Forums » Grassroots Motorsports » I just bought an 87 Ramcharger 1 2

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  March 14, 2010 6:26 p.m. mattmacklind SuperDork

  OK, so maybe this belongs in OT. I have been looking for a 4WD beater for a little while, thinking I might end up with a full size Bronco. I looked at a '77 Dodge D100 Adventurer this weekend, but it had issues.

  This morning I check CL and see an ad for an 87 Ramcharger with a 360 and working 4WD for $500. I went to check it out and bought it for $400. Here's some pics. It is complete, but also completely rusted. Runs good, engine was rebuilt per owner, bored with a performance cam. Heat works great, AC does not but I don't care, has power windows and locks but the driver side window has a crank installed since the pw stopped working. The rear diff and the motor both leak a little oil.

  Drives great on the highway and the brakes are somewhat new as well as the MC, it stops nicely.

  Here's some pics, how did I do?

  

  

  

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  March 14, 2010 6:30 p.m. mtn SuperDork

  That looks like an awesome deal. I think you did well.

  there’s a lot of debate on this subject—about what kind of car handles best. Some say a front-engined car; some say a rear-engined car. I say a rented car.

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  March 14, 2010 6:57 p.m. iceracer HalfDork

  Wow, for 400 you did great.

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  March 14, 2010 7:34 p.m. Streetwiseguy Reader

  Mmmmm- fiberglass and spray paint makes like new!

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  March 14, 2010 7:43 p.m. Junkyard_Dog HalfDork

  How I fit 33s without a lift: cut out the (rusted to hell on mine) rockers and fenders/quarters following the body lines that your trim fits in. Floor was still fairly strong without the rockers and that alone gained tons of clearance. Eventually I re-enforced them with angle iron so the door would still open after sliding over rocks. It was amazingly capable for a near stock rig. Comfy too.

  That thing screams for a camo job.

  I love going to the Pull-a-Part because the dollar admission is cheaper than most car shows and you almost always see cooler cars.

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  March 14, 2010 8:13 p.m. NGTD HalfDork

  Any 4X4 under a thou is normally a good deal.

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  March 14, 2010 8:31 p.m. Trans_Maro HalfDork

  You could probably just cut the rusted part of the fenders away and install a set of bushwacker flares to cover it.

  Clean up and paint the surface rust and flip fore some extra cash.

  Shawn

  Sometimes life leaves a hundred dollar bill on your dresser, and you don't realize until later that it's because it screwed you.

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  March 14, 2010 8:37 p.m. impulsive New Reader

  looks like a good score

  you want your 4x4 body a little rough anyway, that way you won't feel so bad when you're on the trail squeezing through brush and scraping trees.

  fit 33s without a lift: cut out the (rusted to hell on mine) rockers and fenders/quarters following the body lines that your trim fits in

  that sounds like unnecessary work.
  

  look for skinny tires: 33, 34, & 35 are sold in a 10.5 and/or 9.5 width. if 33s and 34s fit on my stock 88 Trooper I think they'd fit on that beast no problem. Q78s may even fit.

  pizza cutters rule

  88 Impulse Turbo - HY35, Profec B-SpecII, faulty wiring, rust

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  March 14, 2010 9:27 p.m. paul Reader

  Junkyard_Dog wrote: ...That thing screams for a camo job.

  +1!...

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  March 15, 2010 3:49 a.m. integraguy HalfDork

  I've considered a Ram Charger a few times as a way to get a 4X4 on the cheap. They are reasonably available here as far as selection AND price. NOT quite as rusty as this one...usually. The attraction, besides the lower than GM or Ford Price is that I really like the styling. BIG MINUS? Aren't these serious gas pigs? I mean, even worse than the equivalent Chevy or Ford?

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  March 15, 2010 6:50 a.m. Gearheadotaku Dork

  seriously, thats not very rusty from what I can see. Mostly just surface rust that can be easily sanded away.

  Old enough to know better, too young too care!

