Factory Muscle Truck gets Faster! Stacey David's Ram 1500 Express DRAG'N'WAGON Full Build on Gearz
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 17 มิ.ย. 2024
- For a long time, I had been bangin’ on the door of the OEM’s and asking them to come out with an AFFORDABLE performance vehicle. Something with a stick and a V8 for cheap. I tried Ford with the Mustang, Chevy with the Camaro, and Dodge with the Challenger, and was not only turned down by all three, but some even laughed at the idea. However, the American public wasn’t laughing… they were getting angrier and more fed-up every day with the fact that even in the heart of a serious recession, the prices for the above named V8 muscle cars continued to stay ridiculously high. Finally, I decided that if we can’t do it with a car, maybe we could do it with a truck and approached Dodge’s RAM Truck division.
Meanwhile, the guys at RAM truck had secretly been putting together a program for the exact vehicle I was looking for… the RAM 1500 EXPRESS. This is a regular cab, short bed truck with a 390hp 5.7 Hemi, roll up windows, and rubber floor mats. A modern-day take on the ’68 Roadrunner concept if there ever was one! The price tag wasn’t as low as I wanted, but at just a hair over $20K, it is almost 10 grand cheaper than a comparable V8 powered muscle car, and a heck of a bargain. So, when the opportunity came to hook up with RAM Trucks and showcase the very first Express on GEARZ, we jumped at the chance, and the DRAG’N’WAGON was born!
The Idea behind the DRAG’N’WAGON is to show case the incredible potential and affordability of the EXPRESS package and encourage the viewers to build their own cool vehicle instead of just buying what is sitting at the dealership. With RAM providing an affordable base vehicle in the EXPRESS, a person can use the aftermarket to build a one-of -a - kind truck that will run with all those high-dollar muscle cars and still keep money in your pocket. The name DRAG’ N’ WAGON came from mixing a little of the DNA of the original SUPERBEE with some essence of the legendary LITTLE RED WAGON wheel stander, and then stirring is some modern Dragon folklore. What we ended up with is a vehicle that is totally unique… and 100% Mopar.
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Imagine buying a brand new truck for $20k again, those were the days.
Factor inflation that 20k truck is closer to 35k. You can get a stripped out 2wd short cab for that.
Yeah but you were getting paid 10$ an hour
@gondonmeddruxon
The federally enforced and various state enforced minimum wages are the exact reason why inflation is insane.
Maybe you are but I wasn't😂😂@@gondonmeddruxon
Don’t worry we now can get a new one for only 95k😅😂 it’s like a cabin on wheels lol
Stacey, thank you for being one of precious few hosts who genuinely care about their fans and community by making their classic content as available as possible, it means so much to the fans!!
Thanks!
Man I can't even remember the last time I heard that voice! Good to see Stacey back making videos. Dude you gave me so much help growing up watching your shows.
This old episode brings back great memories !
So glad to be able to watch it right now !
Ah, I loved this truck when the episodes originally aired... Thanks for the compilation full build...
Reminds me that the Lil Red Wagon was brought back last season... Looking forward to seeing that one come back as well...
When was it ?
This dude is a national treasure!
Too funny, I'm only here to see the truck. He is an awful host.
I watched this the summer of 2011. In 2012 ordered mine. Ive chickened out several times selling it. Im keeping for now
I actually bought one of these trucks with a Hemi thanks to this series. I spent $20k on it. That was back in 2012. Try that today!
That Cougar was the coolest thing that ever came out of this shop!
Thanks! The V8 Interceptor was a blast! Just in case you haven't seen the full build of it: th-cam.com/video/tGW2lCPo5vQ/w-d-xo.html
@@OfficialStaceyDavid I've seen every episode multiple times, even the Barney Fife one with them busting you for being awesome.
Stacy has a flare for being hard on my wallet lol
When this series came out I went to dodge to find one, they were'nt importing the 2wd versions at the time to Canada, the express here was 4x4 only. To special order a 2wd was almost 10k more here.... so I gave up.
About 18 months later a dodge salesman found a 1 year old black 2wd hemi that a guy wanted to trade in. This was 2016 and lots were overloaded with trucks so they didn't want it.
But the salesman called me, we were able to make a deal. I had it tuned, threw some American Racing Wheels on it and a tunno cover.
Still own it, has about 60k kms.
