Stoat just dropped a big D-Series post in the Micro Blogs: https://www.beamng.com/threads/micro-blog-s-2018-current.51722/#post-1129387 Not too sure I'm completely sold on the grille... --- Post updated --- Looks like new bumpers, new front facia and valence, new wheels, stepside bed, new front fender marker lights (below D- badge), and secondary or tertiary-colored camper shells.
Here's a picture from it for reference: It's nice to see a new variation on the D-series; it adds a new layer to the game IMO.
Great. Now both my WIP LWB Roamer and my almost finished updated stepside bed are already outdated by the next update.
Very happy to see a stepside, and the pre-facelift is a longtime dream come true. It looks awesome on the Charro. My only issue is the mirrors. Seeing the normal mirrors on that makes it look more like an alt front end instead of a pre-facelift. Reference below. In 1985 the Dodge Ram, Chevy C/K, and Ford F-Series all had that style mirror. Bumper bars like the Bluebuck's (see reference photo above) would also help. They were fairly common on these trucks IRL. Edit: Pre-facelift, tow truck push bar... Simon & Simon config anyone?
I wonder if we'll see any new engine options. The overhead-cam design of the current 4.5l and 5.5l are a little advanced for a domestic truck in 1985, and even 1988 IMO. Personally, I'd like to see a high-torque, low-revving big-block with a carb or an early implementation of EFI. A different small-block would be nice, too for the half-ton and some 3/4-ton trucks, again though, cam-in-block and with a carb or early fuel injection.
At long last we have the pre-facelift D-Series Edit:It says 1985+ which means what if there was newer D-Series?
I believe he just means that it's a 1985 to 1988, the starting year of the current D-Series generation.
She definitely needs a big block, and some miscellaneous options would be nice. The current engines are advance for 1988, 1985 is just silly for them... Since I love any excuse to get new engine types, I just want to point out that the contemporary Dodge D-Series had a slant 6 and both it and the contemporary F-Series had diesel i6 options. As for configs we could see changed around... The "Lifted" config and custom classics probably will be a pre-facelift. I mentioned this in the D-Series thread but I'll but it here, IMO the "Marauder" config should be replaced with a Charro inspired by the M1009. That would basically just mean make it a 1985 Charro with a camo skin, large diesel and a military style brush guard. Good way to differentiate the Marauder and "off-road" while also making a reference to an IRL vehicle.
Piggybacking off of that, if that is the case of the Marauder, I'd like to see other factory-style Charro configurations with a straight front axle, as the one pictured in the Micro Blogs thread is IFS. I mean, anyone could make their own config like that, but it would be cool lore to see a factory 3/4-ton Charro with a straight axle up front.
The pre-facelift D-Series looks good. My only complaint is the mirrors. I think they look too new for the current D15 as well. Most trucks didn’t have plastic mirrors until the mid-late 90s. My other problem is with the wheels, the D25 should have 8-lug wheels. All 3/4 ton and 1 ton trucks had 8 lug wheels, not 6. I’m going to refer to this thread again: https://www.beamng.com/threads/d-series-suggestions.63352/
In the early 90s chevy and gmc had a 6 lug heavy half denoted as the 2500. So the use of a 6 lug 3/4 is slightly correct. Also there appears to be new 8 lug wheels coming.
I agree, I was looking at it for a while and trying to figure out what was strange about it, and you hit the nail on the head. Take a bullnose Ford truck of the era for example, there is barely a valence between the bumper and the bottom of the grille, and the marker lights sit just above the grille, where the valence is on the D-Series.
the valence can stay, maybe, but it needs to be smaller and go straight down instead of curving out above the bumper like it currently does, which is too modern a design for the rest of the truck overall. also the headlights 100% need to be square, not rectangular. probably. what do you guys think the chances of a new dashboard and interior is? it's pretty common for facelifts to involve a new interior design- take the evolution from the seventh to the eighth gen f-series, for example. personally, i'd LOVE to see a third gen c/k series-esque interior design, like this with some cues from the seventh gen f-series. also, considering this is a pre-facelift to the current d-series, shouldn't it have quarter windows, still, considering most pickups had it well into the early 90s? rear windows for the extended cab that are cut up a bit like the eighth gen f-series could be cool, too! it could also make sense to raise the window height on the door to have it start on this main line that wraps around the cab, like so?
Well, I think the headlights need to remain slightly rectangular because they are likely supposed to mimic the shape of a 5"x7" halogen bulb, used by nearly every car of the time... but you're right, less rectangular than they are currently
That prefacelift D-series looks sweet! Great job devs! The only thing I would suggest is chrome door handles and mirrors like in the pic posted above: also gogo me lowrider config pls
There is one big problem with the current D-series pre-facelift, which is that it looks WAY too Ford. The amount of Bronco/F150 in that grill/headlight shape is just unreal. I will agree that it needs modernized (early EFI or Goldbergian electronic carburetor) versions of the 291/353/423 for the old versions. Am I the only one around here who doesn't mind config spam at all and honestly prefers it to missing configs?