Rags80's '77 RC (update: 04-07-13)

Rags80 · Oct 17, 2005

Stats: '77 RC 4x4 with a 400CI BB. I think it's got a 383 4bbl intake on top.Â I converted to 5 on 5.5 inch bolt pattern.Â I just put that holley 4160 on last weekend, I think my old 4011 had a leak around the throttle shafts, so I said screw it, and shelled out the dollars.Â I plan to lift it, put meats on it, and attack the rust next year, as well as work on the interior.

That was my 1st RC, it was a really reliable, allbeit rusty truck.Â Had it 6 years and was a blast, and the reason I bought the '77.

Both Ramchargers have less than 90k on the odometers.

Rags80 · Oct 17, 2005

This is what I have to compete with, it's my Neightbors '84 cj-7 258 2bbl 4speed.

nmetankrc · Oct 18, 2005

the 77 looks great, the 83 needs work and the neighbors Jeep is nice too.

Rags80 · Jun 1, 2006

Kansascrewcab · Jun 1, 2006

Sweet project! I like the jeep, but I will take a RC over a jeep any day. Also, maybe I'm just lazy and don't want to search, but what kind of wheels, lift, ect. ?

PatrickH · Jun 1, 2006

nice meats! how much was the tires and rims?

Rags80 · Jun 1, 2006

lift: rouch country all spring 4" lift.Â skyjacker brake lines, 4" drop pitman arm, and 2" sway bar drop.Â

tires: bfg at's 80% h2 take offs,Â 315/75/r17Â $100 all four.

wheels: mb motoring predator 17x10 5x5.5" polt patternÂ Â $147 ea (at the time)

jimbo · Jun 1, 2006

those wheels and tires look sweet on your ramcharger. do you know what backspacing the wheels have? also do they have open center caps available for the front wheels? i have the same lift on my 92 except i'm only running 33's. do you have rubbing with the 35's? your truck is looking really good. keep up the nice work.

Rags80 · Jun 2, 2006

i'm picking up the open center caps this weekend...

I think it's 4.25 back spaceing.....

jimbo · Jun 2, 2006

i just relized that the wheels are painted instead of aluminum. they really full you. i really like them. what else do you have planned for your truck?

Rags80 · Jun 2, 2006

body work (some rust to fix up) interior, I need seats, thinking about carpet, plus stereo system. headers and 2.5inch exhaust, dunno what kind of mulflers to get yet (currently has dual glass packs that exit down just before the axel) paint. might go to 4:10 gears (3:55 currently) might try to find a 440 to build up.

JTFormula · Jun 2, 2006

Looking good. The wheels look real nice. I hope your keeping that color combo. I think she will look sweet when shes done!

BT · Jun 2, 2006

Looks great!

Rags80 · Jun 12, 2006

Paid $35 for it at the local j/y. Also got some other misc parts including a factory tach gauge bezel.

jimbo · Jun 12, 2006

it's looking really good. that truck would look really good painted in the same colors with a set of the factory smaller mirrors on it. that's just my opinion though.

Rags80 · Jun 12, 2006

I'm looking around for the smaller mirrors, but the ones I come across are always broken. I might start looking for aftermarket ones.

I haven't decied on color sceme yet, I am not a fan of the green, tho. I probobly won't get around to working on the rust until next spring.

PatrickH · Jun 12, 2006

lookin awesome man!

robbins18 · Jun 12, 2006

Is the roll bar really that big ??

and i thought mine weighted alot

Rags80 · Jun 12, 2006

yea, it came with the truck, it's not the factory one, plans are to find a factory unit to install.

excrx94 · Jun 13, 2006

Man your truck is really starting to look good. I love the wheels and the roll bar. Sweet ride man.

Ziggy78 · Jun 17, 2006

That is a great lookin RC, keep up the good work!

cuda · Jun 21, 2006

Nice truck! Like the 77-78 grill ,hood combination the best. The lift and wheels really give it a nice stance.

littlejohn4x4 · Jun 22, 2006

Great looking RC ,tires and wheels look awesome keep us posted on the progress

Rags80 · Jun 25, 2006

found some seats and will be do a little slide show on how I installed them, the pre-80's (removable top) RC's have a way differant floor than the permanant top RC's, making seat installation a bit more tricky.

I found a pair of '04 trailblazer seats that have offset slide rails that allow for a lower mounting position while still allowing full function of the seat.

Pics to come soon.

Rags80 · Jul 8, 2006

Baby blue just wasn't cuttinging it, but the real reason for the change is the lack of a shoulder belt (I feel naked witout one).

Found a nice set out of a silverado, but base is just too damned tall, your knees would be though the steering wheel.Â I think on the '81 and newer rc's with the different floors they would work, but not on anything older.

Â

These are out of a '04 trailblazer, notice how the inner rail mounts are higher (staggered)?Â These will work out nicely.

Couldn't do it wihtout the help of my trusty work truck. (ford, ew)

I removed the stock seatmounts by drilling out the rivets, buy a good drill bit. I had a cobalt, lasted the entire project.Â Also the drivers side slide I cut about and inch off the rear to allow for more clearance. It didn't affect the slide at all.

Used some stove bolts (large rounded head) and some angle iron (2"x 3/16) to start the mounts.

Mounted them in place and adjusted using more angle iron, vise grips, and some 2"x1/4 steel flat bar.Â (used on front inner mounts)Â I then tack welded them up with my new welder.

I turned the inner mounts under the seats because I wanted to be sure I had enough room for a center console when I find one. All welded up.

Almost there....Â Â Â Will post finished product pics later...

Mad Max · Jul 8, 2006

Right on (thumbs-up) - looks real good.

- M2

Rags80's '77 RC (update: 04-07-13)

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