New Guy from Montana!!!

[Sscorpion]

Just thought i would post up a little info. I am a new member to the site, I have been doning a lot of work to my 89 ram 50 and have been using this site to help me out in my travels. Just want to say hello and thanks for all the great info you guys have to share as most of you know these trucks are not that easy to find info about or performance mods. I will be posting up some pictures of my project that i have started on my daily driver.

[sleeps]

Welcome. Great Falls hu, thats where I am from actually. Post some pics!

[Sscorpion]

So my name is corey and i figured i would give the story of how my project came to be or the nightmare of a truck. So about 3 yrs ago my boss gave me this truck said that is had a bad head gasket. I thought 4cylinder with overhead cam .... easy fix. oops my mistake!! i pulled the head and started looking around. I found that the head as wraped which means it got to hot. pulled the pan and rods to find that the motor got really hot and the rings are fried along with the piston skirts. yeah!!! So i was gunna junk it but my stepdad use to have one of these trucks and loved it so they decided to take it to a shop and have a motor put in it. SHe paid 5000 without me knowing for the new motor. the truck wasnt worth that in my opinion for a factory motor.I could have built a turboed one for that price. He gets the truck and drives it for a week and decides that he doesnt like it cause it has no a/c or power anything...... ITS A 1989 Ram 50... DUH!! Well they decided to give me the truck cause i was having car problems, then i drove it and for the next 1-1/2 years it was in and out of the shop because it was not running correctly wrong head then the lifters were really noisy, no power, etc. My worst nightmare but we have to much money in it now to get rid of it.

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Which brings me to why i became a member. I still couldnt figure out why it had no power? i mean on the highway floored 55-60 mph thats it? So i started doing what i love to do tinker. I found that the stupid munki carb vacuum secondary diaphram had a hole and was not opening at all. hense no power. I tried to find one and after a week of searching and calling junk yards within a 300 mile radius and no luck i turned to the internet $150 dollars for the vacuum secondary and i had to wait for it from japan??? well this sucks so i bought a 32/36 redline weber and removed all the emission bs. WOW the truck ran way better. then about two days after that when out to start the truck and BOOM with a hiss then clunk clunk clunk!!! Shut the truck off open the door and stepped in about 2-3 quarts of oil in the driveway. BLEW the oil filter at the seam everything covered in oil. Well we towed it back to the house after a stop to the car wash, and drained the oil and pulled the pan to find that the oil pump pluged up with rod bearing and babot with ALOT OF METAL in the oil and pan. This motor only had 6,500 miles on the rebuilt. all this because a faulty king rod bearing spun. DAMN!!

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So i pulled the motor myself got the shop to send back the motor under WAARRANTY thank god! I well i figured it would be a good time to start my project truck and build it to my liking. So below is a list of things that i have done in that last month why the motor is being rebuilt. hope you guys like and let me know what you think!

1. Cleaned and sanded the entire engine bay and painted with VHT Roll Bar and Chassis 250F paint and clear coat
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2. new electrical tape around the entire harness under the hood and wire loom
3. Removed the old emissions wiring harnes and rewired the positive and negitve cables to the battery, alt, & starter.
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4. Got rid of the old ignition coil and put in a msd blaster coil with resistor
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5.Flushed the heater core and power steering fluid when i changed the steering gearbox( it was leaking and grinding & easier to change when the motor is out)
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6. My dad and I machined the intake hole from stock 2 holes to one oval that fits the weber and we cut the egr down on the primary and filled it with machinable j/b weld, so no gas would flow down the hole and sit. We also machined it down to help the flow in the intake better hopefully. And then i cleaned and removed all the vacuum switches and plugged the holes with stainless steel plugs, put a 185F thermostat with a new thermostat housing.
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7. I bought an all aluminum radiator and had the valve cover powder coated black.
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8. Then on the way I have new single port distributor advance, cap and rotor, mds 8mm plug wires, and pacesetter armor coated header.( pacesetter wasnt my first choice but for now it will work i hope without to much fixing.)
9. All the new bolts are stainless steel and now all connector inter the hood are waterproof except for factory connectors

Well I hope i didn't bore all of you with this long post but it was fun to do and hope you guys enjoy. please let me know your thought so far. I just got a call that my motor is in at the shop so i can pic it up and post some more for you guys.

