My Tow Rig...

Posted By: 70dusterjohn

My Tow Rig... - 08/12/09 08:35 PM

Well what I have is a 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 two wheel drive with the 4.7. It tows good but its getting up there in miles 153,000. So here is what I'm thinking. I'm laid off and don't have the money to buy a new truck or for that matter a used one. What I do have left from selling most everything is a pretty much stock 440 rebuilt with good parts, mild cam and so forth. It was in my Coronet with EFI and ran 11.99 best. Pulled the motor and sold the car. I was thinking about putting that in the truck, and I have a buddy with an older 518 tranny with a ultra bell on it for the big block. Its got a 4.10 gear so I won't have to worry bout that. What do you guys think. I just want something that will tow my car a little easier.. Mind you money is tight and this will be thrown together with parts I have.. Any Ideas pros cons...

Posted By: Moparnut426

Re: My Tow Rig... - 08/12/09 08:42 PM

Sounds fun... Mind you your truck has electronic cluster and you will have to have either an electronic speedo/cluster made for it, or you will have to make a cable driven cluster retro fitted for your truck, All going to add up in the "no funds" dept. If you have some parts and pieces laying around, Id do it man, sounds fun. Your Truck also has a rear abs sensor too. You can basically gut the truck, and turn it back into a basic old truck with new skins, but I dont know how you will keep the A/C, Headlights, And power door to work, You might want to get a wireing diagram to look at.

Kasey

Posted By: WILD BILL

Re: My Tow Rig... - 08/12/09 08:47 PM

Sounds like a great idea if you can pull it off.

Posted By: ETASPEN

Re: My Tow Rig... - 08/12/09 08:47 PM

I think you would be constantly battling the cooling system, especially in traffic, or spending a ton of $$$ trying to remedy it. At least that was always my experience w/440 tow rigs. Rigging up the brackets/pulleys, etc. for the AC and accessories is also interesting. On the up side, it will pull anything you can hook the truck to...nicely!

Posted By: Gumbydammit

Re: My Tow Rig... - 08/12/09 08:51 PM

For what it will cost in the long run to make it work, not to mention the emissions issues if your state has inspections, you could buy a good used 2500 Ram.

I've seen 95-99 2500 Diesel Rams on Ebay for about 8-13K depending on condition.

Heck, someone out there may even want to TRADE their diesel for a nice gas truck like yours.

Posted By: 70dusterjohn

Re: My Tow Rig... - 08/12/09 09:09 PM

WEll I was going to just re-wire the hole truck with one of those street rod kits. ABS I really don't care. The gauges I'll just replace. AC don't care.. As for the cooling I got a alm. Rad that I measured and with fit with some

so I don't think it will be an issue. I also think that if I keep the puter and not run the engine of it I could keep everything else with out it being to big of a problem.

Posted By: Moparnut426

Re: My Tow Rig... - 08/12/09 09:31 PM

There really is no way to keep the computer because too many sensors rely on info to make them work, IE cam, crank, rear vehicle speed, trany output, tranny input, and that has a fully electronic MIC, mechanical instrument cluster, It also is kinda a brain of its own. If you plan on doing this, I dont see any problems with the custom wireing hot rod kit. The headlight you can probably still wire into the factory switch, and fuse pannes, but that truck also has a Power distrubution center which has either a front controll module, or a tipm , totally integrated power module, on it also. So you will be gutting the truck. You will be losing probably 500lbs of wireing off the truck.

Kasey

Posted By: 70dusterjohn

Re: My Tow Rig... - 08/12/09 10:41 PM

KOOL lighter is always better... Why do they have to make things so hard anymore.. I just figured that with the Big block I wouldn't have to worry about in the way of towing.. I think it would tow just bout anything.. And the gas mileage when it was in the Coronet was about 17 highway and 13 in town.. Thats not to bad..

Posted By: Chris2581

Re: My Tow Rig... - 08/12/09 10:47 PM

I'd rethink this..I have a '02 Ram like yours with 125 on the clock and it's still doing great.If anything,I'd look at swapping a 5.7 late model Hemi in if you really need to upgrade or put in a 4.7HO engine.

Posted By: Moparnut426

Re: My Tow Rig... - 08/12/09 11:28 PM

Quote:

I'd rethink this..I have a '02 Ram like yours with 125 on the clock and it's still doing great.If anything,I'd look at swapping a 5.7 late model Hemi in if you really need to upgrade or put in a 4.7HO engine.

There is no "HO" 4.7, they just have "HO" programing in the jeep grand cherokee. All parts from a 4.7 in a truck will directly interchange with a 4.7 in the jeeps. They just have better programing, and different injectors, so that would be a waste of time. I dont think there would be a problem with your swap even with the gutting.

