dodge ramcharger suggestions

[79bonanza]

ok guys i know its not a k5 but its kinda close to one lol. my buddy is wanting to build a ramcharger as a fourwheeling truck. its mostly going to be used in the mud and a few easy trails just a fun weekend truck. Do you all have any suggestion or good setups suspension wise on what to run or how to setup up a ramcherger. the plans are to run nothing bigger than a 35'' or a 36'' tire maybe alittle fender trimming. Any suggestions will be apperciated.

 

[shovelbill80]

i'll bet there is a Ramcharger forum out on the interweb somewhere too.

 

[79bonanza]

yea but i was on there and they kinda sucked lol, i was hoping some of the guys on here new some stuff about them

 

[Blue85]

Sure, let's pretend there are no K5s for sale in your area and you have a court-order ankle bracelet preventing you from looking in another area...

The first question I have is whether or not it will stay 1/2-ton. If so, I would go with a later model without the crap full-time front end. If it's getting better axles anyway, then get a pre-1980 with the removable top. And try to find a big block. Some of them had that vacuum actuated front axle disconnect. I have no experience with it, but is sounds bad to me.

 

[79bonanza]

well the guy getting it is a big mopar fan and doesnt want a k5 so he is getting a ramcharger. he is looking at one that is a 1980 with a 318 i believe. i think it will stay a half ton for awhile and maybe down the road be upgraded.

 

[blazinzuk]

the best half ton rear axle out there, the 9.25 but can only be geared to 4.56.

I like ramchargers, later ones came with fuel injection a 727 trans for an auto and a 241 t-case.

Not really many very flexy lifts out there for them, but same principles apply to them as to our trucks longer springs a shackle flip etc. They have flattop knuckles on the D44 so crossover is easier.

At least the later ones are huge a full 3" wider body than my blazer.

Good truck all in all

 

[4X4HIGH]

I have a buddy who used to have a RamCharger and he's on one of the forums, I could ask him which forum he's on and get his S/N and you could chat with him. He is HEAVILY into Dodges and would be a good contact for your buddy.

 

[Big Ray]

my boss picked up one these past spring...Great interior, good paint...for a whopping.....wait for it.......$800!


All it needed was a muffler....

 

[LT.]

Finally a thread that I can talk and give good information about. For mild wheeling and daily driving check out Superlift lift springs front and rear. They will replace the factory block in the rear and will flex okay provided you leave the hard top on. I ran a set for a few years and worked well. 36" tires will fit if you are willing to do some body trimming on a stock suspension. 42" tires will fit with the Superlift lift springs and body trimming. Until Ford put the Sterling 10.25" axle into the F-150 the Chrysler 9.25" rear axle was the largest rear axle ever put into a half ton vehicle. The axle is easy to set up and is a good unit to about 35 or 36" tires. Gearing is limited to a 4.56 and there are some lockers out there for it but, not as much as you will like. The Ramcharger and the Blazer/Jimmy are nearly identical in design, size, and capacities. Front suspension is nearly the same as is the rear suspension. Even the motor firing order is the same 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2. Even the steering set up is nearly the same. Cross over steering is easier on the Ramcharger than it is on a Blazer. You just need to remove the bracket off the box and bolt the box into the 2wd location. No need for a new box for the Ramcharger. Rear shock placement is different on the Ramcharger than on the Blazer but is really easy to move the lower shock mounting locations up higher on the axle. So they do not hang down.

Let me know if you are wanting any more information and I will see what I can help you with.

LT.

 

[stumpjump]

ramchargercentral.com its the CK5 of the ramcharger world. Lots of good info on the D/W trucks to.

 

[AJMBLAZER]

ramchargercentral.com its the CK5 of the ramcharger world. Lots of good info on the D/W trucks to.

What he said.

If the rear is a 9.25" and open Powertraxx makes the NoSlip locker for it. Good stuff and no disassembling the rear diff.

 

[LT.]

Ramchargercentral.com is a great place for information but, with as close as the Ramcharger is to the Blazer / Jimmy crowd this is a great place to get some ideas as well. I have found the format here at CK5 is a little easier to read than the Ramchargercentral forum is.

LT.