Well... it's GETTING there... :o
It is slowly, but surely, coming BACK to life. After sitting in a shed for the better part of 7 years, I've finally gotten the help and resources needed to at least try and get it to pass state inspection!
Here's what I inherited back in the fall of '06 - and it had mostly been sitting for a year & a half at THAT point, after being a daily driver for most of its life.
A nice, but tired, 1992 Dodge Ramcharger LE150 - 318 V-8, MPFI (first year for the 318 Magnum! 8) ), A518, NP241 Transfer case, 9 1/4 rear end - Dana 44 fron taxle, and 135,000 miles - not a few of which were Pittsburgh-to-west-Texas road trips, where the original owner was from.
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/92_Ramcharger.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/318.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/CAB.jpg)
I inherited this beast in the fall of '06, with the INTENTION of making it a trail rig, as the factory 11mpg city/13mpg highway was a bit much for a daily driver... so last year, I promptly bought a Jeep Commander for a daily driver, that gets 10.5 mpg city...
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/DOHHH.jpg)
THAT said, my local mechanic offered to work on it as a side project at his house, as he knew my children were Autistic, and he wanted to help. I bought the parts, and he did the labor for free. That worked well... for a while... until he took a job in the Marcellus shale fields a few years ago. So my truck just sat in his shed for a few more years. :(
I'd already bought a complete 4 1/2" Rough Country lift kit for it from TopGunz Customz down in TN, as well as five (5) Courser M/T 36" tires for it, and five (5) 15x10 Pacer custom wheels (wanted the matching full-size spare, obviously), and those were still sitting in the garage of my local Goodyear dealer.
I'd also bought from Kennesaw Mountain Products in GA (now Tactical Armor Group) a custom rear bumper, with an INTEGRAL swing-out tire gate, built to spec to haul a 36x15x10 spare around on (also has a Jerry can holder, hi-lift jackstorage, cb antenna mount, license plate frame, and D shackles. That was a cool $750, and it was still shrink-wrapped to the pallet it was shipped on - sitting in an empty classroom of my church for the past 5 years! :confused2:
Nonetheless, I didn't see a lotta future for the old gal, and was thinking of either scrapping or selling it as recently as this May, but a new member at my church offered to help, after we got to talling about cars one day. He owns a custom shop in Carnegie, and does all manner of metal fabrication there. I told him I had all the parts - just need the lift kit installed primarily, and I'd take care of the rest, but he decided he wanted to do more - including bodywork, sanding, primering, painting, and even building a custom front bumper for it! :toothy9:
In early August, he took his rollback over to my former mechanic's house, and picked up all the pieces. Here's a small photo retrospective of his work to date!
Passenger side UP!
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/EARLY2.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/EARLY1.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/EARLY.jpg)
Interior needs work now (some of the "handiwork" by moi - with a stereo HALF(ass)-installed... (http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-ashamed005.gif) )
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/EARLY4.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/EARLY3.jpg)
Of course, a LOT of its own parts and pieces are being stored inside itself at this point, too.
Here it was lifted, by mid-October!
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/LIFT4.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/LIFT3.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/LIFT1.jpg)
Some closeups of this custom front bumper (spot welds and temporarily clamped to evaluate fitment)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/BUMPR1.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/BUMPR.jpg)
Made of box steel, it drops low enough to pass state inspection - the center part will be cut out, and a shelf installed, suitable for mounting a winch recessed into the bumper!
Bumper is now finished, save for setting up the recessed winch mount
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/BUMPR2.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/SANDED4.jpg)
Here's some pics after it got bondo'd (meh... it's a trail rig ::) ), and is almost ready to be painted!
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/SANDED.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/SANDED1.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/SANDED3.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/SANDED2.jpg)
You get a good look at the custom rear bumper this way!
To sand, primer, and paint this monster would be $4k+ at any reputable shop. I'm getting it for free, but STILL didn't know what color Jimmy was going to use at this point! :-\ I knew "silver" will be a large part of it, but beyond that... :dontknow: Beggars of course, don't get to be choosers!It's off to Monro Muffler for new brake and fuel lines (the originals rotted away), and whatever other work we need to get it to pass inspection after the first of the year.
Assuming Obama doesn't confiscate ALL our tax refunds this year :angry5: , my INTENTION is to do a ring & pinion swap (to 4.10's - it's currently factory 3.50 geared) and add a Transpak to the tranny. I might splurge for the winch at that time, too. Long range plans include tearing down the engine (which still runs strong, holds compression, etc.), adding new heads perhaps, new pistons, torque-ier crank, etc. I've got some Warn lock-out hubs ready for it too. ANY extra mpg's in THIS beast will be appreciated, and I figure the lock-out hubs will make GETTING to the outdoors a little less costly!
I'd like to do re-do the interior completely (droopy headliner has GOT to go - welcome to the late 80's/early '90's and the droopy headliner flashback! ::) ) - doing the seats in some sort of faux leather, that cleans up easily. I'd LOVE to tear out ALL the carpet and just rhinoline the entire floor - make it so you could run a hose and WASH the truck out... but that may not be ENTIRELY feasible, given how many wires run along the floor in even a '92 truck. I think I WILL rhinoline the cargo area though, as this will still be our Boy Scout War Wagon - suitable for throwing backpacks, gear, chuckboxes, and the like into. Getting that factory spare OUT of the cargo area REALLY opens 'er up back there! :D
It'll be a zombiecrusher for certain - a good BoV, if it comes to that. But she's DEFINITELY a zombie herself, having come close to the scrapyard THREE times now (it got hit in the passenger side when the original owner had it, but he refused to have it totaled, and got it repaired instead - when he passed away, his wife was about to scrap it, when she offered it to me instead. I ALMOST scapped it this spring, but found some much-needed help in the nick of time). It might FINALLY see the out-of-doors yet!
Any & all feedback is welcome and appreciated. And if you're handy with a wrench, engines & drivetrains, and live in Pittsburgh - gimme a shout!!! :tongue3:
that thing looks pretty good and definitely come a long way. to make the thing a good and reliable daily driver/trail rig you may want to check to see if the plenum gasket on the bottom of the intake has been fixed properly. from the factory dodge used a steel plenum pan and it expands and contracts at a different rate than the aluminum intake which eventually causes the gasket to blow. then your engine starts burning oil and clogging the cat. hughes engines has a complete kit to fix it for $120 plus shipping or you could get just the aluminum plenum pan off ebay and buy your whatever gasket brand you would like. some people don't like the gaskets shipped with the hughes kit which is why this is an option. they both work out to be about the same in price. also putting the headlights on relays is a good idea. it allows the lights to be brighter and the headlight switch and dimmer switch seem to be a fairly common weak spot on dodge truck. a bit of money spent on the electrical could save you lots of money down the road plus it could possibly help you see better if you ever drive at night.
Looking good, its always a lot of work to restore the rigs, but I find it to be a lot of fun too. My kids love trying to help even though they are young and get in the way more than not... its a great time to spend with them.
:nono: What ever you do, don't scrap it. Looks like a good project and seems to be moving along now. Wish you the best and keep the updates coming. Nice pics.
OK - here's some MORE pics and updates!
It's BEEN painted!!! ;D
In fact, he added the red factory pin stripe BACK to it, which set it off better than I thought it would. And it's two-tone again, although not QUITE like the factory had it. Here we go!
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/PAINT.jpg)
The top color, is a flat metalflake dark grey (the bright sunshine today played havoc with my auto-exposure - I only have one pic that really does it justice) - the bottom, a flat black. For flat colors (easy to touch up again after a good BRUSH run...), they really pop a LOT more than I expected them too (I was expecting more like the flat military colors of HUMVEES and Ma Dueces, than this!). Here's some more!
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/PAINT4.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/PAINT3.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/FRONT.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/PAINT1.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/REAR.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/PAINT5.jpg)
I'm wearing my red BSA windbreaker, hence the reddish reflection on the fender here.
Check out this front bumper now!
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/PAINT2.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/BUMPRB1.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/BUMPRB2.jpg)
Looking down here between the bodywork and the bumper, you can see the shelf for the winch to mount to. The fairleads come out the front, and you're good to go! 8)
That's Jimmy, on the far left, FYI.
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/JIMMY.jpg)
A decent shot of the rear hatch and bumper here - they popped the red plastic off the bottom of the "Dodge" plate, as it had collected a fair amount of crud over the years, and we don't need any MORE rust promotion on this hotrod! Wayne, Jimmy's right hand man, suggested red reflector tape... and that ain't a half-bad idea!
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/PAINTR.jpg)
Been looking for SOMETHING to demonstrate scale, as to the height on this monster. I saw this 5 gallon plastic gas can nearby, and it's DIRECTLY UNDER the corner of the bumper here. It's about 2' high, for reference.
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/REAR1.jpg)
Jimmy's doin' it up right! Here's the inside of the doors - sanded and ready to likewise be painted!
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/DOOR2.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/DOOR1.jpg)
This was probably the best picture of the bunch, to really see the paint and how well it works together.
