Faux-ly Grail

[Bamtech1]

Sat in the yard like this all summer while vacation, work, other projects took my time.

Got this camper just before thanksgiving and took it to Florida for a week

And this was Christmas Eve I think

 

[Joe Mc]

Oh indeed you are quite the whacko - I love it. Quite the project there. You certainly copped a nice quad cab and bed, appears to be a rare "rust free" one. I'm partial to the "Lite Driftwood" (of course due to mine being that color) but have always liked the deep green. Nice work man!

 

[Bamtech1]

Thanks. This is GA, takes a long time to rust down here. There was really nothing wrong with the old cab and front clip, I just wanted the 4 doors and bought the parts truck for $600 provided I left all the remainders at the yard. . That’s the loader you see in the pics, we did the swap at my friend’s junkyard.
Always wanted a green one, my other favorite is the bronze color.

 

[Joe Mc]

Yeah, I like the bronze too. You know the one Dodge used for our trucks, not that gaudy shiny copper penny one you see on some of the newer and tuner cars.

 

[Bamtech1]

I’ve got the parts order list for the front end complete except for the steering stabilizer. What’s the best one for stock, stock height. Was looking for Bilstein but didn’t see for a ‘96

Any recommendos?

 

[Joe Mc]

I went with a stock type (stabilizer/shock) forget where and what brand it was, maybe a Monroe?

 

[Bamtech1]

I went with a stock type (stabilizer/shock) forget where and what brand it was, maybe a Monroe?

Thanks. Found all the stuff on Amazon, guess that’s as good as anywhere?

 

[Joe Mc]

If front end is solid (no death wobble, etc.) You should be good.

 

[Bamtech1]

If front end is solid (no death wobble, etc.) You should be good.

Drives fine as is, just want it stock height and to follow through with the theme of making everything at least as good as new. Maybe better!

 

[Bamtech1]

I finally got the leveling mess off and all new steering and suspension components on yesterday. My first attempt in my home garage with a horrible fright spring compressor was a little scary! Even with a pure eyeball alignment, it drives sooooo much better.

 

[Bamtech1]

 

[Joe Mc]

What kind of control arms are shown in the 1st picture? You did reinstall the spring (rubber) pads yes? BTW both red and green trucks look to be in really nice condition KUDOS!

 

[Bamtech1]

I’m not sure what brand of aftermarket lower arms those are, and I wasn’t sure if they were stock length. Even though they proved to be OE length after I got them off and compared, I didn’t know what kind of bushings to get.

So... I just ordererd all 4 new Moog arms along with all the other steering parts- including new upper spring seat rubbers.

I now have TWO surplus front leveling kits for 1996 Ram CTDs. Red 2wd was leveled, too.
Thanks for the compliment, soon enough I’ll be down to one again and won’t have these photo ops!

 

[Bamtech1]

These are the arms and spacers I removed. The arms look like good stuff, and I may reinstall them later if I can source new bushings. They’re polyurethane, just egged a bit.

Here’s a shot as she sits today. Hosed off with the steam cleaner down at work, too dang cold for a hand job!

 

[Ozymandias]

Polyurethane is crap for Daily Driver, they never last as long as a good rubber bushing.
Just Marketing.

You did the right decision with the MOOGs.

 

[Bamtech1]

Here’s a better shot, but it sure shows up the two-tone screwup

 

[Bamtech1]

Scored at the junkyard yesterday. The steering wheel in the ‘96 truck was toast, so I have the wheel from the 2000 cab donor on the original column. Horn and airbag work fine, but hadn’t gotten around to trying to wire the cruise switches. Found a nice condition ‘97 model.

Also got park brake release and cable, some plastics, radio harness, tailgate hinge bushings... it’s coming together! Less than a month until launch day.

 

[Bamtech1]

And the cruise works! I had my doubts, since when I bought the truck it didn’t even have a vacuum line run to the cruise diaphragm and the wiring was unplugged.

 

[Joe Mc]

Bam, Good deal! Glad you got the cruise to work!!! An almost necessary option these days.

 

[Bamtech1]

Put a cheapish Pioneer bluetooth receiver and 6x9s in, and added some redneck stemware.

Cupholders on RAM mounts

Also in the last week I added a boost gauge and played around with pre-boost fuel. I had the AFC too far forward and the smoke screw too far in, was “rollin’coal” everywhere. Now with a sane baseline I can set up the AFC Live better.

Spent all weekend working on the camper after setting it in the truck Friday night. Took off roof AC for a nice vent, fixed some overhead lights, and wired a solar charge controller.