440 Ramcharger Project

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Jlcaptain24

Jlcaptain24

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No...not an A-body...but since I've got a 440 dart, figured maybe I'd be grandfathered in.

Picked up a 1990 Dodge Ramcharger 4wd, 360 TBI, a-518OD, lock up converter, Chrysler 9 1/4 rear, Dana 44 front....for $2300$

Wasn't running when I got it...changed a few sensors and new injectors and it purrs. Doesn't smoke, good compression on all cylinders....so I figure why leave well enough alone...lets stuff a 440 into it!! It's either for 3.23 or 3.55 gears...either way, it's a pig. Someone put 31" tires on it which doesn't help.

Picked up a .040 over 440 from a friend with supposedly 10K on the build. Friend is super reliable, so don't doubt a word of it. Motors been sitting for quite a while. I've pulled it apart and all looks pretty good. Some carbon buildup on piston tops and combustion chambers.

Motor is a non serial number motor. I guess that means it was a replacement motor?? 1972 cast, so low compression.

Turns over very nice. Smooth.

Intake is Edelbrock with a Chrystler part number on it. Factory, I assume. Aluminum.

Heads are 452's....slightly milled. I'm gonna check the valve seals with water shortly. Other than that, is there a way to visually check to see if it needs new guides or seals or anything?? I'm wanting to keep them out of the machine shop if possible.

My plan is to take it down to a bare block, have it VAT'd, new freeze plugs, new cam bearings (forward one is galled a bit) and new oil pump shaft bushing. Slap it together and get to wrenching.
Stuff a summit 6400 cam, lifters, and new springs in it.

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I think the only issue might be the power brake booster. If it's the single diaphram it won't clear the valve cover. But they are direct swaps so just order a big block one from the 70s sweptline trucks.
 
moper said:
I think the only issue might be the power brake booster. If it's the single diaphram it won't clear the valve cover. But they are direct swaps so just order a big block one from the 70s sweptline trucks.
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You're probably right...i haven't dug into the find details of it, but I know pre-74 ram chargers came with a 440, so it's certainly doable. www.ramchargercentral.com has guys that have done it, but most folks over there are into wheeling....which is why I'm here.
 
I know in '77 they offered a 225-1, 225-2, 318, 360, 400, 440 for the ramcharger
 
318willrun said:
I know in '77 they offered a 225-1, 225-2, 318, 360, 400, 440 for the ramcharger
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So pre-77 apparently? I think most things are compatible for Dodge ram trucks of that vintage as well. I don't think it's gonna be that big of a deal really.

Bellhousing Conversion
Lokar kick down cable
Headers/Full dual exhaust
New Motor mounts
Carb

My thinking is new gear sets/diff rebuild would be around 1500 parts/labor (front/rear).....I can do this for not much more than that and the 440 will have enough balls to turn the gears....plus it'll be a BB Ramcharger. Nuff said.

The annoying part is going to be the accessories....finding the right pulleys and making them all line up. Been down that road before...just gotta order enough wrong parts and eventually it'll work. LOL
 
Jlcaptain24 said:
You're probably right...i haven't dug into the find details of it, but I know pre-74 ram chargers came with a 440, so it's certainly doable. www.ramchargercentral.com has guys that have done it, but most folks over there are into wheeling....which is why I'm here.
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I owned a loaded factory all black 75 440 Ramcharger. I repainted it two-tone Black over basecoat/clear Red garnet pearl metallic. And I changed the trim to mostly '79 trim. It was really quite stunning. I needed to fix the suspension, because I didn't like the short wheelbase ride and the F/T 4wd. But I was offered a pretty good sum for it, so i sold it before I sunk more money in it.
I say go for it, put the 440 in it.
 
rustycowll69 said:
I owned a loaded factory all black 75 440 Ramcharger. I repainted it two-tone Black over basecoat/clear Red garnet pearl metallic. And I changed the trim to mostly '79 trim. It was really quite stunning. I needed to fix the suspension, because I didn't like the short wheelbase ride and the F/T 4wd. But I was offered a pretty good sum for it, so i sold it before I sunk more money in it.
I say go for it, put the 440 in it.
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What did you do to fix the suspension? My rides kind a like a dump truck...
Really want to smooth it out.
 
Jlcaptain24 said:
What did you do to fix the suspension? My rides kind a like a dump truck...
Really want to smooth it out.
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I didn't. I sold it. It kinda reminded me of riding in my friends Jeep CJ. Real choppy. I thought it was because of the short wheel base. But it might have been other factors at work there. I don't know how you fix it, but I assume it can be fixed. I mean they sell a lot of short wheel base suv's, they can't all ride like that.
 
rustycowll69 said:
I didn't. I sold it. It kinda reminded me of riding in my friends Jeep CJ. Real choppy. I thought it was because of the short wheel base. But it might have been other factors at work there. I don't know how you fix it, but I assume it can be fixed. I mean they sell a lot of short wheel base suv's, they can't all ride like that.
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one other thing. unless you intend to run headers, I think you HAVE to use the truck manifolds. They have kind of a notch cast into them to miss the frame channel flange.
 
rustycowll69 said:
I didn't. I sold it. It kinda reminded me of riding in my friends Jeep CJ. Real choppy. I thought it was because of the short wheel base. But it might have been other factors at work there. I don't know how you fix it, but I assume it can be fixed. I mean they sell a lot of short wheel base suv's, they can't all ride like that.
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Been doing some reading....seems the solution is longer springs...or remove some leafs from pack. I'll probably run headers for sake of simplicity...they're pretty cheap compared to abody BB headers.
 