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/HATCH.jpg)
I have dreamed - for 6 years - of this truck LOOKING this good... and now it actually does! They still have some frame/lift work to do - needs the second set of rear shocks installed as well. Once the brake & gas lines are done, then we can knock off some of the scale and start undercoating it. But another B-I-G hurdle is now cleared - the bodywork and paint is just about DONE!!! ;D ;D ;D
It's over here by my house now, as Jimmy's done as much as he can on his end for the time being. It needs fuel lines and brake lines immediately - hopefully we start on that later this week. Other things we've "discovered" of late;
- Liftgate pistons: they're now shot. :(
- New exhaust: Magnaflow glasspacks from JEGS are sitting in my office. :great:
- Flip seat anchor weld. Yeah... it's half broken (but the piston there WORKS!!!). :(
Once the brake/fuel lines are done, we can get it undercoated as well. I got the registration renewed at AAA the other week (it expired 2/08! :confused2: ). I've kept it insured the W-H-O-L-E time (in case it exploded and burned down my mechanic's house!) - NOW where's that &%^*%%&$%# insurance card?!?!
Well, enough of my headaches - here's some pics from outside the shop, before we rolled it over here to the house - makes a HELLUVA paperweight currently!!! :laughing7:
Nonetheless, it's REALLY quite photogenic at this point.
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/HALF7.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/HALF1.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/HALF2.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/HALF3.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/HALF4.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/HALF6.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/HALF5.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/HALF8.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/HALF9.jpg)
Well, PART of the insides of the doors got painted. :P
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/HALF11.jpg) This'll inhibit rust and seal the edges most exposed to the elements!
The interior is greatly cleaned up now.
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/HALF12.jpg)
It's a work in progress still - we've got to get it to pass inspection & start rolling again - that's the next step.
I got some pics of my son the Wednesday night it rolled in (I woke him up, just to go out and look at it! ;) ) in the driver's seat, and in front of it - he loved being lifted up INTO it! ;D
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/ZACH3.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/ZACH.jpg)
It's amazing what a nice coat of paint can do. Looks really nice War Wagon. :13:
Looked like a shiny new penny after all the bodywork, but it was a big PAPERWEIGHT at that point - ALL the fuel and brake lines had rotted away, and it needed a MAJOR overhaul to pass inspection, much less, BE roadworthy (did I mention that I had a custom multicarrier rear bumper made for it in '07? That sat in an empty Sunday school room - still shrink-wrapped to the pallet is shipped on - at my church for 5 years, awaiting installation!).
So off it went to my buddy Chris, at Monro Muffler in Castle Shannon, where it spent January to early April, being RE-done! Here's sort of a photo-retrospective highlight reel. :tongue3:
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/SHOP1_zps394da5f7.jpg)(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/SHOP2_zps573aef03.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/DRUM_zpsa5ca5224.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/mastercylinder_zps229ba999.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/TANK1_zpse55da1f7.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/100_8655_zps6aeac6fb.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/100_8653_zps99a0a292.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/ENGINE_zps38b1ed45.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/ENGINE1_zpsc92c4ae0.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/th_100_8648_zpsfe1e2fa3.jpg) (http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/100_8648_zpsfe1e2fa3.mp4)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/PULLEYS1_zpsb69b02b6.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/100_8665_zps1a44b3b0.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/ENGINE7_zpsb4f7c6ae.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/ENGINE9_zpsbf96763e.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/dlink_zps5bce3320.jpg)
It's passed inspection and is streetable, but I still have a few more goodies piled in my office, awaiting installation. It just went over to Gibbs TODAY, finally, after waiting another 6 weeks since it was done at Monro, to have all THIS installed!
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/0409132110_zpsc6ab0b6f.jpg)(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/0409131855_zpsad3b3d36.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/0409132127_zpsdd273c9c.jpg)(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/0409132131_zps5783f575.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/Parts1_zpsa280d026.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/0409132135_zpsec8437f6.jpg)
Incluidng my Warn/Magnum 9,000lb rated winch. :great:
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/WINCH_zps99ddfd44.jpg)
I did do a couple things to it for the 6 weeks it's been home. Installed the dual stabilizer, for one!
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/STBLZR1_zps9c62e812.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/STBLZR3_zpsefbc46ae.jpg)
Washed and waxed for the first time in YEARS. Might be a DECADE or more, since the last wax! :sign0137:
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/RC_wax1_zps4dcb967d.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/RC_wax8_zps88184564.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/RC_wax6_zpsea6d79bf.jpg)
Yeah, I KNOW - it should be getting DIRTIER, NOT cleaner. :tongue3: I gotta snap the CLEAN pics while I can, though.
Finally, here it is (before the wash 'n' wax) beside my itty, bitty, DD - my '07 Jeep Commander... :laughing7:
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/TRUCKS_zps27aa5e75.jpg)
that thing has come a long way. looks mean compared to the jeep.
Quote from: crazzywolfie on May 14, 2013, 04:24:56 AM
that thing has come a long way. looks mean compared to the jeep.
Sounds pretty mean too - click on this. :dance:
http://s212.photobucket.com/user/The_War_Wagon/media/Ramcharger/100_8648_zpsfe1e2fa3.mp4.html
Very cool build. It looks great.
Just gotta love a big pile of new parts in boxes waiting to be installed. :happy1:
Quote from: SixGun on May 14, 2013, 08:38:09 PM
Just gotta love a big pile of new parts in boxes waiting to be installed. :happy1:
Agree, nothing else like it.
Great looking RC, War Wagon. You keep washing it and you'll have rust again. ;)
Quote from: MT_84Ram on May 14, 2013, 10:09:48 PM
You keep washing it and you'll have rust again. ;)
Oh
noooo... you
GOTTA towel dry 'em... wonder if the wife is missing the king-size bed comforter yet... :tongue3:
Pittsburgh WINTERS make vehicles RUST. I'll drive the Commander in the snow. This one can just SIT winter out...
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/PC261030.jpg)
So here's the LATEST batch of pics, for the latest foray to the shop!
It's at Gibbs Automotive here in Pittsburgh now - these guys are probably the closest 4WD shop to the city proper - about 4 miles from downtown - and they're GOOD! They don't even advertize, or have a listing in the phone book, but it took me 6 weeks to get a spot in their garage, from the time I told 'em I was ready to go! They're ALWAYS busy.
Here was the passenger seat, LOADED with goodies for the trip over!
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/P5131341_zps82c90791.jpg)
Leavin' 'er out back!
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/P5131343_zps43e3bee0.jpg)
Took me over a week to get back - DMG was working on the front axle when I came in today.
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/P5211352_zps420be85d.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/P5211356_zpscc181ad9.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/P5211345_zpse738895c.jpg)
That's DMG!
The new carrier & ring & pinion are now in up front, as well as my SOLID diff cover.
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/P5211353_zpsd12939ca.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/P5211355_zpsba31a51f.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/P5211354_zpse2fed264.jpg)
#3 son is in the background - he had the day off, since his school is a polling place.
Turns out, DMG has a better plan for shocks - looks like Bilstein 5125's at all four corners, since shock technology has come quite a ways, since I bought this lift kit 6 years ago! We can ditch the dual shock setup, and make sure they're not bottomed out - as they are with the current setup!!! :confused2:
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/P5211357_zpsc028c1f3.jpg)
Don't know if I EVER showed THESE off or not - JEGS Hi-Po cats!
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/P5211347_zpsfdd8c9ee.jpg)
And here's ANOTHER real PITA - the spare tire mount. :angry5:
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/spare-mount_zpsf028d225.jpg)
Dodge 15" 5 lug 5.5 x 5 wheel - should be a simple enough pattern to make a mount for, right? Wrong. ::)
Kennesaw Mountain Products mounted the studs at a 6 x 5 inch pattern in reality, so EZaccessories is gonna custom build me a billett aluminum adaptor. I thought about heating it up with a torch and re-positioning it... or just hammering the shiite out of it... but both will leave an extraordinarily HEAVY wheel and tire, dangling precariously back there - most likely working loose eventually, and creating havoc on the road, sooooo... custom adaptor it is.
More pictures to come - DMG is doing it RIGHT, so I'll try to limit myself to picture snapping, and staying OUT of the way of the working people!
Freakin' awesome! :headbang:
Luckiest bunch of cub scouts ever - I say.
Not MUCH going on with the RC of late - it's still at Gibbs!
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/P6121370_zpse74ea9d5.jpg)
Outside of the shop!
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/P6121371_zpsb4b50781.jpg)
Just accumulating a few odds and ends on the side - got the stereo/6 cd changer unit from a fellow XK owner, so I have a stereo for it now!
(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/06/11/rugu6uza.jpg)
Already have an amp and speakers!
The cb rig will be the main thing in this build though. ;D
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/1_zps513a7b73.jpg)
:13:
that looks like a nice stereo!
you definitely have to post some pictures of that stereo after you install it. might be a upgrade worth trying.
Wellllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll... 3 mos. later, and my RC's... she's STILL a sittin'... :(
No news is... NO news. I'm mostly working on the CB setup for my Jeep at the moment - occasionally picking up CB pieces for the RC, too. Dave hasn't been able to work her in, amongst all the little projects that keep popping up, SOOOO... until that rear axle ring & pinion swap, Borgeson steering install and other 'miscellany' gets done, it's 'twiddle-my-thumbs' until then... :-\
On the BRIGHT side, I HAVEN'T had to refill that 34 gal. gas tank - or experience that 5mpg around town - at ALL this summer! :tongue3:
We used to have a saying in the Army, "Hurry up and wait." Saving on gas means extra money to buy more parts though. :13:
Quote from: The War Wagon on August 24, 2013, 07:47:01 AM
5mpg around town
What did you do to that pour truck? 5mpg? I never got that on a bad day. My 92 and the 93 get about 13 in town and if I got a great tail wind can get 17 on the highway but prob closer to 15 most of the time. :laughing7:
Quote from: rjtx667 on August 24, 2013, 11:21:34 PM
What did you do to that pour truck? 5mpg? I never got that on a bad day. My 92 and the 93 get about 13 in town and if I got a great tail wind can get 17 on the highway but prob closer to 15 most of the time. :laughing7:
I'm guessing at this point. I've only put 50 miles on it since we got it running again, and it's been sitting again the last three mos. It's getting 2,160,000mpg at the moment - tank is still full, and the earth has moved that far
since it started sitting again! :tongue3:
Do you happen to have any numbers off that radio that you are plan on using? That think looks sick man, any more progress or still waiting?
Quote from: joemouton on October 18, 2013, 01:55:21 PM
Do you happen to have any numbers off that radio that you are plan on using? That think looks sick man, any more progress or still waiting?
The radio is a standard Chrysler/Jeep issue - late 2000's. Came out of an '07 Jeep Commander.
RC is
still sitting at the shop - went by last week and put the new 2014 sticker on the license plate. :tongue3: Dave says he's going to get to it... "
soon"... :dontknow:
UH OH... I just fell in love!!! (http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-love017.gif)
http://www.hughesengines.com/Index/products.php?browse=category&level0=U21hbGwgQmxvY2sgRG9kZ2UgTWFnbnVtICgzLjkvNS4yLzUuOSk=&level1=SW5kdWN0aW9uIChJbnRha2VzICYgQ29sZCBBaXIgS2l0cyk=&partid=24773
I wanna do a mild cam, lifters, performance PCM & double roller timing chain upgrades next spring anyways - might as well ditch the keg while I'm at it! :dance:
i don't think you would gain anything by spending $600 on a intake. i think you would get more out of buying a set of bosch 4 hole injectors for your truck than you would out of that intake and you can usually get a set of injectors for less than $150
Quote from: crazzywolfie on October 25, 2013, 10:37:51 PM
i don't think you would gain anything by spending $600 on a intake. i think you would get more out of buying a set of bosch 4 hole injectors for your truck than you would out of that intake and you can usually get a set of injectors for less than $150
BY itself, probably not. But since I gotta go inside to do the cam & lifters anyways... and as the plenum is a known weak point on the keggers... and as the kegger mod on the OBD1 Magnums requires some effort... this looks like a nice option in a
money vs. effort comparison.
A guy here in Pittsburgh turned me on to the Hughes intake - he put one on his 5.2 Dakota and swears by it. I'd never heard of it, until earlier today. I was asking around if anyone locally had ever done the kegger mod (http://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen-ram-tech/145873-kegger-intake-mod-diy.html (http://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen-ram-tech/145873-kegger-intake-mod-diy.html)), and he pointed this out.
i still don't think the cost to benefit ratio is there for the intake. you can fix the plenum gasket for less than $150. i would also not recommend the kegger mod you refered to. it is suppose to move the power from down low to the mid to higher rpm range. personally i like having all my power down low.
Quote from: crazzywolfie on October 26, 2013, 03:25:22 AM
i still don't think the cost to benefit ratio is there for the intake. you can fix the plenum gasket for less than $150. i would also not recommend the kegger mod you refered to. it is suppose to move the power from down low to the mid to higher rpm range. personally i like having all my power down low.
I read where that does increase greatly your power above 3,000 rpms - I'm not sure if that's as a SACRIFICE of low-end, or JUST the bonus of more top end (MOVING your powerband, as it were). :dontknow: Were I bogging it, it would certainly be nice to have that top end. Never really crawled before, as my previous wheeler was a '79 Bronco down in NC (a little more mud down there), and I have the Alleghenies to play around in up here.
I'm consulting a LOTTA local folk here about how to build the RC for successful off-roading
here (Pittsburgh Offroad.com). The main problem THESE days is, finding people with experience wheeling FULL-SIZE rigs! 25 years ago, it was all Broncos, Blazers, Ramchargers and V-8 powered CJ's. A LOT of Generation Y's
only experience with a V-8 4-wheeler, was growing up & being schlepped around in mom's SUBURBAN! :o
if you had a tach in you vehicle you would learn you don't really go over 3000rpm. i don't think you would gain the power above 3000rpm and be able to keep the low end torque or else they would have probably done it from the factory eventually. they did make a few changes to the magnum intakes over the years but shorter runners was not one of the changes. i think even if you installed a cam, lifter and rockers you would still have a 5000rpm limit which would mean there is only a 2000 rpm window where you would notice a gain and that gain might only be noticeable at wide open throttle.
I can get an OBD1 NoS kegger for $40 - I can do the mod on the side with that. So you're think it might be more cost effective - and power effective - to do the mod on that, vs. forking over for the Hughes intake?
i think it would be more cost effective to mod a stock intake. $40 for a NOS kegger seem like a pretty good deal. i think i paid about that for my dirty used one. there is really not too much that needs to be modded. you just mainly need to clean up some of the rough cast which you will find lots of. with the money saved fixing a stock keg you could buy some of the other parts that would compliment the other mods you want to do to the engine like a 50mm throttle body and bosch 4 hole injectors. you can usually get those 2 things off ebay for cheap.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/251361935964
the same guy also sells just the aluminum plenum pans so you could buy the gaskets of your choice.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/DODGE-JEEP-ALUMINUM-PLENUM-PLATE-BELLY-PAN-318-360-5-2-5-9-MANIFOLD-REPAIR-KIT-/261310243867?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3cd74de41b
I saw someone on Dodge Talk who was thinking of going to larger injectors, and then backed off of it. Don't know of anyone else who's tried it, to see what their results were.
I know the plenum gasket is the weak link of the early Magnum. I do like how the Hughes unit eliminates them, but then, maybe modern gasketing will solve some of those problems.
i think rjtx667 had 24lb injectors in his 91/92 but i am not sure. i figure even if you go with same as stock rating but better flow pattern you should notice a increase in performance.
some people think that if you replace stock gasket with a aftermarket gasket you should solve the problem.
(http://i1208.photobucket.com/albums/cc367/Natasha_Lustig/smiley/sign0200.gif) Woot - woot! Things are finally moving again!!! (http://i1208.photobucket.com/albums/cc367/Natasha_Lustig/smiley/sign0200.gif) Crappy cell phone pics to follow! ::)
Stopped by the shop today, to check on progress. Dave was outside with a customer, so I parked in my usual spot. My RC's been outside for 6 mos. now, but THIS was parked in its spot today!
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/1120131251_zpsa25e3543.jpg)
I said, "HEY! You SHRANK my Ramcharger!!!" :tongue3: (Neat little project, this '71 Cornbinder - has an automatic transmission and FACTORY A/C!)
Sure enough, there in the garage, is THE War Wagon!
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/1120131248_zpsb8d662b5.jpg)
The axles are now done, and Dave says it DEFINITELY has more giddy-yap, with 4.56 gears!
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/1120131244_zpsed8b3e9d.jpg)
Transmission hangs in low sometimes, which we already knew. The B&M Transpak goes in next, with the new armored transmission pan, filter, and all new fluid. We think, with the forthcoming flush & new filter, the transmission will be good as new when done. Borgeson steering still to go in, too, but it's STARTING to get there! :dance:
Thats great man. :headbang: So is he working on it full time? What do you have planned next? Some road time? :laughing7:
Quote from: joemouton on November 20, 2013, 04:56:13 PM
Thats great man. :headbang: So is he working on it full time? What do you have planned next? Some road time? :laughing7:
If it's BEING worked on, it's CLOSER to road time! :dance:
A guy in my neighborhood had been working on a vehicle that looks like that one. I don't know much about Internationals though. He just got that thing running and it looks pretty badass in it's rough shape. I like that factory scoop on the one in the pic.
Can you post up some closeups on that spare tire contraption you have. Looks nice.
Quote from: SixGun on November 20, 2013, 09:03:52 PMCan you post up some closeups on that spare tire contraption you have. Looks nice.
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/REAR1.jpg)
There's a bunch more pics back at the beginning of this thread - it's SO old, that when I bought it, it was made by Kennesaw Mountain Products -
BEFORE they were "Tactical Armor Group!" :o
They still make 'em, although I didn't find out about their spotty reputation, until mine had been sitting
STILL shrink-wrapped to the pallet it was shipped on, for 6 years in my church's basement! (http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-ashamed005.gif)
I had it custom built, to include - spot/mounts for a jerry can, hi-lift jack, license plate, heavy-duty "D" shackles, CB antenna mount, and of course - a swing out tire gate (all that hardware is integral IN the bumper, and not to the bodywork, like the old Blazer/Bronco tiregates were - nothing to jar loose or break/tear away sheet metal!). I told them what tire size and wheel combo I'd be running, and they build it strong enough to hold THAT size tire! I can put any 5x5.5 bolt pattern wheel back there (although I'm actually mounting a custom plate TO that, with 5 lug bolts, to BETTER hold the oversize wheel in place) with a 38" or smaller tire. I'm currently running 35's.
