When it comes to many automotive enthusiasts, you shouldn’t take the term “car guy” literally. Most car guys I know appreciate not only cars, but trucks and SUVs as well. It’s the same with Jay Leno: he loves cars yet has a great time in this 1991 Dodge Ram 250 4×4 with a modified Cummins 5.9-liter turbodiesel I6.
Tim Stevenson of the YouTube channel Decent Garage built this restomod-ified rig as a show truck and tow vehicle. What exactly will it be pulling? A Royal Bobcat 1965 Pontiac GTO owned by one of Leno’s previous guests, Jordan “Joker” Smith.
Stevenson wanted to keep it looking largely stock, so he had a new grille made and refreshed the interior. However, Stevenson took the opportunity to upgrade the Ram’s performance. He notes that one of the biggest issues with these trucks is their stock braking hardware and performance, so he swapped out the factory parts for more modern 13-inch front rotors and 11-inch rear rotors. Of course, Stevenson also lifted it. To improve the ride quality, he installed a three-link front suspension setup with coilovers, longer rear leaf springs, and air bags.
Don’t worry—Stevenson didn’t skip the engine bay. When this Ram left the factory, its Cummins engine produced 160 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. Now? Thanks to upgrades such as a thicker intercooler from a newer truck, larger injectors, hotter cam, compound turbos, and Banks Twin Ram intake manifold, its peak output is 660 horses and 1,562 lb-ft of torque. A Mercedes-Benz G56 heavy-duty six-speed manual and dual-range transfer case with a twin-stick shifter layout channel the power to the turnpike or trail.
Leno makes sure to let this Ram run wild on both surfaces. He puts his foot down and unloads that colossal power on the street, then pulls off at the first sight of a dirt path to gather some earth in the Ram’s tread blocks. It sure looks like he enjoys the bumpy ride more than a “car guy” (in the purest sense of the term).
