'90 W250--'89/91/92 Ramcharger

[DMan1198]

Aaannnnndd. . . Now I really want to do a torque arm on The Roo Hunter. How much money do you think you have in that setup? And are you going to weld the axle tubes to the housing?

[Tacoclaw]

I dunno, probably about $100 in all the bushing ends and bolt hardware. I stole the steel off our steel rack at work.

I still think the torque arm Stutter had a thread about is a better deal, I just had these bushings laying around so I went for it.

I'll probably have a few tacks put around the tube where it goes in the housing, but as far as I could tell it was already plug welded in all the holes around the pumpkin.

[dazedandconfused]

Have you done anything to the RC?

[Tacoclaw]

Just installed the disc brake kit from lugnut4x4.com Sunday, pretty straightforward install, just a couple things to note.

First, our axle tubes neck down just before where the backing plates bolt on and continue on to the end of the axle. The 3.5" brackets o got were a bit too big but I never measured the actual size of them. I will later and post itnup.

Second, my studs had a shoulder on them that the drum sat on. After cracking the casting on the first hole I drove it into I realized there may be a problem. Turns out the GM discs have a smaller hole than our drums, An 11/16" bit opened them up to the correct size, the shoulder's measurement was .678".


Otherwise they seem like a good, simple upgrade. My booster isn't working so I've been running non-power brakes, and it's much easier to hold the truck in place with this setup. I've got a full 2ndgen hydroboost setup to install laying in my living room, I just can't remembered it interferes with a factory IC piping so I've got to look it up before I try.

I also picked up a set of 37/12.5/17 KM2's that will be residing under it.

I didn't want the wheels and dude didn't want to have them dismounted so he threw them in for free.

[ellis93]

Dude! Those wheels are fagtastic! I can't belive you don't want them on your RC.

[RCCUMMINS89]

Taco... just put JB weld in the crack

[Tacoclaw]

Hell with that, I'm running it cracked. I've got 7 more holding it.

I'm trustin the giant disc section and sandwiching of it between the hub and wheel to hold it together.


Ellis, as ashamed as I am to admit this, those bad boys are going on the old Dodge for a while. It's the only thing I've got that's tall enough to tuck those 37's. Then I'll put the nittos on the RC and start my fender massaging and leaf spring swapping.

[ellis93]

Sweet,I think of it like this,with those wheels folks will discount it as a pos ricer diesel.....till it hurts their feelings

[Tacoclaw]

The only feelings that truck hurts is mine.

It needs a complete redo of all the intake piping, it's got more boost leaks than Pete does ex-boyfriends. I ignore them since the blower doesn't give a crap, but it would be a much nicer-running truck if I'd take the time to tear it back down and fix it right.

Just too many other irons in the fire.

[dazedandconfused]

What year was the gas ramcharger? Did you notice much difference in the chassis harness on the frame?

[Tacoclaw]

89 frame/92 harness, and yeah, a good bit different. The main thing is the 89 RC didn't have ABS, so that's about 6 or more wires I didn't use. The connectors from body to frame were different, but the frame-side had one that female blade connectors sat perfectly on. I cut everything and crimped my own connectors on, but if a fellow was so inclined filling it with grease and using blades oughta work fine.

[RCCUMMINS89]

You should of just shortened a diesel.... and then ALL of the wiring is exactly interchangeable from bumper to bumper, and from door to door.

[dazedandconfused]

Gotcha i'll be going 92-93. Hope they work together

[Tacoclaw]

It was my understanding that you couldn't shorten a diesel for a non-pop top RC, the floorboards interfered with the frame.

I don't do body lifts.


Since I'm in here, I've got a few questions floating around. May as well ask them here and keep Pete's thread tech-free.

1: So 727's and 518's use the same torque converter? I'm sniffing for an OD but I've already got a nice TC for my 727. Be pretty handy if it worked...

2: What's the length difference in a 727 and 518? I put a 208 TC on my RC and it lengthened both driveshafts 1". I know I'll have to lengthen the front shaft but it would be nice to have the rear come back where it should be.

3: Anybody have a source/part # for longer wheel studs? Need ~1/2" longer, either 1/2" or 9/16" studs. I'd prefer 9/16" since I'm putting a spacer in there but I doubt it'll matter considering the vehicle's usage.

4: More questions as I think them up.

[RCCUMMINS89]

That's correct, 70 RC will bolt right up... the 80s had the floor pan dropped 3" in the back, no way of doing without a body lift or modifying crap.