Actually the jerry can holder caught my attention. I recently saw a vehicle with a mount for 3 jerry cans. They were perpendicular to the gate on the RH side and the spare was on the left. Not an RC but I can't remember if it was a Jeep or what. It was professional looking like maybe a kit. I reached for my camera but unfortunately I left it at home. He disappeared in a flash. Hope I see him again.
Quote from: crazzywolfie on October 26, 2013, 05:28:41 PM
i think it would be more cost effective to mod a stock intake. $40 for a NOS kegger seem like a pretty good deal. i think i paid about that for my dirty used one. there is really not too much that needs to be modded. you just mainly need to clean up some of the rough cast which you will find lots of. with the money saved fixing a stock keg you could buy some of the other parts that would compliment the other mods you want to do to the engine like a 50mm throttle body and bosch 4 hole injectors. you can usually get those 2 things off ebay for cheap.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/251361935964
the same guy also sells just the aluminum plenum pans so you could buy the gaskets of your choice.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/DODGE-JEEP-ALUMINUM-PLENUM-PLATE-BELLY-PAN-318-360-5-2-5-9-MANIFOLD-REPAIR-KIT-/261310243867?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3cd74de41b
Oh thanks Wolfie. Now you have ideas rolling around in my head for my 01 ram. New throttle body, injectors, maybe even the exhaust crossover with no cat but has O2 bung....... I have to do the plenum gasket anyways in the spring.....
Quote from: SixGun on November 21, 2013, 04:48:10 PM
Actually the jerry can holder caught my attention. I recently saw a vehicle with a mount for 3 jerry cans. They were perpendicular to the gate on the RH side and the spare was on the left. Not an RC but I can't remember if it was a Jeep or what. It was professional looking like maybe a kit.
I saw an ad on 4WD Parts website (
maybe...) for that SAME contraption. If I ever get enough money, I might put one ofTHOSE on my Jeep Commander - it DID look sharp.
Hey Bob, saw the vid of your exhaust. Sounds badazz. What exhaust is that? (pretty snappy throttle response too.)
Quote from: 80W150 on December 07, 2013, 04:07:26 PM
Hey Bob, saw the vid of your exhaust. Sounds badazz. What exhaust is that? (pretty snappy throttle response too.)
Still the factory headers! 8)
2 1/4 true duals - Magnaflow hi-flow cats (2 of 'em), and Magnaflow glasspacks. 2 1/4 provided just enough room to route 'em all around everything, & gives a
little backpressure still, for good low-end torque. ;D
Quote from: The War Wagon on December 07, 2013, 11:16:55 AM
I saw an ad on 4WD Parts website (maybe...) for that SAME contraption. If I ever get enough money, I might put one ofTHOSE on my Jeep Commander - it DID look sharp.
FOUND IT!!! Garvin Industries makes 'em - here's the Summit Racing link - http://www.summitracing.com/parts/gav-66701/overview/
(http://static.summitracing.com/global/images/prod/xlarge/gav-66701_xl.jpg)
A little different but definately nice. A pretty penny too. Is that what you are looking at for your Jeep?
Quote from: SixGun on December 08, 2013, 09:50:38 PM
A little different but definately nice. A pretty penny too. Is that what you are looking at for your Jeep?
Not sure. I thought sure I saw
EXACTLY what you were describing on the Ultimate Jeep Forum (XK/WK site), but I can't seem to find it again!!! :angry5:
If I do, I'll post it.
I just turned on the TV and just caught the opening scene to "The War Wagon" with John Wayne and Kirk Douglas on AMC. Just gotta watch it now. :icon_salut:
Quote from: SixGun on January 04, 2014, 07:56:20 AM
I just turned on the TV and just caught the opening scene to "The War Wagon" with John Wayne and Kirk Douglas on AMC. Just gotta watch it now. :icon_salut:
I wanna get a bumper sticker for my Jeep:
"
My other truck, is THE WAR WAGON! (http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2124/2174466448_09ea482cf5_z.jpg)"
;D
Quote from: SixGun on November 21, 2013, 04:48:10 PM
Actually the jerry can holder caught my attention. I recently saw a vehicle with a mount for 3 jerry cans. They were perpendicular to the gate on the RH side and the spare was on the left. Not an RC but I can't remember if it was a Jeep or what. It was professional looking like maybe a kit. I reached for my camera but unfortunately I left it at home. He disappeared in a flash. Hope I see him again.
Found ANOTHER one. Their ad caught my eye in Four Wheel Part's Magazine.
(http://bodyarmor4x4.com/ba/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/jk1-2013.jpg)
They've got a couple variations on that theme at their website - http://www.bodyarmor4x4.com/
They have nice stuff. :thumbsup:
Lookout boys - the tax refund is in, and I'm buying!!! (http://yoursmiles.org/tsmile/money/t3908.gif)
Make mine a Jack and Coke. :laughing7:
Here's a great article, on the guy who did the paint & bodywork on my Ramcharger! Big rigs is his SPECIALTY.
Old School Is "Cool" (http://movinout.com/March%202014/article24.html)
(http://movinout.com/March%202014/article_images/Front_Page_March_REINSFELDER---MAR.-COVER-6-COL.png)(http://movinout.com/March%202014/article_images/REINSFELDER--DAVIS.png)
QuoteEveryone at Reinsfelder, Inc. of Pittsburgh is into trucks. In fact, they practically eat, sleep and breathe trucks. They also love the old school look of trucks from days gone by, especially since the company has been hauling freight for 95 years. Luckily for them, Reinsfelder owner Ed Haser is a friend of Jimmy Davis, owner of Ol Skool Stainless Customs of Carnegie, Pennsylvania. For Jimmy it is a passion and a labor of love. What is most impressive is that Jimmy does all of his fabrication by hand, cutting and bending each piece without the help of automation or computers.
That's how he fabbed up that crusher bumper for my Ramcharger! (http://ar15armory.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/smiley_smartass.gif)
<blockquote> </blockquote>
Check out my dash cover - it arrived today! 8)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/0313141607_zps83da3a4f.jpg)(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/0313141606_zps6ac14ce5.jpg)
Nice :thumbsup:
OK - JUST got it confirmed tonite on some rock sliders. Dave, who has my truck now - took up tube bending last year, and has started to make some decent looking stuff with his tube bending jig.
He's only had the truck for 10 mos. ::) , so he should know it INSIDE & OUT by now. I requested .188 wall tube as a MINIMUM, just so the truck doesn't crush 'em by it's OWN weight. AND to add kickouts!
He was JUST getting ready to bend up some sliders for his Tacoma, so he's gonna bend mine while he's at it! :dance:
(http://www.cool-smileys.com/images/74.gif) Just ordered the Hughes intake plenum fix (http://www.hughesengines.com/Index/products.php?partid=27091) and a new O2 sensor (http://www.hughesengines.com/Index/products.php?browse=search&search=23023&partid=24001). Mine doesn't SEEM to be leaking - I don't think it's something the previous owner addressed - but I figured, no time like the present, to fix it BEFORE it leaves me in the lurch!
:thumbsup: Any reason to play with some tools.
Quote from: SixGun on March 17, 2014, 11:32:14 AM
:thumbsup: Any reason to play with some tools.
That, too. :tongue3:
i pipe wrench works good if you don't have a o2 sensor socket. Richard taught me that and it worked on my ramcharger. i almost thought i was going to snap my old one but it eventually broke loose. you could have got that o2 sensor cheaper from rockauto. they are only $28 plus shipping which is most likely under $10
Quote from: crazzywolfie on March 17, 2014, 02:01:00 PM
i pipe wrench works good if you don't have a o2 sensor socket. Richard taught me that and it worked on my ramcharger. i almost thought i was going to snap my old one but it eventually broke loose. you could have got that o2 sensor cheaper from rockauto. they are only $28 plus shipping which is most likely under $10
I
hear great things ABOUT Rock Auto, but their part ordering system is
UN-fathomable. I'm working on a Ph.D. at Duquesne University - seriously - and I've had graduate assignments that weren't as complicated as their part lookup system. :o
lol. it is not that bad. if you know the part number you can just look that up. otherwise you would find stuff in different catigories under 1993 ramcharger. for oxygen sensor you would look under emissions
Dropped off the Hughes plenum fix and new O2 sensor at Dave's today. He's starting to bend some tube for my sliders already! The transmission is now done - just gotta get the steering done, headers installed, and the plenum fix. Of course, I'll probably find something ELSE for him to do by then! :tongue3:
OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH BAY-beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee...
THE War Wagon should be comin' home FRIDAY!!! :dance:
Like a bear, it's hibernated under Dave's shop all winter... but MOST everything is done to it for now (and Dave needs the space!!!).
