my dad has a 99 dodge ram 3.9l auto longbed 2wd. the tranny is gone on it. the body is solid with some surface rust. also there is a broken wire somewhere that we cant find so it wont pass inspection because it wont read on the obd2 plug or whatever it is. my dad just got an old ranger for 100 bucks and had no need for the ram. so i gave him a pack of cigarettes for it and now i have a new project vehicle. plan on putting in an older 8 cylinder and a 727. maybe a big block. will not be going on the road so it will be getting a lot of weight reduction. ive set my goals pretty modest and im looking to make it run in the high elevens or low twelves in the quarter. how much hp would be needed with a heavy truck like this assuming i keep the stock gears. the rear end looks like an 8.75 but im not sure what they had in these. any suggestions are welcome.

 

i also have a 80 318 smog motor with 55000 miles on it that could be rebuilt and upgraded.

 

It probably has an 8.25 as the 8.75 rear ends were stopped a while before this truck came out. You can install a 9.25 out of any other 94-01 ram 1500 or 94-02 ram 2500. Maybe upgrade it with a rear that has disc brakes and grab the master cylinder and proportioning valve as well from the same truck.

Your going to need some good power to get the truck into the elevens. I had a 383 BB in an 85 D100 that was set up to do low 11s/high 10s. A mildly built BB with posi in the rear should get you where you want to be though.

 

You could always swap in a built magnum 360 and a 2wd 46RE tranny....... Hint Hint (make it into a 2wd SST clone)

 

wasnt the sst a shortbox? ive got the longbed. im gonna go carbureted. i dont want to screw with the wiring since im stripping everything electronic out of the truck except for the ignition, and im going to have the headlights and taillights on at all times when its running. already took out the dash, all guages, seats, interior panels, fuel tank, wiper mechanisms, spare tire carrier, reciever hitch, heater unit, steering column, took about 600lbs off so far. was thinking about a 400 thats in a motorhome that someones selling. it runs great has 14000 miles on it, a 727. 400 bucks. frame is rotted out and so is the rear axle.

 

actually now that i think about it its probably the 9.25 its a 1500 series ram

 

Take another look at the rear axle to be on the safe side. A friend's dad has an 03 Ram longbed with a 3.9L and the thing has an 8.25 in it.

That 400 sounds like a good deal.