97 Dodge Ram 2500, AKA Shitty Dodge

[TrailTamer]

Got the 'new' engine torn all way down to block. the crankshaft is heavy bastard! 

I faced few set backs. I hope this time will be the last one. Piston cooling nozzles in the gasket kit don't match original. I ordered billet aluminum nozzles Saturday. I hope it will deliver by Friday so i can start put the engine back together this weekend...

Engine build plan so far;

-ARP cylinder head studs
-O-ring the block with Groove-O-Matic and 0.041" SS spring wire
-100% new gasket/seal
-all new expansion plugs
-Billet turbo oil drain fitting on the block
-Rear freeze plug plate (to eliminate the chance of plug blowing out)
-60 lb valve springs
-cylinder head hot tanked, decked 0.007"
-Colt Cams "The Big Stick" (thank MM!)
-Colt Cams tappets
-Timing gear case dowel pin tab (KDP)
-Add an oil drain bung to the oil pan for future compound turbos install
-Mack Plug
-AFC LIVE
-4,000 rpm governor spring kit
-new bolts on exterior of engine where needed, due to rust

Fuel injectors- TBD
Exhaust Manifold - TBD
Turbo - TBD

Truck;
-hydrobooster reseal/rebuild to fix the leak
-Borgeson steering box install
-oil change in NV4500 & NV271D
-trans mount upgrade
-notch or bend the driver side frame rail to keep the NV271D from hitting
-new LuK clutch kit with the big pilot bearing
-new radiator and hoses (cuz they're full of oil!)

master cylinder - TBD
heater core - TBD

[M4wdFab]

-notch or bend the driver side frame rail to keep the NV271D from hitting

 

[mr.mindless]

aluminum case rubbing on steel frame sounds like a recipe for badness.

heater core and radiator can be washed out. Dawn dish soap works well.

[TrailTamer]

Did some TLC to the truck over the weekend.

All 4 new ball joints and took out the 2* for 0* caster/camber bushings.

Installed 2005+ Ford Super Duty steering linkages.
The tie rod fit as-is (no shortening needed).
Drag link had to be shortened. Cut down both ends’ threads to about 1.375” long & cut down adjusting sleeve from 5” to about 2.875”.
Reamed passenger side knuckle both ways.
The drag link just barely clear the sway bar/link. I thought I’ll need to either shorten sway bar links or disconnect & tie it up out of the way. Win.

Steering feel great, but the new steering shaft is SHOT. Not even a year old. I’m going to try cut & splice two Jeep steering shafts together to fix this. $50 for the ultra power from Rockauto didn’t hold up and Borgeson shaft is like $300 and I am not paying for that much.

The 2* of caster I took out via ball joint bushings showed me it lost some return to center. I’ll know more later once I get the steering shaft fixed.

[Wingman]

The Ford parts to get the drag link onto the knuckle?

[TrailTamer]

The Ford parts to get the drag link onto the knuckle?

The idea is to have drag link & tie rod completely independent from each other. OEM T-inverted have tie rod roll. Y-inverted have poor service life (eating TREs). And having the Ford steering set up means replacement parts are easy to come and for in case heims will not pass state inspection.

[Wingman]

How are the opposing tapered TREs secured?

[mr.mindless]

yeah how in the world is that madness secured?

[M]

Steering shaft isnt something I'd try to cobble something together...

[TrailTamer]

yeah how in the world is that madness secured?

Knuckle’s steering arm reamed both ways. Drag link end have a long stud. Tie rod end is tapered too, but with hole for drag link’s stud to go through. Their taper get seated before they both bottoms out.

Steering shaft isnt something I'd try to cobble something together...

2x u-joints, slip shafts. Not much to go wrong as long as the weld is good. Can’t be any worse than what I have now (dangerous)

[Harrison]

That is one of the most Ford things I've ever seen

[mr.mindless]

On the contrary, that's positively German. I love it.

[M4wdFab]

On the contrary, that's positively German. I love it.

That is one of the most Ford things I've ever seen

best comments for the week on the forum back to back

[Wingman]

hahaha

[TrailTamer]

Over 2,500 miles on this steering set up. Best thing I’ve ever done. Crisp responsive steering.

Next to do; modify & install aftermarket track bar to eliminate bump steer. I also have bilstein 5100 & variable coil springs on way for front. Rear bilstein 5100 shocks seem to be backordered everywhere. Hoping it’ll become available soon.