My first car... err truck!

[BIRD67]

 I've often said I wanted a '69 dart that was for sale locally, until I started to go booning with my friends in their trucks. I scoured craigslist every day looking for something that I would eventually drive..  I finally found it and on 10/31/10 I became the proud owner of a 1993 Dodge Ramcharger for $360.. it is a 318 automatic 4x4 and it has no reverse, thats the bad part.. It has 122xxx miles on it.. I went and paid for it yesterday and was going to drive it back, but I could not because the rear tires were rubbing on the fenders, the tires are M/T 39x12.5s and the fronts are BFG 33x12.5s.... I will get pictures up when I can, but this is gonna be one fun project!

[nvrbdn]

good luck, cant wait to see it

[Silver R/T]

sounds like good winter beater

[captnsim]

Sounds like a great score...Make sure you put matching size tires on all 4 corners before testing the 4 wheel drive, as the different size tires will change the gear ratios, and cause all kinds of unpleasant things to happen...   

[BIRD67]

Sounds like a great score...Make sure you put matching size tires on all 4 corners before testing the 4 wheel drive, as the different size tires will change the gear ratios, and cause all kinds of unpleasant things to happen...   

Yeah thats what I was planning on doing, the 39's rub but I figure I have 3 (one spare) so I might as well radius the wheel wells to make 'em fit.. anything to look out for on these trucks? and would 3/4 ton running gear be a direct fit?

[Todd Wilson]

I got a rear hatch door for it if you need one!



Todd

[BIRD67]

I'll check and see what she'll needs.. I know I'll need a grille, fender emblems, hood emblem (the ram mounting bracket, I have the ornament itself) and possibly a driver side fender, mine has some pretty good dents in it.. and a transmission, are they difficult to rebuild or is it something I could tackle at home? Also, will 72-78 grilles, hoods and front fenders interchange or will I need to heavily modify stuff in order for it to fit?

[70redbee]

 :popcrn:Without pics...it didn't happen

[Todd Wilson]

I know I got a fender for it too and a door.  If you are close to Kansas   I'll make you a very good deal!


Todd

[BIRD67]

I cannot post pictures, I am on the school computer right now and mine crapped the bed. but I can tell you the vin is 3B4GM07Y3EMxxxxxx for those who are saavy with their decoder ring. 

Close to Kansas? hahaha I'm in New Hampshire, but thanks for the offer

[BIRD67]

No pictures yet, I picked her up friday night.. she sits 7 ft high from the top of the hatch to the ground.. running 3 inch lift blocks on the rear springs... I believe it has an '84 Ramcharger front clip and the pass. side fender is not completely bolted on, anybody have bolt diagrams? There is some rot on the passenger side floor, looks like somebody did a decent patchjob and then threw on some diamond plate on top of the patches, but overall the frame and body are solid.

[mauve66]

whats BOONING???

[dkn1997]

whats BOONING???

It's what you do when you find yourself in between relationships.  Just take what you'd normally be doing and add an "O"

[greenpigs]

39 inch tires...what gear is it running? Thats some decent sized tires and if you don't have some bigger gears it will be a dog. I bet you know this but have you checked yet?

[BIRD67]

Booning is going mudding usually at night with as many people as you can fit in a vehicle.. basically it is going mudding, but with more than just mud..

[mauve66]

whatever happened to "4 wheelin" dang kids now-a-days always have to come up with a new fangled name for the same basic stuff................

[BIRD67]

4 wheelin is still around, but sometimes we have 2wd trucks in the mix, so Booning is just the term used these days by kids like me.. as for pictures...

[BIRD67]

I'm not sure what my gear ratio is.. it would be either 3.54 or 3.90.. the hood label won't tell me because the hood is off of a different truck... here are some more pictures, I'm prepping her for some bodywork.

[BIRD67]

pass. side.

[BIRD67]

engine

[BIRD67]

interior.. the floors had been patched before, but it wasn't the greatest job so I just rivited some diamond plate on them for now.. function over form..

[BIRD67]

this thing stands almost 7 feet from ground to roof 

[BIRD67]

and here is the front.. no grille, that's something I still need to come up with.. and I need to rebolt the front bumper, she's as loose as a goose!

[moparsons]

I say you did pretty good for the price man!!!   

[BIRD67]

Thanks! It has brought me alot of fun so far!

[BIRD67]

I got the majority of the truck stripped of paint, then my friend came over and we spraybombed it.. pics tomorrow!

[BIRD67]

pics!

[BIRD67]

not too good, not too bad, it's 8 dollars worth of spraypaint from walmart.. I still have to do the roof and finish the hood..

[nvrbdn]

you can make a great grill out of alluminum strips, or some mesh to protect that radiator. a low flyin bird will do that in quick. looks like a nice muddin truck.  cool

[BIRD67]

thanks! as for a grille, I found one for $30, just gotta get the money lol it sucks not having a job!

[greenpigs]

You could do a little dance and post it....might get some paypal donations.

[chargergirl]

Just tell them you'll explain booning...or boon dock playing basically. GREAT Find. Looks great! Like the paint job!

[earthquake68]

When you want to get serious about wheelin', you need a way to test the four wheel drive to make sure it's working properly. 





This is Earthquake I, 10" of lift and 40" Swampers. Earthquake II had 17" of lift with 44's. (now you know where my screen name came from)

[BIRD67]

Haha that's awesome , earthquake! I think I wanna put some real lift in it, I have 3 inch blocks in the back.. I want to do a 3/4 ton axle swap.. some nice springs and probably 6 inches of lift.. and I'm gonna stick with the 39s I got, they work great despite being as old as me lol

[BIRD67]

I know the 4WD works.. I broke the bolts that hold the u-joint on the yoke so I had to drive it home with the front driveshaft in on 4 High..

[BIRD67]

I forgot I ever posted this thread.. Not much was happening with my truck up until a few months ago whn i got it in the school's auto program. Now I have new floors, I am getting new blocks in the rear, got a new pinion yoke and solved a myraid of wiring puzzles. I am also taking my first stab at bodywork.. I haven't gotten a transmission yet, but I am workign on gettine one at the moment..

[BIRD67]

pics

[moparstuart]

that thing is a beast   

[BIRD67]

so my floors are finally welded in. I got my new suspension blocks for the rear and got those installed.. Now I am goign to fix the e-brake.. I traded my 33s for a set of 35s. SHe's getting there, and the best part is I have less than $500 invested inn the truck, thats including the purchase of the truck!

[Finn]

Put some barbed wire across the grill, that's the epitome of class right there. 

Nice rig man! I miss having an off road truck..

[BIRD67]

haha I did have screen door material on the grille opening for a while.. yeah 4wd is fun, especially when it works... here are soem pics, I'm trying to patch up the body.. may not be the right way, but its better than fiberglass and bondo. I got my blocks in, its soo nice not having axlewrap!

[Finn]

Planning on putting a winch on it?

[BIRD67]

Winches are for people who plan on getting stuck 

[moparstuart]

Winches are for people who plan on getting stuck 

i prefer busty wenches my self