If there is one thing we love about social media, it’s the ease of finding some of the coolest trucks around the country. Everywhere you look, it’s one badass build after another, and one that stood out is Justin Frederick’s 1993 Dodge Ram W350. Take a peek under the hood of this patriotic Ram from the badger state.
Frederick’s diesel truck passion wasn’t always as elevated as it is now. “My passion for diesel didn’t actually start until I bought my first diesel pickup,” said Frederick. “When I was 21, I bought a 2006 Ford F-350 with a 6.0-Liter Power Stroke engine and a ZF6 manual transmission.” Once this purchase was made, the customization began.
After owning the Ford, Frederick wanted to broaden his horizons and looks for something new. “I’ve always like the first-generation Dodge trucks,” he said. “Especially when a buddy of mine, Patrick Heath, built a badass W350 called The Cummins Cadillac.” As you know, being from Wisconsin, it’s not easy finding any truck rust free, let alone one from the 1990’s that is already known for body cancer.
Although the truck looks great now, the truck really looked good from the moment Frederick purchased it. The factory mirrors may be some people’s cup of tea, but it wasn’t his. After the $15,000 investment, he’s put another $15,000 in rebuilding the truck and it really shows.
The truck originally cost $15,000 but came clean and clear and after two years the truck has come a long way. “It came with a 97 p-pump fueled Cummins engine and an NV5600 transmission swap,” Frederick said. “The transmission swap is what caught my attention. The body was rough, but there was no rust which is the main thing I was looking for.”
Over the first winter, Frederick pulled everything off the truck, sanded it down completely, and sent it off to Eric Grace for paint. Once the truck was done, he reassembled the truck over the spring and applied some additional goodies to set it off. Frederick now uses it as a daily driver during the summer months.
After the refurbish, this W350 looks like no other. The custom pinstriping was done by Renee Schnabel of Madison, Wisconsin. If you’re in Wisconsin, keep your eyes peeled for this gem.
The W350
The engine in this truck is a 5.9-Liter 12 valve Cummins. The cylinder head, although stock, has been O-Ringed and filled with 60-pound valve springs. Once the air is forced into the engine by S&B air intake, this 12 valve uses a BD Diesel Performance three-piece manifold, 4-inch Diamond Eye Performance exhaust, and a 6-inch tip to push out the fumes.
Continuing the BD Diesel trend, Frederick utilized their compound turbo kit. A 66-mm over a 74mm compound turbo kit with an adjustable wastegate boosts this dually up the highway. Fueling these oversize turbos is credited by 5×13 fuel injectors. Feeding these injectors are a P7100 injection pump with 4K RPM governor springs, larger delivery valves, and a FASS Diesel Fuel Systems 220 lift pump.
We have seen a lot of different engine bay themes, but never have we seen one this patriotic. This red, white, and blue them looks killer. This truck doesn’t just carry gobs of performance, but it’s also show quality ready.
With the additional power, Frederick uses a pair of traction bars to prevent the rear Dana 70 axle from wrapping. Keeping these 17-inch Alcoa’s and 285/70R17 Nitto Trail Grapplers from rubbing is due to the Skyjacker Suspension 2.5-inch lift in the front and 1-inch lift in the rear.
We were excited to share this build and look forward to seeing it progress. If you or someone you know has a build that is worth sharing, reach out and show us what you’ve got. For more truck features and the latest in diesel performance, stay tuned to DieselArmy.com.
