Has anyone performed an engine relocation?

[No H2O]

2006 3.7 Regular Cab 6' bed, RWD

The RWD is the issue in bad weather since I don't keep anything heavy back there.
BUT
Is it possible (anything's possible but within a reasonable amount of work) to relocate the engine to the back right above the rear wheels, like on a 911?
I know Smyth used to have a relocation kit (albeit for a Jetta)

 

[rzr6-4]

Lol..

You could buy a 911 for cheaper than the time/effort/custom fab it would take to make your ram a rear engine.

Relocate the engine, tranny, cooling system, fuel tank, totally reconfigure the drive line and wiring, tons of fab work to make all new mounting brackets and cutting a hole in the bed to make room, etc etc etc...

Tldr --> NO

 

[mikeru]

2006 3.7 Regular Cab 6' bed, RWD

The RWD is the issue in bad weather since I don't keep anything heavy back there.
BUT
Is it possible (anything's possible but within a reasonable amount of work) to relocate the engine to the back right above the rear wheels, like on a 911?
I know Smyth used to have a relocation kit (albeit for a Jetta)

You'll save yourself a ton of money over attempting an engine relocation if you just haul around a dozen 75lb bags of sand for the added weight if you want rear traction. The extra that you'd spend on gas would be a tiny fraction of the cost to move the engine and all associated parts to the bed.

 

[Smokeybear01]

Back in the 70's I had a friend that put a V8 in the bed of a Chev Luv PU so I know it can be done. But why? He had access to his dad's weld shop where they built stock cars and did body work. I would go with the sand idea.

 

[No H2O]

Putting up and removing sand bags everytime the weather gets bad isn't a good option since I have a bulging disc. The rear engine is probably more work than I want to do

 

[mikeru]

Putting up and removing sand bags everytime the weather gets bad isn't a good option since I have a bulging disc. The rear engine is probably more work than I want to do

Why bother removing the sand bags at all? It's not like you'd be moving the engine from the back to the front when the weather is nice. My sand bag suggestion was just an example. It can be just about anything with some weight to it. Although I used to actually carry sand bags when I drove 2WD trucks back in my younger days. The sand served two purposes...added weight to help with traction, and if I got stuck I had a supply of sand to help with getting un-stuck.

 

[Docwagon1776]

Futurama (Fry) - Not Sure If... [Original]

It's kinda funny the story about this video because I uploaded it before I know it was an internet meme at all. Me and a friend used it as a private joke to ...

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[tron67j]

Generally vehicles are mid-engine for balance. Rear engine like the Corvair had to balance with air pressure variation from front to back. If you accidentally inflated all 4 tires the same the car was all over the place in turns. We had one. Won't ever have another rear engine vehicle. It my Porsche was a blast, like it was in rails.

Engine in the back, sounds like a Hot Wheels adventure!

 

[mikeru]

Yeah, those pesky rear-engine Porsche 911's handle terribly.

 

[Nick@GotExhaust]

It would be cheaper to buy a 4x4 vehicle than to turn your ram into a rear engine vehicle.

 

[inuyasha-rules]

I've got about 150lbs of sand in buckets right against my tailgate, and it makes a huge difference. Most big box stores will help you load, and having them in buckets makes it easy to slide them forward when I need to actually use the bed, and keeps them dry and from freezing if I need traction. But if all you want is something unique, go for it.

 

[jagman_xjs]

Years ago I had this problem with another truck. My solution was very simple,I just bolted two steel bars over the rear axle. They were 1x6 plus it leveved the truck.

 

[20IndyRam]

I understand that this is a "what if" question... But

Weight over the rear axle works for snow and slush. It sucks for ice, braking, cornering, etc.

Try a set of dedicated winter tires (front and rear) and you'll never look back. More expensive than sand bags, but it will help prevent your South end from passing the North.

 

[Marshall]

Just go to a gravel pit and load up .
I use to toss a few bags of sand in the back before 4wd was common.
Why would even think this? Go 440 big block, you would get more traction then a baby motor.

 

[Wile E Coyote Jr]

Anything is possible! And it only requires two things, time and money!

 

[jd77480]

Yeah, those pesky rear-engine Porsche 911's handle terribly.

 

[jd77480]

It's a simple fix. Buy a 4x4...

 

[markabby]

It's a simple fix. Buy a 4x4...

true....or go to a junk yard and have them throw an old v8 in the back of the truck for weight

 

[CorDog009]

Anything is possible, but it’s definitely not practical. One could get a Casale v-drive and install it after the trans.