I have a 94 Ram 2500 that is starting to show it's age body wise. The truck had a new crate V-10 30,000 miles ago. The truck runs super and the engine is both strong and fresh. I was wondering if this would be a good engine to swap into a late 40's Chrysler,Dodge, Plymouth or Desoto. I am sure there are easier swaps, but this driveline is already owned free and clear. I was just thinking if it was possible, use the V-10 torque with a mid range gear (3:23- 3:55) and an overdrive unit. This should make a quick car with good drivability. Granted it isn't a high revving screamer, but most cruise rods oren't race cars anyhow.
Any thoughts?

lot of motor there,,do a search maybe on allpar.com compare the weight of that iron V 10 to a small black and big block,, i have seen viper aluminum v 10s in street rods,,but never an iron from a truck,,still would be a kool project,,and since you have the motor,,,,,,,

Biggest concern I see would be the length of the V10, front to back. Things tend to get a bit crowded between the rad and the firewall with a V8, I suspect the extra length would have to be accomadated by recessing the firewall into the passenger compartment, or by extending the front of the frame. Both would be do-able, but the firewall move would probably look better in a late 40s ride. Pre 35 you could get away with extending the frame and going fenderless, but the post 35's just don't look right fenderless IMHO. If you do the post 35 and extend the frame, you will need to deal with making the fenders look right. Of course, you can always do the rat rod thing, they don't seem to mind if things are out of porportion.

Just for the record, 48 & newer trucks have a real short engine compartment, and recessing the firewall really eats up floor space in truck cabs.

After all that, if the V10 was sitting in my shop, I could probably figure out a way to use it. Go for it, post lots of pictures, we ate all waiting to see the results. Gene

I had a '37 Chrysler Imperial with a straight eight in it, lots of room there. (length wise anyway). Width wise, you might have to bump out the hood sides, but I'd still be bad a$$.

I got some meaurements. Dispite the engine having 2 more cylinders, it is only about 4 inches longer than a small block. I think the straight sixes are longer than a small block as well, aren't they? The truck runs very strong and quiet. The body is just failing. I think it would be a cool swap that should run pretty good. I know a modern Hemi would spank it, but it would be a great engine to tote the post war cars nicely. I may re-start the hunt for the old car!!!

It's basically a 318 with 2 additional cylinders added. I used to joke that since the V6 was a 318 missing 2 cylinders, they simply welded those now extra ones onto another 318 to make the V10!

So, I have a 48 Plymouth coupe sitting here still housing the original flathead 6. The firewall is not flat on them, around the back of the 6 the firewall has an offset towards the passenger compartment that is about 3" deep and about 12" wide. From the non-off set firewall, to the front of the fan blades is 28", as i remember, the fans run real close to the rad. The inner fenders are 22" at the narrowest point, (they are wide at the top and get narrow about 1/2 way to the frame, front to back on both sides) and the steering column sits under the narrow part of the driver side inner fender. The inner fenders can be moved and the steering column can be changed with a steering box upgrade, but the length will require some serious adjustments. Gene

Build a flatbed/carhauler with the engine under the bed like Mopar Ron's old truck. Then under the hood becomes trunk space.

You could buy my 38 Chrysler Imperial 4 door for that V10 motor.