I have an 88 Ram 50 (rwd extended cab). My dad purchased it new and I drove it a few years before it died. The truck has been mothballed nearly a decade in a barn. It was always slow so I want to do something fun with it.
I have the opportunity to get a complete Magnum 318 along with a 518 trans out of a 96 Ram for a decent price. I have a Dana 44 out of a Jeep XJ with upgraded shafts, LSD and discs that I believe would be perfect for this truck.
I've been searching the net and can't find much direct information on doing a swap of this nature. Based off eyeballing I think I can get the engine in there with a slim fan and a radiator pushed forward a bit. I know it would require custom mounts, cross-member, drive shaft and exhaust. I got a hookup for that kind of work from an old muscle car guy. He can hack together anything.
Will the frame hold up or should it be boxed? What needs to be done to the front suspension? Will the engine (rear sump) clear the steering and front cross-member? Will it all clear the firewall? I plan on running the Dana 44 on the stock leafs to start then going with a 4 link after the bugs are worked out. If it doesn't clear the hood then it looks like I have no choice past doing a shaker hood (witch I might do anyways). What I am looking for is any information that I can get. I've scoured Google and can't find much info at all other than a few pictures. Thanks to anyone that can provide me with anything. I'm armchair debating this at the moment. Too bad this site wasn't around back in the late 90s, I would have been all over it.