RamCharger.net

Ok, I had something strange happen on the way to work on Thursday.  I was cruising along, listening to my IPod plugged into my radio/cassette player and came to a 4-way stop.  When I turned on my turn signal the radio turned off and turned back on.  This happened throughout the rest of the drive every time I turn on the blinkers, either direction.  So I turned the radio off on the way home because it was bugging me.  The next day, I got in the truck to leave and it was dead.  I turned the key and nothing.  Not even a click, no lights, nothing.  It was like the battery was pulled out of it.  I went ahead and pulled the battery and put it on a trickle charge in the garage.

My question before I start tearing into it is this...is there any common point where the wires will chafe and ground out?  I know it's got to be an open wire somewhere but is there some place that's common to these trucks?  Any help would be GREATLY appreciated.

Ok, seems the site is slow with comments so I'll just start another thread. 

51 yrs old, retired USCG mustang, entered active duty in '79 after high school, spent 13yrs as an Aviation Machinist Mate turning wrenches on and flying in 3 different types of aircraft HH3f, HH65a, HU25a. Got a commission in '92 and retired as an LT. Started second life as a pastor in 2002 and been serving the Lord full time now for 10yrs.  Live in Tampa, FL, married to the wife of my youth for 34yrs, have 7 children (5 married) & 8 grandkids so far. I grew up camping, hunting, fishing, working on and riding motorcycles. Don't have anymore dirtbikes but I still love to hunt, fish & camp and turn wrenches.

Past vehicles (my vehicles...does not include my wifes cars ):

'66 Jeep Wagoneer 4x4 - 1st truck
'69 Ford p'up long wheel base 4x2
'68 VW bug with chopped fenders and mud tires
'83 Toyota SR5 p'up 4x4
'75 Jeep Wagoneer 4x4
'77 Chevy Luv 4x4
'69 VW bug with chopped fenders and mud tires
'68 VW Type 3 Squareback w/Prorsche 914 engine
'84 Ford Ranger 4x4
'91 Ford F-250 4x4
'90 Saab 900
'99 Land Rover Discovery 1 4x4
'99 Chevy Astro 4x2 4" OLV suspension lift, BFGoodrich 31x10.50's
'86 Dodge Ramcharger 4x4 - current truck

Plus I've owned several dirt bikes but I won't list all those because by now y'all are just gettin' bored... 

Ah heck, why not:

'74 Honda Trail 70
'74 Suzuki TM125
'75 Yamaha TT500
'75 Bultaco Matador 250
'74 Yamaha DT 250
'74 Husqvarna WR 250
'74 Honda Trail 90

Now I have a lifted '96 EzGo GXT Truck gas powered golf cart for hunting... And I tinker and rebuild antique outboards for fishing and playing...

Looks like most of you folks on this site are from the Great State of Texas.  I'm partial to Texas.  My mom used to live outside of Galveston on Crystal Beach and my brother lives up near the Sam Rayburn Reservoir in a little town called Zavalla. 

I grew up in the Panhandle of Florida, spent 23yrs traveling all over the country and overseas in the US Coast Guard and have settled in Tampa, FL. At least for now. 

Well I guess I can put this on here.  I'm building a 318 out of an '87 RC for my '86 RC.  The engine in my '86 is getting tired so I thought I'd look for and purchase a running 318 and do a mild inexpensive build.

So far I've been gathering parts.  What I've purchased/done are:

- '87 318 - $125 Craigslist (started it up before I bought it, runs good, idles good)
- Holley 4160 570CFM Street Eliminator Carb - $30 Craigslist (Needs rebuild)
- Holley Street Dominator Aluminum Intake - $75 Craigslist (had it bead blasted to clean it up, looks like new)
- Flowtech Headers (New in box, never installed) - $100 Craigslist

Removed and had the 318 heads hot tanked, magnifluxed and had the valve stem seals replaced - $300 machine shop

My future plans are to:
- Replace the cam with a High Energy 260H cam.
- Replace the lifters & pushrods
- Replace the timing chain and gears
- Replace starter with a reman mini starter
- Replace distributor with vac advance to eliminate lean burn system
- Replace harmonic balancer
- Replace the valve covers and breather with Mopar Performance products
- Paint engine Mopar blue

I'll post more as I continue this project.  Feel free to chime in with advice or suggestions.

Ok, so I did a search on RC Central on several things like "loosing power", "distributor issues", and "power loss" etc and came up with some things but nothing that seemed to identify the issues I had this morning.  So I'm posting this request for help on both sites.

I'll give a little history to see if anyone else has experienced the same thing.

Truck: 1986 Mex RC 4x4, w/stock 318, 2bbl Holley, 727 auto.

Issue ongoing: Truck will lurch during normal driving on occasion like it's either starved for fuel or having electrical issues. Idles fine

What I've done: Replaced fuel pump & filter, rebuilt carb, replaced plugs, plug wires, dist cap & rotor, treated gas with B12 Chemtool, replaced vacuum lines, replaced coil w/ACCEL Super Stock, been running 93 octane gas in it

The issue seems to come and go.  Then, this morning on the way to work I pulled up to a stop sign a couple of miles away from the house and when I started to go the truck would just creep along at about 3-4 miles per hour no matter how far I pushed down on the gas peddle so I pulled over to the side of the road. The truck seemed to idle ok but it did seem to idle at a lower RPM. I popped the hood to take a quick look to see if I could ID anything obvious but nothing stood out.  I closed the hood and tried to back up but it didn't even have enough power to do that.  It would just rock a little.  So I sat there for a bit with it running and played with the gas peddle and all of a sudden it picked up again.  So I put it in gear and turned around for the house.

The weird thing is when I'd push down on the gas peddle it would be super sluggish and then lurch like a bat out of heck and stay there as long as I kept my foot on the gas.  I did this all the way back to the house.  If I had to stop at a light, it would do the whole 3-4MPH thing again until it would lurch and shoot down the road.  by the time I made it back to my neighborhood it would shut off at the stop signs.  It would start right up again though.  Also when I would give it gas and it would lurch it made a noise like detonation or it almost sounded like a diesel when under power.

I parked it in the driveway and took another car to work. I'm not looking forward to digging in to it tonight as it's hot as crap outside...  Any HELP would be greatly appreciated.

My thoughts are to replace the distributor with an OEM unit first off. The one in it is original equipment and when I replaced the rotor I noticed it was a bit corroded inside around the base of the distributor.  I suspect its from all the water that dumps between the firewall and the hood when it rains.  It's been monsoon season here lately and we get some heavy showers.  I did put a seal between the hood and the valance though to try and prevent that, but just recently.  Let me know what you experts think.  Thanks in advance. :P

I have a good rear drive shaft that came out of a '93 RamCharger. Asking $75 + shipping from 33624

Hey All, just signed on here.  Been over at RamchargerCentral.com and happened on this site. It looks like this one is pretty new.  I do see some folks on here from the other so I know the info will be as good    I haven't done a whole lot to it other than keep it running by replacing the old parts with new ones as needed.  I did purchase another 318 though that I'm building in my garage.  I have a lot of plans for it.  Anyhow, here's my truck: