89 Ram 50 5.3 LS custom frame, 4 Link, Bagged Build

[Swansburg]

Im still far from done with my project but i thought I would post a few pictures. Its an 89 ram 50 that originally cam with a 2.0 g63b. I built the frame from 4x2 square tubing, using a narrowed ford 8.8 rear end, 4 link suspension, slam specialties bags, 5.3 LS with a 7875 turbo and an AR5 transmission using a fabbot adapter kit

[Swansburg]

[Swansburg]

aaaaaaaaa

[dash]

since you pretty much "making a truck", why the 'alien' mitsu body atop instead of a chevy S10 ?
good skilz. Looks tough. Should be scary fast

[geezer101]

A+ welding and fab skills - very nice I think the Mitsu cab suits the 'feel' of this build more than the S10 would. Nice wheels too!

[Swansburg]

since you pretty much "making a truck", why the 'alien' mitsu body atop instead of a chevy S10 ?
good skilz. Looks tough. Should be scary fast

The truck has an interesting story behind it. My parents in law got the truck from someone who owed them money for plowing, after they received the truck it sat in their yard untouched for 13 years. They offered the truck to me and of course after loving mini trucks my whole life I took it home with me. I installed a weber carb, new headgasket, plugs, starter, and bunch of other stuff and got the truck running. After driving it for over a year I decided it needed more. The truck had 93hp when it was new, no power steering, no AC, no radio, and it rode terribly rough. The cab and bed where still in great shape but being in NH in salted roads the frame was starting to get tender and the motor was getting tired. So I decided it would be easiest to just start over than try to fix an old frame that might not last. and the LS... thatll solve the 93hp problem

[Swansburg]

A+ welding and fab skills - very nice I think the Mitsu cab suits the 'feel' of this build more than the S10 would. Nice wheels too!

Thank you! the wheels are actually off my old subaru, Due to using subaru front hubs, and the ford 8.8 (5x114.3) they bolt right up!

[dash]

I think the Mitsu cab suits the 'feel' of this build more than the S10 would

a biiggg negative on that. Those little boxy S10 pickups & 2 door blazers totally ruled the mini world
From mild to wild. Never seen a mitsu done up, in the same league as the S10 heavy hitters
Like a natural for the chevy..... that's why I asked. I totally understand his reasoning tho.

LS into everything.... so the Mmax/D50 couldn't duck it. 7875 LS solve the 93hp problem, creating another
Traction (or lack of it) should be interesting, with the bag suspension layout
Killer project either way!

[Swansburg]

I considered a ton of different engine swaps, I wanted to do something crazy like a duramax diesel, or a 2jz. After looking at the cost of engines and transmissions the LS was just so much cheaper. Complete engine for $500, trans for $300, Standalone ecu and harness for $1000. I tried to avoid it but considering the cost, parts availability, and reliability, it seemed like the best swap for my situation. I know i could have easily done a turbo 4g63 or something similar, but thats been done before

[dash]

Only alloy LS worth considering imo. Iron block LS too heavy. Duramax weigh as much as the truck
LS perhaps the most popular swap ever. Probably a few mitsu pickups done already.
Keep in mind, the vast majority of seasoned car guys, don't post their vehicles on the net.

Hard to look past a 4g63, as it makes too much sense. Most r "bolt-in". Cheap parts, cheap donors.
relatively lightweight + compact/good fit + ez to work on + incredible potential on stock parts & stock computer
...and can still fly the "mitsu" banner

[Prescott]

I'll have to follow this thread. My girlfriends dad has done some pretty awesome builds and puts an LS into everything lol. He is absolutely convinced that I need to put a 5.3 in my truck. He is a master with wiring so who knows what will happen. The price point does make it very appealing though. Look forward to more

[Swansburg]

Got some more done on the front end. Hoping to have the cab on by next weekend

[Swansburg]

Got sick of tigging everything, going to mig together the rest of the front end, just have to build my upper control arms and it will be done

[geezer101]

...I wish I had the resources to pull off half the stuff you guys can do I'd be happy with scraping together enough coin to fit Mustang II front coils in my Gen 1 but air bags would be awesome.

[Swansburg]

Sometimes you just gotta go for it, I dragged my feet for 2 years wanting to do something cool with my truck. You dont need crazy tools to do something cool. Most of the work on my truck is done with a welder and a grinder/cut off wheel. Sure a plasma cutter and all kinds of other stuff would have helped me out but it's about working with what you have

[Salteen]

I have a 82 putting motor in 87. I want to do something with the 82 once it has no motor. Was thinking of a 4.8 Vortec with twin turbos, I saw a 440 in a 88, even thought a 460 V8. I kind of settled on the idea of the now overused 2JZ engine. It was used in a variety of Toyota cars, most popular in the Toyota Supra. It's like a 3??? Liter I6. They are capable of 600 HP with no mods.

I also want to turbocharge the 87 with a single small turbo and twin carb setup with a new larger head and 'Towing cams'