2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission I'm back!

[murfman]

I used to frequent these boards 10 years ago when I had a 99 Amethyst Ram 3500 with an auto trans. It served me well, but I didn't need a duallie so I sold it to the shop I work for, they removed the bed and installed a flat bed to carry test weights so I still get to drive it now and then. Back to selling the duallie, when I sold it, I started looking for a 4WD QCSB 2500 and found 99 with a V-10 for a stupid low price (3500$ for a clean Sport with 80K miles) and have been driving the wheels off it, and absoulutely love it, BUT I found something new to play with. Its a 2000 Mexican market Ramcharger. It came with a 5.2 And an auto trans. I then bought a 2001 QCSB 2WD donor truck with a HO 24V and 6 speed. I proceeded to swap the entire suspension and drivetrain into the ramcharger, so I finally have another Cummins, and something that is smaller (relatively) and more maneuverable. It is also big enough for the family and the dog on weekend and week long trips. While it was apart, I replaced the clutch, and upgraded the brakes to the 3rd gen rotors. The motor has a BHAF, 4" Turbo back exhaust, and an Edge EZ So far I've put 2000 miles on it and the only issue I have is a ghost ABS problem, I just unplugged the abs motor for now. I will update the thread with more pictures when I get more time, but for now:

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[SnoKing]

Pretty cool. Must draw a lot of questions and double looks.

SNOKING

 

[Wayne M.]

Wow thats the bomb!

 

[promisedland]

I love it!!!
Not for sale??!!

 

[MMeier]

Pretty sweet !

 

[Larry Willard]

That is very cool, would love to have a Cummins powered RamCharger.

 

[Wayne M.]

Do you know how it got up here? Title etc?

 

[murfman]

I bought it from some migrant frarmers in Fresno California.

There are a few for sale from time to time.

 

[Wayne M.]

I bought it from some migrant frarmers in Fresno California.

There are a few for sale from time to time.

Pulling my leg.

 

[SnoKing]

Over the years they have been pictured here on the forum from time to time. SNOKING

http://hooniverse.com/2011/01/30/ho...hould-know-the-1999-to-2001-dodge-ramcharger/

 

[murfman]

There was a silver one for sale in Los Angeles last month and a red one that was rough in San Bernardino 2 weeks ago.

 

[mwilson]

That's just a total 10 on the cool meter. Love to find one.

 

[Wayne M.]

It has the same rear suspension? Did you put in the springs to match the 2500 rear?

 

[murfman]

I swapped the hangers from the 2500, along with the springs, sway bar, and Overload leafs.

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Up front I swapped everything from the 2500 after I installed new bushings, ball joints, tie rod ends, idler and pitman arm.

Besides drilling the frame for the rear spring hangers, and Overlaoad stops, the only modifications I had to make were trimming 1/4" off the back of the 6 speed crossmember's lower lip to clear the fuel tank:

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I had to cut out the crescent impression out of the rear shackle hanger as there was no corresponding location on the frame rail:
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And I had to shorten the driveshaft. I took the original 2 piece shaft to the driveline shop and they were able to make me a one piece one using the original front and rear yokes.

Lastly I had to make a new shorter front parking brake cable.

The one thing I have left to do is make up a new AC hose from the compressor to the firewall with a "T" in it to feed the rear AC. That is the way the factory did it, but the hoses are routed differently on the gas motor and would not work. The other Fab work I had to do was make brackets to hold the AC condenser to the core support in front of the Intercooler. The hose fittings from the Ramcharger worked better, and it is a larger unit to work with the dual AC, tis also involved trimming the back edge of the bumper for clearance, when the hood is shut the grille clears the condenser, and covers the notching of the bumper:

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[Wayne M.]

Great project! how did you hoist the body? did you take the nose off separately?

 

[murfman]

I have a 2 post lift, and just ran a 2x4 under each running board, lifted it right off the frame with the fenders and hood still installed. I had previoustly removed the front bumper to pull the 5.2 last summer as I had sold it. Here is the body on the lift with the Ramcharger frame up front and the 2500 frame behind it, I stripped the donor truck cab and bed off the frame first and went from there. The hardest single task on the swap was combining the wiring. The Ramcahrger was a SLT with the sport front end, and the donor was a ST with manual everything. What made it worse was the fact that they decided to use diesel specific locations in the PDC for things like the rear wiper and rear AC. Then there are things that made the wiring different, like in Mexico the Fog lams stay lit when the High beams are on (Bonus!!). Furthermore a wiring schematic for the Ramcharger seems to be printed on unobtanium paper, so I was 1/2 blind and had to translate the Spanish tags for fuses and relays to English. It took me 2 days to get alll the wires swapped around, and in the mean time I added the overhead console, auto dimming mirror, and steering wheel audio controls while I was in there, along with adding Boost, EGT, and Fuel Pressure gauges and a Brake controller. I intergrated all the add on wiring so it looks cleaner, and I,m glad to say everything works!
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[Wayne M.]

Hey Murph, are you still around? I was looking at trucks on the web, and came across this project. Been a while and am curious about how it came out?

 

[murfman]

It is 95% done, I've put about 7,000 miles on it since I put it together. The last 5% includes
A:I'm still chasing an ABS bug, it activates the ABS under 5 MPH, I replaced both front sensors and rebuilt the ABS unit. I'm thinking it might be the front hubs/tone rings as those were the only things I did change when I did the swap.
B: I need to make up new A/C lines to work with the Cummins and the Ramcharger A/C and rear A/C
C: 2 months after I put it together the blend door for the Floor / Vent stopped working, the actuator still moves, so I thing the door broke.

Other than that it runs great.

I have since added a BHAF
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[SnoKing]

Bring on the bumper pull trailers! Snoking

 

[murfman]

Bring on the bumper pull trailers! Snoking

That is all I have, a 28' Magnum Marine boat, and a 20' Dovetail open car hauler.

BUt I have plenty of room for the Honeys in the Ramcharger...

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