new to Mopar trucks
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2006
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new to Mopar trucks
Hello, I am new to Mopar trucks. I have a 1981 Ram. I am looking to turn the truck into a sleeper. I am planning on swapping in a 360, maybe a 383, but would like to lower the truck a little bit. Nothing big, just looking to give it a sportier stance. Maybe like a 3/4 drop. Would anyone here know where to get parts for lowering it? I have searched all over, and really can't find anything. I am experienced with mechanical work, and have a 1986 Chevy s10 blazer that I have lowered using lowering blocks in back, and spindles and coils up front. I am also swapping the engine in that to a 350. The Ram is gonna be my beast though, def gonna build that up nasty.
Champion
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 3,710
Likes: 2
From: Skagit County, WA
RE: new to Mopar trucks
I'd wager that 440 parts are easier to come by and cheaper than the 383 stuff. 360 based strokers are pretty wicked though, so there's no reason to count them out.
As far as lowering goes, I'm not your guy. Mine's lifted.
As far as lowering goes, I'm not your guy. Mine's lifted.
Professional
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 197
Likes: 0
RE: new to Mopar trucks
Before you laugh, let me assure you that when I step on the gas, few folks attempt to keep up.
Not so much because it takes off so fast (that, kinda), but the SOUND bellowing out from under the hood is that of a racing engine capable of hitting the redline time and again without fear from the driver.
Now to me, a sleeper is defined as a normal-looking car that can rock your world (and outrun most everything out there)!
In other words, there's no way to see, just from looking at it, what exactly is going on.
Therefore, the best way to make a car into a sleeper is to give no outward appearance of what it has in store.
Unfortunately, this eliminates lowering / raising the vehicle, putting on tail wings, great big lettered High performance tires, and any other silly antics designed mostly for purposes of aesthetics and cosmetics instead of true performance.
For the most part, consistent maintenance with high-performance parts is the key.
To save myself the time of having to write it all out, I wrote a page some time ago that holds true anyday and is available here:
10 Steps to increase car performance
That's what I do, here's a pic of my '86 D-250 with the underhood mods (and the 2nd & 3rd pics is my '95 D-2500 w/ same mods):
If you do not believe me, go out and spend $15 on an Accel high performance Cap and Rotor and replace that, see what happens. Then, spend the $25 for that Open Air filter and feel the power one more time.
Now, get some synthetic 10w-30 motor oil and a storebrand oil filter, change that and tell me all about it.
Last but not least, spring for the $60 Taylor 8mm wires AND the $40 for some double-platinum spark plugs and see for yourself again.
If you're still in the mood, start running Amoco Premium 93 octane fuel.
End result: Va-ROOOOM !!!
Not so much because it takes off so fast (that, kinda), but the SOUND bellowing out from under the hood is that of a racing engine capable of hitting the redline time and again without fear from the driver.
Now to me, a sleeper is defined as a normal-looking car that can rock your world (and outrun most everything out there)!
In other words, there's no way to see, just from looking at it, what exactly is going on.
Therefore, the best way to make a car into a sleeper is to give no outward appearance of what it has in store.
Unfortunately, this eliminates lowering / raising the vehicle, putting on tail wings, great big lettered High performance tires, and any other silly antics designed mostly for purposes of aesthetics and cosmetics instead of true performance.
For the most part, consistent maintenance with high-performance parts is the key.
To save myself the time of having to write it all out, I wrote a page some time ago that holds true anyday and is available here:
10 Steps to increase car performance
That's what I do, here's a pic of my '86 D-250 with the underhood mods (and the 2nd & 3rd pics is my '95 D-2500 w/ same mods):
If you do not believe me, go out and spend $15 on an Accel high performance Cap and Rotor and replace that, see what happens. Then, spend the $25 for that Open Air filter and feel the power one more time.
Now, get some synthetic 10w-30 motor oil and a storebrand oil filter, change that and tell me all about it.
Last but not least, spring for the $60 Taylor 8mm wires AND the $40 for some double-platinum spark plugs and see for yourself again.
If you're still in the mood, start running Amoco Premium 93 octane fuel.
End result: Va-ROOOOM !!!