'89 Ramcharger 12V 5-speed 4x4 build
#331
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Thread Starter
Thanks so much for posting those up Thrashing!
If anyone else wants to NON intercool a '91.5-'93 motor for a project this is a slick and easy was to do it. I used a 24V intake horn and a '94-'02 *90 turbo elbow. Both where cut up and then the pieces aluminum welded back together. After a little grinding to smooth things out inside it, it looked pretty good to me.
That new custom intake horn has to flow better, as it is much bigger where it bolts to the grid heater.
If anyone else wants to NON intercool a '91.5-'93 motor for a project this is a slick and easy was to do it. I used a 24V intake horn and a '94-'02 *90 turbo elbow. Both where cut up and then the pieces aluminum welded back together. After a little grinding to smooth things out inside it, it looked pretty good to me.
That new custom intake horn has to flow better, as it is much bigger where it bolts to the grid heater.
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thrashingcows (06-08-2019)
#332
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Thread Starter
The drivers side window motor lost several of the teeth on the motor gear last week, so I swapped it out last week with an OEM spare motor off another '89 door.
A few other issues were also worked out last week. Both tie rod ends where swapped out for some new ones, along with a fresh Moog drag link.
The clutch fan on the motor was locked up stiff enough to turn the motor over even when it was cold! That was swapped out for another OEM one I had on the shelf. It sure runs quieter now, as it sounded like a jet engine above 2000 before.
The temp. sensor was bad so after testing 5 used original '89-'90 style temp sensors I had, by testing them in a cup of hot water we found a good one. That fixed the dead temp gauge on the dash.
I have some minor contact going on with the 4 inch exhaust and the rear passengers side shock as it is VERY tight with the RC fuel tank back there, that I still need to address.
A few other issues were also worked out last week. Both tie rod ends where swapped out for some new ones, along with a fresh Moog drag link.
The clutch fan on the motor was locked up stiff enough to turn the motor over even when it was cold! That was swapped out for another OEM one I had on the shelf. It sure runs quieter now, as it sounded like a jet engine above 2000 before.
The temp. sensor was bad so after testing 5 used original '89-'90 style temp sensors I had, by testing them in a cup of hot water we found a good one. That fixed the dead temp gauge on the dash.
I have some minor contact going on with the 4 inch exhaust and the rear passengers side shock as it is VERY tight with the RC fuel tank back there, that I still need to address.
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thrashingcows (06-29-2019)
#333
Registered User
The drivers side window motor lost several of the teeth on the motor gear last week, so I swapped it out last week with an OEM spare motor off another '89 door.
A few other issues were also worked out last week. Both tie rod ends where swapped out for some new ones, along with a fresh Moog drag link.
The clutch fan on the motor was locked up stiff enough to turn the motor over even when it was cold! That was swapped out for another OEM one I had on the shelf. It sure runs quieter now, as it sounded like a jet engine above 2000 before.
The temp. sensor was bad so after testing 5 used original '89-'90 style temp sensors I had, by testing them in a cup of hot water we found a good one. That fixed the dead temp gauge on the dash.
I have some minor contact going on with the 4 inch exhaust and the rear passengers side shock as it is VERY tight with the RC fuel tank back there, that I still need to address.
A few other issues were also worked out last week. Both tie rod ends where swapped out for some new ones, along with a fresh Moog drag link.
The clutch fan on the motor was locked up stiff enough to turn the motor over even when it was cold! That was swapped out for another OEM one I had on the shelf. It sure runs quieter now, as it sounded like a jet engine above 2000 before.
The temp. sensor was bad so after testing 5 used original '89-'90 style temp sensors I had, by testing them in a cup of hot water we found a good one. That fixed the dead temp gauge on the dash.
I have some minor contact going on with the 4 inch exhaust and the rear passengers side shock as it is VERY tight with the RC fuel tank back there, that I still need to address.
#334
Registered User
Thread Starter
Thanks CruisingRam!
I have a few little things on the pre summer list to do but it has been a very fun and reliable rig after all the work that went into it.
Give it a 6 weeks or so [till ALL the salt is washed off the road] and I will have it out of the shop for a bath before it gets back on the road.
I have a few little things on the pre summer list to do but it has been a very fun and reliable rig after all the work that went into it.
Give it a 6 weeks or so [till ALL the salt is washed off the road] and I will have it out of the shop for a bath before it gets back on the road.
#335
Registered User
Thread Starter
Finally got the RC out of the shop, hosed down the shop dust and took it for a drive yesterday.
After two day of being a passenger in my daughter's first car while she got some seat time driving, it was my turn to be the driver.
