How similar are the suspensions? If I wanted to take a 2.5 with a 5speed and stuff it in the back end of a Rampage, how feasible would that be?
I've had friends that have them in the past, but I've never taken up the care and feeding of one.
Anyone got a Rampage they want removed from their property?
In reply to Mr_Asa :
Why stuff it in the back, fits easily in the front. I literally have a 2.5l turbo Rampage, it's an old challenge car even
Antihero (Forum Supporter) said:In reply to Mr_Asa :
Why stuff it in the back, fits easily in the front.
I've just always wanted to do a RWD swap; feels like it would be a solid candidate. Always had a thing for MR or RR vehicles. Besides:
In reply to Mr_Asa :
I mean.....people have done it but it's with a huge engine. Theres one that's been in magazines that I almost bought before it was swapped, it was a brown on brown one and my wife hated it lol.
If you are gonna go to all that work I'd do a huge engine. I can say that the 2.5 at 17psi boost moves it along mighty quick though lol
A Rampage is pretty rare to cut up now, but the front suspension is pretty much the same as the earlier full size turbo dodges except the subframe is narrower. If you aren't doing a swap with stuff that all bolts together I would think a PT Cruiser turbo engine would be a better choice than a turbo 2.2 or 2.5. They can't be easy to get parts for anymore, when I had my shelby charger years ago it was already hard to get stuff like starter solenoids, etc that wern't garbage.
In reply to Tk8398 :
With some help from the GRM Express I picked up a 2.5 with a DOHC and 5spd for nice and cheap.
In reply to Mr_Asa :
I think there's a free Conquest still available.
Stampie said:In reply to Mr_Asa :
I think there's a free Conquest still available.
Quoted because I could only thumbs up this idea one time.
In reply to Stampie :
Link?
In reply to Mr_Asa :
Allow me: Free Conquest
Damn.
Um. Damn.
GRM Express? Anyone? I've got the time to go out there and get it, but that's all I've got.
gumby said:In reply to Mr_Asa :
Allow me: Free Conquest
It appears that's a two year old ad, but yuppidit is regular here so maybe he'll see this discussion and respond.
The rampage has a solid axle in the rear, because its a truck, so there's not much back there other than a pair of frame rails where the leaf springs connect. Brake lines/ebrake cables, etc.
I did see a twin engine Rampage a long, long time ago. It had dual turbocharged 2.2's with automatics. Not sure how they did the rear suspension, but I suspect it was a front subframe moved to the rear with the tie-rods tied off like they did on the Fiat X-1/9
Rampages were pretty rare to begin with and nice ones are seeing a little bump due to nostalgia, etc. Many are pretty ratty since they have all the same rust issues as their hatchback sisters.
If you do this, I would use a K-frame from a 90+ car as the suspension has better geometry to work with. You'll need flares to accommodate, so swap the same K-frame upfront as well.
In reply to Mr_Asa :
So turn the engine the other direction, bolt up a Supra R154 or Chevy MA-5 using a Dakota bellhousing and go to town the conventional way, no reason to move the engine to the back if you don't have to. The only thing to watch out for(aside from fabricating a trans tunnel or enlarging the exhaust tunnel as it may be) is the steering rack location...but I suspect you could use the top-steer Intrepid strut spindle things easily enough.
Wicked93gs said:In reply to Mr_Asa :
So turn the engine the other direction, bolt up a Supra R154 or Chevy MA-5 using a Dakota bellhousing and go to town the conventional way, no reason to move the engine to the back if you don't have to. The only thing to watch out for(aside from fabricating a trans tunnel or enlarging the exhaust tunnel as it may be) is the steering rack location...but I suspect you could use the top-steer Intrepid strut spindle things easily enough.
The Daytona (K-car) RWD conversion kit from Mopar used a front steer rack from a Mustang II with a modified K-member. Wouldn't be difficult to hack a K-member to work with that. Especially since the stock L-body K-member is terribly made from the factory.
