My ram (ongoing project)

[RPMRamFury]

This whold build is awesome. Please keep us updated, the truck looks so tough!

 

[crazykid1994]

Just read on Facebook that the oem rear bumper from the DT body will bolt up to our DS body trucks. Anyone know how true that is? If so that’ll be nice and hopefully add to the market for us as I can’t find a rear bumper that fits like oem that’s not super bulky and large. I’ve been on the fence about reinforcing the stock bumper so I can add a tire carrier to it and just think it would be easier with an already better more solid bumper.
https://www.americantrucks.com/body-armor-4x4-ram1500-ambush-series-rear-bumper-dg-2966.html

edit: it has been posted that the bumper was from a 2500 that they installed onto their 1500. Darn. Well the search continues

 

[crazykid1994]

I like this bumper but don’t like the license plate light setup... and it might be odd with my dual exhaust.
https://www.americantrucks.com/barricade-ram1500-tubular-hd-rear-bumper-led-fog-lights-r110300.html

 

[crazykid1994]

Pulled the thermostat out of the transmission heat exchanger today. Also took pictures of my truck at ride height vs max droop of the front suspension. Tires were still on the ground just lifted to the point where I could see the weight coming off of them. Angle at max droop is crazy

 

[crazykid1994]

Doing my 5 tire rotation and checking bushings and suspension. Did not get a good picture of it but my rear control arm bushings on the upper arms are definitely tired. They have minor cracking and look dry. The lowers look ok. Looks like I may want to swap my sway bar bushings out as well. Anyone have any they highly recommend? Had 200lbs in the bed while testing.

 

[Nick@GotExhaust]

Sounds like a good time to swap out to some Core 4x4 control arms! We can help you out with them.

Also let us know when you are ready for the headers and a bumper! Headers We would recommend ARH or SW.

 

[crazykid1994]

Sounds like a good time to swap out to some Core 4x4 control arms! We can help you out with them.

Also let us know when you are ready for the headers and a bumper! Headers We would recommend ARH or SW.

I plan on doing arh 1-3/4 with cats. I’ll let you know when I’m ready. Most likely be towards the end of the year as We just recently purchased our first home. I will be purchasing Clayton control arms for the rear.

 

[Nick@GotExhaust]

I plan on doing arh 1-3/4 with cats. I’ll let you know when I’m ready. Most likely be towards the end of the year as We just recently purchased our first home. I will be purchasing Clayton control arms for the rear.

Great choice!

CONGRATS on the purchase of your 1st home!!!! HUGE life milestone man, that is great!!

 

[ScLeCo]

I plan on doing arh 1-3/4 with cats. I’ll let you know when I’m ready. Most likely be towards the end of the year as We just recently purchased our first home. I will be purchasing Clayton control arms for the rear.

The Core arms seem flimsy compared to the Clayton arms. Those things are absolute tanks.

 

[crazykid1994]

The Core arms seem flimsy compared to the Clayton arms. Those things are absolute tanks.

Yea. Ram1500rsm got me wanting those. I saw when he installed them on his truck. The lower arms are 2” square tube 1/4” wall and the uppers are 3/16” wall. They’re solid arms.

 

[Megalodon]

@crazykid1994 Who makes the front bumper and the shift knob? May have missed it but couldn't find that info listed anywhere in the thread.

 

[crazykid1994]

Contemplating in the future swapping my folding tonneau cover to a rolling cover and that would give me the ability to build a bed rack for a RTT. Would probably need to upgrade my rear springs if I do that. That would leave me a ton of options too. More on vehicle gear storage and recover gear storage as well as food and necessity storage. If I go that route I’ll probably negate having a trailer. I would probably build a removable flat rear floor and remove my rear seats and install a 12v refrigerator. To many thoughts and ideas going through my head... to much time and not enough money.

Also. Hopefully be acquiring some bilstein 6112s for my truck in the near future. That’ll be awesome. If I do then I will have a full set of bilstein 5100 front and rear with front eibach springs already installed. The front has 20,000 miles currently on them and the rear has 5,000 miles. The front eibach springs only have 5,000 miles on them as well.

