When a Dodge Ram just isn't sufficiently "truck-like"
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Most of us - even dyed-in-the-wool truck guys - would think that Dodge's latest take on semi-truck styling imbues the Ram with sufficient big-rig credibility (especially when equipped with the Cummins diesel). Greg Severt apparently does not, and that's probably because his day job involves playing with the real thing. So he did what seemed right, removing the cab and bed from a 2005 Ram 3500 and replacing it with sheetmetal from a 1994 Peterbilt. Rounding out the conversion is a bed from a '53 Chevrolet pickup, with a set of Peterbuilt front fenders replacing the original stepside quarter panels.
The stock Cummins engine remains intact, and resides under the forward-tilting hood. That particular feature required shortening the front frame rails by two inches - a move that had to be rather nerve-racking on a brand new pickup. The look is rounded out by a set of 40" tall Mickey Ts on some 20" Weld Racing wheels, with a mild lift providing the required clearance.
Interestingly enough, the conversion actually resulted in a weight reduction, as the cab and hood are aluminum (weight being very important in the heavy truck industry, where every pound of truck is one less pound of cargo).
[Source: Diesel Power]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Jaymez 11:10PM (9/13/2006)
There's nothing big rig about the Dodge Ram in the style or substance departments. There's even less than nothing once you've worked with the real thing.
That said, he did a nice job. It's a shame he used a shitty motor, though. Cummings blows goats. I had one in my 2005 Volvo that had nothing but problems and was completely lacking in power. When you hit the base of a 1/2 mile long, 1.5% grade, hill with 10,000lbs in the box and have to drop 5 gears and lose 30MPH worth of speed, you've got a shitty motor.
I saw a guy do something similar with a Freightliner cab and an F-series chassis. His looked nice, this looks better. I'd take one with a different motor and a blue paintjob.
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Jamie 11:10PM (9/13/2006)
Dodge should sell that. It'll be a hit. Blow "Tondra" right out of the water.
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Clinton 11:20PM (9/13/2006)
Warranty = VOID
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Freddy 11:33PM (9/13/2006)
It's a Peterbilt not a "Peterbuilt".
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Greg A. 11:40PM (9/13/2006)
"Interestingly enough, the conversation actually resulted in a weight _reduction_..."
Wow, he discovered how to lose weight just by talking!
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Freddy2 11:52PM (9/13/2006)
^ If only that worked for women...
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Stoneman 12:02AM (9/14/2006)
People ignore the next up and coming oil crisis. They continue to buy insanely large trucks and huge engines. Gas prices spike to unheard of levels and (gasp) they realize it's not economical to drive these things anymore. They get a Hybrid or small car.
The oil prices dip down to lower levels.After a few months or years, they buy a big ass Hummer or Canyonaro (simpsons).
Another terrorist attack in some African country's oil refinery... and boom... It's all over again. Bent over the barrel for foreign oil.
Screw that. We need something more sustainable and closer to home. How about Diesels that run on used vegetable oil? How about hybrids? Scooters?
Oh wait. THis is America, land of the gas-guzzling free.
Stoneman
http://www.stonemanautoreview.com
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cheezedog420 12:06AM (9/14/2006)
Intresting... I wonder what he gained/lost in fuel efficency due to wieght, and arrowdynamic shape loose. He probably will not be able to give a clear estimate though... As he did put on those 40" tall Mickey Ts...
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Tristan 12:08AM (9/14/2006)
tread softly, freddy2.... they have ears everywhere..
o.0
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Ferguson McSqueege 12:14AM (9/14/2006)
The article says that he gets around 20 mpg during his daily driving.
Not bad, to say the least.
And the custom work is amazing
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Tristan 12:24AM (9/14/2006)
@ 7
"if every car in america were a hybrid right now, we would be in the same situation that we are in today in 6 years, in terms of supply and demand" - toyota exec/genius
id say hydrogen has the best chances of becoming the norm if it comes to switching from crude erl. but that may be a while... http://news.bostonherald.com/international/view.bg?articleid=157340
GM has an $8Million'ish car out there that looks fun.
drill anwr!...AND the gulf! :)
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Juan 12:23AM (9/14/2006)
I'm not even a truck guy, but I love unique conversions.
I don't have a problem with one guy following his passion and making a sweet custom ride that happens to take up most of a lane and has a huge frontal area. If they sold these things on dealer's lots, THEN I'd have a problem. Until then, kudos for a polished, creative build!
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JGN 12:59AM (9/14/2006)
Because to be a rebel equates to being ignorantly wasteful these days?
Come on, being a rebel has never really required that you go along with advertising and be a wasteful moran.
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.T 1:36AM (9/14/2006)
Why not just drive the real thing and throw a bed on the back behind the cab?
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ThoughtCrime 1:39AM (9/14/2006)
Stoneman you're a turd.
Anyways, that thing is pretty f'ing cool.
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WillDaThrill 3:23AM (9/14/2006)
"When your neck just aint red enuff!"
"When your farmer tan just aint cut'n it"
"When you mullet goes out of style.......if ever, lol"
Curb your achy breaky heart, she'll think yer tracturz sexy!
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doug 8:59AM (9/14/2006)
And you guys thought that DDR SP4 MR2 conversion was stupid!
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Tommy 10:11AM (9/14/2006)
Sweet ride. I don't think it'd fit in my garage, though.
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David Zatz 10:27AM (9/14/2006)
To respond to the very first, most ignorant comment --
The latest take on the Dodge Ram is a medium duty truck that is co-designed with Freightliner and Sterling, and will also appear as the Sterling Bullet.
The Cummins diesel is probably the most reputable diesel engine available in a pickup, anywhere, period, end of story. If someone made the mistake of putting one into a truck without checking the power ratings, that's not Cummins' fault any more than if I stuck a Toyota Corolla engine into a Ram 3500 and expected it to tow a trailer up a hill. It works fine in a Corolla, but if you put too much weight on, well, no, it won't work well at all.
If you haven't heard about the medium duty Rams, see:
http://www.allpar.com/model/ram/medium-duty.html
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David Zatz 10:29AM (9/14/2006)
Additional note... this guy, if he really needs a heavy duty pickup (yes, I know that's a light duty truck), is actually not wasting fuel with this rig - the Cummins is the most efficient big-pickup diesel (perhaps the Isuzu used in Chevies is even with it now), and with the lighter truck body his gas mileage went up (assuming the aerodynamics don't kill him on the freeway). I'd save my ire for those who buy Hummers for their looks alone.
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