Theoretical challenge build - dodge v10?

Has anyone brought a v10 to the challenge yet?

This year may be a great year with the truck class. I see lots of rusty but running dodge v10s in budget, and many under $1k. v10 has 300 hp stock.

Find a 2wd v10, add cheap headers (the internets say the log manifolds are quite restrictive on the 8.0l magnums), straight pipes, lower and stiffen the suspension like crazy, remove all paint from body, add red circle track wheels and 315s. I'd even paint "white walls" on the hoosiers. Short bed from a 1500 if you can find the time. Might even be able to get a cheap performance goodies from the magnum v8s - I'm thinking like higher ratio rockers, throttle bodies, etc. Throttle body-plate nitrous wet kit?

Like this (which is a 10 second diesel truck), but with the red wheels and whitewalls. http://www.trucktrend.com/features/1512-low-budget-1994-dodge-ram-2500-dragstrip-brawler/

Winner? or gonna get beat?

I came in here wondering where I could get a viper motor for 2 grand. Left disappointed.

I like this idea. Do it!!!!

Ram v10 (4wd and no reverse - bummer) $750 https://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/cto/6166256068.html

2wd - but the 5.9 v8 (maybe that is the better motor haha) $800 https://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/cto/6182455317.html

This one is a 2wd 360ci and 5 speed - $1300 https://chicago.craigslist.org/sox/cto/6115891405.html

Just to point out how easy these things are to find for cheap.

So if I took the V10 out, how would I go about making it go in another car?

the automatics in this generation of Dodge are not known for there robust-ness so that would be something to watch out for.

edizzle89 wrote: the automatics in this generation of Dodge are not known for there robust-ness so that would be something to watch out for.

New question. So if I took the V10 out, how would I go about making it go in another car and adapting a manual transmission?

The Ram V10 (which was the basis for the Viper motor) was an available option on 2500s and 3500s of the era. So theoretically, you could swap it into anything that could also hold a 360 Magnum of the era.

tuna55 wrote:

edizzle89 wrote: the automatics in this generation of Dodge are not known for there robust-ness so that would be something to watch out for.

New question. So if I took the V10 out, how would I go about making it go in another car and adapting a manual transmission?

you could get a v10 with a manual trans, its the same manual as the 12v 5.9 cummins (heavy duty nv4500). Not sure if they are completely compatible between both engines though. Also it being a heavy duty truck trans dont expect hot rod shifts.

Sky_Render wrote: The Ram V10 (which was the basis for the Viper motor) (but share no common parts) was an available option on 2500s and 3500s of the era. So theoretically, you could swap it into anything that could also hold a 360 Magnum of the era.

FTFY just so people dont try to expect to much out of the truck v10

IF they are anything like Vipers they will pickup 70-100hp with a good set of headers and some port work on the heads. Dodge cannot or will not build a street legal exhaust manifold of the big motors that make good power.

Also I am looking for one to stick the drive-train in a 20's roadster.

tuna55 wrote: So if I took the V10 out, how would I go about making it go in another car?

Take cab and bed off ram frame, set other car on ram frame?

How about this?

edizzle89 wrote: the automatics in this generation of Dodge are not known for there robust-ness so that would be something to watch out for.

And the manual NV4500 transmission they put behind these are even worse... Although I don't think I've ever seen a V10 MT. I'm sure they exist, but I can't imagine they are common.

But... assuming you could find one... pull the bed off, shorten the frame, shorten/replace the bed. Pull some leaves out of the rear spring packs. Stiffen the front end. No matter what, you will probably still have a truck that weighs over 2 tons.

FWIW, the V10 and CTD share a frame. The frames under other 2500/3500 trucks are different.

These are tid-bits you learn after you unknowingly buy a 2WD V10 truck that was converted to a 4WD CTD...

Ian F wrote:

edizzle89 wrote: the automatics in this generation of Dodge are not known for there robust-ness so that would be something to watch out for.

And the manual NV4500 transmission they put behind these are even worse... Although I don't think I've ever seen a V10 MT. I'm sure they exist, but I can't imagine they are common. But... assuming you could find one... pull the bed off, shorten the frame, shorten/replace the bed. Pull some leaves out of the rear spring packs. Stiffen the front end. No matter what, you will probably still have a truck that weighs over 2 tons. FWIW, the V10 and CTD share a frame. The frames under other 2500/3500 trucks are different. These are tid-bits you learn after you unknowingly buy a 2WD V10 truck that was converted to a 4WD CTD...

So are there good transmissions which can work there? It looks pretty thin on the ground here

http://www.novak-adapt.com/knowledge/engines/about/dodge/mopar-small-block

Is there a Challenge budget friendly way to get a TH350 or TH400 behind a V10? What about an earlier 727?

http://americanpowertrain.com/i-8425715-bell-housing-mopar-small-block-318-340-360-for-gm-muncie-t-10.html

http://americanpowertrain.com/i-8426605-bell-housing-mopar-sb-new-hemi-for-a833-4-speed.html

Are bellhousings still considered "safety equipment" and therefore Challenge freebies or did that end?

pres589 wrote: Are bellhousings still considered "safety equipment" and therefore Challenge freebies or did that end?

You can take a closer look at the exact rules, but its along the lines of "pay for the part to get it done, and then the safer piece is budget neutral". I don't know if the bellhousing is included or not.

The rules: The Reese Rule: SFI-approved harmonic balancers, SFI-approved flywheels and SFI-approved flex plates are budget-neutral. These parts are dangerous rotating assemblies that should be treated with respect. Any intact harmonic balancer, flywheel, or flex plate listed on the budget may be exchanged for a duplicate SFI-approved part without increasing or decreasing the budget. “Duplicate” is defined as having the same listed application as the standard part in a major parts catalog. In situations where a standard part is not present to exchange, fair market value of the standard part may be used. SFI-approved transmission shields, SFI-approved flex plate shields, and SFI-approved bell housings are not rotating parts, and are not budget exempt. You may still be required to use one or all, depending on your car’s construction and E.T. in the drags.

http://www.grmchallenge.com/rules/

In reply to tuna55:

that was a better approach

It doesn't look like there is an easy button, other than to rebuild the Dodge auto yourself.

Apparently it is the same bellhousing pattern as the diesel, but not the 360 as initially said here.

http://www.allpar.com/mopar/V10.html

So what bolts to a Cummins and is also good at drag racing and autocross?

Ian F wrote:

edizzle89 wrote: the automatics in this generation of Dodge are not known for there robust-ness so that would be something to watch out for.

And the manual NV4500 transmission they put behind these are even worse... Although I don't think I've ever seen a V10 MT. I'm sure they exist, but I can't imagine they are common. But... assuming you could find one... pull the bed off, shorten the frame, shorten/replace the bed. Pull some leaves out of the rear spring packs. Stiffen the front end. No matter what, you will probably still have a truck that weighs over 2 tons. FWIW, the V10 and CTD share a frame. The frames under other 2500/3500 trucks are different. These are tid-bits you learn after you unknowingly buy a 2WD V10 truck that was converted to a 4WD CTD...

i dont have much experience with the nv4500 but i know several people with cummins trucks that have them and they dont have a problem with them at all besides them shifting like a truck trans, big long through with clunky syncro's, and i think they hold up to power reasonably well. the one's i've driven compare pretty close to the zf5 in my DD f250

There was a 727 in the early Cummins trucks, '89 to '93, which would need to be "reprogrammed" for a performance application.

Transmission seems like a weak spot in this plan. Rebuilding the stock auto probably makes sense if you have that ability.