 

[crazykid1994]

@crazykid1994 Who makes the front bumper and the shift knob? May have missed it but couldn't find that info listed anywhere in the thread.

It’s a barricade hd bumper from American trucks. The gear knob is from ajtdesign

 

[crazykid1994]

The transmission heater has been pulled. Have about 600 miles on my truck since removal. Have now added ppe pan to my list of things to buy.
If you’re up for a read this is a lot of info. https://www.ramforum.com/threads/revmax-8-speed-thermostat-bypass.171776/
my lsd seemed happier while off-roading since my fluid change as well. Drove 4 hours away and drove around for about 4 hours then drove home. 500 miles round trip.

 

[crazykid1994]

Took some measurements today. Talking to nick to order new 5160 rear shocks. Will probably be ordering the extended length shocks. Pulled my springs out to check tire tuck when sitting on bump stomps as well(picture 3). So my rear eibach springs measure 19-7/8. I installed my 1/2” lift spacers in the rear as well to accommodate the longer shocks. My rear springs will drop out at anything over 27.5” shock length. With the rear 1/2” spacer I get a pinch over 28” shock length before they will drop out. I’m binding the rear control arms at that point because the tires actually lift off the ground. I will need to add a 1/4” spacer on the rear sway bar to clear the rear diff guard. It just barely touches. Can’t wait to buy some bilstein 6112s for the fronts. Will be setting them to 2.5 with my 1/2” top hat spacer and will probably get a little less since I have full skid guards and an off-road bumper. Hoping for between 2.75 and 3” front lift.
Measurement from ground to top of wheel well with springs removed is 35.5”. (Picture 1)
Measurement from ground to top of wheel well with the stock replacement bilstein 5100 fully extended is 45.5”
Measurement from ground to top of wheel well if shock length is at 27.5” is 47”. That is the length of the 5160 fully extended. Picture 4
Measurement of current rear ride height ground to top of wheel well is 42.25”

 

[hodge-xj]

I'm running 28" shocks and with my squished bilstein rear coils and a 1" spacer my coils come loose enough to rotate but don't unseat enough I can take them out. So you should be money with the 27.5" length.

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

 

[crazykid1994]

Received some kryptonite sway bar links. Ordered the gm ones. I need to modify the bolt in the u bracket. It’s a 1/2” bolt. I’ll have to figure out the size of ours and just tack weld a new bolt in. Should not be a problem. I may email them and see if they will make a ram specific set. Possibly in an 8” length for leveled trucks.

 

[ram1500rsm]

Received some kryptonite sway bar links. Ordered the gm ones. I need to modify the bolt in the u bracket. It’s a 1/2” bolt. I’ll have to figure out the size of ours and just tack weld a new bolt in. Should not be a problem. I may email them and see if they will make a ram specific set. Possibly in an 8” length for leveled trucks.

View attachment 238584

Cool would this be your sway bar disconnect ? how long is it ?

 

[crazykid1994]

Cool would this be your sway bar disconnect ? how long is it ?

Yes. I’m going to use a push pin through the u bracket instead of a bolt to go through the lower bushing. It’s 7.5” from mount to mount. I’m hoping they email me back on a ram specific version that is 8” in length. It would be perfect for our trucks in my opinion. The upper bushing that goes to the sway bar looks just like the ones for your suspensionMaxx links. I think they are poly. Or I’ll drill a hole through the bolt and use a latching pin in the hole to lock the bolt from falling out

 

[crazykid1994]

Swapped the bolt out to a 1/2”. Stock was 12mm. Tried to find a 7/16” bolt but no luck. Unfortunately I won’t be able to use this as a quick disconnect but I’ll deal with having to unbolt it. The stock ones were beat and they only had 10,000 miles on them... granted they were being beat on and definitely wish they were a bit longer. This setup seems a bit beefier. I need to get this paid off so I can just buy an old Jeep to beat on and use this as the tow rig