Well I figured I might as well start one of these project threads and maybe get some advice, input questions etc I used to sell the rams new when the wild lookin at the time 1994 Ram came out and ever since drivin a V10 truck I thought a magnum V10 into a 1/2 ton would be a blast. So thats where the thought got into my head. I had a V8 RCSB 2wd 5speed Dakota that I played with for a few years, got it runnin a low 13's at 101 mph and got the itch to trade it off for a big caddy to just cruise in. Fast forward 10 years and after my move from Md to Sw Fla I started gathering parts to do the V10 swap. My first plan was to gather all the parts needed and I had that about 95% done when I found a same year 3/4 ton V10 truck, so I just bought that for a grand. The plan is to basically swap drivetrains and wind up with a fun truck to play with on the street or at the drag strip and have a decent daily driver/tow rig for the boats.

My 1996 Ram sport already has a 4/5 drop and sits about how a sport truck should sit. The plan is to install some cal-trac bars in the rear with a lock right locker unit and eventually some 3.91 or 4.10 gears. That way I can run some taller stickies with some decent sidewall, but I'll see how it runs with the 3.55's in it at first. Not going to do much to the body other then a roll pan and some new factory paint after the mechanical work is all done. I like the stock but subtlety different look. The V10's don't sound mean like a V8, more like a angry 6 cyl lol so I plan on tossin some v6 badges on the doors to really screw with peoples heads at stop lights :D The first motor will be nothing more then a mildly cammed stocker with borla headers, borla exhaust, SCT tuned pcm, K&N or home made CAI, elec fans, smog pump delete (knocked 16 lbs off and got back some parasitic hp loss) and a few other minor tweaks here and there. Still even with the stock and sad 8.4-1 compression, the motor should be a solid 400hp/500+ ft lb tq. There will probably be a 100-150 shot thrown on top of that eventually too.

I'm shootin for 12's on the motor and will have about $3000 wrapped up in the swap when done. heres a few pics of the sport and the 3/4 ton donor truck.

http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/2974/im0011891ic.jpg
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e105/CaptMooseknuckle/Dodge%20Ram%20project/CIMG0028.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e105/CaptMooseknuckle/Dodge%20Ram%20project/100_6757.jpg
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e105/CaptMooseknuckle/Dodge%20Ram%20project/100_6754.jpg
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e105/CaptMooseknuckle/Dodge%20Ram%20project/100_6756.jpg
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e105/CaptMooseknuckle/Dodge%20Ram%20project/100_6755.jpg

The spare bottom end for when I build up a more serious motor :devil:
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e105/CaptMooseknuckle/Dodge%20Ram%20project/123107_12251.jpg

custom 6 pack upper intake setup, 488 6 pack does have a cool ring to it. not sure how it works, just thought it was cool lookin. http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e105/CaptMooseknuckle/Dodge%20Ram%20project/DSC03669.jpg

Here's a couple vids of a lil red express with magnum V10 power, gives me a little insperation when I get lazy
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e105/CaptMooseknuckle/Dodge%20Ram%20project/th_lilredburnout3.jpg (http://s38.photobucket.com/albums/e105/CaptMooseknuckle/Dodge%20Ram%20project/?action=view&current=lilredburnout3.flv)

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e105/CaptMooseknuckle/Dodge%20Ram%20project/th_lilredburnout4.jpg (http://s38.photobucket.com/albums/e105/CaptMooseknuckle/Dodge%20Ram%20project/?action=view&current=lilredburnout4.flv)

Well hope someone else besides me finds this interestin

Sounds like a plan. I know that in Mexico you could get the 1/2 tons with a V10 during those years.

Sounds like a plan. I know that in Mexico you could get the 1/2 tons with a V10 during those years.

Why is that all the cool chit is anywhere but here:mad:

Why is that all the cool chit is anywhere but here:mad:

Treehuggers and Democrats.

Treehuggers and Democrats.

treehuggers yes.. demo's no! tired of hearing all demo's drive prius's. lmao! cause i sure ass hell dont. lol.

Oh man don't pollute my post with nasty words like dems and libs :turd: lol

I wouldn't even want to take on a hemi in a 2nd gen swap, be a fabrication nightmare and a electrical headache to figure out. I have thought of a srt10/auto trans combo in a 97-04 RCSB 2wd Dakota. I work at a salvage yard and have already sourced a motor,trans,pcm,harness for $5500, but not sure i want another self induced headache at this point in time.

