1950 Chevy 6400

[mr.mindless]

Even without cooler stack it’s an issue. Front of accessory drive lands about where the hood latch is.

If I continue on the Ram frame, I’m thinking longer control arms, move track bar and steering box forward, probably flip swaybar to behind the axle. Move coil buckets. Seems like a better end result and easier than all drivetrain mounts and having to do both driveshafts rather than just the front.


Frame horns drop quickly and will likely get in the way of adequate uptravel. Assume this will quickly escalate to rebuild of the frame from just ahead of motor mounts. Should help to work around Chevy bumper and front body mounts, and stuffing the cooler stack low and forward.

Could help with track width+steering angle too, but if I really wanted to help that I’d need to move the control arms inboard for better rear of tire clearance. Definitely staying away from leaf springs for that reason alone.

[mr.mindless]

found some decent pictures of a bare 2nd gen frame, there's a kick out/flare just ahead of the steering box that'll be in the way for both steering clearance and steering box mounting.
the motor mounts and spring buckets are right in line. I'm certain that's intentional, but at least there's that nice full coverage crossmember there to otherwise assist with that twisting moment from the engine weight.

Any time I think about building coil spring mounts, I think about the years of regret I suffered with my Dakota and not immediately going coilover.
And that makes me second guess moving the axle when the engine would be a couple tabs off the frame and fresh crossmember mounting holes in the bottom. Maybe that's not really so bad. one extra bit of driveshaft work and loss of a foot of flatbed, versus coil spring and steering box and swaybar mounts and rebuilding the front bit of frame.

pic
https://www.cumminsforum.com/threads/cab-swap-help-95-dodge-2500-ctd-to-96-dodge-ram-1500.1663522/post-19137521

[mr.mindless]

Chad has done two of these recently, 52 and 54. Going to take a look shortly. He did 1st gen so there will be differences but worth a firsthand look for sure.

[KingtheZJ]

https://rochester.craigslist.org/cto/d/rochester-2005-international-420/7317094691.html

i assume too big and too much, but seems relatively cheap

[mr.mindless]

does seem relatively cheap but I'm certain it's an uninteresting engine and the frontend width would for sure be killer.

[etk300ex]

Are the tires any good on the Ram? 

[mr.mindless]

285/70r17 load E on steel factory wheels, matching off-brand all terrains. one each at roughly 65, 55, 20 and 10%. so one good pair and two junk. Haven't checked the wheels closely for rot behind the chrome covers. Seller had seen those wheels fail before on a friend's truck. I didn't know to be concerned about them but it makes sense.

second set of alloy 16" wheels, no tires.

[etk300ex]

Ok, never mind

[M4wdFab]

that 4200 is even less than my 4300 was.  probably has the DT360 or detuned 466 like mine at 195hp

[mr.mindless]

So very jonsing to work on this. Very very.

Need to do the loader to make room for it, and have Allroad camshaft sensor things and a Golf to make sellable first.

[etk300ex]

Golf, Allroad, Loader 

[mr.mindless]

my winter driver > your winter driver


unless you REALLY want to overpay? 
though given fuel prices lately? worth the overpay. I'm almost considering parking the BMW early. Fuck putting $50 into a 13 gallon tank. I suppose I'll say that until I'm back in a FWD econo wagon... but at least it's a stick. I want to put the TDI into the Z4.

[M4wdFab]

this would be risky fun

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/4248522228579391/

[etk300ex]

I didn't know you could get a duramax van

[mr.mindless]

Mike wolf had one

Definitely a risky unit but could be worth the gamble. Unless someone knew something was wrong and disabled the starter to cover it up…