Cummins Ramcharger

Cummins Conversion & Builds

Moderators: Greenleaf, BC847, Richie O

Cummins Ramcharger

Postby Ramcharger87 » Fri Jun 17, 2016 11:34 am

Hi all. Just figured I'd introduce myself. I'm Brian and I'm located in north-central Ohio. I picked up my latest project vehicle a year and a half ago... a 1987 Ramcharger 150. It's my first RC but definitely not my first Dodge. Someone had started to put some money in it before his son poked a rod through the 318's oil pan. It's got a 4" (I think) Skyjacker suspension lift, trimmed front fenders, 3/4-ton Chevy axles (corporate 10-bolt front <boo!>, 10.5" 14-bolt rear <not boo!>, 4-wheel disc brakes, 16-inch aluminum wheels with new 35" Yokohama A/T's, NP435 trans with hydraulic clutch hooked to the above-mentioned blowed-up 318 on the front end and 208 t-case at the other. Front winch bumper w/ stinger. Nice receiver hitch out back. Picked it up for $1200, so I don't think I got hurt too bad.

My plan WAS to pull the perforated 318 and replace it with a mildly hot-rodded Cummins 4BT so I could actually afford to drive it when gas hits $4.00 a gallon again. May or may not scuff it down and paint it.

I ended up abandoning the 4bt idea. I still think it would be a killer re-power but, I have had ZERO luck figuring out how to get the NP-435 to mate up to it without a very custom (and very expensive) adaptor.

While I was banging my head against a wall on the 4bt idea, I went ahead and built another 318 gasser so the RC would at least be self mobile. I found a good 1977 truck engine. Compression checked great. Oil pressure was decent, so I took it home and pulled it apart. Bottom end bearings looked like new and all Plasti-gauged well within spec, so I torqued everything back to spec, installed a new oil pump and called it good. The cam was a different story. All the lobes were severely eroded and #4 cam bearing was completely de-laminated. I changed out the cam bearings and stabbed in a new Comp Cams Extreme Energy cam (Advertised duration: 250-intake / 260 exhaust, Lift: .432 int / .444 exh. with an RPM range of 800 - 4800) with matching lifters, valve springs and timing chain. I topped it off with a Mopar 4-barrel iron intake, quadra-jet carb, HEI distributor and long-tube headers.

I did the required cam break-in then changed the oil after about 50 miles with Rotella 15W-40 diesel oil. Engine runs STRONG and has no trouble turning the 35's over. Hills in 4th gear are easy. I put a bit over 200 miles on the 318 when I found a reason to take it all back out again!! A 1993 5.9L Cummins with 518 trans, np-205 t-case, all the adaptors, mounts, intercooler and tubing, radiator, oil cooler, shifters, linkages. Everything!

So I now have the Cummins cleaned up with just the basics replaced. New water pump, lift pump, Killer Dowel Pin addressed, New timing cover seals. New front and rear crank seals and valve cover seals. I pulled the pan off the trans to take a peek. It all looks brand new inside! I had my buddy / transmission take a look around. He say it appears it's been freshly gone through. Won't know until it's in the truck what all, if anything, has been upgraded.

I'll be tearing the front off the RC hopefully this week to pull the 318/np-435/208 and sitting the Cummins in.

I picked up a Dana 60 front axle set up for cross-over steering a couple months ago. I'll stick it in place of the Corporate 8.5" 10-bolt once the diesel drivetrain is in and I can gauge what suspension enhancements will be required to handle the extra weight.

It's got some small rust holes on the front fender lips. I'm debating on repairing them or just buying new and re-cutting them for the larger tires. I'll ultimately be running 37" BFGoodrich military tires on 24-bolt Hummer wheels by the time all is said and done.

I'll post some updated pics below in a short while. Thanks for looking!
Last edited by Ramcharger87 on Fri Jun 17, 2016 11:41 am, edited 1 time in total.
1987 Dodge RamCharger, 1-ton axles, 4-inch suspension lift, 35's and soon to be, a 1993 5.9L CDT / Getrag 360 / NP-205 combo.
Ramcharger87
fuel screw!!!!
 
Posts: 33
Joined: Sun Feb 21, 2016 12:34 pm
Location: North-Central Ohio

Re: Cummins Ramcharger

Postby Ramcharger87 » Fri Jun 17, 2016 11:37 am

Image

Prefect fit for my M101A2 trailer.
Image

Cummins ready for transplant.
Image
1987 Dodge RamCharger, 1-ton axles, 4-inch suspension lift, 35's and soon to be, a 1993 5.9L CDT / Getrag 360 / NP-205 combo.
Ramcharger87
fuel screw!!!!
 
Posts: 33
Joined: Sun Feb 21, 2016 12:34 pm
Location: North-Central Ohio

Re: Cummins Ramcharger

Postby DMan1198 » Fri Jun 17, 2016 3:31 pm

Looks like it'll be a nice build. I have those same wheels on my 1st gen.
Ducati- professional nap taker, and thread derailer extraordinaire
Brownie: 80 dodge heavy half. Ghost cummins under the hood, and some sinister plans
The Roo Hunter: 93 w250, lifted, 2 whistle machines, and a bunch of other go fast goodies, uhh..... not there yet
Jaeger: 12 ram 3500. Lifted, exhausted, and fed an excessive quantity of air
The Huntress: 02 Jetta TDI. No muffler, egr, horsepower
DMan1198
14mm rotor
 
Posts: 2254
Joined: Sat Aug 10, 2013 6:26 am
Location: Slave Lake, Alberta
Top

Re: Cummins Ramcharger

Postby PToombs » Fri Jun 17, 2016 4:44 pm

I like those wheels, I wish I could find a nice set. Truck looks like a good candidate for a repower.
pete

Just enough power to break everything behind the crankshaft.
User avatar
PToombs
14mm rotor
 
Posts: 11367
Joined: Sun Jan 07, 2007 6:13 pm
Location: Syracuse NY. Snow central!
Top

Re: Cummins Ramcharger

Postby DMan1198 » Fri Jun 17, 2016 10:18 pm

I could sell you mine when I can afford the new ones I've had my eye on Pete
Ducati- professional nap taker, and thread derailer extraordinaire
Brownie: 80 dodge heavy half. Ghost cummins under the hood, and some sinister plans
The Roo Hunter: 93 w250, lifted, 2 whistle machines, and a bunch of other go fast goodies, uhh..... not there yet
Jaeger: 12 ram 3500. Lifted, exhausted, and fed an excessive quantity of air
The Huntress: 02 Jetta TDI. No muffler, egr, horsepower
DMan1198
14mm rotor
 
Posts: 2254
Joined: Sat Aug 10, 2013 6:26 am
Location: Slave Lake, Alberta
Top

Re: Cummins Ramcharger

Postby Ramcharger87 » Sat Jun 18, 2016 7:51 am

I like the wheels too. Problem is, they are 16's and the military tires I have my eye on are 16.5's.
1987 Dodge RamCharger, 1-ton axles, 4-inch suspension lift, 35's and soon to be, a 1993 5.9L CDT / Getrag 360 / NP-205 combo.
Ramcharger87
fuel screw!!!!
 
Posts: 33
Joined: Sun Feb 21, 2016 12:34 pm
Location: North-Central Ohio
Top

Re: Cummins Ramcharger

Postby PToombs » Sat Jun 18, 2016 3:44 pm

Around here a lot of the wheels I like are 16.5's and I want to put my current 16's on the new rims. :(
I did pick up a set last weekend on my way back from Iowa. Oldest of 11 (jon) had them, they aren't bad, I need to find centers and nuts for them. I like Ducatis better, but the price was right and they were sorta along the way.
pete

Just enough power to break everything behind the crankshaft.
User avatar
PToombs
14mm rotor
 
Posts: 11367
Joined: Sun Jan 07, 2007 6:13 pm
Location: Syracuse NY. Snow central!
Top

Re: Cummins Ramcharger

Postby DMan1198 » Sat Jun 18, 2016 5:22 pm

My dad has a set of 16.5x8's at his place. They're nothing fancy, but they are in good shape, and the right pattern
Ducati- professional nap taker, and thread derailer extraordinaire
Brownie: 80 dodge heavy half. Ghost cummins under the hood, and some sinister plans
The Roo Hunter: 93 w250, lifted, 2 whistle machines, and a bunch of other go fast goodies, uhh..... not there yet
Jaeger: 12 ram 3500. Lifted, exhausted, and fed an excessive quantity of air
The Huntress: 02 Jetta TDI. No muffler, egr, horsepower
DMan1198
14mm rotor
 
Posts: 2254
Joined: Sat Aug 10, 2013 6:26 am
Location: Slave Lake, Alberta
Top

Re: Cummins Ramcharger

Postby PToombs » Sun Jun 19, 2016 4:53 pm

oooh boy, Canada to Missouri, Missouri to Ohio. :lol: Those rims will have as many miles on them as that brush guard Jeff got. :mrgreen:
pete

Just enough power to break everything behind the crankshaft.
User avatar
PToombs
14mm rotor
 
Posts: 11367
Joined: Sun Jan 07, 2007 6:13 pm
Location: Syracuse NY. Snow central!
Top

Re: Cummins Ramcharger

Postby Ramcharger87 » Mon Jun 20, 2016 4:05 am

:D I actually already have a set of 16.5 x 10 white spoke 'wagon wheels" that I was gonna use. I can pick up the Hummer wheels for $35 a piece though. and they are double bead lock. Nearly required with the 16.5 bead design. I just have to decide if I want to re-center them (due to their 7" offset) or just use a good adaptor/spacer.
1987 Dodge RamCharger, 1-ton axles, 4-inch suspension lift, 35's and soon to be, a 1993 5.9L CDT / Getrag 360 / NP-205 combo.
Ramcharger87
fuel screw!!!!
 