A couple items of interest:
- The B&M Transpak is NOT installed yet. Even though Dave adjusted the bands, flushed out the transmission, & installed the new armored pan & filter, the tranny still doesn't seem to be responding 'quite right' yet. COULD be, because it sat for 6 years. COULD be, a torque converter going bad. Dave say the Transpak will "kill it" at this point, so he wants me to tool around in it a bit - see if that loosens it up, and we can revisit the Transpak in the fall.
- My SPANKIN' NEW fuel lines (custom ordered from MI!!!) had a couple minor leaks. I asked Dave if that was the lines, or my fuel pump, which I can't REMEMBER off the top of my head, whether I replaced or not (I'm PRETTY sure I did, but I don't have my records/receipts in front of me here at the office!). He caught it, so whatever it was, I know it's fixed.
- He hasn't done the plenum fix, but as that's an issue with COLD engines, and the sun has actually made an appearance this month, hopefully it will hold together through spring, summer, and fall, and we can revisit THAT this fall, along with;
- Rock rails/sliders. Dave is still bending tube, but again, he needs the space, so we shall eschew those for the time being. Moreover, I have a NEW idea on what those should look like anyways, so we'll tackle THAT subject later this year as well. As I told him, I'll TRY and resist the urge, to wedge it between a couple of boulders... :tongue3:
Nonetheless, it's re-geared and the Borgeson steering is in place, so no more death wobble from hell, and it SHOULD be able to get out of its own way. There are a couple of other items I want to check on as well, and will report back accordingly. Lots of pictures will follow as well - maybe even a stack of the mad money I'm taking over there for this tomorrow as well.
I'm about to poop myself delirious! (http://www.sherv.net/cm/emoticons/shit/smiley-face-pooping-emoticon.gif)(http://www.sherv.net/cm/emo/dancing/dancing-poop.gif)(http://www.sherv.net/cm/emo/funny/2/dancing-banana-with-poop-picket-smiley-emoticon.gif)(http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h203/Sexxieracerchik4/Miscellaneous/SMILIES/poop2.gif)(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r153/Paranormallink/Cell%20Phone%20Pics/poop_2.gif)
Sooper Kool :13:
I find I'm so excited, I can barely sit still or hold a thought in my head.
I think it's the excitement only a Ramcharger man can feel;
a Ramcharger man at the start of a long journey whose conclusion is uncertain.
I hope I can make it to the shop today.
I hope to see my truck, and drive it away.
I hope the Borgeson steers as straight as it has been in my dreams.
I hope.
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/freemanCU_zpsa93e981c.jpg)
Welllll, if Obama has taught us ANYTHING, it's that, "HOPE"... is NOT a plan... ::)
Guess what happens when you RE-gear, and your driveline angle is bad? Torque and driveshaft yokes are NOT your friends. :o
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/4_zps702a7a46.jpg) I LITERALLY got it home, when it dropped the driveshaft in the parking lot. :tard:
It drove GREAT getting home - had a blast tooling around in it - looks GREAT with the spare tire finally mounted.
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/3_zps05bb527a.jpg) I'm just too disappointed to say any more.
I called Dave & told him what happened - we knew it was binding, but didn't realize it was THAT bad. I'm sending it back to him on Monday - we're gonna drop the rear springs, rotate and shim the axle, and get that straightened out. Stay tuned for more details...
Yikes....how much lift are you running?
Quote from: SixGun on April 10, 2014, 06:13:12 PM
Yikes....how much lift are you running?
It's 4 1/2", but when Jimmy set up the shocks in the rear, he set 'em REALLY stiff - the axle NEEDED to be rotated, and now with all the torque of those 4.56's... well... it ATE the yoke going into the transfer case... :disgust:
Looks awesome! That had to be one of the worst feelings to get out a find the shaft on the ground. Hope it's a doesn't talk long to get her back this time.
Actually, Dave is on the way over right now to take a look at it. It goes back over to his shop on Monday, but he wants to eyeball it this afternoon, so he can think on the plan of attack for next week. :thumbsup:
Dave came by and crawled under for a look. He didn't actually install the driveshafts, FYI - the previous mechanic did; they were already refurbished and re-jointed when he got it - he didn't look them over on the transfer case end while re-gearing the axles.
Looking everything over, he thinks the vibration of the 110 miles of his test driving, combined with the 6 miles of combat pothole driving I did, worked a bolt lose, and the driveshaft broke free. He things the yoke looks fine on the t-case - he took the slip yoke off the driveshaft with him. He's going to fix it this weekend, come back over to the parking lot, and re-assemble it there - saving me a tow off my AAA. I was thinking I might need to spend another few hundred to drop the rear axle and redo the shock towers (he IS going to order some shims so we CAN do that eventually) next week, but MAYBE... we can avoid that for a bit yet. We'll find out Monday.
Ok... I'm getting over the heartbreak of my driveshaft sitting on the deck. It may not be as bad as I thought, so here's a few pics of some other stuff that actually got done WELL to the truck.
New deep-dish, armored transmission pan!
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/100_9196_zps3f3c5240.jpg)
Boregson! And it CAN be steered one-handed on a highway now!
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/100_9198_zps4954b2c1.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/100_9200_zps97456649.jpg)
Better pics of the Nitro armored rear diff cover (got a Solid up front)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/100_9202_zpsee58601e.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/100_9204_zps1b8f2435.jpg)
Dave couldn't get to the seat this time around, SOOOOOOOO... I tried the toughest compound of JB Weld they make. :dontknow: Meh... nothing ventured, nothing gained!
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/100_9212_zpsfaf01ae0.jpg)
And since it was 73, sunny & breezy today... I replaced the grill. 8)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/100_9218_zpsc56e841a.jpg)
And I'm REALLY pleased with the tire carrier, and pleasantly surprised that the spare DOESN'T block as much of my view out the rear as I though it would. Not that I won't crush anything smaller than a SEMI in my blind spot, but HEY! It's better than I thought it would be! :tongue3:
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/spare_zpsed4a652c.jpg)
now you need a new hood because your grill no longer says DODGE so you will have to get a hood that says DODGE. that is one of the biggest issues i have with the aftermarket grills. they don't have dodge written on them.
Quote from: crazzywolfie on April 12, 2014, 10:33:21 PM
now you need a new hood because your grill no longer says DODGE so you will have to get a hood that says DODGE. that is one of the biggest issues i have with the aftermarket grills. they don't have dodge written on them.
I got the stick-on letters from Autozone. Gotta put 'em on the grill yet. Mine's gonna say, "
F A R G O" ;D
I also
saved the old grill - I plan on cleaning it up, fixing the cracks, and figuring how how to reinforce it, so I can make it last much longer.
looks great :great: .... when are you coming to texas to wheel that bad boy? :dance:
Quote from: ProjectPW on April 13, 2014, 09:00:45 AM
looks great :great: .... when are you coming to texas to wheel that bad boy? :dance:
I was
THINKING about that while out playing with it yesterday - glad I didn't try for THIS weekend - I'da been stranded in WV!!! :o
I'm THINKING... that I'm gonna fgo back to Pittsburgh Driveshaft, and have them build me a double-cardon yoke for the rear drive shaft into the transfer case. It's the
ONLY end of the drive train that is NOT a double cardon, and THAT'S where it failed. It would SURELY buy me some time on busting all the shock towers loose, & getting that rear axle rotated!
OK... I ordered the JB Conversion SYE today. They'll sell you somehting faster tha you can say, "How much," but they don't answer phones OR e-mails these days!
I'm not real happy about their customer service at the moment... we'll see how good their gear is soon enough, I reckon.
Honestly, I am gonna lose my mind, before this truck hits the road again!!!(http://www.websmileys.com/sm/mad/434.gif)
JB's SYE's are made for '94 and up NP241's. MY input spline is a 27 spline - '94 and up are 29 spline or more. :confused2:
So I went to Driveshaftsuperstore in AZ, & they CAN build me a cone/flange bolt-on dealy for my RC - they're making it this week, and it should ship Friday. And my local driveshaft guy goes on vacation on Monday. For 2 weeks. :angry4:
I think I'm starting to understand why Ford & Chevy guys laugh at us. Right up until I appear in their rearview mirror, anyways... (http://www.websmileys.com/sm/violent/sterb214.gif)
Quote from: The War Wagon on April 30, 2014, 01:47:04 PM
Honestly, I am gonna lose my mind, before this truck hits the road again!!!(http://www.websmileys.com/sm/mad/434.gif)
JB's SYE's are made for '94 and up NP241's. MY input spline is a 27 spline - '94 and up are 29 spline or more. :confused2:
well you missed a golden opportunity there.... put in a NP241 in the RC and swap out the front axle to a 94 and up driver drop.
Problem solved :laughing7:
:beer: The RC is fixed again!
Dave came by tonight and finished up re-connecting the old driveshaft... for the time being... I drove it around the parking lot - backing up a couple of times as well. Then took it for a spin around the block - nothing strenuous. It all held together for the time being!
