Ram Man 02

http://www.4btswaps.com/forum/forum.php if that is the route you want to go check out this site. Its a diesel swap forum. If it lacks spark plugs, someone on there knows about it and probably has swapped it into another vehicle. most people wont get their money back when talking about a diesel swap but that not why everyone does it. I know there have been a couple RV swaps on there and a couple vans as well. check out some of the builds and see if its what you want. Best of luck, Jeremiah

if you come up next year well have to meet up

i always park in the 1200 class because its a catch all class and i dont feel bad about it not looking perfect. since your truck is excellently restored 1500 would be appropriate as well.

im only going saturday at this point. ill trailer my truck there. going to pick up the trailer in an hr in fact

ill be there for sure. probably multiple days if the weather is fairly decent. IDK if they broke 12000 cars last year or not. Somewhere i heard they were just shy of that but maybe i missheard. Either way it gets bigger every year. they should easily break that this year. where are you guys planning to park? ill try to find you so we can get a group photo.

http://p15-d24.com/topic/22162-weight-of-a-1951-half-ton-pickup/?hl=%2Bstock+%2Btruck+%2Bweight I think youre a little on the heavy side. im pretty sure a 1/2 ton is closer to the 3500lb range

I second leaving the stock frame in place. box it in if you feel you want the extra strength but look into front suspension options. I went the fatman route but would look more seriously at a new dakota front clip if i were to do it again.

i cant wait to see the finished product.

I cant thank Tim enough for everything he did. I had a great time and look forward to coming back

I would think you would be perfectly fine swapping out heavier axles. a lot of trailer manufactures will make 1 frame for a certain range of trailers and just put heavier axles under it depending on the customers GVW needs. a close friends dad recently bought a deck over goose neck trailer for his farm and the manufacturer told him that they use the same trailer deck from 14,000 lbs up to 20,000lbs. the only thing that changes are the axles underneath and the plate the coincides on the tongue of the trailer.

i have a friend that works for U haul and i believe the tandem axle trailers they rent have a maximum weight of 5300 or 5500 lbs. something like that. basically a modern half ton truck is absolute max. the tow dollies are rated for even less. the vehicle towing also needs to be able to handle the load. they will be able to walk you through it. unfortunetly i dont know what your truck weights but ive got to think its under 5000lbs

there is also a disc brake conversion available for the stock axle if you would like to go that route

hope to drive my truck over this year

very interesting...

Has anyone ever weighed a flat head 218 and/or trans combo? ive always been curious how heavy the original motors and transmissions really are.

i went through this same scenario a year or so ago because i want to modernize my truck so i can drive it anywhere. I even bought a reg. cab short box s10, stripped it down to a rolling chassis, and was dead set on going this route. the wheel base on said s10 is so close that is had to work, but i ended up scrapping the idea because the s10 frame is shaped really funny compared to the original frame. I figured that after all the modification needed to make it "work" i could box the front half of my existing frame and install an IFS from something else. if you are looking to stay on the economical side i would buy a v8 1980s dodge diplomat/volare/mirada type car and transplant the whole subframe, motor, and trans. I have seen this done and talked briefly to the guy that did that. he like the truck a lot and said it handled great. Or you could go a different route by not using the mopar drive train and just use the subframe from that type of car. This is what i chose to do next accept my motor's starter is on the wrong side compared to the mopar v8 so it interferes with the steering box. so at this point i have $800 wrapped up in trial and error but thats how we all learn. Ive also seen Jaguar front subframes used in different applications, along with the previously mentioned dakota frame but i dont know anything about them. So right now im sitting with a truck on jack stands and im looking into other ifs options. im leaning towards a kit from Fat Man Fab but they spendy, however i would have half of it paid for already if i would have just gone that route to begin with. Ive called them and they have specs listed for pilothouse trucks so it should be a fairly straight forward install. Just my $.02 on the subject but i would stick with your stock frame and modify from there

Hi Justin, i live about an hour west of you. just wanted to say it looks like a cool project. there are a few others around the cities as well.

hotel is booked. see everyone saturday afternoon.

here is my 49.

im going. will they fit in my focus?

why not just put the mustang 2 suspension and other upgrades in your current truck? that what im planning on doing at least

im glad this thread got bumped. always good to have a reminder

I'm sure the stock rims are narrower then what the tire is recommended to be mounted on but they are 16" so it would work. If you are concerned about the rim width being a problem, go to a junkyard and get some steel wheels off any 70s or 80s style dodge diplomat or similar rear wheel drive car. They are also 5x4.5 Bolt pattern just like your truck. But these rims will be a couple inches wider then stock. That's what I'm running on my truck for the time being

info on this auction is really getting around! i would really like to attend but i know everything i would want is going to go for more then id like to spend so guess there isnt much point in teasing myself

i never wanted to sell my truck but i had it appraised at 5k earlier this summer. i did it just for insurance purposes because ive heard of people getting a case of beer when it gets totaled. so know i have documentation to back it up should the day ever occure