Looks like a cool swap, the SRT10 swap would be even crazier.

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e105/CaptMooseknuckle/Dodge%20Ram%20project/CIMG0003.jpg
Some of the goody pile. Borla headers and exhaust, mopar perf cam and lifters, taylor 9mm wires, super truck style rear spoiler

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e105/CaptMooseknuckle/Dodge%20Ram%20project/CIMG0008.jpg
as mild as this cam is, it makes over 40hp and 45 ft lbs of tq over the stocker. I think if I change the centerline from 114 to 112 it adds another 20 to those figures, but I think that raises the peak rpm and I'd need new springs, rather just go cheap as possible on this first motor and save the money for the second build up of the spare motor. Then again who knows what will go through my head when the time comes, might just splurge a little on the first motor :turd:

that should be a cool project. man it seems like a few years ago i found(on the internet) a dakota, like a 2000 or something, with a viper powertrain shoe horned into it. that was badass, and has been inspiring...

I had a pic of a Dakota with a viper motor, let me see if I can find it. Also had a pic of a ex-cab 94 or so Dakota with a magnum V10 in it, but it looked horrible and the motor was all stock I believe. If I ever go thev10/dakota route, it would only be with a viper V10. I also know a guy doin a awd Durango with a built and boosted SRT10 motor. I sold him the short block we had from a fire damaged SRT10 viper. That thing should be SICK! :D

http://dodgetruckworld.tenmagazines.com/gallery/CaptCameltoe/214608.jpg

http://dodgetruckworld.tenmagazines.com/gallery/CaptCameltoe/214607.jpg

I'd love to take a spin in that beast :D

hah that's the one! that would be one intense ride, if it hooks!

This should be an interesting project. Keep us up to date on it. By the way, I know you said you had a 4/5 drop, what kind is it and what size wheels/tires are you running?

Good luck with this, it'll be a fun ride. I was thinking when the time is right, I'd swap a SRT-10 motor in mine...

WTF?:ripped:

here I was all excited to see a big block getting stuffed into a shortbed silvy and you post MOPAR!!:barf:






well at least its not :rice:

should be cool:nod:, even if its an imposter.

This should be an interesting project. Keep us up to date on it. By the way, I know you said you had a 4/5 drop, what kind is it and what size wheels/tires are you running?

Good luck with this, it'll be a fun ride. I was thinking when the time is right, I'd swap a SRT-10 motor in mine...


I am runnin western chassis 2" springs in the front along with 2" bell tech drop spindles and in the rear it's a 5" western chassis shackle kit. The wheels on it now are 18X8.5OZ wheels with 295/45/18 toyo proxies, damn tires can't even hook with the 318 lol The new wheels will be the 2000-01 17" Dodge offroad 5 stars, will probably have the ones in the back widened to 10" so I can run the 390/40/17" drag radials. I want to keep the stance it has now, so I'll have to experiment with springs in the front to get it back up to where it is now after the V10's in it.








Lsx10-Yea I can see a non LS powered truck is rare around here, but someone has to be different :D You guys seriously have it made with the aftermarket support for the LS motors, they kick some serious butt AND they hold up. I sell used auto parts at a salvage yard and I rarely get calls for a LS motor, but those ford mod motors and the new 4.7 dodges are blowin up left and right.

Would I have any issues with any rubbing or bottoming out if I did this drop with my 285/50R20s? My wheels stick out a little as it is. Thanks

Would I have any issues with any rubbing or bottoming out if I did this drop with my 285/50R20s? My wheels stick out a little as it is. Thanks


Mine rub in the front a little from that, but I am hoping with the factory style 17"s they won't because of a better more tucked in offset. I have bottomed out in the back a few times, but it's not as bad as you'd think havin only a inch or so frame to rear axle tube clearance. I don't haul much of course, but if it had helper air bags it would be ok for light duty use.