Looks mint. Love the truck.
Thank Stacy! Lol
That truck is 23k in 2011. That equates out to 93k in 2024.
Adjusted for inflation, $23,000 in 2011 is equal to $32,189 in 2024. not 93K 🤣
@@James-Vining-333 So his sarcasm went right over your head. Duly noted.
@@kitdinker No i got the sarcasm, I was just curious as to the real amount and was expecting it to be much higher then it was so I thought Id share the real value, which is why I had the 🤣Especially since I have been looking for a used ram Extended cab 4X4 and they have went up by 3-5K since 2020
Man that truck is bad ass especially because its regular cab short bed MOPAR & my Georgia Bulldawg colors! Only thing it needs is tinted windows, tint on the driving lights & black all the chrome out ✌💖☮
This was a cool build, shame the truck market went stupid expensive.
Your “Stuff” never ceases to amaze me. Down to earth and down and dirty 😎
30:47 and also until you step on the pedal. jajajaja..
Great episode! Thank you Stacey for bringing these back!
Glad you enjoyed it!
@OfficialStaceyDavid Oh yeah! I'm a huge Mopar guy and your Mopar/Dodge focused episodes of both Gearz and Trucks! were a huge part of my childhood as a gearhead! Thank you again, Stacey!
Love this video and love watching Stacey's passion. This was back when Dodge was very good. Stellantis is killing the golden goose.
The Hemi made them a lot of money. Supposedly, it won't pass the new emissions laws that are coming soon (or maybe are already out), so they have to phase it out. Time will tell if they regret not making a new V8.
That was a good build I love the Dragon wagon I hope you do another one like that. I love projects like this. Keep up the great work, Stacy.
Awesome build!
Thanks!
AWESOME!!! You have the best explaining of..... Great.
Grew up purchasing an 05 "ram" same as showen.
Was 20 & enjoyed the 5.7 with new rubber at 10k. After learning and pulling the stock warranty began to upgrade. Started with an intake & 3"-2 1/2 exhaust. Did alot, but bolted on long tube headers, got hooked up with Diablo. Was great, from roasting tires, to amazing fuel mileage, to racing with victory.
Thank you Stacey for this build & your excitement towards building better.
Next to the Ramcharger, this is one of my favorite trucks. Can't go wrong with a two door
Hey There Stacy!! I feel I been watching you for 25 hrs plus! My first full name is Stacy too! Since a kid I go by Lee,my middle name. Wasn't easy being a boy named Stacy! Atleast where I came from. Anyhow,I've gotta go back and see if you've done a slight build on a 2016-2017 Challeger R/T like this!!?? I use and abuse what I drive,And have a problem with tire wear on my Challeger R/T
! Love the tread on them there fulkin tires! Hell,,my car is heavy as or more than that truck! Ya,I'm A Mopar Guy at Heart,and had many,but last was a 97 SS/T 360! It did everything that this truck did,does..until I lifted it just a little. Im curious about super charger system,plus those awesome Fulkin,tread tires! If I've missed a Challenger R/T
build,that you've done at any level...Please direct me to! I'll look now on my own! I really appreciate the time over years,that you've spent entertaining us all,and teaching us all! Thanks Stacy,alot for all you've ever done! Your the OG car,truck or what ever has wheels guy!! Make it better,faster and cooler,or just nicer MAN!
Sincerly..Thanks Alot Stacy!!
Glad you found the channel! It's not a 2016-17, but I put a supercharger on a Challenger: th-cam.com/video/gRaqTHx2d8s/w-d-xo.html
I helped my brother drop a Hemi on a 2015 Ram 1500 short bed. That engine barely fits and is heavy as hell. ❤
Thank you Stacey from a guy that watch your 1st show and never stopped till my local cable stopped putting you on. My sadness is Ram stopped building the Regular cab.....I refuse to let my 2005 Ram 1500 Reg Cab 4x4 go and Chrysler/Ram can suck on those oversize, gas hogs, over loud "STOCK" muffler system, Overpriced 4 door useless trucks they sell now.
