I bought a d250 with the getrag just a few weeks ago for $2,200. I love the truck but it has some flaws, cab has some rather large dents and has the old owners "touches" all over it. I wanted to know how much of a pain it is to swap the motor into a ramcharger (can get one for free) with a 318/727 in it. Im sure that is more work than i want to do but what do you all think?

 

What year ramcharger? As long as you have a donor vehicle like your d250, you should be able to do it. Just be prepared to have a lot of work ahead of you!
ez

 

Is it a 2wd Ramcharger? If not you are going to have to find a D60 for the front to hold the weight. You will also need a Getrag/NP205 combo out of a W250, or a divorced NP205.

Pretty much everything will bolt on though. You will need to swap in the driveline/suspension too or you're going to break stuff, that Cummins is very heavy and it makes too much torque for the gasser parts.

 

I know a guy that put a cummins in his RC, go to www.ramchargercentral.com and look for coalburnerrc78, I'm sure he'd be more than willing to help you out.

Here's some pics of his rig...

http://picasaweb.google.com/emapps/TruckStuff

 

The R/C is a 4x4 with a pile of miles on it and a blow trans, not in any kinda good shape but hey its free. I know that both axles would have to go, new trans w/ 205 (to short of a WB for a devorced?) but what about gauges and motor mounts can my CTD just bolt in or is there more to it. This swap wouldnt happen any time soon but he is getting rid of the truck soon and just thought it would be cool. I seen a video online with a CTD swap that was running the 1/4 and man did that thing run!

 

The Cummins will bolt in.

 

I'm putting my Cummins and Getrag out of my 90 D250 into my 90 Ramcharger. Both are 2WD and will stay that way for now. I'm using the rear axle and suspension from the D250. I'm also going to use the front suspension from the D250. On a 2WD the steering rods must also be changed because the Cummins will set on the main bar. In the D250 the main steering bar has a lowered area where it goes under the oil pan of the Cummins. The Ramcharger does not have the lowered area and the bar is above the crossmember. The rear axle is a bolt in except for drilling a couple of mounting holes to a bigger size. The gasser Ramcharger has a electric fuel pump in the tank that must be removed. So far it looks like the Cummins wiring harness is a plug in swap. Not 100% sure but I'm going to find out soon enough. Both of my vehicles are 1990 models. I won't have to worry about the extra stuff that was added to the Cummins after 1990.

 

post some pics of the progress

 

I thought the short wheelbase was the reason a divorced would be better? when lifted it straightens out the driveline saving the U joints

 

The RC wheelbase is short enough that it is pretty tight on room for a tcase and a couple driveshafts between the trans and the rear axle.