It was a nice little drive with the family around the North East Kingdom. We saw a fox playing in a field, then 30 minutes later we saw a big moose eating on the side of the road. He didn't much like the sound of the 12V, so he trudged off into the deep boggy woods as we slowly got closer to him.
The Ramcharger was a pleasure to drive, the hydroboost brakes impressive and the D.E 4 inch exhaust with no muffler sounded great.
After two day of being a passenger in my daughter's first car while she got some seat time driving, it was my turn to be the driver.
It was a nice little drive with the family around the North East Kingdom. We saw a fox playing in a field, then 30 minutes later we saw a big moose eating on the side of the road. He didn't much like the sound of the 12V, so he trudged off into the deep boggy woods as we slowly got closer to him.
The Ramcharger was a pleasure to drive, the hydroboost brakes impressive and the D.E 4 inch exhaust with no muffler sounded great.
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#337
Registered User
Thread Starter
She has a legit CAR.
I am not the kind of dad to just turn over a mint RC with lots of power to a learning driver, even if it is my beloved daughter. She [mostly her mom] picked out a '05 Subaru wagon as her first car. I got some funny looks from people who know me locally driving around in a non Mopar car.
The guys at Napa where looking out into the parking lot to see what I drove into town to pick up some oil and a new power steering line for my '93 club cab build. They where a little shocked to not see an old Dodge out in the parking lot.
The guys at the local feed store where I get my dog food from where equally perplexed. The couple of younger dudes who work there enjoy chatting with me about whatever Dodge D'jour I am driving when I come in.
The gas station guy was also lost when I came into to pay and there was no old Dodge bellied up to the diesel pumps.
I helped her check all the fluids and tire pressures, so she knows where stuff is. We had to work as a team, to locate spare tire and jack, as I know jack [pun intended] about Subarus.
I will be glad to help her build a cool Mopar project at some point with her, for her. But at this point an easy to drive automatic 4x4 beater, with a few existing dents, will be great for her.
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nothingbutdarts (05-24-2020)
#338
Registered User
A Souby is maybe the next best thing to an old Mopar. That was my oldest daughters first car and she survived a low speed t-bone without a scratch. That thing would plow through snow drifts that were hood high! I've had a few and my brother has a whole herd of them.
Besides, if she was driving that RC (or any Cummins powered Dodge), you'd have to beat the boys away from her!
Besides, if she was driving that RC (or any Cummins powered Dodge), you'd have to beat the boys away from her!
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#339
Registered User
A Souby is maybe the next best thing to an old Mopar. That was my oldest daughters first car and she survived a low speed t-bone without a scratch. That thing would plow through snow drifts that were hood high! I've had a few and my brother has a whole herd of them.
Besides, if she was driving that RC (or any Cummins powered Dodge), you'd have to beat the boys away from her!
Besides, if she was driving that RC (or any Cummins powered Dodge), you'd have to beat the boys away from her!
#340
Registered User
They are good snow fighters, but horrible on gas for a 4 cylinder.
Wheel bearings, timing belts and head gaskets are the 3 things that every one of us that own a Subie knows about.
Good first car though.
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nothingbutdarts (05-24-2020)
#341
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Subaru,
Subaru
Subaru......
If you say it 3 times, a Subaru appears before your eyes !
Your daughter has gone from a punk a$$ kid to a mature young lady.
Subaru
Subaru......
If you say it 3 times, a Subaru appears before your eyes !
Your daughter has gone from a punk a$$ kid to a mature young lady.
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nothingbutdarts (05-25-2020)
#342
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Thread Starter
We are doing the best we can up here T-man...Thanks old boy!
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nothingbutdarts (05-25-2020)
#343
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She obviously needs a better photographer...Whoever snapped that picture allowed some ghastly, shapeless shadow just to her right...It looks almost like, like <gasp>...Oh my God!!......Ben
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#344
Registered User
My Y2K Subaru gets 30mpg consistently, that's not bad for an all wheel drive. Being the next generation, an 05 might do a little better.
#345
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Thread Starter
Charlotte and I took the Ramcharger for a 180 mile tour of the farthest northern bits of Vermont. I just kept choosing roads that went north with a few east choices thrown in there too. No cell phone, no stupid GPS telling you it is "re calculating"...Just driving. If we got to an intersection where we had never taken one of the options...we took it.
We ended up driving through some parts of the state we had never been. At the end we turned around at the Canadian border. We found several nice looking lakes I would like to go back to with the fishing pole and maybe the kayaks one day. The RC ran great and we had a fun couple hour outing.
We ended up driving through some parts of the state we had never been. At the end we turned around at the Canadian border. We found several nice looking lakes I would like to go back to with the fishing pole and maybe the kayaks one day. The RC ran great and we had a fun couple hour outing.
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