Hey Stacy my name is Steven and I love what you do you build awesome rides man very talented gentleman anyways I was just thinking it is 2024 right now and I do not know if you still get these messages or if you do if you even read them but what I was thinking is Ford has come out with a new pickup that is a single cab short bed four-wheel drive and it's got the coyote and it also is supercharged and makes $700 horsepower from the factory with a warranty I was thinking is I know a lot of these people nowadays it's going to get them their pickup trucks and days going to slam them what I was thinking is I think it'd be really really cool to take one of them pickup trucks and throw it up on a 8-in lift kit 44-in tires sell it solid axle super duty swap that would be cool and I don't want to see you know 44-in tires with 20-in rims let's take It Old School let's I know 15 is would look real funny on that truck so let's do like something I don't know 17 or 18s with 44 that would be rocking but if you do read these comments still would you please write me back and just let me know you've read it thank you
Sounds like a cool project! Like a short wheelbase Raptor R!
I love my 2017 express. None of the extra bs. Just a Hemi and 4 wheel drive. Parking sensors and the like aren’t my style anyways.
This is one of those trucks that literally you can do anything you want, and it looks so good. Simple upgrades, great upgrade to the shock setup, just an all-around sleeper of a truck that could absolutely rip on the drag strip as well.
Did you also upgrade the rear-end to a posi or limited slip?
Stacey, any thoughts on the passing of fellow gearhead Joe Elmore? Much like you, he was a big part of my love for cars and trucks.
Lmao, I didn’t even realize this till reading the comments but I thought they were selling new 2024 old body style “classic” for $23k. Man, I was like “this is going to be a big hit for them on this one!” 😂😂😂
😎🤘🇺🇸💪. BAD ASS!!!
Oh the good old days! LoL it'll never happen again sadly enough!
Sounds great. Let’s see how the dealerships screw it up.
I paid $7200 for my Brand new 1984 F-150 Lariat. I really need to bring it back to the street. Yeah, I still have it.
This is what made Ram have the R/t
😎👍💪
To get that same short bed Ram today you pretty much have to special order it. The express model is no longer available. And it very hard to get a standard can short box I think if you order up a work truck. They made a lot of changes to get a truck we want but the bean counters think otherwise what we need is not what we want. They want to sell you a high dollar truck and not a base model with no frill on it.
Nope, can't get a regular cab 1500 at all anymore. They dropped the short box with the reg cab a couple years back too.
@@JRC99 but you can still get a quad cab short box. I have a 2002 dodge ram quad cab
The labor cost for an OEM to build a regular cab short bed is probably very similar to a quad cab with tons of options, so the profit margin is much smaller. It sucks, but it makes sense.
@@OfficialStaceyDavid maybe you can fix my transmission on my truck too
I'm sorry this is Steve again the guy that was thinking about taking one of those single cab f-150s and putting it up on Hayden to lift kit and I misspelled a few spots where what it says sell axles and blah blah I meant to say do a super duty axle swap front and rear
This is the Express that just means no amenities. If you're lucky, you'll get some mirror side markers and fog lights. The ST seats are just garbage and don't offer any back support. I can do my own audio mods.
Car guy don't worry about MPG, Just MPH!
Still own mine. 27000 miles. Trying to sell
I wish Chevy would come back with a single cab SWB at a good price!
They have a SWB, but it's almost twice what the Ram 1500 Express was (not adjusted for inflation)
Ram doesn't even make a shortbed single cab pickup truck any longer. Just a single cab long bed.
Do you still have the truck?
No, but the current owner shares pictures on my Facebook sometimes.
@stacydavid what was the final build price?
How much did all the mod's cost, my guess $20,000 to $25,000 I do love the truck though.
Probably $15-20k when this was filmed. Add on a whole bunch of shop labor since most people won't have the skill to do the work.
*what year is this episode from*
2011- 2012 when the truck was new like he said.
😁😁👍👍
in this video, on the bill of sale why blur out model: 1500 reg cab RT 4x2????
Probably had someones name or dealer name below it
That truck looks old what year did this air?
The build started in 2011.
Now build one with awd and hellcat power
Apple getting sued over "airpod" branding
If that's $21000 brand new The interior must be utterly stripped to nothing
It was 2011, but the interior was essentially fleet truck spec.
you just spent more than the truck is wroth
It’s all overpriced junk now.
This weekly show was awful, shows nothing, skips around, rambles the last 15 minutes about unrelated things. Then, he puts a supercharger on a truck with😮 open an open diff... I have a 2015 Ram RT, all they did was ruin this truck on someone else's dime.
Ur the only person in the world that thinks this.