I need to go put some gas in it - probably Monday (there's a little local-owned gas station/garage, and I like to get my gas there - plus it's fairly easy to get in and out of with the RC) - but I'll probably keep it close-to-home until the flange/eliminator and new driveshaft are installed. :steeringwheel:
Played with the RC today, as it's my day off. ATTEMPTED to mate an old WJ 318 dual K&N filter intake to it... and Advance Auto ain't GOT enough Spectre elbows to make it fit JUST yet! :confused2: Trust me... I bought several... ::)
After giving up on that for the day, I grabbed a fistful of $20's, and decided to fill up! Added 6oz. of Lucas Oil fuel treatment, since it was in the shop for 11mos.! My barely functioning tank float refuses to read anything above a half-a-tank; to be safe, I figured it was getting 5mpg. The needle had drifted down to 1/4 tank, and it had 116 miles on the trip odometer since the previous fillup, so I thought it a good time to fill up, treat what gas was left, clean the injectors, and see if another fillup would bust the float loose.
$72.50 later @ $3.79/gal., I calculate that it's actually getting a smidgeon over 6mpg - almost all city driving - so my guesswork on that was just about spot on!
After THAT, I went over to see a friend of mine from church. John had a stroke when he was 47 (my age now) and is paralyzed on his left side. He fights the good fight, and gets about pretty well now some 20+ years later. Back in the day though, he was the crew chief for his best friend, who drove the NASCAR dirt circuit in western PA in the 1960's (Heidelberg, Pittsburgh Speedway, Lernerville, et.al.). John went on to become a mechanical engineer; Dave (the driver) went on to become a bigwig in Chrysler/MOPAR's parts division in the northeast. The three of us have gotten together a couple of times over the years, to go catch some Friday night races at Lernerville (late model modifieds - dirt track racing), whenever Dave is passing through between his summer home in ME, and winter home in FL. They're both OLD-SCHOOL MOPAR guys.
At any rate, I stopped in to see John today, and with some modicum of effort, we got him INTO the RC, went out for a spin, and terrorized his neighbors! :tongue3: As the truck has no stereo currently, we put the windows down, and just listened to the roar and crack of the glasspacks! :steeringwheel: After that bit of fun, we managed to get him BACK out of the RC, without killing he, I, or the truck! :13:
Nothing special today really. Would like to have washed the truck, but they're calling for rain tonight, so I fought that urge. Just had a good time playing with it, like I've been WANTING to do for almost 8 years now, and took a good friend out to enjoy it too (he's really the only gearhead at our church, and the RC belonged to our church secretary's late husband, so he's been following with keen interest how the progress is coming). After waiting almost 8 years just to GET it to this point, being able to enjoy the little things, is finally some great fun for ME!
:pics:
we need pics of the attempt with the elbows :laughing7:
Quote from: rjtx667 on May 08, 2014, 10:13:33 PM
:pics:
we need pics of the attempt with the elbows :laughing7:
Ugggh...
NO you don't... :confused2:
SOMEONE was asking me once, about my slotted rotors, and where I got them. Can't remember if it was here, or elsewhere, but REMARKABLY... while looking for something COMPLETELY different... I came across the very envelope file I'd saved, when I mailed them payment over 7 years ago!!!
It's R1 Concepts, Inc. out of Los Angeles, for reference! And here's the link (http://www.r1concepts.com/default.aspx?)! :great:
(http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/tt84/SVT-GT500/smileys/sign0200.gif)(http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/tt84/SVT-GT500/smileys/sign0200.gif)
My flange yoke eliminator arrived Saturday!
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/FYE1_zpsd9fd1413.jpg)(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/FYE_zps31ced16f.jpg)
Tried to put the mud flaps on today, but there's not enough room to wedge a screwdriver down there and install 'em! :o I thought about hi-lifting it - to get the wheel to drop enough to let me do it, but storms are threatening, and discretion is the better part of valor.
I DID install the dashmat, though! ;D
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/DASH_zps75c844a8.jpg)
Got the first wash and WD40 of the year done - even put my new (old) video camera to good use too! Enjoy!
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/PIC_0007_zps042acce5.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/PIC_0011_zpsc56d2b70.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/PIC_0014_zps13dd3da0.jpg)
(Click on each picture BELOW to get the video. These are CONVERTED *.mod file to MP4 files, so they lose a little video quality in translation.)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/th_RC1_zpsef8dcac9.jpg) (http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/RC1_zpsef8dcac9.mp4)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/th_RC2_zpsc5249e1c.jpg) (http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/RC2_zpsc5249e1c.mp4)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/th_RC3_zps0fbd0910.jpg) (http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/RC3_zps0fbd0910.mp4)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/th_RC4_zps6ff383e9.jpg) (http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/RC4_zps6ff383e9.mp4)
Beautiful truck :thumbsup:
NOTHING new to report (driveshaft isn't done yet ::) ), but I finally did come across a set of photos from late '06 - when I inherited it - that I can show off. You can see how far it's come!
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/badside_zps45968928.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/gotpaint_zps39efe7cd.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/needswork_zps7728faf3.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/REAR_zpsb73f6fed.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/taillight_zpsc337a99f.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/smallrust1_zps513a072f.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/bigrust_zps6710c659.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/NOSE_zpsabff119d.jpg)
Not all THAT different now, eh? ;)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/PIC_0011_zpsc56d2b70.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/PIC_0008_zpsa452ae7e.jpg)
Ya' know... the bumpers on that thing were actually in VERY good shape. I shoulda kept and sold them... :-\
I loved that wheel design, too - looked into bead-blasting, cerakoting, and re-cycling them in some capacity, but my cerakote guy showed me the price tag and quickly dissuaded me of THAT. If they were 15x10, I'd of DONE it though.
Were those "LE" badges stick-on, or were they metal? We lost them during the paintjob, I believe.
Your truck has come a long way. :PDT_Armataz_01_37:
Well, I was trying to get my right running light/turn signal working the other day, and noticed a mess of goo inside the bulb socket. Cleaned it all up, and the bulb, and it STILL won't light. :icon_scratch:
In the process of trying to make sure the contacts were good, I managed to short my first fuse... and suddenly realized, I've misplaced all my large blade fuses from my Grand Marquis days. ::)
After dropping the fuse panel, I see what a mess that is, as the old alarm system was hot-wired in there. I think I'll save the wire, and wire my four-fold power port gizmo with it, and superglue THAT where I removed the ashtray. That, and since I'm bored, I wanna start playing around with the stereo install. I really wanna get the interior thoroughly cleaned first, before I start mashing my face into the carpet, while trying to poke around under the dash, whilst standing on my head... maybe I can fiddle with the speaker install in the meantime.
I think I'm going to hafta cut up the door panels for my round three-ways... but again - it's not a rotisserie restoration, and if I do it right... :tard: ... it should look pretty clean anyways... (http://pgh-offroad.com/forum/images/smilies/paranoid.gif)
I'll keep you posted...
You KNOW you've been AWAY from the shade tree TOO long, when you spend 2 days trying to make a parking lamp bulb WORK... and it really WAS burned out all along!
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/DOHHH.jpg) At any rate, I had a fusebox full of 22 year old fuses, and I HAD popped the 20amp fuse for the running lights. I basically went through and replaced ALL the fuses, save for that 3 & 5 amp fuse (gotta go back and buy those separately, it appears). Got my cabin lights working again (had to replace the rear bulb).
Bigger problem though - I've got some water getting into my doors when it's standing still! Had a lotta rain the last couple of days, and I find water coming into the bottom of my doors and draining out onto the sill plate! I'm guessing the dry-rotted window molding is allowing that in, so I reckon that'll hafta addressed long-term eventually... or find a garage/tent for it!
I did pull the door panels off, and start the process to install some speakers. As we're all familiar with our dinky little panel hangers, most of mine have lost the black rubber spacer on the panel side, and the spacers that are there have dried out. So I took some Liquid Nails, to affix the hangers back onto the panel, and hopefully help them stick a little better.
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/0621141419_zpse103d6f3.jpg)(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/0621141536_zps1aa42f2e.jpg)
And speaking of electric brake controllers, I pulled the one Dino'd installed to pull his boat with many moons ago. It HAD been affixed to the ashtray.
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/0621141549_zps215344c9.jpg) Unless somebody needs one, I'll probably toss it. I think he pulled a little johnboat with the RC back in the day.
Let's me reclaim the ashtray, so there's not a big ugly, empty spot in the lower dash. I think I'll attach my 4 power port-dealy where the brake controller was.
Got the inside bottom of the driver's side door bondo'd this afternoon. Used the metallic grid/adhesive patch on both sides, and slathered it down (I sanded it down yesterday) on both sides. I'll paint the bottom tomorrow, and use some spray-on undercoat on the inside of the door. I wanna put some 3M soundproofing in the door while I'm at it.
Gotta go Dremel out the thick edge of this panel, so the speaker grill will sit flush. Oh the fun we have (and smoke we make! :tongue3: ) with power tools!
