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

[criket]

That front axle should be a Spicer (Dana 44). Also, for 1992, they gave the 318 more horsepower than the previous years so you should have a decent motor (assuming it still runs.)

Looks like a great project. Take all the pics you can, I love seeing a project come together.

[criket]

Also, as you know, your Ramcharger was assembled in Mexico at the Lago Alberto plant.

[pjmjr508]

I love the old Ram Chargers. That looks great

I'm getting 10.3 MPG in my XK as well so I know what you mean. ( I have been told I have a heavy foot)

[Gulf550]

Cool write up. Pittsburgh is a fun city. Lived there for about 3 yrs while attending Pittsburgh instatute of aeronautics. I'm from Lake Erie area, but now live in georgia. i still have a lot of family that live in Pittsburgh. I try to get back home for the holidays. Next time I'm in the area, I'll let you know

[The_War_Wagon]

Cool write up. Pittsburgh is a fun city. Lived there for about 3 yrs while attending Pittsburgh instatute of aeronautics. I'm from Lake Erie area, but now live in georgia. i still have a lot of family that live in Pittsburgh. I try to get back home for the holidays. Next time I'm in the area, I'll let you know

I'm ten generations from NC - bring BBQ & Cheerwine!!!

[The_War_Wagon]

That front axle should be a Spicer (Dana 44). Also, for 1992, they gave the 318 more horsepower than the previous years so you should have a decent motor (assuming it still runs.)

I've always heard, that unless you have the 8 bolt wheel (mine's a 5), it's a Dana 44, which makes sense. My '79 Bronco had one, too. They were so stout, they used 'em as REAR axles on CJ's!

Engine runs strong still & holds compression. I do wanna break it down and rebuild it on general principle as well. Tax refund this year will take care of the drive train, and maybe the winch. Thankfully, the previous owner did GOOD maintenance - I just hate it's sat so long. My mechanic DID turn it over and let it run every couple of months, so that's been a plus, too.

[criket]

I've always heard, that unless you have the 8 bolt wheel (mine's a 5), it's a Dana 44, which makes sense. My '79 Bronco had one, too. They were so stout, they used 'em as REAR axles on CJ's!

Engine runs strong still & holds compression. I do wanna break it down and rebuild it on general principle as well. Tax refund this year will take care of the drive train, and maybe the winch. Thankfully, the previous owner did GOOD maintenance - I just hate it's sat so long. My mechanic DID turn it over and let it run every couple of months, so that's been a plus, too.

Yea you are correct about the lug count. But some people change out the outer knuckles to get a desired lug pattern. (example, rear axle may be 8 lug and full float while the front could be a Dana 44. So they change the knuckles and lugs up front to match the rear. That way they only buy 1 set of wheels and not 2.)

That's good to hear about the motor. I'd just do the basic rings, bearings, gaskets, and probably a porting on the heads to get more air flow and it should be good to go. A rebuild like that won't hurt your wallet as bad.

Also, if I was building an off road only rig, I'd go either fuel injected or propane. If you have a carburater, you will hate it when you hit a steep hill.

Cool build. keep us updated man and maybe I'll FedEx overnight to you some NC BBQ and Cheerwine, LOL.

[The_War_Wagon]

Went by today to talk to Jimmy about keeping it at his place a few more weeks. My other mechanic is down with a bad knee that he blew out pushing a Honda across the lot (I asked him, "If you can't push a Honda, how're you gonna push my RAMCHARGER?!?! :P )

Sure enough, it's BEEN painted!!!

In fact, he added the red factory pin stripe BACK to it, which set it off better than I thought it would. And it's two-tone again, although not QUITE like the factory had it. Here we go!






The top color, is a flat metalflake dark grey (the bright sunshine today played havoc with my auto-exposure - I only have one pic that really does it justice) - the bottom, a flat black. For flat colors (easy to touch up again after a good BRUSH run...), they really pop a LOT more than I expected them too (I was expecting more like the flat military colors of HUMVEES and Ma Dueces, than this!). Here's some more!

[pjmjr508]

That's a clean looking Rig!!!!!!!

[The_War_Wagon]

I'm wearing my red BSA windbreaker, hence the reddish reflection on the fender here.



Check out this front bumper now!






Looking down here between the bodywork and the bumper, you can see the shelf for the winch to mount to. The fairleads come out the front, and you're good to go!



That's Jimmy, on the far left, FYI.






A decent shot of the rear hatch and bumper here - they popped the red plastic off the bottom of the "Dodge" plate, as it had collected a fair amount of crud over the years, and we don't need any MORE rust promotion on this hotrod! Wayne, Jimmy's right hand man, suggested red reflector tape... and that ain't a half-bad idea!





Been looking for SOMETHING to demonstrate scale, as to the height on this monster. I saw this 5 gallon plastic gas can nearby, and it's DIRECTLY UNDER the corner of the bumper here. It's about 2' high, for reference.