Grassroots Motorsports

Register Log in to GRM
- Community

Birthdays
Recently on the Classic Motorsports forums

Subscribe get a full year for only $23.95 Sample Free Test Drive—no strings attached

Login to post Forums » Grassroots Motorsports » Should I buy this vehicle??

April 4, 2011 5:56 a.m. Mazdax605 HalfDork

Hey guys,

I have a friend that would fit in with t his crowd just great but doesn't do much with the computer. He was my best man 13 years ago,and has been a close friend for probably 30 years. A few years ago he started a project that checked all the right buttons for me,and no wit may be for sale. The vehicle is a 91 or so Dodge Ramcharger 2wd that is really clean and also very vanilla with its champagne gold color. Where it gets interesting though is under the hood where he mounted a Cummins 4BT mated to an NV4500,and an external overdrive unit. It is intercooled as well,and sounds awesome. He has the entire body on fluid mounts as well as the engine,and maybe transmission and the interior is all done up with dynamat or some sort of sound deadening material.

I don't think there are any issues with the truck right now aside from the actuator for the over drive unit is smoked,but he says it isn't even needed right now with the stock gearing,but would be if he swapped in another axle he has that has different gears,and disk brakes.

My only reservations are,will this be as much of a pain in the butt as my van to load the kids into,or worse? Will I want to live with diesel fuel prices in a few months if not now? Understand that I don't drive much of my personal vehicles as I have a company van for work,and during the nice weather months I can choose between the RX-7,REPU,and maybe an 84 Subaru GL 4wd wagon real soon. I really only use my van for dump runs,hockey lessons for my kids,and camping during the summer but it gets full duty in the winter as the other vehicles go away when the salt starts flying. This Ramcharger would replace the van,and I could pass it on to my father who could really use it.

Any thoughts? It would make a really cool ZAV by the way aside from the 2wd part.

Chris
April 4, 2011 6:07 a.m. dean1484 SuperDork

Chris,

You do realise the crowd you are asking here rite? I would get it because it is a vehicle that I like. IT will probably be better in the snow. Loading kids etc will be about the same. You will actually loose a bit of utility but not much.

I would get it.
April 4, 2011 6:40 a.m. Mazdax605 HalfDork

Yes I know this group of enablers quite well.

-C
April 4, 2011 7:34 a.m. jrw1621 SuperDork

Just to be sure..We are talking like this but add in some diesel goodness?

Not nearly as useful as a van and significantly smaller. The kids will have to climb in through the small front door openings by folding the seat forward.
Is the body of the Ramcharger well preserved? Is it rust free because if I am reading you correctly you plan to drive the Ramcharger all winter to keep the other vehicles off the road.
April 4, 2011 7:43 a.m. FlightService HalfDork

I would, to be honest, I want to do the exact same thing.

4BT has some good qualities if "massaged" correctly.

Not to mention it is just cool. 4BT 250HP
April 4, 2011 11:01 a.m. Mazdax605 HalfDork

jrw1621 wrote:

Just to be sure..We are talking like this but add in some diesel goodness?

Not nearly as useful as a van and significantly smaller. The kids will have to climb in through the small front door openings by folding the seat forward.
Is the body of the Ramcharger well preserved? Is it rust free because if I am reading you correctly you plan to drive the Ramcharger all winter to keep the other vehicles off the road.

Yes,just like that but in a champagne color,and much better looking wheels. Rust free,but the clear coat is coming off in a few places. The front end is all rebuilt with new quality parts,and I know the vehicle is well maintained. The loading of kids,and gear is my biggest concern as the full sized van is really good at both although not the easiest to load the kids as they need help at times buckling up. The one my friend has seems to sit a bit taller but that could the wheels and tires.

The Cummins is a lust of mine since owning a 92 D250 Cummins with the same NV4500 trans for many years. I would still have it aside from the fact that even in the club cab configuration the rear was too small with two young kids. I even had a bench seat swapped in,but it was till too snug. A Ramcharger should fix that,but then again the cargo area is a lot smaller than the 8' bed with a cap I had on old blue.

Winter driving is not an issue to me as I get along just fine with the van,and if it is real bad I will take my wifes Sienna or the 84 Suby GL 4wd wagon if need be.

