360 swapped Ram 50

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Ram50

Ram50

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Pinetta Florida
I have been hanging out over on the the mightyram50 forum and decided to stop here and say hello. Not really sure where my little truck belongs, it's not a classic Mopar or even a Mopar for that matter. Just a Mitsubishi with a Dodge badge. This 1986 Dodge Ram 50 has lots of meaning to me, my Dad gave it to me when I turned sixteen back in '91. Drove the wheels off it throughout the '90s until I wore out the rings and it got parked in a barn for a couple decades. A year ago August I pulled it out into the daylight for the first time in 20+ years. As I tell my wife midlife crisis makes dreams come true ,I finally got to put a small block in my little Ram. For the last year and a half I have swapping in the 360 (5.9 magnum) and making my childhood dreams become reality.

I got the swap done in a few months and had it up and driving, I have made many changes thought the following year and will be a project for many more years to come here is a handful of pictures.

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DUDE! Your my new HERO!
That’s funkin awesome!

You made your own engine mounts, got it in and up and running, Ohhhhhhhhh!!!!!

1 question! Where the power steering pump was ....
where did you get that mounted idler pulley. I’d like to delete my P/S pump since it has no use in my manual steering car.
 
rumblefish360 said:
DUDE! Your my new HERO!
That’s funkin awesome!

You made your own engine mounts, got it in and up and running, Ohhhhhhhhh!!!!!

1 question! Where the power steering pump was ....
where did you get that mounted idler pulley. I’d like to delete my P/S pump since it has no use in my manual steering car.
Click to expand...

I switched from a 7 rib belt to a 6 rib because I needed the extra clearance. So the part number will be for 6 rib pulleys and belt.

The P/S idler is part number Gates 36329. I had to machine down the spacer 10mm.

I needed a smaller diameter non-ribbed pulley between the P/S and alt for belt clearance. You can see from the photo of the belt routing there is little clearance. Smooth pulley is part number ACDelco 38006.

Belt is 6 rib x 72.5 part number Bando 6PK1765

You could possibly loose the P/S idler all together and swap out the smooth idler between the water pump and alternator to a ribbed pulley. I was concerned there wouldn't be enough belt wrapped around the water pump in that configuration. I figured better safe than sorry.

Had to remove 10mm of length from spacer.
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Smaller pulley.
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Possible belt configuration, but it's quite possible that the water pump may slip.
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Awesome job there Ram50. There is more room in there than I would imagine. What does it weigh?
 
So in the last picture, that’s the Gates 36329 idler and the spaced on the bolt is 10mm shorter. Correct?

I didn’t I k about the routing you did in yellow and also declined for the belt slip thinking as well. Thanks for the tip!
 
rumblefish360 said:
So in the last picture, that’s the Gates 36329 idler and the spaced on the bolt is 10mm shorter. Correct?

I didn’t I k about the routing you did in yellow and also declined for the belt slip thinking as well. Thanks for the tip!
Click to expand...
I purchased the 36328 cut it down 10mm and installed it.

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Wow! A bit heavier than I would have thought.

Tha is again for the tip and drawing!
Very awesome of you to go the length for me.
I know there’s a few here that will be happy to discover that of which you posted up.
 
rumblefish360 said:
Wow! A bit heavier than I would have thought.

Tha is again for the tip and drawing!
Very awesome of you to go the length for me.
I know there’s a few here that will be happy to discover that of which you posted up.
Click to expand...

It feels I have bought more parts that haven't worked than have fit, so if I can help and save someone a few bucks and some time I'm happy to do it.

I obtained a 84 Mitsubishi badged version of this truck to use for parts, but when I picked it up I learned it was garage kept with 29,000 original miles. So it's not going to be a parts truck. Anyway I bring that up because I weighed that one also and it weighed in at 2,620lbs. This truck gained 500lbs with the swap.

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3406pk said:
Awesome job there Ram50. There is more room in there than I would imagine. What does it weigh?
Click to expand...

Thank you, I wish there was a bit more room between the frame rail, but it fits. The real pain is the rear steer idler arm and steering box location.

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Now, what rear & gear ratio is that?
What trans was used?
Rear suspension mods?
 
Well, we also found out a fully dressed magnum weighs 488 lbs! That looks super clean. I got a beater '83 B2000 that someone makes 302 mounts and headers for.
 
rumblefish360 said:
Now, what rear & gear ratio is that?
What trans was used?
Rear suspension mods?
Click to expand...

100% Stock rear end 3.54 8" ring gear with LSD. 1 3/8" axles that taper down to 1 1/4" 28 spline. Welded on a Ford 9" truss $35 from Quick Performance. I'm sure it's going to break eventually, hopefully gives me time figure out what to run permanently. Custom two piece drive shaft.

Stock de-arched leaf springs with traction bars I fabricated off the CalTrac design. Built custom wheels from the original steelies. 15x8 wrapped with 275/50 15.

904 full auto valve body. 3800 stall.

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