Loggato
Junior Member
Hello, I've always low-key wanted a ramp truck. Mainly because I'm tired of either trying to borrow a capable car trailer and/or dealing with the incompetency of said trailer, such as a winch battery that's always dead, a flat tire, worn-out tires from missaligned axles and then you just have the general things like dicking with ramps, fenders always in the way and then here in Kansas a trailer typically needs it's own tag and registration.
Well, if you're like me, for a project to happen things must fall into place. A buddy's wife rolled his 03 ram and another buddy took the engine and trans out of an 86 that he needed for another project. Let the fun begin! I bought the 86 for $300. It came with everything BUT engine and trans. and I bought the rolled 03 for $500 and let my buddy have it back for scrap when I finished.
For the new trans, I was able to find a NP435 and NP208 (I think). It came with a 360 clutch and flywheel.
now for the important part: if you want to put a Gen3 Hemi in front of a NP435 just use a 05/6 flywheel from a 2500 (manual trans), a pressure plate from a 86 (or similar) 360 with 11" clutch and also the clutch disk from the 86 (matches splines on NP435). For the pilot bearing just use one from any small block that had a 3/4" input shaft - Mine was a National FC-69907. The only new parts I had to get were the flywheel, pilot and throwout bearings and the clutch fork. You'll also want to make sure you get longer crank bolts. they are M10 x 1.0, I had some laying around from a Mercedes engine. Lastly - cut 1/4" off the input shaft.
So I'm sure you're tired of reading, but just a couple more things. For motor mounts to a D250, I just made some 1/4" adapters that bolt to the stock 03 motor mount bolt and then bolt to the 2 holes on the 86 frame. fairly simple but forgot to get any good pictures. As of right now, I'm not sure how exhaust will work around the clutch Z-bar and I believe I need an older style starter but not sure yet and lastly you'll need a oil-filter relocation kit. Mine is on the way and I'll cover that soon.
Thanks for reading and here are some pics:
Well, if you're like me, for a project to happen things must fall into place. A buddy's wife rolled his 03 ram and another buddy took the engine and trans out of an 86 that he needed for another project. Let the fun begin! I bought the 86 for $300. It came with everything BUT engine and trans. and I bought the rolled 03 for $500 and let my buddy have it back for scrap when I finished.
For the new trans, I was able to find a NP435 and NP208 (I think). It came with a 360 clutch and flywheel.
now for the important part: if you want to put a Gen3 Hemi in front of a NP435 just use a 05/6 flywheel from a 2500 (manual trans), a pressure plate from a 86 (or similar) 360 with 11" clutch and also the clutch disk from the 86 (matches splines on NP435). For the pilot bearing just use one from any small block that had a 3/4" input shaft - Mine was a National FC-69907. The only new parts I had to get were the flywheel, pilot and throwout bearings and the clutch fork. You'll also want to make sure you get longer crank bolts. they are M10 x 1.0, I had some laying around from a Mercedes engine. Lastly - cut 1/4" off the input shaft.
So I'm sure you're tired of reading, but just a couple more things. For motor mounts to a D250, I just made some 1/4" adapters that bolt to the stock 03 motor mount bolt and then bolt to the 2 holes on the 86 frame. fairly simple but forgot to get any good pictures. As of right now, I'm not sure how exhaust will work around the clutch Z-bar and I believe I need an older style starter but not sure yet and lastly you'll need a oil-filter relocation kit. Mine is on the way and I'll cover that soon.
Thanks for reading and here are some pics:
