'86 Dodge Ram 50 small block swap
Front suspension is pretty much completely stock. It was completely rebuilt and upgraded to polyurethane bushings. The original brakes had solid rotors and was I was a bit concerned at a 120 mph I might have some brake fade. I swapped out the spindles, calipers and rotors from a later model Ram 50 which came with larger calipers and vented rotors.
Swapped the brake booster and master from a Dodge Stealth for a couple of reasons. One the original master had a remote reservoir and I wanted a cleaner look. Second after the caliper swap the brake felt a bit spongy. The Stealth had a larger volume power booster and a aluminum 1" bore master cylinder compared to the original cast iron 7/8" bore. Three is was pretty much a direct bolt in swap.
I extended the original air dam down about four inches by adding a early model S10 plastic air dam. I was very surprised that the truck felt much more stable at speed. There must have been a lot of turbulence underneath before the air dam extension.
Front weight is still below the factory gross front axel weight and drives and handles very well.
Original brakes, you can see the solid rotor.
Clean and shiny
Stock booster and master
Booster and master from the Stealth.
Air dam extension
Front suspension is pretty much completely stock. It was completely rebuilt and upgraded to polyurethane bushings. The original brakes had solid rotors and was I was a bit concerned at a 120 mph I might have some brake fade. I swapped out the spindles, calipers and rotors from a later model Ram 50 which came with larger calipers and vented rotors.
Swapped the brake booster and master from a Dodge Stealth for a couple of reasons. One the original master had a remote reservoir and I wanted a cleaner look. Second after the caliper swap the brake felt a bit spongy. The Stealth had a larger volume power booster and a aluminum 1" bore master cylinder compared to the original cast iron 7/8" bore. Three is was pretty much a direct bolt in swap.
I extended the original air dam down about four inches by adding a early model S10 plastic air dam. I was very surprised that the truck felt much more stable at speed. There must have been a lot of turbulence underneath before the air dam extension.
Front weight is still below the factory gross front axel weight and drives and handles very well.
Original brakes, you can see the solid rotor.
Clean and shiny
Stock booster and master
Booster and master from the Stealth.
Air dam extension