'90 W250--'89/91/92 Ramcharger

[dazedandconfused]

I may have some stock 2nd gen intercooler boots still. I'll look this weekend if I remember lol

[BC847]

It's kinda funny, going back to the very start of this going on ten year old thread, and read the way we talked about the trucks then. We've come a long way.

[Tacoclaw]

I wouldn’t sweat it, Andy, I doubt mine match up with stock stuff. One of them is a 4-3” straight reducer and the other is a 4-3” 45* reducer. I’ll get these puppies squeezed down one way or another. I appreciate it though!


At least in 10 years I’ve learned not to lie about painting my intake piping, BC.

[Tacoclaw]

As if I needed another project.

We had a few of these when I was little and dad sold them off. I’ve always wanted one since, and I finally found one. It’s got some kind of Oldsmobile engine and trans in it, I doubt they’re any good. Dunno what my plans for it are, but for now I’m going to just clean it up and paint it so it doesn’t rust any more.

[ellis93]

As if I needed another project.

We had a few of these when I was little and dad sold them off. I’ve always wanted one since, and I finally found one. It’s got some kind of Oldsmobile engine and trans in it, I doubt they’re any good. Dunno what my plans for it are, but for now I’m going to just clean it up and paint it so it doesn’t rust any more.

Well now I definitely hate you! Lol
That is definitely a cool score. I’ve been on an old junk kick myself. I just picked up my second (parts for the first) John Deere 420c (crawler). I don’t know what the hell is wrong with me lol

[PToombs]

M37s are cool! That's obviously a conversion, inline 6 was stock. I'd go for a 4BT, plenty enough power and fun to drive. Biggest problem is it's a low speed rig, need to regear or real tall tires.

[Tacoclaw]

Thanks, guys.

I doubt I’ll leave it on the stock frame, the entire drivetrain is pretty worthless aside from how cool the factory wheels are.


I’ll probably end up putting it on a pickup/RC frame and running Hummer wheels on it. I’d like to have a Cummins for sure but I’m not paying 4bt prices. Dad has a 6bt laying around that I could potentially buy for halfway cheap, but for now I’m just going to take the M37 apart, see what I’ve got, and try to stop any more rust.

[Tacoclaw]

Finally back at it, the white truck’s body was ruined. It was my friend’s old truck and the body mount was so gone the door was a structural part of the cab.



I’m surprised at how easy this M37 comes apart, been sitting in the woods for who knows how long and some 6 point sockets are bringing it right apart. All fine thread bolts, which is interesting.



Also, in typical fashion I definitely didn’t paint it or attempt to stop any rust.

[Richie O]

A guy in my area put a 6b in one a few years back. Neat rig, had it painted black, looked real sharp.

[Tacoclaw]

I hope mine comes together alright, in my usual fashion I know it’s going to come together but who knows what the final results will consist of.

I’m blown away by how light this thing’s body is, I pulled the front clip off intact by myself and just pulled the cab with a chain and me supporting an entire corner of it by myself.

Gonna be pulling some leaves out of those 1stgen packs.

Good to hear from you, Richie, hope things are going well!

[Richie O]

Yup, still kicking. Still pop in, don't do the facebook crap, so still read here every week or so.

[Tacoclaw]

I know you’re here creeping, Hineman, Josh already snitched on you.

Marketplace is tough to say no to, Richie. The rest is just trash.

Some more progress, that bed sits really high. I can bring it down maybe an inch but if I intend to have any rubber between it and the frame it won’t be much more. I’ll just have to see how the cab lines up. The front clip is interesting, I’ve currently got about 4” between the fan and the grill. I believe I’ll be using the grill as a front mount but once again I won’t know for sure until I get the cab on and see where this is all going to sit. Still looks cool, and it’s definitely not going to be intercooled.

Factory mount on the factory crossmember, definitely wasn’t happening.



Scooted back to center the wheels and sitting on a 2x4.

The current height difference between the bed and the front clip.

[Tacoclaw]

Think it’ll end up like this, I’ve officially got it sitting on 2x4s on the factory running board body mounts. It’s a bit higher than I’d like, but believe it or not the holes in the front running board perfectly lined up with a set of old cab mount holes. It puts it about an inch farther forward than I planned but the tires still look ok in the fenders and it gives me more room for a radiator so I’m not complaining at all. I think some 3” body lift blocks will let me keep this height and also use a factory rubber mount puck as well.



Going to get the cab secured one way or another and take the front clip back off to try to sort out what I’m doing for engine accessories/wiring. Planning to keep the 1stgen harness since I’ve got it but I may try to hide it a little. Then I’ll chop the frame and throw in a Ramcharger fuel tank I’ve got laying around.

[Tacoclaw]

Haven’t made a huge amount of progress, knew I was sprinting towards a finished result of a rusty truck with no title. Saw this thing on FB when I started this but couldn’t bring myself to spend the money on it. My swap ended up going smoothly enough that I decided to give it a second look and it was marked sold. Another week or so passed by and a buddy sent it to me again, buyer stood them up.

Ran down this morning and grabbed it, clean title and clean(ish) truck.

Going to finish fabbing on my current body, then copy the results on the ew one so I’m not hacking it as bad.

[Tacoclaw]

Well, the Old Dodge rises again. Just had another kiddo, since I’m locked down around the house for the foreseeable future that means I need stuff to do in the area. I’ve been wanting to tow my side by side around with my own truck instead of the company truck for a long while anyway, so why not now?



64” Surburban leaf swap, don’t know how they’ll haul a load but they already ride 1000x better than the old 52” Chevy leaf pack I had on it. I did swipe the overload leaf off the old pack, so we’ll see how it goes. That axle was on it to simulate the bed weight. Those C clamps were on it to simulate bolts. Before it touches the first trailer it’s getting a disc brake conversion from lugnut4x4. Already have one on the Ramcharger, worked and fit great so no hesitation doing it again.Itll also be getting LED bulbs everywhere, I’m sick of watching my volt gauge bounce around anytime I use a function. I’ve got an internal regulator in the alternator, which I’d recommend to anyone with a 1stgen, but something in this truck causes dramatic swings in the gauge and I don’t like it. Better to start simple first.

Then it’s time to sort out my cooling fans. Long ago Pete told me I was an idiot for using a non-serviceable board to control my cooling fans. I told him he was gay and wron, turns out he was right. Still gay though.

Going to try some other fan options, my old setup was just something a dude throws together for a driver and I’d like to tow with it. I’m tight on room with the blower drive, so I’m looking at late model electric Ford stuff.

I’ll update as I go along, I miss this place and as I mentioned on Facebook, it’s great for quick shares but the accumulated knowledge loss of a place like this will be traumatic one day.

Also, if your AC clutch stops engaging on your 92+ truck, check this relay on the fender first thing. I’m covered in electrical tape goop because I traced the hot wire clear around the engine bay before it ended there.



She’s coming back, baby.