hey guys, so im about to buy this dodge power ram d150 its a 1980 short box 4x4 ive been trying to do reasearch but i cant find anything on these trucks,

it has a 400ci big block in it and i dont know anything about it. can someone tell me about it like hp/tq if theres anything you can do to make it have more power?

also can you fit 33x12.5 tires under neither it stock?

what gear ratio does it most likley have?

are they most likley a posi or limited slip that still 2 wheel can burnout

are parts easy to find/cheap?

here it is



has paint chips and barely any cancer



interior is nice has no speakers tho (easy install) has a ripped seat (who cares notthing a seat cover cant fix)



original 400 big block sound b e a uuutiful no knocks and doesnt sound tired



has boat rack little rust on fenders but this truck is made to go into the bush



winch ready and i got 33's that can fit but id have to buy some cheap rims first but ill get a deal regardless so

$1000 for a full working 4x4 hi and low work and drive nice good deal?

 

it has to be a 81 or newer truck because of the body and dash are all parts used on the 81 and newer trucks. now the 400 i think must have come out of something 78 or older since i am pretty sure 78 was the last year that the trucks would have come from the factory with a big block. there is not a lot of aftermarket support. if you can't find what you are looking for at rock auto then you will most likely have to find what you are looking for at the junk yard. otherwise that looks like a nice truck to start with.

 

First off I would have to know what that motor came from to say what it has for specs but generally, those 400s had about 225hp and MAYBE 350ft lbs of tq. By the mid 1970s all Mopar motors had little or no power to speak of due to the open chamber heads which drastically detuned the motors because of LACK of compression. If you could find a set of pre 1969 heads that are closed chamber heads they would give you more compression, then you could add a cam, manifold, and headers with good dual exhaust and POSSIBLY have about 300 or more horsepower and a lot more TQ. And unless it has a lift, no way would 33 12.5s fit and I suggest using 31 105s anyway on that truck unless you plan to skyjack it. Plus, 33s will decrease your HP due to the added gear ratio. So you would have to do 410s for them in both front and rear diffs....EXPENSIVE! Plus you would have to uprate your brakes to get the same braking you NOW have if you went with big heavy 33s.

 

Yeah, that is likely a 78 motor.

The "Smog" 400's had difference carbs, to be honest, my 76 is a "Smog" motor, but it doesn't behave like it. My rig has a pre-smog carb. You'd have to start looking at vacuum lines and what not to really determine if it has a smog engine. Those trucks were pretty easy rip all that stuff out. My 76 is the same way.

You likely have an engine in there from a 3/4 ton truck. I think the half tons had the 400 in the 70's, but they had all the smog stuff. I can also tell you that that engine has been gone through as evidence by the fact that there is a lot of stuff that is clean. My 76 is original and it shows! lol


Most of these rigs had either 3.21 or 3.55 gears most commonly, some had 4.10's. Some had LSD's, others didn't. It would be a matter of just doing some more research and pulling plugs and what not to establish what's in it.

 

Oh and a grand for that truck is a steal! At least round here. They think a truck of that vintage even beat to hell is worth 3000 dollars!

 

same here. 4x4 that nice would be going for $2000+

did you look in the grille on the dash? that is were the factory speaker for the stereo should be.

 

okay yea i found a perfect site that just told me about it being the "smog" motor but i also read that the 400 makes an amazing stoker build block so thats neat to know and found a couple sites that still sell stroker kits for it. and yea $1000 first off i cant find a short box in any kind of shape of a ram those years. at all all they are all long box. to top it off i cant even find a running 4x4 for $1000 any wear near by here for some stupid reason.. and seeing this i literally didnt sleep last night had to call them up and say i want it. haha and also i now understand why i couldnt find a 1980's with a 400 cause well like you guys said they were discontinued in 78 i think.

but u think just a set of headers and some other bolt on would just give it a little more goose im just used to my dak running about 280hp but has no tq lol.

 

and sniper x so no way at all 33 would fit. they look like you could get them in there or would i have to do some trimming just wondering cause i got bran new 33 duratracs sitting there and i dont want them to go to waste haha i wouldnt mind cutting the rust out of the fenders to be able to cram them in

 

sorry another question is there anything for a budget boost to get extra height but not much so realistically to cram 33's in

 

Hmm, well, they might still rub the suspension parts, never know till you try! If you have em stuff them on!