I recently acquired this 87 Ram. The previous owner had done some changes to it. Mostly transmission and rear end. The tranny he said is off a V8. I was scolded on another forum for this being untrue. But I'm stating what ve been told. I don't know how to check to see what transmission it actually is. He wanted it to tow better with little regard to fuel economy or HP gains. The rear end is off an older truck and is a different bolt pattern. It had bigger axles and lower gearing. Also, I know how forum people feel about this but he had removed the cats and bypassed the emissions computer. Other than that it's pretty stock. Oh, he added a transmission cooler to it.

What is like to know is how to identify the tranny and rear end and I'd like to upgrade it to a 2bbl carb. I don't know about changing the exhaust manifold. It seems fine for now.

_________________
1987 Dodge Ram D150 225 /6 Automatic

It could have a V-8 trans if he used an adapter plate. Is there a thick plate between the motor and trans? A Slant trans will have the starter mounted high by the manifolds, a V-8 trans and plate will mount it low by the oil pan.

_________________
Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.

It looks like the starter is mounted up high. But I know it's not stock because he switched it from a manual to an automatic. Is there a location where I might find a serial number or part number?

_________________
1987 Dodge Ram D150 225 /6 Automatic

3681510-1 was on the transmission down by the drive shaft. [/img]

_________________
1987 Dodge Ram D150 225 /6 Automatic

The 87 had the 5 on 5 bolt pattern and was usually an 8.25. It could have been swapped to an earlier 8.25 with the 5 on 4.5 bolt pattern or even a Dana 60 or an early 70's truck that had the 8.75 with the same 5 on 4.5 pattern. A picture of the back of the rear would be helpful.

_________________
65 Dart station wagon slant 6 - now under construction
47 Dodge Custom 4 Door sedan
87 D100 Short Bed slant 6

Retired USAF 1966-1986
Retired US Postal Service 2004-2014

Ok, I will try to figure out how to post pics. I just heard back from someone and I just picked up an 83 diplomat. Looks like I found my 2bbl. I'll go take the pics and try to figure out posting them.

_________________
1987 Dodge Ram D150 225 /6 Automatic

The rear end differential doesn't have any bolts on the rear. I have the picture but I don't know if it would do you any good and downloading the pic seems difficult. I will keep trying. Im on my phone right now.

_________________
1987 Dodge Ram D150 225 /6 Automatic

I would take that as good news. No bolts on the rear end means you have an older 8 3/4 rear in it. I just installed one in my 85 truck. It is a nice rear to have so you can easily change gear ratios in you want.

It probably has the 4.5" car bolt pattern. If the front is the bigger 5" pattern you can just swap our the front rotors for ones off a 1980 truck.

Rick

_________________
2 Mopars come with Spark plug tubes. One is a world class, racing machine. The other is a 426 CI. boat anchor!

12.70 @ 104.6

There should be a number on the Passenger side of the transmission just above the pan rail. I think that one will help.

_________________
2 Mopars come with Spark plug tubes. One is a world class, racing machine. The other is a 426 CI. boat anchor!

12.70 @ 104.6

ok I'm going to attempt to post a pic

[/url]

_________________
1987 Dodge Ram D150 225 /6 Automatic

Here is a pic of the pan, I hear that some people can tell the tranny by looking at the pan.

_________________
1987 Dodge Ram D150 225 /6 Automatic

Yep! 8 3/4" rear. And I think that is the 727 Heavy duty transmission. Most of our slants have the 904. So you should be set to move a mountain!

_________________
2 Mopars come with Spark plug tubes. One is a world class, racing machine. The other is a 426 CI. boat anchor!

12.70 @ 104.6

The previous owner said he purchased 8 tons of fertilizer and had intended to make two trips but forgot to tell them that so he pulled all 16,000 lbs home in a 4 wheel fertilizer buggy with that truck. He said it wasn't so much the pulling it was the stopping that was a problem.

_________________
1987 Dodge Ram D150 225 /6 Automatic

If the starter is up high it is a Slant 727. They were fairly common in pickups and vans in the 70s and 80s. I've had 6 of them.

_________________
Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.

It is up high. Do you think the intake and carb off that 83 diplomat will bolt right up? And more importantly, do you think it's a good move to switch it out? And how do you feel about headers vs exhaust manifold? I was planning on redoing the exhaust anyway. It's an old busted up glass pack.

_________________
1987 Dodge Ram D150 225 /6 Automatic