My son has a 2002 RAM 1500 5.9 4x4
Two years ago it quit while driving down x-way
No ignition due to bad coil wire. Rubbed through and grounded so it had ignition just not getting to dist.
Would then start but only barely run (for 20 sec or so) if throttle was on the floor
We checked and replaced most sensors, coil, distributor, crank position, fuel pump, etc including checking and replacing timing chain.
Gave up, took to local shop and it was down hill from there!
Needles to say after lots of money, parts, and three blown computers we got the truck back. Either need to scrap it or do conversion.
Truck is in very good condition and hate to give up totally
Thinking about carb conversion
Seems pretty straight forward but what are the (not so) obvious details with this conversion such as, trans control, gauges, etc. ?
I am quite knowledgeable when it comes to engines of all types, but not so much on the computer controls. I am sure I could learn it but I already have plenty of stuff in my head without adding more things I probably won't use much.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated

 

More trouble than its worth.

 

Yeah good luck with that. This isn't the old days, everything is so intertwined & computer controlled you can't just swap **** around. You'd have to either throttle down the stock fuel pump or get rid of it and install a mechanical pump...oh wait, magnum series doesn't have factory provision for a mechanical pump on an OEM install. You'd need a distributor with vacuum advance or your mileage would be even worse...good luck wiring that in to the existing system (stock distributor on that engine is fixed and is literally only there to distribute spark; PCM still controls timing). Oh I'm sorry, did you want the trans and gauges to work too?

 

Intake and distributor are no problem
I was planning on keeping the computer hooked up as the only problem with it is the ignition module portion. According to the company that repaired the computer, the ignition module was the only part damaged every time it failed.
They said the problem must be in the ignition circuit or injectors to damage that part. According to two different techs all of these items checked out including the harness.
I still think its something simple
Probably if i had taken it to the correct shop first it may have been fixed, but now after several techs at the same shop have messed with it not to mention the work we did its now in worse shape than we started with.
One thing i can say for sure is that it would start at kind of run when i took it to the shop and now the computer is fried. Every time its fixed and installed it fries as soon as you let off the key from first crank attempt.
I was there the last time the computer was reinstalled
They plugged it in
Put everything back together
Began cranking (it had ignition) but did not start or even attempt to start
As soon as the tech stopped cranking I heard a pop and could smell burnt plastic
Took computer back out and removed back sheet metal and there is a burnt spot in the resin sealant
This happened three times so i pulled the plug and got it out of there
The only item they replaced was the fuel pump and claimed it ran better but not like it should.
This is when the computer issues began

 

Apparently you don't get it: you cannot leave the computer hooked up AND have a carb intake with a vacuum advance distributor. Your electronics are going to tell you to go f@ck yourself. But tell ya what, go ahead and try; you can tell us all about it.

 

I think it would be MUCH easier, and cheaper, to figure out what the trucks problem is, and fix it..... EVERYTHING in the truck depends on the computer. Everything working right depends on the computer getting correct info, which will be impossible if you try and do a carb swap. Your gauges won't work, your trans won't shift, and every malfunction indicator on the dash will be on. Without doing a LOT of custom work....... it just can't be done. You would spend less buying a new truck.....

 

I know this is a little bit of an older topic but I found it when searching for a timing chain guide, but I agree with the others, all the time effort and money involved to make a carb swap on a 2002 truck work would be better spent either fixing what's wrong in the computer system or outright buying another used vehicle. It's not as easy as getting an intake adapter(if you're being cheap vs getting a real cab intake ) and throwing a carb on and the vehicle starting right up with no problems like some youtube vids I've seen involving older GM trucks and old camaros/firebirds, which at the most require installing a fuel pressure regulator, leaving the computer in those older firebirds/camaros will actually allow the factory fuel pump to still work with the carb, all gauges should work right iirc on those when carb swapped) ....The trans won't shift at all, I vaguely remember some user here telling another they'd have to switch to the older pre magnum engines and the old 727 trans to even begin to start this process.

Just literally not worth the effort and money involved doing this whatsoever.

 

i cant get a starter to work, can I install an handcrank? electronic ignition burnt out, i want to install points.

 

What in tarnation are you talking about and what does your post have to do with this thread?