Thanks

[Sscorpion]

Welcome. Great Falls hu, thats where I am from actually. Post some pics!

Thats Cool I have lived here all my life. When did you move away fro great falls?

[Fordubishi]

Looking good so far. The baby seat is classic :shock: Keep us posted

[sleeps]

Thats Cool I have lived here all my life. When did you move away fro great falls?

In 2006. About a year and a half after I graduated from Great Falls High.

[Sscorpion]

Looking good so far. The baby seat is classic :shock: Keep us posted

Thanks! I was wanting to try and add a seat belt to the bench in the back to put his car seat so i could fit all three of us in the truck but havent figured out how yet? also have to see if that would be legal or not?

[Sscorpion]

In 2006. About a year and a half after I graduated from Great Falls High.

Thats Cool i would have graduated in 2007 from CMR but dropped out to work full time then got my GED a couple years ago.

[pennyman1]

How about this and its a factory belt: http://www.ebay.com/itm/BELT-Center-Gray-w-Bench-Seat-1990-DODGE-RAM-50-/200995040773?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Make%3ADodge&hash=item2ecc3cee05&vxp=mtr

[Lon Moer]

Alright another 5M owner :grin:

5M - Mitsubishi Motors Mighty Max Macrocab

[pennyman1]

I used to own an 88 Ram 50 Sportcab - does that count?

[Sscorpion]

Alright another 5M owner :grin:

5M - Mitsubishi Motors Mighty Max Macrocab

Do i count as a 5M owner it is a dodge ram 50 even though they are identical truck almost?

[Sscorpion]

How about this and its a factory belt: http://www.ebay.com/itm/BELT-Center-Gray-w-Bench-Seat-1990-DODGE-RAM-50-/200995040773?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Make%3ADodge&hash=item2ecc3cee05&vxp=mtr

I dont know i want to redo the interior in black and gray but i dont know how i want to do it yet?? That is an option. thanks for the idea thought, im always open to new ideas.

[Sscorpion]

Well guys after a long and brutal 3 months of bs the motor is in and running nicely. I havent put my need exhaust on yet but broke it in and jetted the carborator for our shitty air. I will post up pictures soon and a video. Long story short it runs a lot better as of right now the distributor needs to be rebuilt but without the vaccum advance hooked up im pulling outta 3rd gear into 4th at 75-80mph @ 5,500 rpms. That works for me considering 55mph was maxed out on the highway before the rebuild. After i get the 2-1/4 SS mandrel bent magnaflow exhaust on the truck i will post up videos.

[Sscorpion]

Sorry i havent posted up videos or pictures yet. Been really busy with work and other stuff. But it is on my to do list. I have installed the magnaflow exhaust. and it sounds sweet!!! BUt i have been trying to figure out this intermitent grind/ vibration under the truck around the tranny and back of the engine. any ideas??? some times it happens 2-3 times a day and sometimes not at all but it does it while driving so i thought it was u joints or maybe carrier bearing. The carrier was replaced 6 months ago and the u joints would make it vibrate all the time. last night when i parked it was doing it with the truck in neutral running and the parking brake on? I have a new clutch with about 5,000 miles on it so i don't think it is the throwout bearing. Any ideas could it be the starter??? grabing the flywheel??? i am lost please help

[noahwins]

the story of how my project came to be or the nightmare of a truck

Welcome to the madhouse, Corey!

[Law Dog]

Welcome!

[Sscorpion]

Sorry for the delay but here are some more pictures of the finished motor in the truck!!!
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Below is the Stainless Steel Exhaust!!!!
11025 vs. 11026
original restrictive header downpipe vs. header w/ 2.5" elbow fitted to maximize flow. Then 2.5" - 2.25" smooth transistion with reinforcment ring.


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1st picture-above is the complete assembly as it is hung under the truck.
2nd picture-High flow Magnaflow cat(part# 50005) attached to Magnaflow 4" x 22" ( part# 10345 ).
3rd picture- factory exhaust hanger modified with removable ubolt instead of being welded.

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1st picture- assembly with bracket installed to go over frame
2nd picure - muffler with mandrel bend 90deg elbow into a 45deg to exit in front of the rear tires.