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/100_9233_zps6a1eb62e.jpg)
Got the inside of the doors undercoated/rubberized, and the bottm side painted where I did the bondo patch. Went by a local car audio place, and picked up some Dynamat sound proofing; really HEAVY duty aluminum and 1/4" thick self adhesive pad. Stuffed the doors with it, and got a little done on the right rear quarter where the 6x9 3-ways will go (where the factory rear 5x8's used to be). Gnarly stuff, although with a trail rig with true duals... & I don't even have the headers on it yet :confused2: , I don't think it'll do a LOT, but we'll see how it goes.
Didn't even take any pictures this time, but the 150 watt Alpine 2-ways are in the doors, and the doors are buttoned up better than factory new! I need to get that weatherstripping replaced, but UNTIL then, it's about as good as it gets!
Ooooh - also RTV'd the right side window trim. I was missing a couple of connectors, so rather than let water get in, I just siliconed it all in!
Got a buddy of mine from Steeltown Offroaders to come over yesterday - we unhitched the driveshaft, and probably not a moment too soon. Endcaps literally fell off both U-joints, and the needle bearings poured out. The shaft was bound up so tight, even with the E-brake on, the truck settled and shifted as the driveshaft came out. Both U-joints weren't long for this world.
The yoke came off the t-case easily enough. The new flange also fits perfectly (right number of splines!). I did test fit it with the new output oil seal and... no dice. The outside diameter of the flange shaft is bigger than the inside diameter of the seal, sooooo... we measured everything, & ordered a new seal. I'll pick that up later today. We did NOT remove the old seal first, so there's NOT a puddle under the truck at least.
We do have ANOTHER large problem, however. The CAD has failed. Already. Everything spins (driveshaft, differential yoke), but the front axle will NOT engage. I'm guessing we're going to need to do the poor man's fix for starters (lock the axle, and let the lockout hubs do their job), and replace THOSE this winter with some good, new SOLID chromemoly shafts. But I'm RWD ONLY for the time being. :(
I gotta pick up some grade 8 fasteners, washers, and nuts yet for the flange - we MIGHT install everything Sunday afternoon, but as always - it's ALWAYS something... :confused2:
what wrong with RWD? Richard could probably pass your War Wagon which his RWD truck
Quote from: crazzywolfie on June 28, 2014, 10:29:23 AM
what wrong with RWD? Richard could probably pass your War Wagon which his RWD truck
NOTHING at all... assuming you're not pushing several hundred pounds of
useless scrap iron on the FRONT of the truck
WITH your RWD! :disgust:
Got the right seal today - after 3 fruitless hours at Autozone, Advance Auto, and Lowes, NOBODY has the right size Grade 8 fasteners, so I bit the bullet and ordered 'em from Denny's Driveshaft in NY. ASSUMING we get the new seal & flange installed tomorrow, get the measurements, and get 'em to Hank first think Monday morning, he won't have the driveshaft ready 'til Tuesday afternoon, and the fasteners get here Wednesday morning. So there we have it.
Quote from: The War Wagon on June 28, 2014, 05:31:07 PM
NOTHING at all... assuming you're not pushing several hundred pounds of useless scrap iron on the FRONT of the truck WITH your RWD! :disgust:
Got the right seal today - after 3 fruitless hours at Autozone, Advance Auto, and Lowes, NOBODY has the right size Grade 8 fasteners, so I bit the bullet and ordered 'em from Denny's Driveshaft in NY. ASSUMING we get the new seal & flange installed tomorrow, get the measurements, and get 'em to Hank first think Monday morning, he won't have the driveshaft ready 'til Tuesday afternoon, and the fasteners get here Wednesday morning. So there we have it.
[/quote
shouldn't talk about your font bumper like that. it might save your life one day :laughing7:. the 2wd trucks are also pretty heavy up front. have you seen how big the engine cross member is on them compared to the 4x4's
Quote from: crazzywolfie on June 28, 2014, 08:19:36 PM
shouldn't talk about your font bumper like that. it might save your life one day :laughing7: . the 2wd trucks are also pretty heavy up front. have you seen how big the engine cross member is on them compared to the 4x4's
I
BUILT a 1/25th scale model of a Little Red Express many decades ago (one of my best friends in hi skrool had a '79 model, and it was a SCREAMER!!! :steeringwheel: ) - it seemed to have a big crossmember, as I recall... :tongue3:
I was shopping G2 one-piece axles in a 4wp mag while on the throne this morning - DEFINITELY an upcoming project...
In happier news, we got the new oil seal & cardon flange installed yesterday evening, so I'm off to Pittsburgh Driveshaft (FINALY!) to get my new driveshaft ordered!!! Stand by for OLD driveshaft parts for sale, shortly. ;)
Woot - woot! New electrical goodies! Oh - and we're going with a 7290 rear yoke for the new driveshaft. Shaftmasters is $25 cheaper than Denny's, so I gotta order that after the weekend.
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/P7032281_zps09b1f25f.jpg)
So I'm installing the LAST speaker... and EVERYTHING else is hooked up (I've already tested the radio & it works - got no signals though, until the I realized the antenna mast had not been installed! :tongue3: ) and READY to go... when the wife calls with the pathetic voice - "I GOTTA lay down... can you watch the kids?" ::)
So I'm ONE speaker installation away from having QUADRAPHONIC sound :tongue3: - when she gets up later on, I'll take the JVC and take some footage of the final product (Kenwood looks SCHWEET in the dash!!!). I already have a CD labeled "RAMCHARGER Music, Vol, 1,' so we'll pop that in, and see if we blow up the speakers, amp, stereo, or truck first! :headbang:
Well THAT was a total bust. :(
The amp is dead. NOT, "fried," which I coulda lived with, because setting the truck on fire WOULD'VE been EXCITING. Just... dead.
I'm GETTIN' juice from the battery. In fact, I can't get OVER how professional my install was. When we were teenagers, we slapped everything together with duct tape, because we couldn't stand the thought of being OFF the streets for more than 5 minutes. So what if only three speakers worked. Or just the left half of the car had sound - we had to be CRUISIN'! DOWN time was WASTED time! :tongue3:
Now I'm using ACTUAL electrical equipment, like, a solder gun - REAL connecter between every splice and at every end - wire cutters with crimping tool, and professional fusing. Honest-to-goodness - if I could take this truck back to my hi skrool days, they'd say - HOLY SHIITE!!! HOW DID YOU TIME TRAVEL A 1992 RAMCHARGER BACK TO 1984?!?!?! And THEN they'd think, the stereo install was professionally done; I spent that much time & care on it.
Oh well - back to fleabay for ANOTHER cheap amp. And this cheap, dead, amp has been sitting inside the truck - through heat, cold, moisture, and who KNOWS what, for 8 years. It was OLD when I bought it off fleabay 8 years ago - it probably didn't need much to give up the ghost. Replaced the on-board fuse - still nada. Took it apart, since I was gonna throw it away anyhow; looks like two diodes threw up in it, so I'm guessing that was the cause for the failure. Stereo works GREAT and looks even better fitted in the dash... you just CAN'T hear it. Oh well... we'll get another amp, and try it later.
102" whip arrived today, so life isn't all bad. :dance: My Uniden BC355N came in yesterday - tested it around town in my Jeep. My Galaxy 949 arrives tomorrow, so now I gotta hook all THAT gear up this week. I might write that up as a separate thread.
do you need a 2 ohm or 4 ohm amp? mono or multi channel? what watt you looking for? I have a pioneer amp (820 watt) I used for less than a month when I replaced it with a mono block 1100 watt.
Quote from: Dracen knights on July 07, 2014, 10:23:59 PM
do you need a 2 ohm or 4 ohm amp? mono or multi channel? what watt you looking for? I have a pioneer amp (820 watt) I used for less than a month when I replaced it with a mono block 1100 watt.
I'm looking at a 4ohm, 4 channel, 400watt amp - nothing overpowering, mind you - something along these lines;
http://www.ebay.com/itm/151342499909?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
(http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/Nzk3WDcwMA==/z/3ncAAOxyOlhS4qMu/$_12.JPG) I've got 150 watt Alpine 2-ways in the doors, and 200 watt Infinity 6x9 3-ways in the rear, so I just want something strong enough to push 'em a
little w/o breaking them. Besides, it's not as if I'm going to be hearing much of anything over the exhaust roar, anyways! ;)
Oh boy - CRAPPY cellphone pics!!!
I actually got a LOT done in 3 hours tonite, although not much of it was photogenic. Got my new Uniden 355N installed. Neat story on that; I got it off fleaby for $75, but with no power cord or mount. No biggie - I saved some bucks, & had those things laying around anyways. In fact, I had a couple of hangers for some crappy outdoor speakers laying around - just bent 'em into the right shape, and then screwed it to the dash where the electric trailer brake used to be.
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/0709141942_zps243d8847.jpg) Cool thing about that is, it's easily removeable for storage.
I just pull the whole ashtray out, and stick it in the center console!
Got a nice little magnetic antenna for it, and ended up running the wire for that through the firewall as well.
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/0709141942a_zps9bbacaa8.jpg) Yeah, my truck is STILL dead w/o a driveshaft under a blackberry vine encrusted Oak tree. Good thing that paint is IMPERVIOUS - it'll need a wash like you wouldn't BELIEVE when I get it roling again... probably NEXT week... New 7290 yoke arrived today - gotta order the pinion seal tomorrow, then run it by to my driveshaft man, and HOPEFULLY... get a driveshaft by Saturday - or Monday - and get it installed. Gotta at LEAST get back to 2wd!
