What do you think?

[hounddog]

Ahh...a Dodge truck guy. I've heard it's OK if you change the fluid and filter every 30,000.

They still give out.

The problem was they took a 40 year old transmission and added an OD without properly increasing valve and flow sizes, and, they used 3.55 gears as the standard.  They ALL give out eventually with those gears because the OD with too little fluid flow causes them to overheat.  It is inevitable.

The ones with 3.92 gears did not suffer from the same fate. 

[hounddog]

The SRT rims were 22s.

Then the surrendering will happen before the intersection.  

[hotrodalex]

Lowering the rear consists of lowering blocks. These don't change the leaf springs, they only move the axle higher in relation to the spring.

The leafs are under the axle? I figured they would be on top, meaning blocks would lift the truck...

Unless you flip the axle, but that would be enough lowering by itself.

[MX793]

You need a smokestack.

2 smokestacks.

[93JC]

I'd leave it alone. Those wheels have aged a lot better than the weird giant-aluminum-teardrops that came on higher trim levels.

It's a V6 work truck. Those steelies suit it perfectly.

[Soup DeVille]

The leafs are under the axle? I figured they would be on top, meaning blocks would lift the truck...

Unless you flip the axle, but that would be enough lowering by itself.

Spring-over-axle leaf suspensions are pretty rare.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Replace with TorqueFlite, drive ten gazillion miles.

46RE is a TorkFlyte. Same crap, different name.

[93JC]

46RE is a TorqueFlite with an extra gear and electronic gizmos that buggered up the inherent awesomeness of the 727.

[shp4man]

It's actually a 42RE according to the build sheet. I read they only put that one behind V6's. It's also in Jeep Cherokees. I changed the fluid in it after I bought it, there was nothing nasty in the pan. It does have this weird thing where it stays in 3rd gear if you keep your foot in it, but only under certain load conditions. I'll say a couple of Hail Marys and cross myself real good next time I check the fluid in it... . It does have 3:55 gears, though. I will say that when the torque converter locks up and you come to a hill, it is without balls at all till it kicks down. V6 I guess.

[Eye of the Tiger]

It's actually a 42RE according to the build sheet. I read they only put that one behind V6's. It's also in Jeep Cherokees. I changed the fluid in it after I bought it, there was nothing nasty in the pan. It does have this weird thing where it stays in 3rd gear if you keep your foot in it, but only under certain load conditions. I'll say a couple of Hail Marys and cross myself real good next time I check the fluid in it... . It does have 3:55 gears, though. I will say that when the torque converter locks up and you come to a hill, it is without balls at all till it kicks down. V6 I guess.

It should feel like a rocket compared to your last vehicle

[shp4man]

It should feel like a rocket compared to your last vehicle

It does. It's a very large, green rocket that's as wide as an aircraft carrier compared to my last ride. 

[Eye of the Tiger]

It does. It's a very large, green rocket that's as wide as an aircraft carrier compared to my last ride. 

That sounds awesome. Now I want one.

[68_427]

That sounds awesome. Now I want one.

You want a Ferd with the 300.  As far as I know the max overbore you can safely go is 60 over (I wouldn't even go that far, maybe 40 over), pushing the cubes to 309. You can increase the stroke to 4.375 inches pushing cubes to 338c.i. If you going to stroke it though, better off saving some cash and getting a turbo.


Next step would be to increase compression. I think for your F150 your only getting an 8:5:1 to 8:8:1 ratio. Anywhere in there. I know '85's had relatively low compression (as with 351W's from 1975 and up) so I can't imagine a few years making much of a difference.

Different high performance pistons would be good too, as well as a new cam. Headers and intake, a bigger carb (if yours is carbed, some are Fuel Injected) and new heads. Depending on what you get your hp range could be between 300 and 500. That's up to you. Also, get used to porting. Bigger valves would be good, as well as a new ignition system to power it.

If you do a 100 overbore (sleeves) and stroke it to 4.75 inches you can increase your cubes to 376c.i. Open your exhaust ports from 1.25 to 1.75 and let'r rip. Seriously though, increase your compression. I've seen 300's with 13:1 compression so don't be afraid to raise it substantially.

