RamCharger.net

thanks. i don't think i will be cutting the bolts. i know there is not enough room to hit them from the bottom. not sure if there is enough room to hit them with a grinder on top. i think i will either break them free or snap them trying. a nice 1/2" snap on ratchet just makes things easier but a cheater bar might be used.

well i decided to try breaking the bolts free but had no luck. i think i might have to get my dad to come over with his snap on ratchet to break them loose or snap them trying. it really seems to be a 2 person job. someone to hold the wrench while someone turns the ratchet.

with how much rust there is and the way the weather has been i think i may just swap rad supports and grills with my 91. winter is on the way.

 i just know it is suppose to stop the crack from getting longer. i don't know if the heat has anything to do with it. i know i am going to have to lay a couple spot welds before i even attempt to drill just to make sure things don't get worse.

mine seems to have a bit more body roll than i feel comfortable driving with in the winter. the body roll does not seem to be there on my 81. plus my ram charger has way more rust than my 81. the ram charger could use 2 front cab mounts and 2 new floor pans which i can't afford to buy and don't have time to make. over the last couple of weeks it has started getting cold quick and the leaves have been falling.

ya. i notice the pics were not that great but i figured since it was as far south as it was there would not be too much rust. at $610 if you only have to spend $1000 or less into it to get it street legal you are doing great. i know up here even to buy a cheap car that is ready to go usually cost about $1500.

lol. looks like you got one hell of a deal there. if i could get something like that for $610 i would be happy even if it was having transmission issues.

thats what i was planning to do.

i guess i should re enforce the mounts i made. i was thinking about slipping some stainless steel plates under them but not got around to it yet.

lol. i don't think i will go that far. as much as i would like to, i only got about a month to go until we start seeing that nasty white stuff and i really don't want to be driving the ramcharger with its short wheel base and higher than normal stance. plus i don't have a garage so i would have to be doing this in my driveway.

i don't think it is too common. i was talking to my dad for a bit today and he gave me a bit of an idea. thinking about completely removing the rad support to fix all the rust and then possibly paint it. the only thing that would suck is i would have to clean all the crap out of the driveway and i would be down to driving the ram charger for a while. was also thinking about taking the fenders off while i was at it to fix the rust on them.

i guess to do that i might have to remove the grille. i was planning on removing the battery all together if i weld it up. also was thinking about completely moving all the wiring harness out of the way to make sure nothing gets burnt.

both colors looks good so i see you having a very hard decision ahead of you.

i was wanting some other peoples input on this crack in my rad support. i noticed it a while ago but never thought much of it till today when i notice it had started opening up a bit. was thinking of sandblasting, drilling then welding it up but i was not sure if it will crack again or even why it cracked. i know the supports at the bottom are pretty rusty but didn't think that would hurt it. other option would be to buy a used rad support. managed to find one out of a 84 and the guy is asking $100 but i have no clue what shape it is in. i was wondering what other people thought. also could swap rad supports with my 91 but really like the look of the 81-85 grille.