id say go for it, you'd prolly want to box the front frame
but ive seen under the hood of and 80s ram, theres a **** ton of room in there (i enjoy junkyard exploring for jeep parts)

but this is coming from a guy who knows his way around a wrench and put a snomobile engine in a small polairs quad

 

x10 on the idea of putting the '96 frame under your Ram's cab. That would eliminate the C-Channel problem and the strength problems. Plus you got a 4-link!

If I was given the same oppurtunity that you are, I would definatly do it. It may cost a few thousand dollars and a couple years, but you would have something that is truly unique, and isnt that what everyone wants? To be a Stand-Out?

 

i agree with purpl on that, imagine at the local mud pit, liftin the hood to jump a ford or chevy, and them seeing a V10, they'd be lyke ****, thats crazy man

 

yeah hell maybe I wouldn't put a hood on just so everyone can see it lol Im not going to pick on ford cause theirs a f150 with 142,000miles on it sitting in my driveway and has been great to us and the 4.6 still puts out nice power even though its small. Only thing is if I do the 96 frame that means I have to find 2 axles for it.

 

You'll probably have to swap axles, too. I doubt those '85 axles will take the torque that the V10 is capable of. Not for long, anyway.

 

Well I haven't flamed anyone on here and do not intend to because that is not the purpose of these types of forums. they are here for us to learn from eachother and to take and give advice the best we can. I would appreciate it if those who don't think I have a clue would refrain from making ridiculous statements to that matter. You can make all the conclusions you want but keep them to yourself. Just so those who are skeptical of my abilities are aware, I have been modifying and customizing vehicles(specifically 4x4's and American sports cars) for about 20 years. I have never written any articles on how to do them though. If I make a statement that seems out of context for the subject at hand it is most likely an off the top of my head response and not a planned out calculated program of the project at hand. I am only here to be a productive member of the forum and to possibly make some friends along the way. I come here to relax and shoot the breeze about being a gearhead and hopefully help someone along the way and maybe learn a few tips or tricks along the way. I APOLOGIZE FOR INSULTING ANYONE IF I HAVE AND FOR HIJACKING THIS THREAD BUT I DON'T LIKE TO BE INSULTED BY THOSE WHO HAVE NEVER EVEN MET ME LET ALONE THE FACT THAT THEY HAVEN'T SEEN WHAT I CAN DO.*off soap box*

 

I don't see where you insulted anyone or vice versa. We cool.

In fact, your suggestion to use the late-model chassis was a good one. Much easier to fab body mounts than box a frame and fab motor/tranny mounts.

 

I know I would have to sometime but this is not my dd right now its used basically for collecting dust and hauling wood from one end of the property to the other if I do get the motor done its still not going to be a dd maybe a take to town and get somethings and a camp truck thats really it for now. I dont care if I cant drive the truck once the engine is in as long as it would start and run for me thats all I would care about until I got more money.

 

Sorry if I am coming off like a jerk tonight. I have been having the Murphy blues this weekend. I finally fixed all of my electrical issues with the truck and come to find out my front u-joint is bad at the yoke so I run to get a new u-joint and come home and rush into fixin it and didn't heat the strap bolts and you guessed it SNAP. Broke the first bolt but I figure no big deal I can drill it and easy out or left hand drill it out. Small stuff right. then I drill it chase the threads and go to put shaft back in to find out that the u-joint had hammered the yoke to the point that it is useless after all the drilling and taping. Yay me. So anyway since I am way off topic I apologize for my being ignorant to anyone.

 

thats a good attitude to have on something like this, same attitude i use while working on a restoration project (i restore old Oliver tractors)

one other little advantage of using the newer frame, you'd still have oober cool towing capacity, if it was ever needed

and i don't mind fords, not bad vehicles, i just like to say **** like that lol