1981-93 Dodge Ram 4x4 Help
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Detective D
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You might want to go back down to 33's with 4.10's. 35 is a lot of tire to push around for a small block. it would deffinately tow better with 33's. But tires is minor, really, it is a wear item anyway.
I wouldn't tow with a Ramcharger, not anything bigger than a fishing boat or utility trailer. I mean you can but it is not ideal, they are built tough enough for it just the shorter wheelbase makes them a little bit more squirrely than a pick up.
I wouldn't tow with a Ramcharger, not anything bigger than a fishing boat or utility trailer. I mean you can but it is not ideal, they are built tough enough for it just the shorter wheelbase makes them a little bit more squirrely than a pick up.
matthon
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Without taking the covers off, I have no idea what the gears are, unless there is another way to determine.
matthon
Well-Known Member
Got it yesterday.
Drove it in the morning, 1st granny gear no issues, 2nd gear seemed a little noisy, 3rd was very noisy, 4th was so quiet couldn't tell it was in gear.
I made an offer and that was my max. Took him a while, but he accepted telling me I was the right person for it.
Probably helped that I drove the Fury wagon there, hour and a half one way, love cruising that wagon.
318 was rebuilt, bored, cam, intake/carb/headers/etc. It sounds extremely healthy.
I did 65mph at 3k rpm the entire way home and it drove very nice, considering the gearing, tires, etc.
My friend who took me there and followed me home said I was doing 80mph+.
Guess the speedo is off a bit.
Basically everything has been done, and of course it has a few issues.
Trans (unless those trans are supposed to be noisy), no pads on the clutch/brake pedals, driver door needs adjustment, bed needs to be leveled out on the 3" lift, need to find a few pieces of trim, need a longer drop hitch, an aftermarket trailer brake plug kit, blah blah blah.
But it's rot free with very little surface rust anywhere, which is unheard of 'round these parts.
I figure, if the biggest expense is the price of a trans rebuild (which currently works and it drives) then I'm perfectly ok with that.
I've done rust and rot repair before, and the price of a trans is a fraction of that.
Maybe I'll get around to returning it to one color too.
Drove it in the morning, 1st granny gear no issues, 2nd gear seemed a little noisy, 3rd was very noisy, 4th was so quiet couldn't tell it was in gear.
I made an offer and that was my max. Took him a while, but he accepted telling me I was the right person for it.
Probably helped that I drove the Fury wagon there, hour and a half one way, love cruising that wagon.
318 was rebuilt, bored, cam, intake/carb/headers/etc. It sounds extremely healthy.
I did 65mph at 3k rpm the entire way home and it drove very nice, considering the gearing, tires, etc.
My friend who took me there and followed me home said I was doing 80mph+.
Guess the speedo is off a bit.
Basically everything has been done, and of course it has a few issues.
Trans (unless those trans are supposed to be noisy), no pads on the clutch/brake pedals, driver door needs adjustment, bed needs to be leveled out on the 3" lift, need to find a few pieces of trim, need a longer drop hitch, an aftermarket trailer brake plug kit, blah blah blah.
But it's rot free with very little surface rust anywhere, which is unheard of 'round these parts.
I figure, if the biggest expense is the price of a trans rebuild (which currently works and it drives) then I'm perfectly ok with that.
I've done rust and rot repair before, and the price of a trans is a fraction of that.
Maybe I'll get around to returning it to one color too.
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Nice truck. I hope u enjoy it. Kim
Detective D
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I wonder if you could get a 5 speed from one of the 90's trucks to fit in? I am not well versed on transmission swaps for manuals, but I bet it wouldn't take that much effort, unless the transfer case is completely a no go(like wrong side/driver passenger or something) it's a 318 so the front side should be easily figured anyway.
4x4 always ups the ante
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Just to eliminate it, did you check the lube level?
matthon
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Apparently you can, but not a direct swap, more complicated, and those trans are not cheap.
I'm still learning, but it seems very little is straight forward with these trucks.
matthon
Well-Known Member
I definitely should, haven't yet.
Plan on checking all fluid levels asap.
Guy I bought it from said all the fluids were up to snuff, without me asking. I believe him to be an honest Joe.
I don't know how these trans work, but 1/2 throw is farther than 3/4, which doesn't make sense to me, but what do I know about these (nothing, I know nothing).
Darrah
Well-Known Member
NP435 definitely has a longer 1-2 throw then 3-4. Just had the trans out and apart from my '79... it's very simple compared to anything modern.
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