Nick Bailey has always had a soft spot for first-generation Ram trucks. He purchased his very first truck in high school, and it was a ’93 Ram with the legendary Cummins diesel. It was definitely a “first vehicle” starter truck, however, as the Dodge was in overall poor shape, including a frame that was rotting away by the minute. He eventually got rid of the ’93, but kept a lookout for a solid replacement. That’s where the truck seen here enters the picture.

A couple of years after Nick sold his ’93, he ran across a truck that was in really good shape. He made the trip from Virginia over to Ohio to pick up his new ride, this ‘91.5 Dodge Ram W250. The truck was in good shape, had a turned-up fuel pump and larger injectors, and had already been repainted. It also was a manual shift, which Nick felt was a plus. He drove the truck back to Virginia, with the intention of keeping it mostly stock. Well, as you can imagine, that didn’t happen.

The 5.9-liter Cummins engine in the Ram has been completely rebuilt and upgraded and has dynoed at 468 rwhp in its current configuration.

When an unfortunate engine mishap occurred Nick figured it was time for more than just a rebuild. Nick enlisted Rodney Dalton from Radford, Virginia to perform a complete rebuild on the 5.9 Cummins powerplant. The block was bored 0.020-inch over and fitted with Mahle pistons, a Hamilton Cams 188/220-degree duration cam, pushrods, and valvesprings. The cylinder head was O-ringed, and secured with ARP 425 head studs.

Sometimes stock can work. The interior of the truck was pretty much left alone, other than some Isspro gauge upgrades for informational purposes.

With a solid long block, Nick turned to a Competition Pump from The Hungry Diesel, along with 6×16 injectors, and a THD lift pump. He also went gonzo in the turbo department, fitting the truck with a large (for a VE) 69mm S300 turbo from BorgWarner, that cranks out 52 psi of boost. The intercooling system also received upgrades, with 3-inch piping, a Pusher intake, and a larger Mishimoto 7.3-liter Ford intercooler.

Getting that power to the ground also meant drivetrain upgrades. So, a cryogenically treated Midwest Transmission NV4500 from a second-generation Ram was installed, along with a South Bend Clutch. The end result of all this tinkering resulted in an impressive 468 rwhp on the dyno at Firepunk Diesel.

Although his second, first-generation Ram was reliable and powerful, there were still a number of upgrades on Nick’s wish list. Next up was a Skyjacker 4-inch lift along wih traction bars from Longhorn Fab Shop, as well as Mickey Thompson Classic wheels and Maxxus tires. The steering and brakes were also upgraded, with a rear disc conversion, and the addition of a hydroboost conversion so he could actually stop the truck within a decent distance. He also fitted a Far From Stock crossover steering kit, as well as a steering brace. While these mods didn’t add power, they added steering and stopping, which is a good thing.

Nick Bailey has spent a number of years putting together a 1st Generation Dodge he can be proud of driving.

Nick’s overall goal of building his first-generation Ram was to build a truck that was tastefully modified, and we’d say he hit his mark. We all know that these types of projects never seem to be done, and Nick says he plans to upgrade to compound turbos soon and shoot for 550 to 600 horsepower.

Do you want to see more Reader’s Rigs? If you do, click here. This column is dedicated to showcasing what you guys and girls are driving and I need your help to give the Reader’s Rigs the props they deserve. If you would like to share yours, I want to hear about it — I can never get enough. If you want to see your truck featured as a Reader’s Rig, send a few pictures of your truck showing the engine, interior, and exterior, along with all of the pertinent information about it and I’ll make you internet famous. You can send your submissions to [email protected].