Need Ramcharger recommendations

[rxinhed]

Hey all,

My Chevy 1-ton has left the yard in trade for an enclosed trailer. I did this as an asset swap, and have a cash buyer for the trailer. I am considering an '87 Ramcharger as my solid axle replacement for the mostly unused Chevy. The Ramcharger has a 6" lift, 33's, a winch and is otherwise stock.

I know that others here ave fixed up this vehicle type for camping, and I respectfully ask for some information and pictures.

Thanks,
Russell

 

[Saiyan66]

I don't have any pictures, but I do have some information that might help. The 1987 Ramcharger is going to be carbureted, so think about if you will possibly want fuel injection in the future. Since you are in CA (like me) this might make future mods or possible engine swaps more difficult if you decide that's the way you want to go. Both the 318 and 360 are good reliable motors and you will most likely have a 727 torqueflite trans if it is an automatic. Nothing wrong with either of those parts (just a lack of overdrive for highway cruising). A 6" lift will probably be pretty tall for 33's. I currently have a 6" lift on my 1991 W150 and I am running 35's comfortably. A 6" lift on these trucks needs a front driveshaft mod unless you run alot of shim to raise the pinion. Unfortunately this also screws up your caster and gives the feeling of bumpsteer/wander. Also if it hasn't been converted to crossover steering it will probably have some slop in the steering (alot of that comes from the factory rag joint). If the rear end is a Chrysler 9.25 then you can run that thing forever as they are pretty bombproof for a 1/2 ton rear end. I don't have much experience with the Chrysler 8.75 rear end. There are tons of things to look for before buying a 25 year old truck so I wont get into those. But the roof vent on the RC is often a leak point so give that a check and if you can pull up the carpet in the footwells I would recommend it as they tend to take on water (from where I don't know). They are great trucks though and just about anything can be fixed or improved upon with simple tools and wrench skills. Happy hunting.

 

[pulltilbroke]

Check the driprail for rust right above the windshield, These trucks are known for rust up there.

A Cummins swap is also a bolt in ordeal on it too!!!!

 

[gahi]

cummins powered '78 for sale in Western CO $5500

http://westslope.craigslist.org/cto/2812362534.html

 

[Saiyan66]

I have a friend with a 12v Cummins 5spd swap in his Ramcharger. Sweet little rig that gets almost 25mpg.

 

[redthies]

cummins powered '78 for sale in Western CO $5500

http://westslope.craigslist.org/cto/2812362534.html

Suh-weeeet!!!

 

[RU55ELL]

Weird, my name is Russell and I just sold my '87.

The 4wd system uses CAD, so make sure the CAD system is working as well. It's simple to convert to manual hubs for a little better mileage and you can lock out the CAD after that and never worry with vacuum problems again. I sold mine because it didnt have enough cargo room for the 5 of us, but for two or three people, it'll be plenty.

 

[redthies]

I sold mine because it didnt have enough cargo room for the 5 of us,

Not because the red interior made you CRAZY? I figure "they" should do a survey on interior color of vehicles of serial road-ragers... Likely a lot of red going on! It's far from calming.

 

[rxinhed]

In college, when we took Orange Thunder out...

Orange Thunder was our name for the '84 RC our school had, a temperamental 318, automatic, low ground clearance, but cozy wheeler compared to the gleaming white big block 3/4-ton Suburban they had.

I drove Orange Thunder lots! We carried five college kids and camping supplies for up to one week ventures, but there was nothing glamorous or frivolous allowed. I finally installed a roof rack to deal with sleeping bags, clothes bags and bedding.

The truck I'm looking at now is grey metallic with a fancy red interior.

 

[Larry]

Ram Charger’s are great rigs! Since member Coloradobill hasn’t chimed in yet I’ll post some pictures of his well built Ram Charger. Bill has done a lot of work on this rig over the years. It has swapped in Dodge ¾ axles (rear Dana 60 full-floater & front non-cad Dana 44) both axles are stuffed with an ARB air lockers with 4:10 gears. Bill also built front and rear bumpers for it as well as a nice sleep platform with storage and aux power outlets for the fridge, etc. It currently has a bone stock 5.2L and could use a bit more power on the highway but it does just fine on the trails. Hopefully someday soon it will get a 5.9L Cummins or a late model 5.7 or 6.1L Hemi.


White Rim trail

Top of the World

More White Rim

The 318 sounds tough on this steep slick hill. The video serves no justice to how steep and slick this his actually was. Lots of ice under the snow!

This is the Ram Charger he parted to build the newer white one. This one was still carburated without an overdrive trans. The white '92 has all of the modern amenities including cruise control and ice cold A/C for the hot desert trips but with tough as nails driveline out of this blue one. This was near Tuweep in July 2009.

 

[ColoradoBill]

Thanks for Posting Larry, took the weekend off from the computer!!!

Yep all that Larry said is correct for my Ramcharger. An '87 would be a good rig with exception of the carb. I don't know all the rules in California for swapping out carburators, But i would remove the entire intake and put an '70s issue or Eddlebrock non-emissions intake and an Eddlebrock performer carb with the offroad needle and seat kit in it. thats what I ran on my '84. It did well offroad but not as good as the injected '92. One nice thing about these rigs is you can swap just about anything from '73-'93 Ramchargers and trucks.

I am running 35s with a 4" life and I think it is just about perfect. Good ground clearence and handles great on the highway.

 

[redthies]

You have a nice lookin RC there Bill. Are you thinking Cummins?

 

[ColoradoBill]

You have a nice lookin RC there Bill. Are you thinking Cummins?

I would love to put a Cummins it. I would have to find the right donor truck '91-'93, automatic 4x4 with good miles on. That way I would get everything needed for the swap. I hate trying to find things part by part.
It will most likely end up with either a built 360 or a Hemi, either way it will run great.

 

[rxinhed]

Thanks for the pics and such, really miss the flexi with my Mitsubishis.

The truck I'm looking at has recently been smogged and I'd likely make a move to the FI for the cold morning starts if nothing else...no more popping when everything is frozen.

The white RC is on 305s?

 

[ColoradoBill]

The white RC is on 305s?

They are both on 315s. I had to trim the factory flares at the corners a little. They rub the drag link on hard right turns and rub the inner fenders on the rear when flexing hard. I don't think they rub hard enough to worry about. I also think the stance is perfect.

Converting it to FI is a great plan!!!