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  March 15, 2010 7:05 a.m. Don49 New Reader

  I had one that I completely restored and made into a short bed pickup. I used it as my tow vehicle for a 20' enclosed trailer and it worked very well. With headers, dual exhaust a good tune and a rebuilt carb I was able to get 14 mpg in normal use. The only weak area I fouund was the universals on the front driveshaft. Check those on a regular basis. I ran 31x10.50 tires and they were plenty adequate.

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  March 15, 2010 7:13 a.m. mattmacklind SuperDork

  Here's some better pics of the rust. Yes, the Universals-it needs them and the seller gave me a set with the truck. The rust is bad on the rockers and behind the rear wheel well. Strangely, above the fenders is pretty good. I think I will be sanding the rust over the summer and paint it olive drab or something. I don't like the camo jobs usually. It gets around 12 mpg, and it has a 37 gallon tank. In one day, getting it home and driving around, I put $35 worth of regular unleaded in it.

  

  

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  March 15, 2010 7:15 a.m. RossD Dork

  I'm with Gearheadotaku on this one. That is the cleanest Ramcharger I've seen in a long, long time.

  Clam Damage. Its no good.

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  March 15, 2010 7:23 a.m. pete240z Dork

  you got a great deal -- in the Chicago area guys throw snow plows on these and make triple the price they paid.

  $400? great deal.

  37 gallon gas tank that might get you 400 miles? $100 to fill? That my friend might be a little painful.

  Current disposable income is going towards University Costs for Junior.

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  March 15, 2010 10:09 a.m. AngryCorvair SuperDork

  remove trim.

  insert nozzle of Great Stuff Expanding Foam.

  pull trigger.

  wait.

  use door jamb saw to cut foam back down to approximate shape of body.

  bondo.

  win.

  for added win, flame job in camo colors as seen above.

  if you're gonna be a bear.... be a grizzly bear!

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  March 15, 2010 10:19 a.m. DoctorBlade Reader

  AngryCorvair wrote: for added win, flame job in camo colors as seen above.

  Tell me you've got a picture of this.

  "Meh."

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  March 15, 2010 10:20 a.m. Cotton HalfDork

  heck of a deal. I like it.

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  March 15, 2010 11:20 a.m. Gearheadotaku Dork

  Ok, rust is worse than I saw in the first pic. Still a good deal though.

  Old enough to know better, too young too care!

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  March 15, 2010 11:38 a.m. neon4891 SuperDork

  WANT.

  I still need to fix my old dodge pick up in the yard, I love the look of the pre-94 trucks

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  March 15, 2010 12:53 p.m. ClemSparks SuperDork

  Lol...

  I always wonder why folks try to refute the rustiness of a vehicle based on pictures on the internet.

  The rust is ALWAYS worse than it looks.

  If you see rust on the topside, there is very little bottomside left.

  Clem

  Yeah, well...sometimes even when it IS broken I don't fix it.

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  March 15, 2010 12:53 p.m. AngryCorvair SuperDork

  

  note the flames on the nose. just make 'em bigger and more camo.

  if you're gonna be a bear.... be a grizzly bear!

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  March 15, 2010 12:59 p.m. ReverendDexter Dork

  Only issue I'm aware of with those is on the auto-locking hubs, if so equipped. Buddy had one that was a total beater, great truck other than the 4x4 didn't work because of the aforementioned hub issue.

  --There is no turd more polished than the Ford Mustang--

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  March 15, 2010 2:00 p.m. Junkyard_Dog HalfDork

  ReverendDexter wrote: Only issue I'm aware of with those is on the auto-locking hubs, if so equipped. Buddy had one that was a total beater, great truck other than the 4x4 didn't work because of the aforementioned hub issue.

  I swapped mine to manuals for like $40 using brand new parts.

  I love going to the Pull-a-Part because the dollar admission is cheaper than most car shows and you almost always see cooler cars.

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  March 15, 2010 2:57 p.m. ReverendDexter Dork

  Junkyard_Dog wrote:

  ReverendDexter wrote: Only issue I'm aware of with those is on the auto-locking hubs, if so equipped. Buddy had one that was a total beater, great truck other than the 4x4 didn't work because of the aforementioned hub issue.

  I swapped mine to manuals for like $40 using brand new parts.

  All the more reason to not deal with the autolocking setup.

  --There is no turd more polished than the Ford Mustang--

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