Ramcharger Project
- Thread starter RU55ELL
- Start date
Sock Puppet
Adventurer
Nice looking wagons, both!
RU55ELL
Explorer
Updates are few and far between right now. It's been over 100 degrees for 60 days so far. The next upcoming mod/repair is a deep tranny pan. The pan is leaking right now so I might as well upgrade while it's off. It already has a tranny cooler that the PO installed. I was fiddling with the CB radio to see where I want to mount it but I can't bring myself to drill holes in any of the interior panels, so I'll probably use double sided velco to stick it on the dash.
ColoradoBill
Adventurer
Use a dealer/factory gasket on that tranny pan. well worth the extra couple bucks. The dealer gasket is hard plastic with rubber molded on both sides. I used one on my Summit deep pan and never had any kind of leak and it is reusable when you need to service the tranny. That is a great looking Ramcharger. I had an '83 that was my trail rig for several years. I upgraded to a '92 mainly for the fuel injection and overdrive. In my opinion they are the perfect size rig, good V8 power, plenty of room for gear and people and very nimble offroad.
Regcabguy
Oil eater.
'78 Ramcharger,project or parts
If anyone needs parts or perhaps a project vehicle, Joe Salas @ www.ntgracing.com has a:
'78 Ramcharger,360 V-8(needs head gasket),auto,Dana 60 axles w/Warn hubs,rollcage,HD rear bumper,new Deaver springs fore and aft. Clear title. $1000
I figured it would catch more attention here than the classifieds.
If anyone needs parts or perhaps a project vehicle, Joe Salas @ www.ntgracing.com has a:
'78 Ramcharger,360 V-8(needs head gasket),auto,Dana 60 axles w/Warn hubs,rollcage,HD rear bumper,new Deaver springs fore and aft. Clear title. $1000
I figured it would catch more attention here than the classifieds.
RU55ELL
Explorer
I assume the deep pan package from Mancini uses an OEM gasket. I'll call and ask before I order it.
RU55ELL
Explorer
Finally got a correct battery in today. The PO had put in a marine battery with bolt terminals and changed the terminal ends to fit. So I replaced the marine battery with an Interstate Mega-Tron, put the correct ends on the wires like it should have. I had also had some trouble with the truck idling up high when shifting into park or neutral but I figured out that the return spring was not short/strong enough to return the throttle all the way. So I bent shorter hooks in the ends of the spring to make it stiffer and all is well now.
My deep pan, filter and extension came so those are still waiting to go on the truck.
My deep pan, filter and extension came so those are still waiting to go on the truck.
RU55ELL
Explorer
Not much of an update; I finally got it legal after dealing with an inspector that was being hard to get along with. Also changed the fuel filter since the PO had left it sitting for a while without much fuel in it. The fuel had a light orange tint, not quite as bad as I thought it would be. I'm going to start driving it a lot more now to make sure it'll handle a trip to AR or OK and take it to Barnwell Mountain to see how it does off road. The deep pan still isn't on because I like to procrastinate. 
RU55ELL
Explorer
Ok, I finally got off my butt and got the deep pan on. I also enjoyed finding out that one of the holes was stripped when putting the pan bolts in the new pan. Luckily, it was a thru hole so I got a longer bolt, lock washer and nut and torqued it down to spec. I figure that is what the fluid leak was coming from before I put the new pan on. We'll see how this gasket holds up. It seemed pretty good when I put it on.
RU55ELL
Explorer
So far, so good. Gasket isn't leaking. I removed the swaybar today and flexed it in the ditch in front of my house. Not bad for an add-a-leaf kit. I may not even worry about new springs, depending on how they do on a good trip. It wasn't maxed out in this case. I'll have to find some place to flex it out soon.
RU55ELL
Explorer
I think you are right. For a few weeks, I've been kicking around putting tons under it and 35s or 37s, but I think it will lose driveability quickly if I go that route. I do want to get a traction device for the rear at least. Underside protection is ample from the factory, so really all I need in the realm of protection is bumpers and sliders.
EDIT: And trim pieces for the driver's side!
EDIT: And trim pieces for the driver's side!
Last edited:
wheelieking71
Member
man! that is a nice clean ramcharger. after lifting my current 90' Dodge CTD (and many, many other older dodges), and getting older myself, i find myself longing for a stock height truck, and good tires/lockers. you would be surprised just how capable that thing is bone-stock. i personally would opt for body protection (stout rocker protection) and good high clearance bumpers, rather than a lift. either way, that is a great truck, have fun with it. they just dont build them like that anymore. at least nothing the avarage-joe can afford.