**** for this to work where the flanges are the factory heat sheild needs to be trimmed out just a little bit to get rid of really bad vibration.****

[royster]

I viewed your photos in the Gallery: that is a nice-looking truck, and the engine compartment detail is wonderful.

Nice work!!!

[Sscorpion]

THANKS! I am really happy the way it turned out.

[Law Dog]

Howdy! LOL

[Sscorpion]

Sorry i havent responded in a long time. I guess life happened and poof there went 5yrs. CRAZY!!!! Any ways this will be the first of quit a few more posts but wanted to give you guys an update on the truck. I have been working on it off and on and using as daily driver but this winter while being laid off for the summer i figured why not a nice christmas present for myself. I have created a bunch of albums on my profile of all the extensive work to the truck the last 2 months but here are a couple of pics for you.23927
Belltech Lowering kit

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New Brake system All around

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Short Throw Shifter

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Brand New Paint, Windows, Etc.

If you like what you see check out my albums on my profile.... LOTS OF PICTURES!!!!
I am still waiting on a couple parts from the Powder Coating Guy. But after that I will post up more pics. The interior is all brand new and just need to be cleaned.

And the bottom of the truck and bed is all getting Bullhide Lined/ Rhino Lined in a few months gotta get taxes back first.

Hope you Guys Like the progessm Let me know What you think!!!

[xboxrox]

Really enjoy your truck; thanks for the pics :thumbup:

[Sscorpion]

Really enjoy your truck; thanks for the pics :thumbup:


Thanks man! I think it is funny but there is something magical about these trucks. I have had a lot of different cars and trucks in my life so far but for some reason even though i cant fit my whole family in it. It has always stuck around and never got sold, and is the definition that empties my bank account everytime i get a little ahead in life, LOL. I don't know what it is about this truck but every time I get in it I feel like a high school kid again with the coolest truck in town, and its the greatest feeling ever. It truly is a joy to drive and own one of these magical piece of machinery. That will so be a forgotten piece of history. Sorry for rambling but I hope everyone has had a chance at some point in life to get the feeling I do when I Drive my old Blue Truck!!! :))

[Sscorpion]

Thanks man! I think it is funny but there is something magical about these trucks. I have had a lot of different cars and trucks in my life so far but for some reason even though i cant fit my whole family in it. It has always stuck around and never got sold, and is the definition that empties my bank account everytime i get a little ahead in life, LOL. I don't know what it is about this truck but every time I get in it I feel like a high school kid again with the coolest truck in town, and its the greatest feeling ever. It truly is a joy to drive and own one of these magical piece of machinery. That will so be a forgotten piece of history. Sorry for rambling but I hope everyone has had a chance at some point in life to get the feeling I do when I Drive my old Blue Truck!!! :))

[Sscorpion]

Really enjoy your truck; thanks for the pics :thumbup:


Thanks man! I think it is funny but there is something magical about these trucks. I have had a lot of different cars and trucks in my life so far but for some reason even though i cant fit my whole family in it. It has always stuck around and never got sold, and is the definition that empties my bank account everytime i get a little ahead in life, LOL. I don't know what it is about this truck but every time I get in it I feel like a high school kid again with the coolest truck in town, and its the greatest feeling ever. It truly is a joy to drive and own one of these magical piece of machinery. That will so be a forgotten piece of history. Sorry for rambling but I hope everyone has had a chance at some point in life to get the feeling I do when I Drive my old Blue Truck!!! :))
​

[Sscorpion]

Really enjoy your truck; thanks for the pics :thumbup:


Thanks man! I think it is funny but there is something magical about these trucks. I have had a lot of different cars and trucks in my life so far but for some reason even though i cant fit my whole family in it. It has always stuck around and never got sold, and is the definition that empties my bank account everytime i get a little ahead in life, LOL. I don't know what it is about this truck but every time I get in it I feel like a high school kid again with the coolest truck in town, and its the greatest feeling ever. It truly is a joy to drive and own one of these magical piece of machinery. That will so be a forgotten piece of history. Sorry for rambling but I hope everyone has had a chance at some point in life to get the feeling I do when I Drive my old Blue Truck!!! :))

Sorry I am an idiot I thought it was only posting my smiley but the font color was the same color as the background hahaha

[xboxrox]

Sscorpion, I know what you mean; they don't make anything small like these little critter trucks anymore... I am so blessed to be living in a warm mostly dry location + Hawaii allows putting people in the truck bed if the seats have passengers... My wife & her friend had a blast riding outside in the back one night taking them across town... Keeping my truck costs about as much as making a monthly payment on a new one, fix fix fix but not too bad... The steering gear was just fixed but is leaking again... Love the truck tho...

