 4.78s and 6.00-16s on all four corners it got 22mpg and it needs a new engine...

Fuel economy and small block Sweptlines are mutually exclusive. I'd do better with my 413/727 combo...

"6 is way too low no matter what you have." Really? I was just guessing that my pw with 4.88 gearing and a tired azz lookin 318 would probably get somewhere around there