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And so it Begins...Cummins Ramcharger Build. {Completed..but ongoing}

67K views 164 replies 27 participants last post by  kawgomoo 
#1 ·
Well, after countless movies featuring apocalypse, zombies and emp grenades i figured now was as good a time as ever to move to the alternative fuel world...and no electronics to zap as an added bonus.

Because, as we all know once the virus has burned out finding D2 will be all but impossible. With the myriad of fuel oil options like fryer grease, spent motor oil and even cat pee the 12v Cummins will run on just about anything.

So lets get started.

The Truck - 1990 Ramcharger. 318LA TBI engine, 727 trans, 4" lift 33's and stock running gear.

The Donor - 1997 Dodge Cummins Dually. Totaled.

The Goal - Go anywhere Ramcharger that just cant be stopped. Economical Fuel Consumption!!

The Plan - Will be using the 12 valve engine and 47RE trans {for now} from the donor.

Will be using stock ramcharger transfer case. Both trucks use a np241 variant with the same spline count so all should be gravy there.

Motor Mounts come from a 89-93 W350 Diesel, You need the parts that bolt to the block, 4 total.

Intercooler - Going to fab up intercooler and piping using more "race car" style components as opposed to trying to make the stock dodge crap fit.

I Think that about covers it so far... Here are a couple pics of the Ramcharger "Before" and the Dually Just before Pillaging.




Saturday, March 05 2011 marks the day the project got kicked off!
 
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#3 ·
Good luck.  {cool}

I will be doing a CTD conversion on my 78 crew cab when I find the money for a doner. :-\
 
#6 ·
Todays Effort...

Got the motor and trans out and on the floor. Definitely one of the more challenging engines ive ever pulled.

The space between crossmember and cowl is not as tall as the engine, so i had to pull the cab off to get the engine out... Well at least loosen and raise the cab 4" to get me the clearence i needed.





 
#10 ·
Imagine something like this Bradock 5 series portable car lift

But with a standard asymmetric design. So when the car is lifted you have access to the center of the undercarriage.

It could be done, easily. Just no one does it!

I think a No-Drill install adapter kit for a standard Eagle 2 post lift would be very popular item indeed! Lots of slabs are radiant or otherwise no drill these days.
 
#12 ·
The daily update....More tearing apart of the Dually tonight.

Got the lift pulled off. Dont you hate it when people weld on, bolt on lifts?

Makes removing them a real nightmare!

With a little more hard work and a dash of luck i hope to have the ramcharger in the shop and start tearing it down this weekend.





 
#14 ·
{popcorn} {popcorn}

Very cool - we'll definitely be watchin' this one!

The gasser 241's will bolt up clean to the back of a diesel 47RH - I imagine the RE's are the same..?

- Sam

You might want to consider moving this post to the RC's threads vice the diesel thread???
 
#15 ·
hmm you are probably right... let the mods have there way with it! Might be better off over there in Ramcharger land :)


I moved that Engine/Tranny all by myself last night....lol i about blew out a nut. That thing is BY FAR the heaviest engine combo i have ever in my life seen. I can only imagine trying to pull one of these out in your driveway..... Forget it.


Back to work!
 
#19 ·
Gettin some stuff accomplished this weekend, Thank goodness.

Sold the dually and got it out of my shop. Got the place cleaned up, even though my son was "helping" by sprinkling oil dry on the floor behind me as i swept...lol.

Ramcharger is moved in, Will start getting it torn apart tomorrow {sunday}

I will make sure to take pics along the way!

Oh yeah ordered my new seals and crap from Cummins on Friday so the motor should be all clean, oil tight and ready to plop in mid week or so.

Vacuum Pump Reseal Kit - 4089742
Oil Pan Gasket - 3931346
Rear Main Seal - 3934486
"Killer Dowel Pin Kit"

For what its worth, my local Cummins dealers are a bunch of tools. I highly recommend purchasing from someone like puredieselpower or piers...  piers had the best price on KDP kits i could find, but didnt have {or at least that i could find on there site} all the other parts i needed.

The experience was much like pulling teeth, and i will never so long as i live EVER deal with my local cummins place again. Dear lord where do they find these people? Autozone unemployment lines?
 
#20 ·
kawgomoo said:
Dear lord where do they find these people? Autozone unemployment lines?
LMBO! {gloating} That's a good one......... ;D
 
#22 ·
Alright got going on the Ramcharger today. Tossed the Cummins on a trailer and off to the powerwasher we went.



Got back and started turning wrenches on the RC. First thing i did was pull the transfer case as this is the biggest question i have had so far...Will it fit?

Well the answer so far is a Big Fat NO!

Why? The bolt patterns are the same, the spline count is the same.







 
#23 ·
That stinks.  :-\

Is that trailer tweeked from the weight of the motor?
 
#25 ·
kawgomoo said:
LOL yeah...it was hatin it. The motor was actually sitting on the axle.
LMBO! I know they are heavy. I pull trans and engine when I did my frame swap on the W250 I have. :eek:
 
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