Toyota related but it's on topic; a Colombo Episode mentioned at a truck/movie forum: https://www.imcdb.org/v099273.html

:mop: cleaning off the yota ;)

Oh Wow..! At the link above I searched for movies with a Dodge Ram 50 LOOK what came up:
https://www.imcdb.org/vehicles.php?make=dodge&model=ram+50

[geezer101]

Sscorpion, I know what you mean; they don't make anything small like these little critter trucks anymore...

They can and a manufacturer has dared to go back to the future - Suzuki Jimny. It holds true to it's origins. Still about the same size, has cosmetically the same design ethos and grammar but packed with new school tech. I like this gadget! Mitsubishi won't go there with compact trucks as the model has evolved radically to keep up with trends and compete with other manufacturers. Imagine a remodelled D-50. Similar cab size and body design, full size glass without the big rubber seals, flush front grille with improved headlight optics and big chunky colour coded bumpers and up specced wheel packages, frameless windows, power mirrors (hey lets add something trick like a 1 piece tilt out rear window)

[xboxrox]

For me: Not having any creature comforts helps me savor driving; I'm happy to hear the engine sounds & do manual shifting, makes me feel as though I am in control of something... I've seen that Suzuki online geezer and I like it too; that's why it will never be imported to the USA (they hate me) I recently saw on TV that the new model American trucks & SUVs will be even bigger than last years models... At what point will things reverse if ever; how big will everyday vehicles become..? A full size crew cab long bed pick em up truck is already too long to maneuver in a parking lot; at least here in Hawaii's tight lots...

I was duty driver on USS Somers DDG-34 during some port calls to the Philippines... They gave our ship two brand spanking new 1970 Mitsubishi pickups... I distinctly remember they were smaller & lower than even my Gen 1 Ram 50 but they had so much torque... All I needed was 3rd gear of the four speed manual tranny to get around Subic Bay Navy Base including a trip up the Cubi Point mountain to the Navy Hospital... They had diesel engines, what more can I say, I was in driving Heaven...

I was age 22 then (in the Philippines) with the experience of owning my 1st car at age 16 in Sacramento, CA and having driven a Case tyre tractor to plow & disk fields and old full size american dually trucks 2 1/2 ton 1948 Chevy 1 1/4 ton International Harvester (year?) 1960 Nash Metropolitan 1960 Corvette 1962 ImpalaSS 1955 Ford Fairlane 1955 Pontiac Chieftain, too many more to list including Japanese domestic 1955 Datsun 4 door sedan 1970 Honda scrambler 125cc motorcycle, etc. etc. etc. I drove all those vehicles plenty before meeting that cool little Japanese truck in the Philippines... I would love to have the 1960 Corvette or that 1970 Mitsubishi truck, they both had a cool factor of TEN...

Whew :rolleyes:

[Sscorpion]

I agree with you both a redesigned modernized ram 50 would be awesome. I am the same way very rarley do i drive this truck around with the stero on. i love the sound of the engine and the feel of the drive.

I finally got the front bumper and valvance back from the powder coating shop. so i got those installed and after spending a week cutting and buffing the orange peel outta the paint i decided to go take some pictures and videos of the truck in the snow!!! however i did do it in -10 degree weather but there was no wind so it was the perfect time uphere with no wind... cause it always blows up here all the time.