Id do it.

Kasey

Posted By: 70dusterjohn

Re: My Tow Rig... - 08/12/09 11:37 PM

Quote:

I'd rethink this..I have a '02 Ram like yours with 125 on the clock and it's still doing great.If anything,I'd look at swapping a 5.7 late model Hemi in if you really need to upgrade or put in a 4.7HO engine.

I looked into the 5.7 but to be honest my friend tows his car with a 5.7 and on hills I can out pull him with my little 4.7.. I just want to always have my foot in it to pull up small grades let alone big hills. And before you say it, his car and trailer weight is less than mine..same truck just 5.7..

Posted By: Chris2581

Re: My Tow Rig... - 08/12/09 11:49 PM

Quote:

Quote:

I'd rethink this..I have a '02 Ram like yours with 125 on the clock and it's still doing great.If anything,I'd look at swapping a 5.7 late model Hemi in if you really need to upgrade or put in a 4.7HO engine.

There is no "HO" 4.7, they just have "HO" programing in the jeep grand cherokee. All parts from a 4.7 in a truck will directly interchange with a 4.7 in the jeeps. They just have better programing, and different injectors, so that would be a waste of time. I dont think there would be a problem with your swap even with the gutting.

Id do it.

Kasey

Camshafts are different,and IIRC,the intake is too.

Posted By: boatracer572

Re: My Tow Rig... - 08/13/09 12:49 AM

You guys in Ohio dont need to get a smog every two years?

Attached picture 5413774-_MG_0582.JPG

Posted By: Sport440

Re: My Tow Rig... - 08/13/09 01:13 AM

Its a 03 truck, its not that old and the mileage, on the truck as Considered by these days standards , isnt bad.

If moneys tight I would keep it exactly as it is.

The swap, while you have a whole lot of parts, Will cost you a Whole lot more then doing Nothing with the truck as is.

Plus your new MPG will suck and then the unforseen gremlins,$$$ and grief, that will pop up just wont be worth it.

If you had a good income coming in right now I would consider it. But since your laid off, for Now, I would leave well enough alone.

IMO, this is No time, to be doing something like this. Your 03 truck as is, works fine as stated.

Your time, would be better spent in doing side jobs and making a little Extra bucs on the side then doing a old school engine swap on a 03 Dodge 4.7 pickup with all its modern efficiencies.

Thats my honest opinion. mike

Posted By: sthemi

Re: My Tow Rig... - 08/13/09 02:55 AM

You would be better off selling it outright and buying an 80s or early 90s 3/4 ton Ram.
If you put the 440 in your truck the frame is still the light duty as is the rear axle,springs, shocks etc. the frame may be OK but the rear will not be happy with a strong 440...

Posted By: 70dusterjohn

Re: My Tow Rig... - 08/13/09 03:01 AM

Quote:

Its a 03 truck, its not that old and the mileage, on the truck as Considered by these days standards , isnt bad.

If moneys tight I would keep it exactly as it is.

The swap, while you have a whole lot of parts, Will cost you a Whole lot more then doing Nothing with the truck as is.

Plus your new MPG will suck and then the unforseen gremlins,$$$ and grief, that will pop up just wont be worth it.

If you had a good income coming in right now I would consider it. But since your laid off, for Now, I would leave well enough alone.

IMO, this is No time, to be doing something like this. Your 03 truck as is, works fine as stated.

Your time, would be better spent in doing side jobs and making a little Extra bucs on the side then doing a old school engine swap on a 03 Dodge 4.7 pickup with all its modern efficiencies.

Thats my honest opinion. mike

Yeah your probly right.. I'm just sooooooo tired of sitting around doing nothing.. And yes I'm doing side jobs, not a lot but there starting to roll in... Thanks

Posted By: racerx

Re: My Tow Rig... - 08/13/09 11:50 PM

Quote:

Its a 03 truck, its not that old and the mileage, on the truck as Considered by these days standards , isnt bad.

If moneys tight I would keep it exactly as it is.

The swap, while you have a whole lot of parts, Will cost you a Whole lot more then doing Nothing with the truck as is.

Plus your new MPG will suck and then the unforseen gremlins,$$$ and grief, that will pop up just wont be worth it.

If you had a good income coming in right now I would consider it. But since your laid off, for Now, I would leave well enough alone.

IMO, this is No time, to be doing something like this. Your 03 truck as is, works fine as stated.

Your time, would be better spent in doing side jobs and making a little Extra bucs on the side then doing a old school engine swap on a 03 Dodge 4.7 pickup with all its modern efficiencies.

Thats my honest opinion. mike

I wood leave it alone.