Feature
Justin Reed’s HEMI-Powered ’89 Dodge Ram D150
ave you ever wondered why there aren’t nearly as many Dodge trucks out at shows as there are Chevy and Ford pickups? Those of you who have are most likely Mopar fans because the vast majority of showgoers probably don’t even stop to think about the misrepresentation of Dodge badges at these events. The fact of the matter is that there aren’t enough of these trucks being built and customized for show and performance sake. Frankly, there are far less Dodge enthusiasts out there. Also, the aftermarket just isn’t as supportive as it is with the automaker’s counterparts, which makes it that much harder to build one. It’s just the way things are but when there is a badass Dodge truck lurking in the shadows, you had better believe we’ll be there to document its presence.
“I am a Dodge lover, and I’ve been wanting to build a pro touring–style truck for the longest time,” Justin Reed of Whitesboro, Texas, says. “No one builds Dodge trucks, and that gave me the perfect excuse to go out and create something that was a little different from the norm.”
Justin soon began his search for an ideal project pickup, which he found in this ’89 Ram D150. He began the inquiry and negotiation process with the previous owner and landed on a deal that would allow him to haul the truck out from under the carport where it had been parked for the last five years. “So, I am now the third owner of this truck,” Justin adds. “It had been a farm truck all of its life, was not in running condition, which is why it was parked for so long. The upside was it only having 72,000 original miles on the stock 318 engine, and that it was a very clean, rust-free Texas truck. That’s all I know about the truck’s past, but it was enough info for me to build on.”
Well, the Ram’s factory engine didn’t last for long once Justin got it back up and running. He was fine with it, actually. The way he saw it, this was just an opportunity to do something he’d already given some thought to—a HEMI swap. “My buddy has a ’79 Cordoba that he did a HEMI swap on already, so he knew how to do it. So we bought a ’16 HEMI motor with an eight-speed transmission from a wrecked truck, then ordered other things over the next six months before we started on the build. Last summer we spent the weekends and some occasional weeknights wrenching to whip the truck back into shape.”
Next, Justin recruited Josh Norris of Grey Bush Hotrods to assist with the chassis overhaul, which would soon leave the Ram’s stance much lower and agile. “Josh is a great friend, and while he doesn’t have an actual official business yet, he can get a lot done out of his four-car garage,” Justin admits. “He is the oldest in our group, so we call him Grey Bush. I came up with his shop name, which he actually kind of likes, so we are running with it.”
While the Dodge was in the shop, the guys installed a set of custom upper arms that were fabricated by Brandon LS Fruth, along with a set of modified lowers from a Dodge Ram van. The rear of the frame was C-notched and was then outfitted with a custom torque arm bar and axle flip to lower the suspension substantially. A set of 14-inch R1 Concepts drilled-and-slotted brakes were then added to the front end while the stock rear braking system was left in place. The 20×8.5 and 20×10 Coys C44 wheels wrapped in Nitto NT555 G2 rubber were then mated and bolted into position to finish up the truck’s chassis setup.
The inner cab space was fully decked out, however, with a killer red vinyl–covered bench seat, cab panels, dash, and 14-inch Billet Specialties steering wheel in order to completely transform the interior landscape. Dakota Digital VHX gauges, Sublime Technologies adapters to run the A/C, Memphis Audio speakers, custom LED lighting, and various accessories were also pieced together to give the cab space a well-appointed look and feel that may be good enough to withstand any restyling phases that could be in this truck’s future.
Before he knew it, Justin had a running, driving, fully customized Dodge truck that he felt was ready to show and put to the test. “We finished up on it the day before the 2023 LST show and decided to drive it 250 miles to get there,” he says. “Aside from running out of gas along the way due to the gauge reading not being exact, the truck performed great. We still want to install a four-link, add a Hellcat blower, and maybe change up the wheels and some other things, but I just want to enjoy it as-is for the rest of this year. Thank you to my uncle Randall and my buddy Coley Vale for helping out with the project.”