Moparts

85 & 89 Ramcharger

Posted By: dfsmopars

85 & 89 Ramcharger - 11/18/17 05:36 AM

How much is different between an 85 and an 89 Ramcharger? Someone has one of each for sale together. Gonna call on Saturday. Don’t know the conditions or if it would take two to make one if that is even possible.
Posted By: 1E2C

Re: 85 & 89 Ramcharger - 11/18/17 06:11 AM

Grilles is the biggie, engine - roller/computer control vs non.
Posted By: dfsmopars

Re: 85 & 89 Ramcharger - 11/19/17 12:31 AM

Doesn’t matter. Seller changed his mind when I called him.
Posted By: dfsmopars

Re: 85 & 89 Ramcharger - 12/05/17 04:06 AM

These Ramchargers have been re-listed. So my original thought was, if it takes two to make one can stuff be swapped back and forth between the 85 and 89? One does not have an engine and the other may not be any good. I have a 440 available for a swap. How easily can that be installed? I also have a 727 but I am assuming it cannot be used since it was taken out of a c-body, right? Before I call this guy I’d like to have an idea of what is possible. I know about one of the RCs. It started out as a four speed and had an auto put in. Any help would be appreciated.
Posted By: scratchnfotraction

Re: 85 & 89 Ramcharger - 12/05/17 04:16 AM

are they 4x4 or 2x?

I prefer the 85 wire harness over the 89

the c-body 727 and 440 fit right in either of them if 2x chassis

440 fits either if 4x4 but need the 727 4x4 and xfer IIRC 85 & 89 4x4 are same xfer

if manual 4 speed the 89 will be hydro clutch

axle spindles chassis body wise the same

440 RC either 2x or 4x4 is cool and do-able
Posted By: dfsmopars

Re: 85 & 89 Ramcharger - 12/05/17 04:35 AM

They both are 4x4.
Posted By: buildanother

Re: 85 & 89 Ramcharger - 12/05/17 05:33 AM

I believe a good trans guy can swap all the small block 727 guts into the C body main trans case to fit the 4x4 transfer case etc. But more importantly, the 89 finally had a console drink holder that actually held a drink!
Posted By: scratchnfotraction

Re: 85 & 89 Ramcharger - 12/05/17 03:10 PM

yep, a good trans man can swap the tailshafts around if you have them on hand.

IMHO you could use all 78 BB truck stuff to bolt it together by swapping the trans parts around from SB to BB.

I just sold off a 435 with a gear drive 205 xfer to go behind a 440 in a 83 W150.

that would be awesome in a RC 4x4 chassis.
Posted By: QuickDodge

Re: 85 & 89 Ramcharger - 12/05/17 05:17 PM

If your 440 is a car engine, a number of parts and pieces will need to be changed to swap it into a truck. The oil pan on the trucks has a rear sump. A car oil pan can be used in a 4x4 truck...if the truck is lifted high enough. The exhaust manifolds are unique to the trucks. Headers are available if you prefer. The accessory brackets on the front of the engine for the alternator, etc. are truck specific. It seems like there may be some other differences that are not coming to mind immediately.

Just to clarify what has already been mentioned, the 4x4 trucks use a specific tail shaft for the transmission. It is designed to bolt up to the transfer case. I've been told the internal transmission parts will swap from car to truck transmissions. The only catch is the transmission must be disassembled to do the swap.
Posted By: dfsmopars

Re: 85 & 89 Ramcharger - 12/05/17 11:47 PM

Had no idea about swapping stuff between trans housings. That’s good to know. Talked to the owner today. He says the 89 is without an engine and is solid. The 85 has all the drivetrain (including a toasted trans) but needs floorpans and other significant sheet metal work.
Posted By: scratchnfotraction

Re: 85 & 89 Ramcharger - 12/07/17 03:45 PM

there you go. swap the 85 harness to the 89 and have the 85 chassis for parts. (I prefer to do this rather than hacking the 89 harness)

they should have 727 with the correct output shaft/tailhousing/xfer mount. so you just need a BB 727 housing,TF-2 shift kit, 727 rebuild kit. (CRT)

hedman headers 79250 are the best fit for 2x & 4x4 chassis (same header Bouchillon sell in their BB swap kit)

all the BB engine parts can be had from 440source & Bouchillon or used here on moparts. I used 78 non a/c truck pieces.

heck just parting out good lift gates can be good $ as well as fenders doors and small stuff.

got my 85 apart for paint and fender bolts/cage nuts (Jesus clips) were rusted and broken so I just spent the day in the U-pull scratching up door/TG rod clips/fender bolts/cage nuts/throttle studs/PTK flat bars/linkage/throttle springs...ect. spent 4.00$ for 2 hand full of small pieces.

look at prices on ebay for fenders doors and some of the smaller stuff..100$ for sun visors! REALLY? those 1/4s and roofs are going to be gold someday soon.

I scored a spare set of nice rust free doors/core support/inner fenders/steer box/steer colum/ wire harness/front 86 grill for 350$

I will take 2 front fenders if you got them? LOL!
Posted By: dfsmopars

Re: 85 & 89 Ramcharger - 12/11/17 03:33 AM

Looked at the RCs. The ‘85 has had a ‘96 engine and trans swapped into it. Would it be much trouble to get the ‘96 engine and trans to work in the ‘89? The ‘89 has not been molested too bad. Only the engine has been yanked. The ‘89 is solid enoug to build but I do not want to sink too much money into it.
Posted By: scratchnfotraction

Re: 85 & 89 Ramcharger - 12/12/17 03:51 PM

89 is tbi and the 96 is a mpi magnum engine.

myself I would use the magnum engine on the 89 trans

89 wire harness--wire in a VR on firewall, by-pass the in-tank FP relay to get stock pump to run, add a fuel regulator on firewall, use edelbrock/magnum intake/carb, bypass dist to run a points dist converted with a pertronix unit. (or any 12 volt stand alone system)

done a couple 89 pre-magnum engines this way with good results. those roller cams respond well to the carb/intake swap. same for the magnums when used in the 86-91 trucks

I run a whiplash roller cam in my 91 pre-mag 318 with holley street dom intake/q-jet.

but that's me with no $ building junk..lol!
© 2024 Moparts Forums