This is one of those trucks that just stops and makes you stare. Whenever you see it, you can’t drive past or walk by without looking closely. If you spot it on Instagram, your thumb freezes mid-scroll. That’s exactly what happened to me. When I stumbled upon photos of this lowered and tastefully modified 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 Rumble Bee, I knew immediately that we needed to feature it on Specs&Mods. Luckily, its owner Anthony was happy to talk with me about the modifications and upgrades he’s made to this awesome Ram.
Being a special edition Ram 1500 Rumble Bee Second Swarm, the truck already came exceptionally good-looking and well-equipped from the factory. With its 5.7L HEMI V8, it delivers that performance truck vibe for enthusiasts who want something special without needing the absolute top-of-the-line SRT10 with its Viper engine. But as any true gearhead knows, there’s always room for improvement.
The Build
Anthony has added some cool, subtle touches to the exterior, dropped the suspension, and installed several performance add-ons that take this already impressive truck to the next level. Read on to discover all the mods and upgrades on this eye-catching yellow Rumble Bee!
“The Rumble Bee package is a limited sport-truck version of the Ram. It was available only on regular-cab/short-box pickups; however, some other versions of the Ram were modified to look like Rumble Bees. – Wikipedia
Performance
Since the Rumble Bee already comes equipped with the legendary 5.7L HEMI V8 pushing 345 HP and 375 lb-ft of torque, Anthony didn’t need to do much to make this truck go fast and sound mean. His performance modifications are straightforward but effective.
The K&N Cold Air Intake is the centerpiece upgrade, allowing the HEMI to breathe easier by drawing in cooler, denser air for improved combustion efficiency and a modest power increase. Paired with this is the Carven exhaust system, which not only frees up additional horsepower by reducing backpressure but also delivers that signature deep, aggressive rumble that muscle car enthusiasts call the best sound on Earth.
Wheels and Suspension
The owner’s approach to the Rumble Bee’s stance is all about achieving that perfect balance between looks and perofrmance. The truck has that nice-looking 5/8 static drop that lowers the profile just enough to give it that purposeful stance without sacrificing drivability.
The centerpiece of the exterior transformation is certainly the 22-inch RAM SRT-10 wheels, which are a perfect stylistic choice as they maintain the factory performance aesthetic while sizing up for more visual impact. Wrapped in low-profile 275/35/22 tires, these wheels perfectly fill out the fenders and make it resemble with the iconic Viper truck.
Interior
The inside of Anthony’s Rumble Bee has some subtle custom touches – he’s added some carbon parts that give it that modern performance vibe while staying true to the original styling. Yellow trim on the dash and doors ties in perfectly with the truck’s exterior paint, making everything feel “factory-like”. He’s also thrown in some custom Bee decals as a nod to the truck’s heritage, showing his attention to the little details that make a build special.
How Many Were Produced?
The Rumblebee Edition was a limited run model. In 2004, Dodge made only 3,700 units, while in 2005, 5,000 units were manufactured. This brings the total production count to 8,700 trucks, each one as unique as a fingerprint.
List of Modifications
Wheels
- 22” inch SRT-10 wheels on 275/35/22 tires
Suspension
- 5/8 static drop
Interior
- Carbon interior parts
- Yellow trim on dash and door panels
- Bee decals
Performance Upgrades
- K&N Cold Air Intake
- Carven exhaust
Conclusion
Anthony’s Rumble Bee build focuses on tasteful modifications to highlight the original character of the truck rather than loading it up with big upgrades. That’s why the scoring is relatively modest totalling 2.5/10 in the performance department with the K&N intake and Carven exhaust combination.
| Parts Category | Difficulty Rating* |
|---|---|
| Suspension Mods: | 3/10 |
| Performance Mods: | 2.5/10 |
| Interior Mods: | 2/10 |
* Based on our build difficulty evaluation system ⓘ
The suspension category follows closely at 3/10 with a practical static drop that perfectly complements those massive 22-inch SRT-10 wheels. Interior modifications round out the build with subtle carbon fiber accents that bring a modern performance aesthetic to the cab without sacrificing the truck’s original character. Overall it’s one of the most stylish and good-looking trucks that we’ve featured in a while. It’s a perfect example on how you modify an already significant vehicle (this is a #3153 out of only 5000 trucks produced in 2005) – keep it simple, preserve it’s original features and it will draw attention like crazy.
Watch the progress and find out more about this Dodge Ram 1500 project by visiting the Instagram profile of the owner: @5.7_anthony!
Photography by 📸: @photosbypacheco
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