Topic: My New Project

[neil]

I went on a mission for a practical vehicle, with a bit of wow that's different, to work on as a project with my 15 year old daughter who has a liking to older vehicles.  Something that needed to be driveable and usable out of the box, with a utility that would make it more palpable for the wife.

The final answer?



1988 Ramcharger.  LA318, 727 auto with the 3.2 rear posi rear end.  Bought it from the 2nd owner who has had it 20 years.  Some cancer in the rockers but the fenders and chrome are real solid.

Inside was like almost brand new. 



Fun times ahead.

[Ex-airbalancer]

Cool

[wing]

Haha awesome!  Buddy of mine did this same thing, had it for about 6 months then got an offer on it and sold it. 

[Arthur Dent]

Cool find. These aren't super common any more. I'll bet it will be pretty reliable if heavy on fuel. 

[Northernridge]

Awesome.

[Fobroader]

Cool man, what are the plans?? 440 v8 and air ride, lift it and do a pre runner style or just a restoration? ?

Sent from my Galaxy S3

[neil]

Cool man, what are the plans?? 440 v8 and air ride, lift it and do a pre runner style or just a restoration? ?

Sent from my Galaxy S3

Time and money haha.

It is RWD, so no lift, probably a 2-3 inch drop in front, 5" in the back, some meatier rubber to fill the wells a bit more. 
If and when it comes time for power, What is intriguing me right now is a recent revelation about using a G3 Hemi, with a Delco ignition/Electronics system that allows drop in without all the integrated electronics that a modern Chryco requires.  G3's are plentiful at the scrappers,  About $3k total would put a modern 350+ hp mill under the bonnet.

But all that is after body restoration, and some front end loving, and probably some shorter gears.

[Bubba]

The 318/727 combo should have anvil-like reliability.  The 3.23 rear end is a "Sure Grip", not posi.   

Great find.

[neil]

The 318/727 combo should have anvil-like reliability.  The 3.23 rear end is a "Sure Grip", not posi.   

Great find.

If they've been taken care of yes.  This is the first year TBI truck, which is difficult to wring extra power out of from what I understand.

I still have the build codes under the hood, It has the "DSA 3.2 limited slip rear axle", which as I understand it is a 3.23 in a 4x4, 3.21 in a rwd, I've been wrong before, ask my wife.

[johngenx]

I had a 1980 Dodge P/U with the 318 2bbl 727 combo.  The trans did finally let go, but holy crap did it have a lot of miles on it.

[phazotron]

A very cool find! I haven't seen any of these trucks in many many years (or the equivalent Bronco's or Blazer's either now that I think about it)

[Firm]

Definitely a good find, I love these things, and they are getting quite rare now. Enjoy!

[mrthompson]

Whoa.......neat!

[KD]

  Nice find and still lots of life left! 

[neil]

Got my trailer wiring and brake controller set up, took it for a test pull,  not bad.  I'm only towing about 30 miles, should do the trick just fine.

[quadzilla]

This is super cool and I haven't seen one of these in a long time. The only way it could be more cool is if had the removable roof.

[neil]

The removable roof went away around 1980, the guy I bought this from had one back in the day, he said it was "neat" but it was a real pain getting the roof back on, it took a long time apparently to get everything to line back up.  I had similar problems with an 80's jeep I had once upon a time after dropping the windshield.  The frames were so flexy it was very hard to get them straight again.

It does have the neato skylight in the back however. 

I've been trying to find production numbers for these, I think they only sold about 25,000 a year, and 90% were 4x4, So yeah I'm thinking these are getting rare enough.