Posts: 33
Joined: Sun Feb 21, 2016 12:34 pm
Location: North-Central Ohio
Top

Re: Cummins Ramcharger

Postby CumminsPower59 » Mon Jun 20, 2016 5:15 am

Those 24 bolt Humvee wheels come with the insert/beadlock for $35? Or is it just the wheel? Without the insert, they are just another 16.5" wheel ;)
Ike

91 W350 SRW, 3.07's, NV4500, 370's, THD LPPP, Super HX40, 2nd gen IC swap, BHAF, Isspro's, 2" lift, 285's on 3rd gen 17"'s.
04 VW Jetta Wagon TDI 5speed
CumminsPower59
14mm rotor
 
Posts: 3203
Joined: Mon Feb 25, 2008 8:04 am
Location: The Hawkeye State of 'Murica!
Top

Re: Cummins Ramcharger

Postby Ramcharger87 » Mon Jun 20, 2016 10:06 am

CumminsPower59 wrote:Those 24 bolt Humvee wheels come with the insert/beadlock for $35? Or is it just the wheel? Without the insert, they are just another 16.5" wheel ;)


Good point. The inserts are another $15 each.
1987 Dodge RamCharger, 1-ton axles, 4-inch suspension lift, 35's and soon to be, a 1993 5.9L CDT / Getrag 360 / NP-205 combo.
Ramcharger87
fuel screw!!!!
 
Posts: 33
Joined: Sun Feb 21, 2016 12:34 pm
Location: North-Central Ohio
Top

Re: Cummins Ramcharger

Postby CumminsPower59 » Sun Jun 26, 2016 6:57 pm

Which ones are they? There is four different ones that I know of... Two piece magnesium bead lock/run flat, two piece rubber bead lock/run flat, one piece bead lock/run flat, or the one piece bead lock? All the rubber ones are a b!tch to install. When I was in the service, we had a handy dandy compression tool, but a wide ratchet strap works too.
Ike

91 W350 SRW, 3.07's, NV4500, 370's, THD LPPP, Super HX40, 2nd gen IC swap, BHAF, Isspro's, 2" lift, 285's on 3rd gen 17"'s.
04 VW Jetta Wagon TDI 5speed
CumminsPower59
14mm rotor
 
Posts: 3203
Joined: Mon Feb 25, 2008 8:04 am
Location: The Hawkeye State of 'Murica!
Top

Re: Cummins Ramcharger

Postby Ramcharger87 » Tue Nov 01, 2016 11:12 am

Sorry it's been so long since my last post. With the brutal heat of summer, the Cummins project didn't move along at all! Good news though, It's in! The Cummins is finally resting comfortably in the Ramcharger. By far, the easiest engine swap I've ever done. The diesel went in easier than the stock 318/np-435/np-208 combo came out. Stock factory engine mounts lined right up. Nothing in the way. A518 / 205 combo will be going in with the help of a motorcycle lift shortly.

As far as the question concerning the Military Hummer wheels/tires... I have no accurate answer. The source I was gonna get them from is sold out as of the moment. Another source I'm looking at now sells the 24-bolt wheel, insert and 80-95% tire already assembled, just as they were removed from the vehicle for $200 each. Which inserts they use, I have no way of knowing, though I'm willing to bet they are the rubber versions.

Image

Image
1987 Dodge RamCharger, 1-ton axles, 4-inch suspension lift, 35's and soon to be, a 1993 5.9L CDT / Getrag 360 / NP-205 combo.
Ramcharger87
fuel screw!!!!
 
Posts: 33
Joined: Sun Feb 21, 2016 12:34 pm
Location: North-Central Ohio
Top

Re: Cummins Ramcharger

Postby dazedandconfused » Mon Nov 21, 2016 7:26 am

Glad to see you are making progress
Big Andy
1983 Dodge D150 that has been repowered with a 93 Cummins/518 running gear AKA The Ugly Duck! I would much rather build them then buy them.[
User avatar
dazedandconfused
14mm rotor
 
Posts: 6119
Joined: Thu Apr 05, 2007 6:25 pm
Location: Walton, Kentucky
Top

Next

Return to Conversions & Builds

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 11 guests