No 4 door 2nd Gen Dodge Ram ???

[50BMG]

I was just wondering why there weren't any 2nd Gen Dodge Ram's with 4 full size doors, when there are 2nd Gen Dodge Dakota's with 4 full size doors (I know that there were because my uncle had one) . Or did I just miss something and couldn't find any ?

50BMG

 

[DonFitzwater]

I have no idea why they didn’t make them. Some people had custom builds made into four doors but no factory offering was available.

 

[Wayne M.]

Dodge was always last to market with creature comforts and non mechanical options.

 

[HHhuntitall]

Up to 1995, it's my understanding, they had a non-compete clause they agreed to when they sold the 4 door factory to Ford in 1985 to alleviate some debt.... after that, I'd say it's just a matter of stupid decistions by bean counters and suits that didn't know any better. While I've never seen one personally, there were supposedly Ramcharger four door SUVs sold in Mexico in the 2nd gen platform...

 

[Wayne M.]

Up to 1995, it's my understanding, they had a non-compete clause they agreed to when they sold the 4 door factory to Ford in 1985 to alleviate some debt.... after that, I'd say it's just a matter of stupid decistions by bean counters and suits that didn't know any better. While I've never seen one personally, there were supposedly Ramcharger four door SUVs sold in Mexico in the 2nd gen platform...

That's a new one on me. Makes sense though because that's when the old crews went away. There was no excuse for them not to have a 4 door 2 gen from the get go.
All Mexican 2 gen ramchargers I've seen were 2 door. Way up on the cool factor.

 

[50BMG]

OK thanks everyone, I guess it would have to be a one off project if I wanted one. Although what I want would turn it into a very specialized one off project anyway.I just wish that I could discuss this project with someone near where I live.

50BMG

 

[Wayne M.]

Where do you live?

 

[50BMG]

Northeast corner of Missouri 63435 is my zip code if that helps more. Hannibal MO and Quincy IL are really the closest bigger towns.

50BMG

 

[Wayne M.]

I'm sure there are some coachbuilders or limo shops out that way that could stretch a cab and modify a second set of doors, make a B pillar, etc.
honestly, I would refocus on a medium crew cab truck customization. Look at military and municipal auctions. They use lots of crews. A mid 80's International S model with a honkin DT466 (tractor pull motor) is forming in my head

 

[Wayne M.]

Something like this....

 

[JR]

I know a certain member that may or may not still have A BEAUTIFUL 2 tone white and gray gen 2 crew cab....it was semi offered to me at one point at a reasonable price considering the uniqueness...if he came to his senses he either upped the price on it or better yet just kept it. I wish i would have jumped on it when I had the chance :{

Perhaps he will see this and chime in

 

[50BMG]

I was thinking of a built marine 8.3 Cummins from seaboard marine then sent to sheid diesel for modifications, a tc10 allison transmission, narrowed 2.5/5 ton hybrid rockwell axles, SCS Gearbox Transfer case(s), and schoolbus style wheelchair lift from somewhere like braun, among other things. Kind of like a more in depth project than C-Series Man did with his 8.3 Cummins Ford F-250 (I know that his project had to be VERY, VERY in depth he just didn't share every little thing he did to make it work). Sorry I know that this tab on the forum wasn't supposed to include engines or transmissions. I was originally just trying to find out if Dodge ever did make a 2nd Gen Dodge Ram with 4 full size doors that I might have missed.

 

[Wayne M.]

That's cool 50BMG, I was just floating ideas around and I'm sure the moderators don't mind a walk around the barn getting off topic slightly.
If you're talking to scheid Diesel, ask them what's a better engine to play with-- a mechanical DT international or a Cummins C.

 

[50BMG]

Wayne M I think that the bigger issue would be trying to fit a wheelchair lift into the Dodge Ram. I've always been partial to the mechanical Cummins, and I know that I could get a brand new 8.3 Cummins crate engine from seaboard marine (with up to 600 horsepower and who knows what kind of massive torque numbers) instead of trying to find a wrecked or junkyard one and then building it up. I just don't know if I could get a brand new International DT466 anywhere.

