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1st Gen. Ram - All TopicsDiscussion for all Dodge Rams prior to 1994. This includes engine, drivetrain and non-drivetrain discussions. Anything prior to 1994 should go in here.
The rear two piece driveshaft with the smaller U-joints is what you get on the W-350 Crew cabs.
I have used '92-'93 Ex Cab long bed Cummins 2 piece driveshafts to replace my crew cabs lighter duty gasser D-shaft out, several times.
It work really slick as the wheelbase is the same.
Just swap out the yokes on the NP-205 and the Dana rear axle [unless you are using a Cummins rear axle with the bigger yoke already].
Do NOT make a massively long one piece D-shaft, it will whip around do to its length at speed.
Thanks for you info& tips.
But notice that my Crew Cab is Long bed version. It has 165" wheel base
Yeah... I'd like to have aluminimum single piece driveshaft but I can't get it done in here...
DOH!
That trick works best for Short Bed Crew cabs.
You might be able to use a two piece drive shaft from a Ex cab long bed and a one piece reg cab long bed D-shaft to extend it.
I am thinking take out the shorter of the two piece driveshaft and replace with the longer RCLB driveshaft that might need to be trimmed down for the proper length.
It might save you from making a custom D-shaft from scratch.
When I did my conversion I used the 2 piece drive shaft from the clubcab truck. Had to shorten the front section, and lengthen the rear section. Then run the carrier bearing flat on the stock crewcab carrier bearing cross member, which in on the bottom flange of the frame rail, as opposed to the top on the clubcab.
Thanks guys! I remember you kerry.king commenting my twin turbo build years ago! Nice to see you lurking around in the first gen section too!
I haven't done much to the Crew in about week because we had our annual truck meet that I arranged and I have been building my other project. A Dodge Viper RT/10 1996. Just got it from paint shop and been assembling it. It's going to be a mean machine. In about few weeks it should be done.
Anyway my friend called that he would have some time now to lift the cab off.
I'm hoping to get the two front cross frame rails off first to get the front axle out.
After that it's sand blast time for the frame, cab floor and beds floor on both sides. I have about 3 weeks to do it. If I can't manage to do that I'll be back in October.
I'm going to do a 7 state/5500 mile road trip to the USA in September!
It would be awesome to meet and have a chat with some of you guys writing over here. I'll be visiting TX,OK,NM,AZ,UT,NV and CA.
You are very welcome to send me PM about my trip details if you want to meet me.
Oh yeah... And here's some pics of the current progress.
I have had a lot going on since I wrote my last post!
I traveled to USA and saw A LOT of stuff from my 7 state /6000 mile road trip. I was supposed to have an RT Challenger but Hertz didn't have those anymore so I had to take a 15 SS Camaro. Thankfully it was a convertible.
I went for a 3 Dodge dealers and test drive an SRT 392 Challenger... I'm in love(for an Hellcat =) ) . And I saw someone posting a funny looking 1st gen on Avondale Dodge Arizona near Phoenix and had to check that one out too.
One of my trip highlights were when I saw Dieselsellerz Mega Ram runner in Utah! I did an instant U-turn and went to chat with the owner Heavy D. They are getting their tv-show starting at 4th of January on Discovery for you guys in USA ! Unbelievable that I ran in to them and I already knew that truck!!!
Me, Grand Canyon& SS:
Me checking out the Avondale 1st gen mascot:
Mega Ram Runner:
And back to the Crew cab.
I parted out the Crew Cabs frame.
Took out the axles.
Boy I hate those rivets!!
Rear axle removal was little tricky too... All 4 rear leaf springs were jammed. Well a little heat solved that problem... Bushings were on fire!
I'm pretty sure most of you do not agree with me but I love the idea.
I'm not happy with the space of the Crew Cab. I'd like to have a Mega Cab long bed conversion but on the other hand I like these older trucks too.
I have 2 rows of 2nd gen Dodge front seats with those nice jump seats/arm rests in the middle! I'm going bolt them on first gen bench seats adjustable frame. Front AND back!
As you know I need a rear driveshaft with big U-joints and a carrier bearing which the 318 Crew cab did not have.
I also need a straight rust free SRW bed.
So I bought a D-250 1992 parts truck from Georgia!
Supposedly it only needs a Ve pump since the pump is missing and transmission might be slipping.
I'm going to part the truck, freaking 3rd one for this build! I'm going to cut the cab before the B-pillar and weld the club cab section in to my crew cab!
I'm going to angle cut the frame and use the front section from the crew cab with the W-250 front cross beams and the rear part from the club cab so it only needs a one cut and not an extension block.
So that way I am getting additional 18" of cab and wheelbase lenght! Wheelbase is going to be 183" and the trucks total lenght around 272"
Here's some examples. None of these are excactly the same what I'm building.
One is short bed, and the rest are duallys. I'm building one with the same tires, wheels, suspension setup than my W-250 is/was. 325/85 R16 Michelin XMLs on 4" widened stock steelies, 2.5" Skyjacker softrides and 3" lifted cab/bed mounts so I can get rid of my body lift blocks.
Nice clean looking frame though!