Chris
April 4, 2011 12:16 p.m. John Brown SuperDork

Needs to be yours Chris.
April 4, 2011 12:25 p.m. 93gsxturbo HalfDork

My only concern would be wanting 4wd, but that truck will return far better MPG than anything of comparable size/tow rating/awesomeness and having 4WD might ding the mpg a bit.
April 4, 2011 12:31 p.m. Mazdax605 HalfDork

I don't need or want 4wd as I feel it is a waste for my area/lifestyle. I am in the tiniest of minority in my area though as everybody around here needs 4wd especially after this past winter. Now I don't feel the winter was that bad over all,but the early part saw snow storms of substantial size every Wednesday. I seemed to get along just fine though in my 2wd full-sized Dodge work van,and personal van.

Chris
April 4, 2011 2:42 p.m. Vigo Dork

If you only plan to have 4 people in it it will actually be pretty roomy. The cargo area is pretty substantial with the rear seat folded flat.

If the swap is pretty well done and its an enjoyable, livable vehicle as far as driveability and NVH, than i say go for it. Even if the rest of the truck rusts away after a few years you'll still be able to flip that 4bt and possibly it's motor-swap components for a decent chunk of change when you're done.
April 4, 2011 5:19 p.m. Mazdax605 HalfDork

I figured the 4BT/NV4500 would be worth the price of the truck itself.
April 4, 2011 5:29 p.m. Raze Dork

4wd swap + small lift = unassuming ZAV in champagne
April 4, 2011 5:52 p.m. Mazdax605 HalfDork

It has a small lift from the fluid mounts,and 33" tires so that helps in the looks department. Maybe it would fool a zombie or two. Just spoke with my friend,and he says the homemade exhaust "header" he made out of 16 gauge steel is not strong enough,and would need to be rebuilt with heavier gauge steel. That,the overdrive solenoid,and maybe a swap back to the 3.55 gears instead of the 3.27's I think is about the only issues he said it had. He said with the 3.55's the overdrive unit wouldn't be needed anymore either. It has 3/4 springs up front as well.

Chris
April 4, 2011 7:31 p.m. FlightService HalfDork

Have you bought it yet?

Do you have pictures to post of under the hood?

Have you bought it yet?

(The forum is about as enabling as giving a junkie the key to the DEA's evidence locker)
April 4, 2011 10:02 p.m. Mazdax605 HalfDork

Here are a few pics I got on my way by his house today. I didn't have time to get under the hood,but I will later this week.

http://web.me.com/cdirado/Diradosite/RX-3-damage.html

Chris
April 4, 2011 10:05 p.m. rob_lewis Dork

Two items:

1) BUY it!! That thing is wicked cool. Classic style, diesel motor with plenty of power/economy. Don't sweat diesel prices because at some point, biodiesel from a pump will be cheaper.

2) My friends suck compared to yours......

-Rob
April 4, 2011 10:30 p.m. Mazdax605 HalfDork

Excuse the lousy iPod pics by the way. I will get some better pics later this week.

Chris
April 4, 2011 11:22 p.m. Vigo Dork

after seeing it....

BUUUUUUUUUUYYYYYYYY IIIIIIIIITTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
April 5, 2011 5:19 a.m. Lugnut HalfDork

Do it!!! And then put horns on the hood!
April 5, 2011 7:16 p.m. FlightService HalfDork

Yup buy it, buy it, buy it!!!

"As the junkie realizes the key is works on the lock boxes as well..."
April 5, 2011 7:37 p.m. 1988RedT2 Dork

I don't think you should get it. It doesn't look particularly "green", and it's not going to get you laid, since chicks don't go for that kind of vehicle. You should be looking at a nice VW Jetta or a Golf.
April 5, 2011 7:50 p.m. Mazdax605 HalfDork

My REPU isn't green either. Oh wait yes it is(in color). It is a hybrid though. It burns both oil and gas in large amounts.

My wife wouldn't appreciate me looking for a vehicle to get me "laid" either. Not that I have much chance of that happening. Even with a Ferrari I would have to beg.
April 5, 2011 10:08 p.m. Vigo Dork

Put a bumper sticker on it that says:

"If sports cars are compensation machines, what does this one say about me?"

And then dont cheat on your wife.

ANYWAY

BUUUUUUUUUYYYYYYYY IIIIIIIIITTTTTTTTTTTTTT

You'll need to log in to post.