12v into mid '70s 3/4T 4x4?

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

I've been having a thought, my current truck is a 2-wheel drive and I've been thinking about getting some sort of "rough" 4x4 for off-roading and for towing snowmobiles.



I've also had a thought about dropping a Cummins 12v into a '73-'75 Ram truck. I like the looks of these, and it would make a fun project. I'm guessing this has been done at least once. Since the Ram is the same basic truck from '73-'93, I would think a swap wouldn't be a major undertaking. If I shop around I could probably do this inexpensively, find a decent 12v motor and then I should be able to find a truck for cheap.



I am thinking of doing a reg. cab 4x4 longbox.



Thoughts?



Vaughn

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Just found this, if I found one of these for sale, that would be the bomb!



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[Desperado]

The donor rig that you would need is at Forest Bros in Lewiston, Id, It was a rollover,it is a 1991 3/4 ton 79,000 miles has an auto trans. 4x4 ac, they said that a person could pick up all the stuff to do a conversion for around $5,000, there is no under hood damage that I could see lots interior parts.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Thanks for the tip MrBlue. Unfortunately this is something I won't get into for awhile due to lack of funds at the moment. Doesn't hurt to think ahead!



I read back a few threads and it looks like the upper rad. support & crossmember needs to be swapped out or modified with one from a CTD-equipped 1st gen so it can accomodate the intercooler. I need to read up on it more though.



Another cool idea: how about putting a 6B into a 3/4T Ramcharger? I didn't know there was such a thing until today. I don't know much about them, how good of a rig they were, if the rear door/hatch worked well, decent structural integrity, etc.



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[willyslover]

Vaughn. . there is a Ramcharger out of Redding Ca. that has a 12v. P pumped rig... has been to several events [mm02 last one I saw him at]

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Gary, did you get to spec it out very close? I hope to make MM next year, maybe I'll be lucky and he'll show up there too.



When I was a kid I rode around many times in a rig like the truck above, except 4x2 longbed with a 440 auto. Very utilitarian, vinyl seats, lotsa road noise. I'll never forget the first time I rode in it donw the highway, I was around 12, and when we came to a hill and he stepped on it enough to make it kick down to 2nd gear and. . . holy wamba! Did that thing roar to life, 'bout scared the stuffins outa me!



Vaughn

 

[willyslover]

Vaughn... The truck is out of a transmission shop there . . did some installs for Bill K's stuff I think... sorry do not remember the name of the shop. . performance tranmission or diesel performance tranmission hellll I'm guessing now

It didn't do well in the sled pulls. . way to short and tall, think it broke a shaft,

but ran the street well... I did not look under the hood

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Gary, is the shop in Sonora? If I contacted DTT Bill could provide some info.



Vaughn

 

[willyslover]

LOL. . ya missed what I said above hehe I know only three cups of coffee so far



"there is a Ramcharger out of Redding Ca. "

 

[Thierry]

Diesel Ramcharger

I converted a 91 Ramcharger to a cummins, real easy swap just a lot of time spent in the rebuild of the motor , trans and finding the vehicles, needed for all the parts for the Ramcharger.

Best way is to have 2 vehicles side by side, a donor 4x4 Diesel truck and Ramcharger and then just swap everything off the truck and take everything off the ramcharger ( throw it all away) and put everything back into the Ramcharger..... real easy said just do it?????



I have just over 5000 miles and with the new motor I am getting 17 mpg and love the vehicle, I am now going to make a crewcab

conversion and just picked up a 85 D350 crewcab and will be converting next year when I have the time.



Email me if you would like some info

-- email address removed --



Thierry Oo. Oo. Oo

 

[Brandon]

j&h trans in redding





I believe its a rotary pump...

 

[willyslover]

B. . that's the forest green one , correct ?

 

[Brandon]

correct.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Thierry, thanks for chiming in here



Got any pictures of the Ramcharger?

 

[Boldt's Wagon]

I recall that the MM02 Ramcharger with a Cummins broke in the sled pull. Started bouncing, tore out the motor mounts, and the engine fan ate the radiator.

 

[Desperado]

Vaughn,

I just found a Rancharger at Forest Bros. Has very light front end damage, I meen very light, they only want $1,500 for it, it can be drive as is.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Originally posted by Boldt's Wagon

I recall that the MM02 Ramcharger with a Cummins broke in the sled pull. Started bouncing, tore out the motor mounts, and the engine fan ate the radiator.

Al, do I look like someone who would compete in a sled pull competition? LOL



Blue, thanks for the tip. What year is it?



Vaughn

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

OEM Cummins-powered Ramchargers??

Now here's something a friend told me (who isn't into diesels at all) says to me the other day "Did you know you could get the Cummins in a Ramcharger when they first came out?" and I'm like Huh??



Any truth to that? If so, they definitely would be a RARE find!!!



Vaughn

 

[Sled Puller]

I think he meant Diesel-as in Mitsubishi. They are rare, and a touch low on Power. Same time some Perkins were put in Jeeps.



To some, CAT=Bulldozer=anything that is on a construction site painted yellow.





Others think Any Diesel is a Cummins.



Still others think every Diesel SHOULD be a Cummins!!

 

[willyslover]

the Perkins Diesel Jeeps were back in the early 60's and only for a few years [like 1/2]. .

the very first time I ran the Rubicon was in a perkins powered Jeep . . that was in 1964 and the 'Con was a whole lot different than today [there was no trail to speak of and definatly no waiting your turn to go]