Jer12377

I bought one of the 89 Dodge tugs for a body parts truck for mine a few years ago. The cummins and automatic work great in it so, I was thinking of getting a Ramcharger and swapping the engine and transmission. I drive a Jeep Cherokee now as my daily driver but, I'd like something diesel. I get 20-23MPG and thats around what I get in my 350. So has anyone done this and what do I need to know? Thanks!

thrashingcows

yup been done a few times. Go to the "specialty forums" then go to the "Cummins conversion" section of the site and start searching....you should find a few threads there.

oliver foster

I am thinking about putting a '89 12V in my '80 pop top RC this winter.
I am expecting it to go just like my '85 crew cab swap.
Other than - I am expecting the rear drive shaft might end up being a custom unit, and I will have to swap out the 5 lug axles and at least the front leaf pack.
Freighttrain has a sweet NON I/Ced NV-4500 4x4 RC, and he has a thread on the swap/build in the "Cummins Conversion" section like Thrashingcows said.
I am guessing MPG would be more like 25MPG with 3.54s and 33/35s for rubber.
I get 19MPG [4.10s / 37s] and 21MPG [3.07 / 33] around town in my two '85 12V crews when I drive them easy, and keep idling time down.

patdaly

The only thing is it will be far easier to do a clean swap if you have a complete 4X4 truck for the swap parts. That is the main reason I never got far with my Ramcharger 4BT swap, I never could find a roached candidate, and trying to piecemeal parts turned bloody expensive.

You might have better luck finding a rotted CTD out there, but around here, the most beat, rotted CTDs are still 5K.

BHD

I have a RC CTD that has been a back burner project for a while. I had a donor W250 that was rusted and wrecked so the job was really all about turning wrenches. The truck runs and drives I just need to find time to do the body work on the RC. Those tugs had a 3spd 727 in them so unless you plan on using the RC Dana 44 and 9.25" axles you may want to try to find a set of 1 ton Dana's with 3.07s before getting in too deep.

u2slow

Agreed, piecemealing a swap is a costly affair.

I'm currently doing a 2wd cummins ramcharger with a '90 D250 5spd as the donor. I scrounged up a 3.07 D70 separately.

Other tall/beefy axles to use.... some 80's Fords came with a 3.07 D61 or a 3.08 10.25". GM had a 14-bolt in 3.21. Regular D60's can go as tall as 3.33.

Mark Nixon

I did a 4x4 one with true dually 1 ton suspension.
Let me tell you, that was one ROUGH riding unit!

If you like to go offroad, yet can't stand the possibility of hitting your head on the roof, don't do it, you'll regret it.
Upside is, with a Cummins in there, they are easy to whip kitties with.

The extra weight on the nose and the short wheelbase makes them plant the nose and go 'round and 'round the front axle.

Mark.

Mike337

I have an 89 Ramcharger with a CTD in it. With 3.07's and I get 20 MPG highway and 16-19 city, but I live in DC metro so that's a lot of traffic. I love the truck, body is rough, but I'll get that done soon enough. The only bad thing is I can't keep the wife and daughter out of it, if I turn my back it's gone.

The site you want is ramcharger.com, they have a whole section on swaps, what you will get with the different gears and tires also. There are posts where guys walk through installs almost step by step with pics.

Do the swap, you'll love what you get!

sooty

im just starting a '74, 1st year, and only year with no door window rails, its going to be a mix of parts, rebuilding my original motor and 4500 trans, im leaning on atlas t-case, or another ord, its interior rough, itll take some time to piece together, for the most part, the suspension is bolt in, the motor will be minor mounting, what ever you want up front will be modding in, this was auto and ill be looking for clutch/brake pedals. ive always loved the earlier body styles, from the '73 I had out of high school, this ramcharger has been on my backburner list since then.

simplysmn

Hey Sooty I believe i have a pedal set for a early dodge if you need a set let me know .

sooty

pm sent

oilcan64

Hey jerr! Can't wait to see you get started, justramit has a thread on here of his build I'd get in touch with him, good luck!

Jer12377

Hey Justin! Its just a thought right now. I'd like to get rid of my Jeep but, I dont want to loose the fuel milage, comfortable daily driver and the benefits of an SUV. That and I'd need to find a Ramcharger in good shape at a good price. I want to scavenge that tug for all it has to do my truck and a Ramcharger.

Does anyone know if I can use the axles that are in it or do I need the 60 up front? I think they come with a dana 44 up front and a 60 in the rear?

BHD

The rear in a RC is the Chrysler 9.25". I'm sure the stock RamCharger axles will last for a little while, as long as you dont stand on the loud pedal or take it off road. Running an auto may help preserve them. If you plan to keep the truck you build, I would look for a Dana60 front and 70 rear.

oliver foster

The Dana 44 front will die a pretty quick death with that 1200# 6 bt over it, even faster if you run over sized tires.
I am slapping a Dana 60/70 under my RC.
That tug with have a Dana 70 rear, but it has crazy low gear ratio, like 7.xx.