At this point your pushing more cubes than a stock Windsor (really 352c.i.) and with the right stuff your pushing 500 to 575hp. Even though a Windsor can push 800hp, a 300 6 will PULL. I've seen these 6 cyl fully decked out on the edge of 500ft-lb of torque. As crazy as that sounds, it's not hard to achieve. You just have to know what your doing. Won't that be funny when a 6 cyl is pulling more weight than your buddies V8!


Even when these 6's are built, you can still run them to 300k miles without serious issues. Remember though, performance comes with the loss of fuel economy, so watch what you do if you are going to build this. Most 300's though I believe range between 165/175 to 250hp.

[Eye of the Tiger]

You want a Ferd with the 300.  As far as I know the max overbore you can safely go is 60 over (I wouldn't even go that far, maybe 40 over), pushing the cubes to 309. You can increase the stroke to 4.375 inches pushing cubes to 338c.i. If you going to stroke it though, better off saving some cash and getting a turbo.


Next step would be to increase compression. I think for your F150 your only getting an 8:5:1 to 8:8:1 ratio. Anywhere in there. I know '85's had relatively low compression (as with 351W's from 1975 and up) so I can't imagine a few years making much of a difference.

Different high performance pistons would be good too, as well as a new cam. Headers and intake, a bigger carb (if yours is carbed, some are Fuel Injected) and new heads. Depending on what you get your hp range could be between 300 and 500. That's up to you. Also, get used to porting. Bigger valves would be good, as well as a new ignition system to power it.

If you do a 100 overbore (sleeves) and stroke it to 4.75 inches you can increase your cubes to 376c.i. Open your exhaust ports from 1.25 to 1.75 and let'r rip. Seriously though, increase your compression. I've seen 300's with 13:1 compression so don't be afraid to raise it substantially.

At this point your pushing more cubes than a stock Windsor (really 352c.i.) and with the right stuff your pushing 500 to 575hp. Even though a Windsor can push 800hp, a 300 6 will PULL. I've seen these 6 cyl fully decked out on the edge of 500ft-lb of torque. As crazy as that sounds, it's not hard to achieve. You just have to know what your doing. Won't that be funny when a 6 cyl is pulling more weight than your buddies V8!


Even when these 6's are built, you can still run them to 300k miles without serious issues. Remember though, performance comes with the loss of fuel economy, so watch what you do if you are going to build this. Most 300's though I believe range between 165/175 to 250hp.

That is all very interesting, but I'm getting a 400 hp Volvo.

[93JC]

It's actually a 42RE according to the build sheet. I read they only put that one behind V6's. It's also in Jeep Cherokees.

GRAND Cherokees, not Cherokees. Grand Cherokee used the 42RE behind I6s and early 5.2 V8s. The only four-speed automatic used in Cherokees was the Aisin-Warner 30-40LE (also used in rear-drive Toyotas and Volvos).

[shp4man]

After much consideration, I think it's best to keep it original.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Good choice. Them are good clean wheelz. Now, just get some proper tires.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=BFGoodrich&tireModel=Commercial+T%2FA+Traction&sidewall=Blackwall&partnum=375QR5COMMTAT&tab=Sizes

And an exhausts

http://www.spintechmufflers.com/mufflers/race-mufflers/super-stock-1000xp-series/cat_20.html

[68_427]

I still think body color bumpers would look good.

[Secret Chimp]

You should shop for a used cap or bed cover, if you're going to add on anything to it at all.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Covering the bed just turns it into an SUV with no rear seats. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt, never wore it.

[Soup DeVille]

I still think body color bumpers would look good.

I'm a big fan of the Libyan rebel school of pick-up truck customization.

[S204STi]

lol, that's a rocket pod off of a helicopter.

[Soup DeVille]

lol, that's a rocket pod off of a helicopter.

Either of a Hind-D, or an SU-28, yes. Russian 55MM rockets.

[hotrodalex]

Spring-over-axle leaf suspensions are pretty rare.

Huh? I see them all the time on trucks around here. Unless flipping them to be on top is just so common that it seems stock?

[shp4man]

Well, I've had the old Dodge pickup for almost a year now. It's been a decent vehicle, always ready to take me to work in the rain, or haul the kayak to the ocean. That black bar above the cab is a kayak hauler. I did pirate some chrome wheel trim from another vehicle, though. The transmission still works, contrary to the prophecy of Hounddog. 

[Secret Chimp]

Yay Dodge

[SVT666]

I love Ram trucks.