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I had picked up a nice rust free 2WD 1984 Dodge Ramcharger from Texas that either needed an engine rebuild or upgrade. After pondering the ideas of rebuilding or replacing the 318 LA I also looked at the Gen 3 Hemi options. Part of the consideration is the desire for the truck was to have a fast fun ride and a good economic highway cruiser that my wife could easily get into (vertically challenged) and drive. As all my other trucks are 4WD, the 2WD Ramcharger was a great choice as we have owned to mid 80’s 2WD Ramchargers and loved them.
The easy choice in stepping up to a Gen 3 Hemi was using a 2WD truck as the donor. This would give me a rear sump oil pan and an accessory system layout that would package better into a trucks engine bay. I bid on several, over several year models, but finally landed on a 2014 1500 RAM that would be the best fit, at least that’s my hopes. That’s a 30-year upgrade in the Engine and Transmission from 1984 to 2014. It’s a 2WD Regular Cab Short Bed Tradesman model, with basic equipment (AC and Cruse). It has the MDS 5.7 Hemi mated to the 65RFE 6 Speed Automatic Transmission. The base 1984 Ramcharger has a 143 HP and 253 lb.ft. of Torque from the 318 V-8.
The 2014 1500 Tradesman has a 395 HP and 407 lb.ft. of Torque from the 5.7 Hemi.
That a 176% more HP and 61% more Torque, that’s a very NICE Power Upgrade.
Along with the Power Upgrade going from the 3 speed 727 Torquflite to the 6 speed 65RFE will give it a lower 1st gear and a 0.67 Overdrive.
The Donor truck is a running and driving wrecked vehicle with a clean title. The only powertrain issue I’ve found was a blown charging circuit fuse. Other than the trucks body damage from the wreck, the radiator leaks under pressure and the ABS system has an issue, probably a bad sensor as a result of the wreck. It runs smooth and has good oil pressure.
So now the adventure begins. To finish assessing the donor parts and preparing the Ramcharger for the upgrade.
The easy choice in stepping up to a Gen 3 Hemi was using a 2WD truck as the donor. This would give me a rear sump oil pan and an accessory system layout that would package better into a trucks engine bay. I bid on several, over several year models, but finally landed on a 2014 1500 RAM that would be the best fit, at least that’s my hopes. That’s a 30-year upgrade in the Engine and Transmission from 1984 to 2014. It’s a 2WD Regular Cab Short Bed Tradesman model, with basic equipment (AC and Cruse). It has the MDS 5.7 Hemi mated to the 65RFE 6 Speed Automatic Transmission. The base 1984 Ramcharger has a 143 HP and 253 lb.ft. of Torque from the 318 V-8.
The 2014 1500 Tradesman has a 395 HP and 407 lb.ft. of Torque from the 5.7 Hemi.
That a 176% more HP and 61% more Torque, that’s a very NICE Power Upgrade.
Along with the Power Upgrade going from the 3 speed 727 Torquflite to the 6 speed 65RFE will give it a lower 1st gear and a 0.67 Overdrive.
The Donor truck is a running and driving wrecked vehicle with a clean title. The only powertrain issue I’ve found was a blown charging circuit fuse. Other than the trucks body damage from the wreck, the radiator leaks under pressure and the ABS system has an issue, probably a bad sensor as a result of the wreck. It runs smooth and has good oil pressure.
So now the adventure begins. To finish assessing the donor parts and preparing the Ramcharger for the upgrade.
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