Call me stupid, but I can tell no major differences between my 85 d150 and the first gen rams that are supposedly 87-93....is an 85 considered 1st gen as well?
mrhite65
04-30-2007, 07:28 PM
72-87 are in the Vintage section. I believe it is because of fuel injection starting in 88. It has nothing to do with body lines.
ilikesnackpacks
04-30-2007, 08:08 PM
so theoretically, body parts from a 1st gen should fit my truck with no problems?
Catawba Scott
04-30-2007, 08:56 PM
With the exception of the grille and headlight bezels, the front ends, roof panel and doors are all the same from 1981 to 1993.
mrhite65
04-30-2007, 09:27 PM
I concur!
ilikesnackpacks
04-30-2007, 10:38 PM
can i slap a later model grill onto my bad beast of a truck? i really like the 93 grill and clear signals, and the ram hood ornament has to go...how about suspension? i'd like to eventually lower it, however can't find any parts (or info on this board) about it. any ideas?
mrhite65
04-30-2007, 11:02 PM
Look in Vintage Dodge Truck Forums section then 1972-1987 Ram Trucks (D, W-series) section and you will find info on lowering your truck. To put a 91-93 grill on your 85, I believe you will have to swap out the radiator support from the 91-93 truck. This will get you the correct alignment of the headlights for the new grill.
mpr_ldy
05-03-2007, 07:16 AM
You don't really have to change the core support. We modified a 90 core support to fit a 91-93 grill. You have to move the headlight buckets up and out a little bit. You may have to use a lower valance panel from a 91-93 as well. I'm not sure we had one laying around so we used it.
B-300
05-03-2007, 11:54 AM
Also roller camshaft and high-swirl combustion chamber heads.
--B-300--
88D250
05-06-2007, 10:08 PM
Dodge started using the word RAM to describe their pickup trucks in 1988. Prior to that you will not see the RAM on their trucks. With the exception of the RAMCHARGER that was like the Bronco & Blazers. That is why 88-93 was called the 1st generation RAMS.
mrhite65
05-07-2007, 10:25 AM
Mine is a 1982 Ram Miser.
ilikesnackpacks
05-07-2007, 04:10 PM
my 85 has ram badges on the fenders, as well as the tailgate??
Rammer64
05-08-2007, 08:33 AM
They changed the grille design (late 91-93)to accomodate the intercooler for the Cummins. The rad support w/headlight mounts is appearently different than the older models.
threetwos
05-08-2007, 08:58 AM
Dodge used Ram in the fifties on their trucks such as RED RAM and some where engine badges. Walter Chrysler's design dept. used the RAM to badge Dodge Trucks as far back as the 1930's. Some of the badging was an actual RAM on the front hood emblem. Dodge and the RAM go back Many, Many years. Unlike phord who didn't even build their own trucks,(4x4), until 1959. Marmon and Herrington,(still in business today), built them for phord! (4x4) BTW, the leafs went away in 1993,(front), They were the last of the 1/2 ton solid axle trucks,(2002). GM doesnt even make a solid axle truck anymore,(front). :rck:
