Darkrider
Dexter
Ok hopefully i dont get into too much trouble for posting this build log here but...It is a Truck and i am a member soo......
I bought this 1981 Dodge Ram Custom SE in june of last year. Now this truck is my third Dodge full size truck but its my first Ram. The previous two trucks were a 1973 Dodge D100 Adventurer Sport and a 64 Dodge D200 Stepside. The D100 is the truck im going to try to build this Ram into a tribute truck to. The D100 was a project that my dad and i built when i was in high school for me to drive to school with rather then taking the bus. Along the way the truck was dubbed Thunder. The main reason for this was mostly due to what it had under the hood.
Here were the original specs of this truck as it came from the factory:
Slant 6
4 speed trans
unknown rear diff
8 ft long box
bare bones interior.
Here were the specs when it was completed:
318 V8 from a Dodge Aspen stock car
original 4 speed from the slant 6 originally
'Cuda 4 speed transmission with pistol grip shifter after slant 6 transmission fragged
bucket seats from a 'cuda
American Racing torque thrust D rims
Dodge 8 3/4 axle
Autometer tach mounted under the dash in place of ash tray.
Dual exhaust including Headers, exhaust dumps and Flowmaster 40 mufflers with turn down tips.
Now as for the engine specs im not clear on what was all done to the motor since it was built for dads Stock car originally and i wasnt around for that particular engine build. What i do recall is that it made around 450 Hp at the rear wheels in the truck. The specs of the engine that i do know from looking at it were:
Edelbrock Performer RPM intake
Edelbrock Performer heads
unknown size Holley Dominator carb
Thats about all i knew of it, more then likely it was bored out and had all sorts of hidden speed tricks done to it. I cannot ask my father since he passed away in 2001 shortly after Thunder was completed. The only reason i no longer have this truck was because a now former friend stole it one night and totaled it off.
Now onto the current truck at hand...
1981 Dodge Ram Custom SE RCLB
Specs
318 LA V8
Torqueflite 727 transmission
9.25 rear diff with unknown gear ratio
Former superior Propane fleet truck was previously painted Silver and Blue Two tone.
Now currently painted Flat black
Mods done to truck so far:
Old school tube grille
SRB Fog lights mounted behind grille
Steering column swapped for one from a '83 Prospector model with Prospector sport steering wheel
Dual exhaust with Cherry bomb turbo mufflers (done by previous owner)
Dodge CD/Cassette deck from '93 Plymouth Grand voyager
stereo wiring harness created using original radio harness plugs from voyager and using after market wires
Spare tire carrier removed to allow use of Delta cross box
Delta cross box
Seat cover (previous owner)
Repairs done since purchase
Front brakes completely redone with new calipers,rotors, pads and hoses
new plugs and wires
new distributor cap and rotor
new alternator and voltage regulator (however this needs to be redone)
Replaced cargo light switch
replaced headlight surrounds/signal light assemblies
Parts waiting to be installed
Prospector slotted sport wheels
Birdbath style hood from early D series truck
On to the pics...:
This is how it looked when i first got it
Some more recent pics
I bought this 1981 Dodge Ram Custom SE in june of last year. Now this truck is my third Dodge full size truck but its my first Ram. The previous two trucks were a 1973 Dodge D100 Adventurer Sport and a 64 Dodge D200 Stepside. The D100 is the truck im going to try to build this Ram into a tribute truck to. The D100 was a project that my dad and i built when i was in high school for me to drive to school with rather then taking the bus. Along the way the truck was dubbed Thunder. The main reason for this was mostly due to what it had under the hood.
Here were the original specs of this truck as it came from the factory:
Slant 6
4 speed trans
unknown rear diff
8 ft long box
bare bones interior.
Here were the specs when it was completed:
318 V8 from a Dodge Aspen stock car
original 4 speed from the slant 6 originally
'Cuda 4 speed transmission with pistol grip shifter after slant 6 transmission fragged
bucket seats from a 'cuda
American Racing torque thrust D rims
Dodge 8 3/4 axle
Autometer tach mounted under the dash in place of ash tray.
Dual exhaust including Headers, exhaust dumps and Flowmaster 40 mufflers with turn down tips.
Now as for the engine specs im not clear on what was all done to the motor since it was built for dads Stock car originally and i wasnt around for that particular engine build. What i do recall is that it made around 450 Hp at the rear wheels in the truck. The specs of the engine that i do know from looking at it were:
Edelbrock Performer RPM intake
Edelbrock Performer heads
unknown size Holley Dominator carb
Thats about all i knew of it, more then likely it was bored out and had all sorts of hidden speed tricks done to it. I cannot ask my father since he passed away in 2001 shortly after Thunder was completed. The only reason i no longer have this truck was because a now former friend stole it one night and totaled it off.
Now onto the current truck at hand...
1981 Dodge Ram Custom SE RCLB
Specs
318 LA V8
Torqueflite 727 transmission
9.25 rear diff with unknown gear ratio
Former superior Propane fleet truck was previously painted Silver and Blue Two tone.
Now currently painted Flat black
Mods done to truck so far:
Old school tube grille
SRB Fog lights mounted behind grille
Steering column swapped for one from a '83 Prospector model with Prospector sport steering wheel
Dual exhaust with Cherry bomb turbo mufflers (done by previous owner)
Dodge CD/Cassette deck from '93 Plymouth Grand voyager
stereo wiring harness created using original radio harness plugs from voyager and using after market wires
Spare tire carrier removed to allow use of Delta cross box
Delta cross box
Seat cover (previous owner)
Repairs done since purchase
Front brakes completely redone with new calipers,rotors, pads and hoses
new plugs and wires
new distributor cap and rotor
new alternator and voltage regulator (however this needs to be redone)
Replaced cargo light switch
replaced headlight surrounds/signal light assemblies
Parts waiting to be installed
Prospector slotted sport wheels
Birdbath style hood from early D series truck
On to the pics...:
This is how it looked when i first got it
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Some more recent pics
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Last edited:
not a ford guy at all, and i grew up around chevys and will always be a chevy guy but i would drive a dodge
