Hi Everybody!

Back in the summer I finally installed the warmed over 225 in my grandpa's old '82 D150. He gave me the truck three weeks before he passed away in '08, and even though it ran, it was VERY sick. I took on the challenge of "upgrading" the engine last year and making it a usable vehicle once again.

I had posted on here at the time with video of the engine making a weird ticking noise that I couldn't seem to isolate. I thought it was rockers, and sure enough, the stock adjusters wouldn't stay put when set. I replaced those with a set of adjusters/locknuts from a small-block Mopar and they worked perfectly. That took care of the major ticking, but there was a deeper noise that I figured was coming from the oil pan. Not the bearings, but physically in the oil pan itself. I pulled the engine back out, dropped the pan and discovered that the pick-up tube had been moved when I put the pan on originally and it was now nicking the crank. So, I welded up the gouge, cleaned it all up, put it back together, and then back in the truck. In the meantime my wife and I had another son, so that took some time away from car projects.

Last night, I finally got it put together, and took it up and down the street for the first time in a year. It was dark, I only had my iPad for video, but I wanted to post up some of the sounds in case anyone may be interested!

Quick vid of the engine start (with crappy stock starter):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmXqlYmqc_M

And a shot of the back to get a feel for the Flowmaster exhaust note:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3nXMKg0Skk

The engine doesn't run like a V8, but it has WAY more power than it ever had as a stocker. Plus, it sounds like a hive of angry bees at full tilt. With the fresh 727 behind it, it moves out alright, but the 3.21 rear end kills the performance off the line. However, when it's up around 45mph it really comes alive. Now to get the driveshaft balanced.

Now to button it up and get it back into service!

Grant

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1982 Dodge D150
Slant with a 727 Torqueflite.

Good job man, congrats on bringing another newborn slant into the world

Did you use the Dutra manifold? What year is your truck? I have an 87 D-100 with manual trans and would like to put a set of Dutras on my truck. Did you have to make any modifications to the starter?

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!987 D-150 Short Bed,Slant-6, RWD,A-833,2007 Ram Mega Cab 3500 RWD Cummins 5.9

Did you change the cam at all? I have a 1980 d100 and am considering a small performance boost. I am looking for more torq to work the truck but I red somewhere you can add alot with the crank from a marine slant 6 and even more with the carb from one. If you have any tips would greatly appreciate it.

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Yes, it's a Dutra front manifold and the modified stock rear. I followed the instructions on how to modify the rear and it worked great. I sealed the block-off "plate" with JB Weld and it seems to hold up just fine, along with six perimeter stainless 8-32 screws holding it on.

The engine is fairly modified. The truck is an '82, but the engine is an earlier mechanical lifter engine. Here's what I did:

Rebuilt 1977 Mechanical lifter 225
Bored .060 over w/flat top pistons
Reground cam/lifters for improved lift and duration, Oregon Cam #819 Intake, #818 exhaust profile on 106 lobe center
Oversize stainless valves (1.70, 1.44)
Cam degreed at 101 via modified cam gear
8.5:1 compression with head shaved .140"
head ports gasket matched to intake/exhaust manifolds
Carter BBD 2bbl
Dutra Dual exhaust manifold and modified stock manifold feeding into 3" mandrel bent pipe with Flowmaster series 50 muffler
GM HEI ignition coupled to NOS Mopar electronic distributor with Magnecore wires

I just picked up an O2 sensor and air/fuel gauge to try and tune it all in. It runs OK, but there has been ZERO tuning done to dial it in. Still, it's leaps and bounds better than the old knocking/smoking/wheezing lean-burn lump that was in it.

Since I couldn't find any reasonably priced "super six" parts, I made do with what I had. I modified the stock intake to accept the BBD (machined a new mount and TIG'd it to a milled 1BBL manifold), bought a BBD online, used a cheapie aftermarket kickdown cable, and fabbed up a linkage/mount/EGR block-off. It all seems to work just fine, but I guarantee it's a one-off system.

Pretty much set all of it up from what I've researched on here. Cannot thank the forum enough!

Grant

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1982 Dodge D150
Slant with a 727 Torqueflite.

If you use the stock rear manifold with a Dutra front, no mods are necessary. I went with dual Dutras, and you have to grind a little chunk off the block (it's just there for the factory's use and not needed) and you have to use a Dakota starter to clear the exhaust.

Hey, nice sounding truck! Good to see another red Ram on here!

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If it was easy, everybody would be doing it.

Do you plan on taking it to a shop with a dyno? I would love to see the results after she's tuned.

I would paint mine red but there is already a guy with a red dodge at work

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I don't know about taking it to a dyno, but if I get an opportunity I probably will just to see where it's at.

She's actually two-tone maroon and white, with loads of "patina". Bodywork will happen over time, but it'll stay the same color scheme. Grandpa fixed it with a few quarts of bondo so it'll take me some time to get all new metal welded in. All in good time though. The front suspension will be my next focus as its a bit, uh, worn. And I'm pulling the capper and putting on a tonneau which I've had for awhile now..



Thanks for the kind words!

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1982 Dodge D150
Slant with a 727 Torqueflite.

I love the truck and the sentimentality that comes with it, I can really relate to it. Have fun driving it.

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