Ch. 1- In Which Recon Gets His Forever Truck

In other news, I’m hammering out a deal with a fellow GRM’er for some off-road type lights. Stay tuned for shenanigans!!!

Stickers add horsepower, right?

I always thought NC's State of Shaka sticker was cool but your rock on Idaho sticker is even more rad!

buzzboy said:

I always thought NC's State of Shaka sticker was cool but your rock on Idaho sticker is even more rad!

If you wish to interpret it that way, you may. Its  true meaning is the ILY sign from American Sign Language. My wife is Deaf/hard of hearing...

yay! Ramcharger love! 

In reply to chandler :

That one looks really clean!

And this is why I daily a full-size 4wd SUV-

a sporty car would never have made it...

In reply to Recon1342 :

Color me embarrassed, I missed the thumb.

In reply to buzzboy :

No harm, no foul. It’s on my truck to spread awareness of Deaf culture... and that’s exactly what it does. 

Shout out with a big thanks to Mazdeuce (aka Seth) for everything he does for the forums. I've once again got a vehicle worthy of the TTWO sticker, and so it has one! (Even if it shows up sideways)

Recon1342 said:

In reply to chandler :

That one looks really clean!

Thank you, it was! It was painted in a Ford Fusion color but everyone kept asking if I was leaving it in primer. Haha 

Definitely in for Mopar goodness.

In reply to Recon1342 :

Glad it's on there. I've got a hat full of Ramcharger stories myself. I dig these trucks. 

Unfortunately, it is the season in Idaho where the wind blows and there's white crud on the ground and it's stinking cold... 

and I'm in a much too small for the family rental house, and my garage is strictly for storing household goods...

And I'm going stir crazy because I cannot do anything on the Dodge. I have door hinge pins to replace, interior work to do, differentials to change fluid in, and transmission swap parts to dig up... Berkleying 28 degree, wind-blowing, dark-in-the-evening at an unreasonable hour Idaho weather...

I am in Portland right now, but unfortunately I took I-90 out, and will likely take I-90 bk to Chicago due to weather considerations.  Otherwise, I would love to see the truck in person.

In reply to Cooter :

If the weather was nicer, we'd be glad to have you. The whole southern end of the state is super sketchy right now, and it's been snowing for a couple of hours...

Yeah, it's a rough route to take this time of year.

In reply to Cooter :

The drive to work this morning was fun, though.

Ordered  some new headlights from amazon. We shall see how they work out. 
 

upcoming plans- 

suspension (new shocks, ball joints, bushings, etc.)

Brakes (pads, shoes, etc.)

transmission(ditch the slush box for a real transmission)

engine (go through the top end and maybe new efi)

Finally, an actual, honest-to-goodness update!!!

I received my headlights from the brown Santa yesterday evening. Today after work the weather was tolerable- (~40ish degrees, sunny, and the wind was only 10-15 mph)- so I decided to install said headlights. Sealed beam headlight buckets are glorious; there are no hidden clips, or secret tabs, or other shenanigans. Just pull a handful of screws, unplug and remove the old light, and install and plug in the new one. 
Before-

After- 

not only are they brighter, they've enhanced my traction by 725%, as evidenced by my Ramcharger hanging out sideways on the driveway. 

High Beams-

Low Beams-

I'm certain they'll need some adjustment; that'll probably happen on Monday after I drive around in the dark...

Nice! Let us know how they are in the dark.

I have to do headlights eventually. I have a pair of housings that accept H4 bulbs so I'll use those. Since it's cold and the truck is stored for winter I've just been parts gathering for now, but I enjoy reading your updates. 

In reply to Georges1991 :

I'll be sure to post a picture or two and my thoughts. 
I started this thread for a couple of different reasons- one, as a build diary/record of everything I've done to the truck, and two, a way to remind myself that this takes time; progress is progress no matter how small. Some of the best build threads on this forum span years... I have to remember that restoration takes time. (I'm not the most patient person when it comes to fixing up vehicles)

Great looking Ramcharger! 

I had a '79 with the quad headlights and removable top back in the 80's, and an ex-US Forest Service '84 (IIRC?) in the 90's.  They're good solid rigs!

I remember the steel top on that '79 was one heavy SOB!

I've gone back to a Bronco, but I'll look forward to following your build! 

In reply to Rodan :

I like the Ramchargers for a couple of reasons- 1) I am a born and bred Mopar nut, and 2) They're rather uncommon. Everybody has a K5 or full-size bronco, but Ramchargers? Those are rare...