4.7 to 383 Big Block Swap

I've got a 2003 Ram 1500 w/ the 4.7 and have come across a 383 Big Block and 727 trans in a late-80's ram the 1st gen makes 550-ish to the wheels. I'd like to put the 383 and 727 in my third gen but don't know if it's worth the effort or if i should just fix up the first gen. The first gen runs, but as you can tell the body is a pieced together

Do you have emissions testing in your state? If so, you can only legally put in engines from later vehicles. If no emissions testing, this will be interesting.

I live in Dallas, TX and have emissions testing but is there any way I could make it work. Could switching to EFI on the 383 work

No lol, and if you have emissions testing it will be illegal to put an engine no newer than 1971 into your 2003.

4.7 to 383 swap

Don't try to put that in the third gen take the first gen try to bring it back .Believe me the first gen is a very tough truck I know I owned one.Are you 100 percent its a 383 in that truck instead a 360 ? If you can get that old truck going they are beautiful .You would have a lot of time and money fooling with changing out the 3rd gen you would almost have to scuddle it as far as wiring and making everything work.

I agree, it would be much easier and CHEAPER to restomod the first generation and it's a way more reliable truck then what we have today. Good luck bud, I'm very interested in seeing the outcome of this. Please keep us posted.

I really wish American auto makers would cathch up with foreign makers. At least they are closer to matching reliability with economy then us.

fastf said:

Don't try to put that in the third gen take the first gen try to bring it back .Believe me the first gen is a very tough truck I know I owned one.Are you 100 percent its a 383 in that truck instead a 360 ? If you can get that old truck going they are beautiful .You would have a lot of time and money fooling with changing out the 3rd gen you would almost have to scuddle it as far as wiring and making everything work.

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Look at that picture. The front distributor is the biggest giveaway. It is some form of Chrysler big block. Obviously it's not original.

SYKRAMMAN said:

I agree, it would be much easier and CHEAPER to restomod the first generation and it's a way more reliable truck then what we have today. Good luck bud, I'm very interested in seeing the outcome of this. Please keep us posted.

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Cheaper yes, reliable is a matter of opinion.

4.7 to 383 swap

I ask you there are a lot of these old trucks still running today than these computers on wheels.Heck if wasn't for a computer management that thing wouldn't be worth a flip.Take a old first gen and hit the side of it and then hit the side of one of these new rams big difference in metal.The 318,340,360,383,and 440 were very good engines but not until resently you did not have high performance parts like you do now for your Hemi .You didn't have all the problems on those old trucks like you do today.I have own all three generations except the fourth 3 Dodge Dakota 3.9 1992,1993 and 2003 same engine the 03 was detuned it didn't have the pulling power as the 1992,1993 very weak.Personally I wish Dodge actually was still American company you can really tell the difference when Dimeler Benz took over believe me it shows on my 05 compaired my 1997 1500 and my 1987 D-150.

Definitely a big block, I agree it would be a major undertaking putting it in a 3rd gen.

The foreign car reliability is over the American car, is mostly perception now a days in my opinion

Are you guys serious about 1st gen being more reliable?

The good old days weren't as good as some think.

The new aren't as good as people think .I have seen the best of all of them and the worst if you don't believe look inside these forum.

Yes it's an aftermarket 383 that wasn't originally in the truck. I am definitely leaning toward selling my '03 and using the extra money to rebuild the first gen, also I do want to swap the bed as it's bondo heaven and the front clip maybe to an older gen like 75-ish but idk. It's really fast though, it'll outrun a stock C6 vette from a roll and if it had better tire from a dig too!

4.7 to 383 swap

I would start checking salvage yards to see if they have a bed not ate up with rust and bondo city.

yoda said:

Definitely a big block, I agree it would be a major undertaking putting it in a 3rd gen.

The foreign car reliability is over the American car, is mostly perception now a days in my opinion

Are you guys serious about 1st gen being more reliable?

The good old days weren't as good as some think.

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Ok correction, maybe not always reliable but DEFFINATLY easier to fix though.