1982 dodge to 1987 dodge

[Salteen]

Ok so long story short I have a 1987 Dodge Power Ram 50 Custom. Its my first truck. It has the org. 2.6L with the electronic carb and all. Which is a good thing because I have a 1982 Power Ram 50 farm truck. It sat for 16 years and I got it running. I tore it down, new water pump, belts, timing chains, spark plugs and wires, new exhaust manifold and a Weber 38/38 synchronous carb, new valve springs, new lifters, and the high torque cams out the 87 (it has a 82 head on it).

My question is, can I take the 2.6 out the 82 and put it in the 87? The 82 uses a KM132 trans and the 87 a KM145 trans. Both are 4wd trucks.

Also are the torsion bars the same? I cant find part numbers to compare, so idk if they are the same. the one on the 87 is worn out and the one on the 82 is brand new.

1987 Dodge Power Ram 50: factory carb 2.6L 5 speed 4x4 camper top short bed 235/75/15 tires extra offset trimmed out in red
1982 Dodge Power Ram 50: factory carb 2.6L 5 speed 4x4 no bed floor long bed 215/75/15 tires trimmed in rust and grass

[Salteen]

the 87 has 165k on it the 82 has 55k on it.

[geezer101]

Should be a straight swap. If you're not 100% sure, measure the back of both engine blocks at their widest point where they mount up to the transmissions (you should be able to get a tape measure across that point from underneath without too much drama) IIRC narrow block is 12.5", wide block is 13.5"

[Salteen]

ok i will do that when i get it out, i am going to put a new clutch and plate in it as well as a new bearing.

can a KM145 take a turbocharged 2.6? i want to do this later on and i was wondering if it would even take that kind of power.

that is a project for when i turn 17. i turn 16 in march 2020

[geezer101]

The problem with Mitsubishi transmission failures revolve around the transmission cases flexing. There is an easy solution for this too - a reinforced sump plate. The Conquest has them and I think Monteros (?). The cover/sump plates have ribs on them that stiffen the transmission casings. It'll hold 500 HP. There is an aftermarket cover plate available (Tuffpan) but I think they are no longer in production or scarce but they could be reproduced easily enough as it's only a 1/2" thick piece of billet aluminium with recessed bolt holes in it.

[Salteen]

ok thank you alot.

one final thing and i am out your hair.

is the torsion bar on a 82 compatible with the one on a 87/ will it fit?

[geezer101]

Don't know, I'm not up to speed on 4x4/diesel/V6. Someone will pass their off road wisdom unto you :)

[pennyman1]

torsion bars are the same from 1st to 2nd gen on trucks. The Mitsubishi "waffle" pan is a factory Pajero km132/145 pan that is still available from Mitsubishi, but only if you can find a dealer that imports directly from Japan. I got 4 of the pans from a dealer, who closed down shortly after I ordered them, so that source is NLA. I do not have any to sell, they are for my 3 d50s.