 

[HHhuntitall]

I know a certain member that may or may not still have A BEAUTIFUL 2 tone white and gray gen 2 crew cab....it was semi offered to me at one point at a reasonable price considering the uniqueness...if he came to his senses he either upped the price on it or better yet just kept it. I wish i would have jumped on it when I had the chance :{

Perhaps he will see this and chime in

Are you referring to the short bed I had? Oh, no, you said beautiful...... I finally sold it to afford the (third ) motor in my Megacab... that and I have wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy to many projects around here...... the blue one I sold to a friend after I rebuilt the transmission. I've still got the green dually...

As for an 8.3, they are about as tough as they get.... I've never seen the block break in half, blowing the crank journals out the bottom of the block like I have a DT466!! But if you're gonna go for broke in a Class 6+ truck, why not go for the LTA10? 611 cubic inches of pure awesome!! Or even an old 855!! The ORIGNAL common rail injection engines!!

The DT466 isn't a bad motor, but they don't take the heat and compression like a Cummins will.... I mean, if you didn't have the Cummins to compare it to, it'd be a great engine. We had them in our combines for many years, and a few tractors. I've got one locked down in a 1460 combine right now.... of course, it's got 6,000hrs on it... but I've got an old 1680 combine with @5600hrs on it with an 8.3 in it, and it doesn't even use oil... and my old 7220 CaseIH has 8000+ on the 8.3 and only starts using oil around 150-160hrs on the oil change. Oh, and then there's the injection system on the 466.... if you get a 466 with the Roosamaster pump on it, don't mess w it... but remans can be gotten from Navistar if you really want a new engine. I got one a few years ago for a fire truck.

Walk around the barn?!?!?? I thought this was a sit-and-stay-awhile? The moderators must be pretty lenient.... they still let me log on...

 

[Wayne M.]

Wow HH, where did they get the rear doors from? Imagine if they actually built that?
I think a medium crew- or even a day cab with a sleeper could accommodate a WC lift AND have a flat floor AND headroom. I agree the C is the better engine,and a L or M even better. You could put either in any medium.

 

[JR]

Are you referring to the short bed I had? Oh, no, you said beautiful...... I finally sold it to afford the (third ) motor in my Megacab... that and I have wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy to many projects around here...... the blue one I sold to a friend after I rebuilt the transmission. I've still got the green dually...


View attachment 100704

There she is! *Sigh*

 

[50BMG]

HHhuntitall, is that your white 4 door Dodge Ram in the picture? I guess I'm unfamiliar with the LTA10 and it's torque and horsepower ratings. To me the 8.3L CTA Cummins is pretty simple and straight forward basically a bigger 5.9L 6BT.

50BMG

 

[Wayne M.]

I guess I'm unfamiliar with the LTA10 and it's torque and horsepower ratings. To me the 8.3L CTA Cummins is pretty simple and straight forward basically a bigger 5.9L 6BT.

50BMG

This is very true about the B&C engines, but they are what some truck folks call "small block" engines, and true Cummins old timers should agree with me that a "Real" Cummins should have the PT (Pressure Timed) fuel system. The L series is the smallest "big block" PT engine. The HP ratings might not be as high as a hopped up B or C, but it'll twist 1500 at a lower rpm.

 

[50BMG]

I'm basically trying to do what C Series Man did with his Ford F-250 except with a 2nd Gen Dodge Ram and maybe hop it up a bit. It would kick the crap out of my current daily driver especially in the mud, snow, and ice. I was pretty much forced into buying a 2014 dodge minivan because it has become too difficult for me to get into 'regular vehicles' and I can only drive with hand controls. I am pretty sure that I know how I can bypass factory-installed hand controls as well as a few other mobility issues. But wanted to start with something I really like because if I am able to get this project rolling it will require a lot of time and the majority of my finances. It will then need to be a dependable vehicle for me in both the immediate and foreseeable future.

50BMG