What I've been wasting my time with lately (Ramcharger rebuild) Pt.1

[The_War_Wagon]

Not MUCH going on with the RC of late - it's still at Gibbs!




Outside of the shop.




Just accumulating a few odds and ends on the side - got the stereo/cd unit from oldblue27 (it's en route - should arrive today!), so I have a stereo for it now!



Already have an amp and speakers for it, so that's good to go.


The cb rig will be the main thing in this build though.

[The_War_Wagon]

Woot - woot! Things are finally moving again!!! Crappy cell phone pics to follow!


Stopped by the shop today, to check on progress. Dave was outside with a customer, so I parked in my usual spot. My RC's been outside for 6 mos. now, but THIS was parked in its spot today!





I said, "HEY! You SHRANK my Ramcharger!!!" (Neat little project, this '71 Cornbinder - has an automatic transmission and FACTORY A/C!)


Sure enough, there in the garage, is THE War Wagon!





The axles are now done, and Dave says it DEFINITELY has more giddy-yap, with 4.56 gears!





Transmission hangs in low sometimes, which we already knew. The B&M Transpak goes in next, with the new armored transmission pan, filter, and all new fluid. We think, with the forthcoming flush & new filter, the transmission will be good as new when done. Borgeson steering still to go in, too, but it's STARTING to get there!

[The_War_Wagon]

Nothing REALLY new to report - truck is STILL at Gibbs.

Here's a great article, on the guy who did the paint & bodywork on my Ramcharger, though. Big rigs is his SPECIALTY.

Old School Is “Cool”

Everyone at Reinsfelder, Inc. of Pittsburgh is into trucks. In fact, they practically eat, sleep and breathe trucks. They also love the old school look of trucks from days gone by, especially since the company has been hauling freight for 95 years. Luckily for them, Reinsfelder owner Ed Haser is a friend of Jimmy Davis, owner of Ol Skool Stainless Customs of Carnegie, Pennsylvania. For Jimmy it is a passion and a labor of love. What is most impressive is that Jimmy does all of his fabrication by hand, cutting and bending each piece without the help of automation or computers.

That's how he fabbed up that crusher bumper for my Ramcharger!

[Matt]

This things coming along great man!

[The_War_Wagon]

Ramcharger comes HOME tomorrow, bayyyyyyyyyyyy-beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!

It's got a few issues to be resolved, but Dave needs the space in the shop, and it's roadworthy, so here goes!

A couple items of interest:

- The B&M Transpak is NOT installed yet. Even though Dave adjusted the bands, flushed out the transmission, & installed the new armored pan & filter, the tranny still doesn't seem to be responding 'quite right' yet. COULD be, because it sat for 6 years. COULD be, a torque converter going bad. Dave say the Transpak will "kill it" at this point, so he wants me to tool around in it a bit - see if that loosens it up, and we can revisit the Transpak in the fall.

- My SPANKIN' NEW fuel lines (custom ordered from MI!!!) had a couple minor leaks. I asked Dave if that was the lines, or my fuel pump, which I can't REMEMBER off the top of my head, whether I replaced or not (I'm PRETTY sure I did, but I don't have my records/receipts in front of me here at the office!). He caught it, so whatever it was, I know it's fixed.

- He hasn't done the plenum fix, but as that's an issue with COLD engines, and the sun has actually made an appearance this month, hopefully it will hold together through spring, summer, and fall, and we can revisit THAT this fall, along with;

- Rock rails/sliders. Dave is still bending tube, but again, he needs the space, so we shall eschew those for the time being. Moreover, I have a NEW idea on what those should look like anyways, so we'll tackle THAT subject later this year as well. As I told him, I'll TRY and resist the urge, to wedge it between a couple of boulders... :tongue3:

Nonetheless, it's re-geared and the Borgeson steering is in place, so no more death wobble from hell, and it SHOULD be able to get out of its own way. There are a couple of other items I want to check on as well, and will report back accordingly. Lots of pictures will follow as well - maybe even a stack of the mad money I'm taking over there for this tomorrow as well.

I'm about to poop myself delirious!

[The_War_Wagon]

I find I'm so excited, I can barely sit still or hold a thought in my head.
I think it's the excitement only a Ramcharger man can feel;
a Ramcharger man at the start of a long journey whose conclusion is uncertain.
I hope I can make it to the shop today.
I hope to see my truck, and drive it away.
I hope the Borgeson steers as straight as it has in my dreams.

I hope.

[The_War_Wagon]

Well, if Obama has taught us ANYTHING, it's that, "HOPE"... is NOT a plan...

Guess what happens when you RE-gear, and your driveline angle is bad? Torque and driveshaft yokes are NOT your friends.


I LITERALLY got it home, when it dropped the driveshaft in the parking lot.

It drove GREAT getting home - had a blast tooling around in it - looks GREAT with the spare tire finally mounted.

I'm just too disappointed to say any more.

I called Dave & told him what happened - we knew it was binding, but didn't realize it was THAT bad. I'm sending it back to him on Monday - we're gonna drop the rear springs, rotate and shim the axle, and get that straightened out. Stay tuned for more details...