My hybrid '76/'78/'87 W350 rides like a concrete block without 1K lbs in the bed. I'm sure springs and shocks would help the ride, but I built it to carry a lot of weight...lol.
 
moper said:
My hybrid '76/'78/'87 W350 rides like a concrete block without 1K lbs in the bed. I'm sure springs and shocks would help the ride, but I built it to carry a lot of weight...lol.
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LOL...yep. You bounce all over the place in this thing on bumpy roads...i think partly its due to the springy seats...between that and the stiff suspension, it's pretty active!
 
I have a 78 RC that was originally 400 but now has a 440. The original booster was the big one that big block trucks are not supposed to have. I left it like that and stuck the 440 in there not knowing. The valve cover clears it by about 1/4 an inch. No way im getting that thing off without taking the booster off. CRAP
 
jas0162 said:
I have a 78 RC that was originally 400 but now has a 440. The original booster was the big one that big block trucks are not supposed to have. I left it like that and stuck the 440 in there not knowing. The valve cover clears it by about 1/4 an inch. No way im getting that thing off without taking the booster off. CRAP
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Nice!! I may hit ya up for pics when it comes time to stab that thing in. Right now, i'm just accumulating parts and coming up with a plan. Still working on the interior of the dart...
 
Update....garage paint job complete. Bought paint from thecoatingstore.com Two stage paint. Went on really good and overall I'm very happy. The hood has some imperfections as "stuff" fell into. I kinda expected that, but I'm not getting too worked up over it. I'll cut and buff the hood to clean some up.

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Jlcaptain24 said:
Update....garage paint job complete. Bought paint from thecoatingstore.com Two stage paint. Went on really good and overall I'm very happy. The hood has some imperfections as "stuff" fell into. I kinda expected that, but I'm not getting too worked up over it. I'll cut and buff the hood to clean some up.

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that looks a lot like the color scheme I came up with on my 75 Ramcharger. I chose a two-tone, black over red garnet pearl metallic.
I like your color choices, too. And that's a nice touch blending the two colors with the pin stripe.
 
don't know if the pulleys I have will work >cast vs steel crank.
all parts available > solid mounts, headers , a/c p/s and alt mounts.
busted the rear end, over reved the engine, knocking sound, parked it.
stole the 4 barrel carb and aluminum water pump and alt

I like the JW bell for adapting the trans to a big block


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Like the new paint. I did the rcc shackle flip and 4” lift on my 80 power wagon, the ride if anything improved.
Had a 88 ramcharger, 2wd so ride was pretty decent for a topheavy barn.
The old farm wagon suspension leaves a lot to be desired, but i would look at the shackle flip in the rear, at the very least it will eliminate the factory blocks and soften the ride. Guys went to chevy springs in front as they were longer. Its all covered on RCC. Was a member there for 15 years at least.
 
draginmopars said:
don't know if the pulleys I have will work >cast vs steel crank.
all parts available > solid mounts, headers , a/c p/s and alt mounts.
busted the rear end, over reved the engine, knocking sound, parked it.
stole the 4 barrel carb and aluminum water pump and alt

I like the JW bell for adapting the trans to a big block


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I'm very interested. Is that a ramcharger? Or Truck? My 440 donor I picked up has a forged crank. I'm missing ALL brackets, so I'd be down for whatever you have and the headers. The engine mount brackets that bolt to the engine I'm interested as well....I'd rather some rubber in my mounts as I want this beast to the a rock smooth idling daily driver.
I looked at the JW bell, but there's some other companies that sell adapter plates that I wouldn't have the pull the transmission for. i'm pretty lazy at this point. Unless there's a clear benefit of using the JW bell??
 
Tooljunkie said:
Like the new paint. I did the rcc shackle flip and 4” lift on my 80 power wagon, the ride if anything improved.
Had a 88 ramcharger, 2wd so ride was pretty decent for a topheavy barn.
The old farm wagon suspension leaves a lot to be desired, but i would look at the shackle flip in the rear, at the very least it will eliminate the factory blocks and soften the ride. Guys went to chevy springs in front as they were longer. Its all covered on RCC. Was a member there for 15 years at least.
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Man, you're right...this thing rides like a dump truck!! LOL. I really like the stock height...maybe an inch or two more, but nothing crazy. I want it a totally functional driver...doubt it will see any wheeling other than random ditching of the interstate for traffic jams. I'll wait till I dump the 440 in before I change anything, as the extra weight will effect things. I'm on RCC also. Lots of good info and members, but it seems geared more toward wheeling crowds....and younger members(maybe?) abodiesonly seems to have a lot of corporate knowledge and salty dudes that know EVERYTHING mopar.
 
Jlcaptain24 said:
I'm very interested. Is that a ramcharger? Or Truck? My 440 donor I picked up has a forged crank. I'm missing ALL brackets, so I'd be down for whatever you have and the headers. The engine mount brackets that bolt to the engine I'm interested as well....I'd rather some rubber in my mounts as I want this beast to the a rock smooth idling daily driver.
I looked at the JW bell, but there's some other companies that sell adapter plates that I wouldn't have the pull the transmission for. i'm pretty lazy at this point. Unless there's a clear benefit of using the JW bell??
Click to expand...

Well- that would motivate me to finish parting it out...lol

on the mounts- I made the biscuit mount out of bar stock to look like a rubber mount, they unbolt can use the rubber mounts in it's place

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