I have a Dakota R-154 bellhousing in my collection of stuff. I might use it with my 924 though ;) Luckily if you search car-part.com you can find them from time to time.
stuart in mn said:gumby said:In reply to Mr_Asa :
Allow me: Free Conquest
It appears that's a two year old ad, but yuppidit is regular here so maybe he'll see this discussion and respond.
Lmao I can't even give that thing away
Stefan (Forum Supporter) said:Wicked93gs said:In reply to Mr_Asa :
So turn the engine the other direction, bolt up a Supra R154 or Chevy MA-5 using a Dakota bellhousing and go to town the conventional way, no reason to move the engine to the back if you don't have to. The only thing to watch out for(aside from fabricating a trans tunnel or enlarging the exhaust tunnel as it may be) is the steering rack location...but I suspect you could use the top-steer Intrepid strut spindle things easily enough.
The Daytona (K-car) RWD conversion kit from Mopar used a front steer rack from a Mustang II with a modified K-member. Wouldn't be difficult to hack a K-member to work with that. Especially since the stock L-body K-member is terribly made from the factory.
I have a Dakota R-154 bellhousing in my collection of stuff. I might use it with my 924 though ;) Luckily if you search car-part.com you can find them from time to time.
I think I have both a Dakota bell and the ever elusive Liberty bell(if you wanted to use the 2.0/2.4L DOHC engine series including the SRT engine...which I did in a Celica RA29 with a MA-5, that was fun) sitting in the garage still, along with a 2.4L longblock...not sure what I will ever use them for at this point.
In reply to yupididit :
I'd be interested, but like I said, no way to go get it.
Lmk if you have any questions on this junk. It is quite an oddball collection of random.
Ideally the easiest setup would be to choose fwd hubs and k-frame from something that was turbo (not hard/fast rule) so you could easily drop axels into the trans. Obviously the newer stuff was better with Al control arms. A fwd k frame hubs and axles shouldn't need any modifications to fit this.
This has cast pistons, they are new, but don't go dreaming of 500hp.
Finding a rampage and keeping it fwd would be way quicker and easier, the exhaust manifold and turbo will not fit with that firewall however.
Hope you have fun!
In reply to daytonaer :
I've got the for sale ad downloaded so I know what was in there, was there anything that may be relevant to how you built the engine that wasn't included in that? I don't think I remember cam specs or compression ratio, but I may be wrong.
Mr_Asa said:In reply to daytonaer :
I've got the for sale ad downloaded so I know what was in there, was there anything that may be relevant to how you built the engine that wasn't included in that? I don't think I remember cam specs or compression ratio, but I may be wrong.
89 2.5 t1 block with Ballance shafts removed and oil feed plugged. Reman 2.5 turbo crank and matched bearings. Stock 2.5 t1 cast pistons, unsure of rings mfg. Mopar performance oil pump bypass spring kit. Summit sourced oil filter relocation fitting. Gm remote oil filter mount. 2.4 stratus head. Head was cleaned up, not ported, valves cleaned and re-seated, new valve seals. 2.0 neon cams. Cut down turbo head bolts. Mls head gasket. Fwd performance offset adjustable cam gears. Stratus intake manifold I believe? Crap weld el turbo manifold. Holset hy35w turbo. Parker flow control valve for head oil source. Turbo probably needs some oil restriction. New stock 2.5 t1 flywheel, new stock 2.2 t3 clutch and pressure plate. Shifter bracket offset and speed sensor pulled to fit turbo and manifold. Stock 2.5 t1 distributor with distributor cap with nice cast brass contacts and custom witeset. Can't remember timing belt: hopefully still has part number on it. Trans is a523 from a 2.2 shadow. Injectors are 2.5 turbo in the stratus rail, fpr is from a 84? Turbo dodge teed for the return less rail.
That's about all I can remember now. Lots of additional minivan specific brackets.
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