2004 Dodge Ram 3500 Mack Truck - Diesel Alternatives

Built like a Mack truck. That popular phrase is used to describe anything that's strong, rugged, and designed to last. Al and John Innocenti have long appreciated the styling and engineering of the early Macks, so they decided to build one of their own, literally. The truck you see is a combination of a '56 B-63 model Mack and an '04 Dodge Ram Quad Cab longbed 3500. In the end, the Dodge and the Mack fit together beautifully, but getting them to mesh was a serious undertaking.

A chrome-plated bulldog can...        read full caption A chrome-plated bulldog can be found on the front of almost all Mack trucks.	The rack and pinion steering...        read full caption The rack and pinion steering and independent coil suspension make the Mack a dream to drive.	This is a trick tailgate latch...        read full caption This is a trick tailgate latch borrowed from a seat-belt setup.
Looking at the grille front...        read full caption Looking at the grille front and center, one can only see chrome, but at an angle, the red sides really pop.	The bed has a marine plywood...        read full caption The bed has a marine plywood floor with inlaid metal strips. This combination is durable and will not warp or stain. Getting the bed sides and rails to look right was a challenge since this is a one-of-a-kind creation.	The airbag does not function,...        read full caption The airbag does not function, but everything else does, including the Dodge gauges and radio. The seats and console were grafted to the Mack's once-utilitarian interior.
The cast-iron radiator is...        read full caption The cast-iron radiator is from the '56 Mack, but the intercooler is from the '04 Dodge Ram. Fitting the Cummins' intercooler required John and Al to scrap the forward-tilting hood they planned to build in favor of this more traditional side-opening hood.	This 1953 Mack B model has...        read full caption This 1953 Mack B model has a sleeper box and was the inspiration for John and Al's handmade creation. Mack's powerful Thermodyne diesel engine delivered 170 hp, but the 5.9L Cummins common-rail engine produces more than 300 horsepower. We think Al and John made the right choice going with the ISB.	Take a look at the windshield...        read full caption Take a look at the windshield wiper motor and custom bracketry. Dodge trucks wipe rain together side-by-side and Macks do the opposite. John and Al said this challenge of getting the two to work together was just one of the difficult problems which was resolved during the buildup.