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e105/CaptMooseknuckle/Dodge%20Ram%20project/CIMG0038.jpg

Got a little more stripped off the beast and marked for hopefully a easy install in the 1/2 ton. I have all the accys, the upper intake off, both exhaust manifolds and a crap load of small odds and ends out of the way. If I can get a few nights this week in on it, should be out next weekend. Gonna have to get the trans out first and figure a way to keep the motor in position. darn things too big to try and take em both out at once. After this is out, then I get to swap the 5.2 into this so I have a work beater again . :turd:

I know you mentioned switching to 17" Dodge "Star" wheels, that same design was used on the viper gts wheels, and they are offered in 13" wide rear, and 9.5-10" front; That'd give you more meat to hook, but you might have to tub the rear inner fenders and get wheel adapters to fit the 6 lug viper wheels. It might not be cheaper than having wheels widened, but it would mean you'd have easier replacements readily available if needed.

http://dodgetruckworld.tenmagazines.com/gallery/CaptCameltoe/214608.jpg

http://dodgetruckworld.tenmagazines.com/gallery/CaptCameltoe/214607.jpg

I'd love to take a spin in that beast :D

Yeah, I definitely had to pick my jaw up. Though, yes, I'd like to have the Chevy version of that, I'd definitely drive that in a heartbeat. :nod:

sweet build up man!

which intake manifold are you using? pretty sure the actuall viper intake manifold bolts right up to the v10 block that was put in trucks...that's the route i would go if i were you...the truck intake manifold is probably robbing some HP/TQ

sweet build up man!

which intake manifold are you using? pretty sure the actuall viper intake manifold bolts right up to the v10 block that was put in trucks...that's the route i would go if i were you...the truck intake manifold is probably robbing some HP/TQ


Thanks, the viper intake is definitely not a direct bolt on and I think all the work needed to make things work (throttle linkage, trans cable, cruise, hoses, lines etc) outweight the MAYBE slight upper end performance increase. So I am keepin all the truck stuff on the first motor for sure, but i may extrude hone the upper and lower on the next and more seriously built engine. Just gonna be a warmed up stocker with some nitrous for the first time around.

how's the progress going on the swap?

Missed this thread...sounds like a cool idea. And I thought it was a chevy too, but cool non the less. Before I was driving I had the thought of a dakota with a viper motor in it too. Wanted to swap to viper brakes and wheels/tires and possibly the seats. During my research for something I had no way of affording at the time, I ran across a few that had swapped, but unfortunately don't recall any info or times. Anyways, goodluck with your project

Well I did the reverse swap of the 5.2 drivetrain into the 3/4 ton truck so I have a work beater/tow rig. It went so easy it wasn't funny and everything on the truck works like it should. I have to get the trans rebuilt and get a new crossmember for lowered trucks before I can set the 8.0 into the 1/2 ton. So it should be mobile shortly. After drivin the 3/4 ton with the V10 and now the V8, I can tell you that the 1/2 ton is gonna friggin haul azzzz :D

Trans is gonna be rebuilt this week, so this lump of crap should be runnin in 2 weeks :burn:

sweet... get some vids!

2 weeks? wtf was I thinkin? :emb: well I tried a new job 320 miles from home, so things got delayed bigtime. That job didn't work out so back home I came. Motor and trans is in the truck, just have to button a few things up. Waitin on some minor parts and some painted parts to dry for reassembly (why does wrinkle finish take a week to fully cure?). I'll snap a few pics and throw them up later for anyone who shives a get.

Cant wait to see it go.

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e105/CaptMooseknuckle/Dodge%20Ram%20project/102_6828.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e105/CaptMooseknuckle/Dodge%20Ram%20project/102_6829.jpg


I only half assed painted and detailed this motor since it's basically a mild cammed stocker. The next motor that I plan to build up will be when I blast and paint the frame, all brackets etc. Right now I'll be happy just to get this thing all together and runnin down the road. Only a few more things to do to have it runnin :devil:

Think looks sweet dude, I can't wait to see it run

Think looks sweet dude, I can't wait to see it run

I agree and man I bet it took a while to wrap those tubes! The only thing I find odd is Chrysler's decision to have reasonably short plug wires on the passenger side and then having to have such long one to reach over to the driver’s side, but from your earlier pictures it doesn't look as if there is much free space left after the intake is on.

Yes it took a couple hours to wrap both headers and I am still itchin as I just finished up one side today so I could get em both on. I am hopin since they are Borla SS headers, they shouldn't rot out anytime soon from the wrap. I know all this thing will do is blow the peg leg rear tire off, but once I get a tru-trac diff, cal-tracs and some stickies, it should throw down some decent times. The TQ is definately there to run 12's :devil:

very sweet build, sounds like something i would love to drop in my dakota. how much does the v10 weigh?