At any rate, the little antenna stores easily enough under the hood, when not in use. Thank goodness for classic DEE-triot Iron!
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/0709141959_zps65169962.jpg)
Passes under the hinge, and away from anything essential, since there's sooooooooooooo much space under the hood!
I suddenly realized this evening, that my rear bench folds forward! Actually, I already knew that - but I suddenly remembered, I wanted to mount the Fatboy on the backside of the console... and wasn't sure there'd be enough clearance, when you flip the bench forward! I'm old enough now when camping, that I've EARNED my airmattress in the cabin, so I NEED the bench to fold down, and for everything to fit. Thankfully, it DOES!
With that GTG, I drilled holes for the mounting bracket, ran the ground wire, and then ran my coax! Got it all tucked neatly away and out of sight - I even had a few feet to spare, even after running it all the way to multicarrier where I'm mounting the 102" whip!
NOT a lot of excitement so far, but I'll take some BETTER pics with a BETTER camera tomorrow - show you how I've fuse blocked the battery with marine grade fusing and such. It's gonna look pretty sharp when done - I'm PRETTY sure I can finish it up in a few hours tomorrow night, and see how she sounds. Atmospherics tomorrow evening around 9pm should be pretty good HERE (cool, dry, air in place!), so be listening in Central, Mountain, and Western time zones - I'll try and reach out, and PUT 'the touch' on ya'!
I should point out, that the UPS man been veddy, veddy, good to me lately. ;D
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/100_0437_zps5d868a3e.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/100_0438_zps4c968c34.jpg)
Never owned a Galaxy radio before, but wanted to go first class in the RC! Should finish the install tonight.
Cross-referenced the Timken oil seal chart - ALL 204 pages of it... (http://www.smileyvault.com/albums/misc/smiley-vault-misc-075.gif)... and dicovered my local Autozone actually HAS p/n 5126 IN stock! So I'll take the new yoke down there this morning, TEST FIT before purchasing, and if it works, then it's off to my driveshaft man - I should have a new driveshaft by Saturday, and then it's just coercing some buddies to install it! :tongue3:
Is that a BEAUTIFIL driveshaft... or what! (http://steeltownoffroaders.org/user/426466/theme/forums/smileys/sunny.gif)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/PIC_0020_zps1a67d89a.jpg)(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/PIC_0022_zps88684d78.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/PIC_0021_zps02cb806a.jpg)(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/PIC_0023_zpscaf4faba.jpg)
I also have a line on a HEAVY impact gun, to break that rear pinion nut free! Once that's done, the old shaft and pinions will be for sale - less than 200 miles on them, after a thorough reconditioning! ;D
A couple of videos on the stereo install - enjoy the second, as a lady from our church stops by, and surprises me as I'm working on it! :tongue3:
http://vid212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/Stereo_zpsf7e28b01.mp4
http://vid212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/Stereo1_zps87a7bcd8.mp4
you need to get rid of that buzzer lol. it is so annoying. looks good. can't really tell how it sounds over that annoying buzzer.
Quote from: crazzywolfie on July 12, 2014, 05:49:12 PM
you need to get rid of that buzzer lol. it is so annoying. looks good. can't really tell how it sounds over that annoying buzzer.
I KNOW what you means, but I also have little kids, so the buzzer helps me know if they're trying to ESCAPE. If it were JUST me & the wife, I'd pull the fuse on it!
But in
OTHER news, as
soon as I posted pics of the driveshaft to Steel Town Offroaders (my local four wheelin' club where I'm a member), my buddy Eric phoned, and said he had the time to come over and help install it! :dance: And a guy from my church, loaned my his heavy-duty impact wrench, to get that rear pinion nut off!!! :headbang:
Eric had been working on his Subaru earlier in the day, and found out he needed a part that won't arrive until Tuesday, so he was all ready to work, with NO vehicle to work on! So he came over and helped (actually, he did
MOST of the work (http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-ashamed005.gif)).
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/PIC_0024_zps3c079cc2.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/PIC_0025_zps1be84511.jpg)
NOT to panic - we got a block of wood
right AFTER this, to tap it in more gently, and
not damage the seal.
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/PIC_0027_zpsb672f30b.jpg) And these are the only three pics I got, because I spent the other three hours under the truck, holding the driveshaft steady while Eric installed it!
Darndest thing though - the t-case flange had four smooth holes, and four tapped holes. And so we're TRYING to install the the bolts THROUGH the tapped holes. FIRST off, the collar wasn't seating QUITE flush, so out came the Dremel tool, to shave what must of been just thousandth's off the cardon, before it finally seated
flush. But then, we could NEVER get the 4th hole to line up true!!! :o
Eric was VERY careful & thorough at this - that, and I ordered EIGHT (8) bolts from Denny's... JUST to have a few spares to play with, JUST in case of something like this! Once he hit resistance, he'd back the bolt out, inspect everything, and try and see where we were going wrong. No matter what we tried, three bolts going in true, would always pull the cardon off-center of the flange by maybe just the tiniest fraction, to keep a fourth bolt from going in true. And brudda, we played with this, from
before 5pm, until 8pm!!! :confused2:
FINALLY... we tried what is often done with these flanges - put the bolts through the BACK of the flange through the smoothbore holes, and bolt into the tapped cardon holes that way.
And we were done in 30 seconds. :o :o :o
Wotta day. (http://www.smileyvault.com/albums/misc/smiley-vault-misc-075.gif)
I DID also get the stereo working yesterday, and it IS now driveable (gotta top off the axle though - we only lost about a half-a
QUART of 90w while changing the pinion seal! :o ), so the day went pretty well overall! :13: I did
attempt to install the CB last night... and my coax was about 6" short of reaching the radio... D'OH. And to add FINAL insult to injury, I'd crossed a couple of wires and pretty much drained the battery over the last couple of days. I had to jump start it, to get it started after dark, and move it OUT from under the oak tree and blackberry vines. ::) I knew EXACTLY which wires I'd crossed though (I knew SOMETHING was amiss, when I bumped the wipers and they worked... WITHOUT the key in the ignition! :o ), so I cut THAT connection. May have to jump it again on Monday, but I'll drive it around after adding 90w, and get the battery juiced again.
NOW to lock the axle, delete the CAD, and finally have 4WD again!
And start looking for G2 one-piece axles on sale...
Wellllll... I've driven it twice now... for 2 1/2 miles total... and it's making a whole NEW & DIFFERENT set of noises. :017:
There's a definite new & high RPM vibration that is the new driveshaft - it's mild, but noticeable. I've inspected the bolts & straps after each drive - everything is still tight and in place. I'm not sure if it bothers me because it's new & different, or new, and portends trouble. REGARDLESS what The Beach Boys say, I'm still convinced, there are NO "good" vibrations in a Ramcharger... ::)
I'm becoming more convinced, this thing is basically un-streetable (to say nothing of trailworthy!), UNTIL we get that rear axle rotated and shimmed into place. :( I'm glad the CAD, and to a lesser extent, the grease seals, in the front axle, are an 'easy' fix. But there ain't a helluva lot you can do with a truck that needs new U-joints every 200 miles, though... :dontknow:
until you shim the rear axle it can have issues... also if the rear pinion did not get seated back just right it could be rubbing the ring gear wrong? maybe? I don't know.. never done it before.
good luck
Quote from: rjtx667 on July 15, 2014, 08:58:47 PM
until you shim the rear axle it can have issues... also if the rear pinion did not get seated back just right it could be rubbing the ring gear wrong? maybe? I don't know.. never done it before.
ONE of things I made
sure to do, when it was re-geared this past year, is include a crush sleeve ELIMINATOR! Changing the pinion then meant, simply lining up the notches on the nut on installation. Since the transfer case flange is the NON-spec piece (and I'm starting to wonder about the outfit that made it... :icon_scratch: ), I'm wondering if
it could be 'out-of-round,' as it were.
I'll keep you posted...
Well I FINALLY got the tennis ball installed today! :tongue3:
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/102_zps1570a53a.jpg)(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/Ramcharger/102-1_zps329a1f26.jpg)
Decided to spend the afternoon fiddling around with a few things. Ran the RCA outs from the radio, to where I'm going to install the subwoofer (only took 8 years to install the STEREO. Listened to it twice, already dissatisfied :tongue3: ). Installed a battery disconnect, although I DID cut the offending connection that was draining the battery. Nonetheless, the disconnect seemed like a nice idea. Re-did how my power ports were fused, and finally got around to connecting the license plate light that stymied me last spring, so all in all, it was a good day farting around with the truck! :thumbsup:
Custom jumper for the CB arrives later this week - can't wait to do a little broadcastin'in - see how far I can reach from this ridgetop!
OK... going BACK to Gibbs this morning, to lock the front axle, disconnect the CAD, replace the oil seals, and start planning to rotate and shim this rear axle...
Like I told somebody the other day, I'm about $10k away, from having $10k left to go, before the FINAL $10k I need to finish it off RIGHT! :tongue3: