First gen front axle won't work. It mounts COMPLETELY different than the 2nd gen axles. LOTS of fabrication involved there.

 

^If that's the case, I encourage it!^

I love seeing things put together that don't belong. A friend of mine quite a few years ago took a Cummins/47RE setup from a 3500 Ram and put it into his Ford F-250. He even replaced the outside badges with "Cummins Turbo Diesel"

 

add a leaf

 

I think this your best and most economical option to achieve what you want.

 

if your redneck enough you can build your own add a leaf kit for less than $100. i know me and my dad did the redneck upgrade to his ford after he pretty much broke every leaf except for the main and very bottom leaf.

 

There are some good add-a-leaf kits and airbags work well too. IMHO, load leveling shocks make a world of a difference.

 

Care to post the redneck upgrade?

 

just have to buy a set of leaf springs off another dodge truck and cut them down. my ramcharger came from the factory with 5 leaf springs. it now has 6. 1 of them use to be a main leaf.

here is the 7 that are installed in my 81. someone cut a couple of them down.

 

1st gens have a passenger side drop tcase/diff. 2nd gens are drivers side drop. plus the previously mentioned mounting brackets being different... Not worth it in my opinion.


Just buy a 1st gen Cummins and be done with it

 

As much as I want to agree with this...
For the op's intended use and cost effectiveness, I am going to jump on the "add-a-leaf" bandwagon. Either that or go to a junk yard and buy a set of 3/4 or 1 ton springs from a similar truck to yours. They dont usually wear out, without excessive usage, and they will bolt right up. Odds are, you need new spring bushings anyway.