Newb here - '96 Ram pickup?
 

Hi! I have been lurking around here for a while, and have a questions about a truck combination. Looking at a '96 or '97 Dodge Ram pickup and it seems that this would be a not-too-hard combination to race with. I'm not looking to be a record holder or anything, and not looking for it to be a dime rocket (maybe a quarter?), but is it possible to be competitive without breaking the bank? Is the 318 or the 360 a better motor? Also, those trucks came with manual transmissions, so I could run a Jerico right?

Thanks before hand. This is the best site for sportsman racers!!

Re: Newb here - '96 Ram pickup?
 

There is a 94 ram listed on racing junk right now for $7500.
It's a long bed, but you probably couldn't build one for 2x that.

Mike

Re: Newb here - '96 Ram pickup?
 

A guy from BC set the ET record in Q/SA with (I beleive) a 96 360.
Also a 727 or 904 automatic is cheaper than a SFI can, clutch & flywheel,and trans. Just my thoughts
1051 R/SA

Re: Newb here - '96 Ram pickup?
 

I believe you are thinking of Bruce Flodin. He runs a Dakota with either a V6 or a 318.

Re: Newb here - '96 Ram pickup?
 

Div.6 racer Kelly Thomas runs a Ram from that era in Stock,,, a truck with quite a racing
heritage, I might add (think US Classnationals 2001).
Danny Durham

Re: Newb here - '96 Ram pickup?
 

Bruce used to run his Dakota with the 5.2 318, but the past several years he has been running the V6, which is a P & Q/SA combo. Thats his white truck. He recently has been also running a black Dakota with the 318, but mainly in brackets, although it is a Stocker. I`m not sure what year Dakotas that Bruce is running, but they are the earlier squarish looking models.

Re: Newb here - '96 Ram pickup?
 

The "squarish" Dodge Dakota body style lasted through the 1996 model year.

Re: Newb here - '96 Ram pickup?
 

"Squarish" = tough to dial in windy conditions.

Re: Newb here - '96 Ram pickup?
 

I would talk to Jeff Tueton.

Re: Newb here - '96 Ram pickup?
 

i have a 96 shortbed with a 360,thats my everyday driver

Re: Newb here - '96 Ram pickup?
 

I would stay with the 360 for two reasons...first the more cubes to get it moving the better, second and the bigger reason the 318 piston is a true flat-top (no valve reliefs) so the restricted cam duration is a big issue with the legal lift spec and that they also run the same diameter intake valve.....


D L Rambo......STK1300

Re: Newb here - '96 Ram pickup?
 

Check out Ad #181958984 on racingjunk.com Thanks Ron

Re: Newb here - '96 Ram pickup?
 

I agree with the more cubes moving the truck at 3700 lbs. It also seems to me that 48 more cubic inches but the same intake, heads and cam has a factor advantage since there is only 18 hp difference. I didn't know that about the 318. Is one head number better than the other? I have seen some flow figures on the internet, but only for the 466 head. What works for a fuel management system on these?

Re: Newb here - '96 Ram pickup?
 

The stock iron heads are prone to cracking so NHRA allowed the
Magnum R/T iron head as a legal replacement with a 5 hp penalty...the R/T head was discontinued so at that point NHRA approved the Edelbrock
# 61767 for use instead....If money is no issue obviously the Edelbrock head is the way to go, but if it is I would try and find someone who is doing the conversion to the Edelbrock heads who has the R/T heads already and see if they would be willing to make you a deal on them.....
Also any of the approved fuel injection computers will run it......

D L Rambo.......Stk 1300