Ram 50 rebuild questions

[moparguy]

I'm considering rebuilding the engine on a 88 Ram 50 2whl dr. truck with the little 2. 0 Mitsu carbed engine. This is the truck that got both boys through High School with zero problems. Now the engine is weak and smoking pretty bad.



After a couple of online searches, I'm finding very little in the way of rebuild kits. You know with all gaskets, pistons, rings etc. Did find one place with a kit for almost $500. Wow seems high.



Anyone know of a vendor with good prices on either rebuild kits or low mileage engines ready to go.



Oh, I also have a complete 71 spec 340 and 727 at the shop. But since this projects purpose is to have a high fuel mileage beater, and not a haul butt little truck, I'm not really considering dropping in the 340.



But,if it was a fairly easy conversion and I could look for 20 or so mpg, I don't know, LOL.



Thanks, RJR

 

[TowPro]

My brother got one just like it from his mother inlaw. It also smokes, but I think that is from only being driven a couple miles to the store each time it went out. His problem now is the front brakes freeze up. He already did the calipers but the new ones only lasted a couple months (a couple months of sitting, who knows if they really flushed all that old fluid out or just bleed them)

 

[Philip]

I would drop the 340 in it and throw a OD trans behind it.



Or a 3. 9 V6 would make a good swap.





With the high gears they used on those D50's with a OD trans the V8/V6 would be loafing along at low RPM.

 

[bmoeller]

How 'bout finding a little turbo diesel for it? Know a guy that had a D50 Sport with one in it. Had over 300k miles on it. Most were while towing a trailer with combine parts.