Author Topic: RB93's 1987 Ramcharger - Danger Zone!! (GBC attempt #4)  (Read 1431 times)

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Offline RedBimmer93

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RB93's 1987 Ramcharger - Danger Zone!! (GBC attempt #4)
« on: May 26, 2019, 11:15:29 pm »
Time to start a thread for this new project - a 1986 Dodge Ramcharger LE



Small Backstory:
This is my uncle's old truck. It had a build 360ci motor swapped into it, and then it was parked on my uncle's property for the past 19 years. My uncle has been meaning to do something with the truck for a long time, however has never had the free time to do so. My uncle suddenly passed away in October last year, and now my aunt is passing the truck down to me.

Supposedly, the engine was never broken in. A plaque in the engine bay says "engine installed at 36,xxxkm!" ... Odometer in the truck shows roughly 150km more than that.
(the odometer in the truck reads only 5 digits)

RnW and i checked out the truck in the rain yesterday, We removed the spark plugs, sprayed lubricant into the cylinders, and turned the engine over by hand to make sure nothing was seized.

If we can use the current engine, the plan is to run this truck in the 2019 Great Beater Challenge! I think it would score great points for patina, and likeliness to break down ;D

Next steps:
-New battery
-Replace 20y/o gas with fresh new gas
-Compression test
-try cranking her over ... will she start!? :O
-new fluids
-...more findings upon further inspection ::)
 
 
Stay tuned!!


Offline jellynuts

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Re: RB93's Ramcharger - Danger Zone!! (GBC attempt #4)
« Reply #1 on: May 26, 2019, 11:37:15 pm »
uckfay, Johnny with the back-handed slap. You're clearly the Oracle.

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Offline seat safety switch

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Re: RB93's Ramcharger - Danger Zone!! (GBC attempt #4)
« Reply #2 on: May 27, 2019, 07:52:40 am »
Always wanted a Ramcharger. This looks pretty great.

Offline 05LGT

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Re: RB93's Ramcharger - Danger Zone!! (GBC attempt #4)
« Reply #3 on: May 27, 2019, 08:26:53 am »
Hopefully it has the optional 35 gallon fuel tank so you can make it from gas station to gas station.
I don't name things I know I'm going to sell eventually. Hence why I'd never name any kids I had.

If you can't go fast with 90HP, 900HP won't help you. - Bob Hall

Offline RedBimmer93

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Re: RB93's Ramcharger - Danger Zone!! (GBC attempt #4)
« Reply #4 on: May 31, 2019, 12:01:11 am »
More progress has been made last night on the ->   ;D

I should say, Thank you RedndWhite and 05LGT for the helps so far

Fun facts:

I discovered that this is actually a 1987 ramcharger, not a 1986

The original motor was, in fact, a 318.

Also,

Engine installed at 36,692km, on july 31, 2000:


Current mileage:


So, a little over 300km on the engine in almost 20 years ::)

Here's what we did:

Installed a new battery.

Checked the oil

Pulled out the oil dipstick tube by accident :-X

Fun fact - the existing motor oil in the engine is very clean :o

Removed spark plugs.

turned over engine for roughly 1 min with starter to cycle the oil

Created a fuel leak


Attempted to siphon the 20 year old fuel out of the tank

...and failed

Added 10l of fresh gasoline, and just sent it

Cleaned spark plugs with brake clean and shop towels, re-installed spark plugs

Cranked the engine, with carburetor cleaner sprayed down the carburetor


HOLY CRAP IT STARTED UP, AND IT RUNS!!! It runs really well!!


Unfortunately the alternator is damn near seized, and the pulley was wobbly... Almost burned the belt off

but I'm really glad that now that we know the truck runs well


Here are some more angles on this beautiful machine

Shiny new rockers are shiny

Thanks RedndWhite for this one

Long tube headers, a nice bounus!


Holley carb on Edelbrock intake manifold... Throttle actuator on carb is missing the return spring :(


Truck is a little grown-in...


Ancient tires have tons of tread left!  :o


They dont even look very dry-rotted, or cracked

 
 

I am excited to make more progress on this truck over the next few weeks :D


 
 
Immediate needs:

Alternator
Alternator and fan belts
all fluids changed
fuel hoses
throttle return spring

Offline RedndWhite

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Re: RB93's 1987 Ramcharger - Danger Zone!! (GBC attempt #4)
« Reply #5 on: May 31, 2019, 06:26:57 pm »
Definitely seems like it can be road worthy soon!

Certainly more road worthy than any of the GBC cars I've managed...
Photos and Stuff

Al-Tessa;
Beat'm'up
Life is too short to be stock and drive boring cars.

Offline seat safety switch

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Re: RB93's 1987 Ramcharger - Danger Zone!! (GBC attempt #4)
« Reply #6 on: May 31, 2019, 09:41:43 pm »
Damncharger, that's going well.