I have always loved muscle cars but this truck is no muscle car but it has similar features, it's going to get solid steel wheels with chrome beauty rings for summer with bullet center capsand lug nuts, the hurst shifter came from muscle cars in my opinion.The truck stance itself sits up a little in the rear with side exhaust in front of the rear tires. And for some stupid reason I wanted to build this truck all motor no turbos. So after 7 years of thinking and deliberation I have decided to name the Truck PROJECT RAMROD. Due to the fact that it is a ram 50 and has qualities of a hot rod build. And it has totally ramrodded my bank account for years!!!!:lmao:

Let me know what you guys think of the name I am curious to the responses good or bad!! And with that said you can watch the first ever video I have ever done of PROJECT RAMROD!!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlMua3HpoYo

[xboxrox]

Liking your truck's color & the large cab, looking good nice stance... As good as any new truck but half the size, a plus... Did I miss the radiator info, it looks custom aluminum..? Nice addition you are to our communiy :thumbup:

[geezer101]

Yeah this is a nice clean truck :grin: I think the bouncing AFR's is something to do with engine tune. The Weber makes a lot more vacuum than the Mikuni and it will do it's best to punish the vacuum advance on the distributor. To get it nailed down you need to mod the distributor by limiting it's total advance. Initial timing is about 10-15 degrees (I think...) and your idle speed may be a bit on the high side (normal operating temp idle should be about 850-900 rpm) I would also gap your plugs to 0.85-0.9mm. Run premium fuel too (95). It will run smoother and if your timing is in the ball park, it'll make some extra usable power.

*some tips to add - swap the mechanical fan for an electric thermofan. Improved throttle response, opens up engine bay room, far more efficient at keeping your engine at optimal operating temps, prolongs the life of the water pump.

This one might not be so well received but - fit a ducted air cleaner box to the Weber. It will improve torque and fuel economy. Sucking hot air from the engine bay robs power and economy.

[Sscorpion]

Liking your truck's color & the large cab, looking good nice stance... As good as any new truck but half the size, a plus... Did I miss the radiator info, it looks custom aluminum..? Nice addition you are to our communiy :thumbup:

Ya it is an all aluminum radiator that i purchased from shepard auto a while back. Whould not do buisness with them again. 3 bad radiators in a row and finally i just ran from aluminim stop leak through it to seal up the pin holes. but yes keeps the truck very cool.

[Sscorpion]

geezer thanks for the tips funny you metion it i was thinking about the cold air top hat but thought it might be to restrictive and not get enough air. I know when I first built the truck the original filter that comes with the weber was torn apart from it not having enough surface area to feed the engine. it literally looked like termites ate my air filterafter 2 weeks of driving. so I had to by the larger filter. to me it looks like the round top hats would be restrictive??

as far as the radiator fan goes any suggestions on a good brand or part numbers that are a direct fit?

as far as distributor and timing goes I have my setup all laid out in this thread below:

http://www.mightyram50.net/vbulletin/showthread.php/7986-Possible-Performance-Distributor-for-2-6l

my afr readings only really bounce when it is cold but at an idle my vacuum needle bounces rapidly between 14-15 " it is not steady. I am not sure if that is the crappy gauge, because it is cammed, or something else? my afr readings seem good once warmed up it runs the below numbers

idle 12.9-13.5
right at 2000-2200rpm 14.1
main circuit 13.5( just outta the idle curcuit) to 14.5(primary wide open just about to tip over and open the secondaries)
WOT 12.1-12.5

idles @ 800rpm with no ported vacuum from the carb
timing set @ 9Deg BTDC
spark plug gap .38 running denso iridium plugs ( .85-.9 seem way to much)???? why do you suggest that gap factory is 0.35-0.43

if I up the idle speed anymore then I start pulling vacuum at the port for distributor? but yes the truck idles better at 900rpm but then it diesels when I shut it off

the only issue I have is that if I run the truck in 3rd gear, 2800-3000rpm at around 35-40 cruising around town the afr is perfect 13.1-13.5 but if let off the gas just ever so gently the afr drops down to 11.9-12.6 which to me is to rich. It also does the same if I drop from 3rd to 4th and let the rpms fall to 2400-2500.

my question is do these trucks like to run around 2800-3000 and get good fuel mileage or am I confused cause I would assume the less rpm the better all around. less load, less rpms, better fuel economy? Whats your thoughts I have never really used a wideband gauge before but I do understand them to an extent.

[geezer101]

The cam will affect engine vacuum. It will run rich when you go off-throttle as the intake manifold vacuum will jump, forcing the carb to pull fuel. For a 4 cylinder, 2500-2800 will be near optimal rpm for economy but you are running a modified engine. I think you have to have the distributor vac advance hooked up to set base timing regardless. IIRC Giovanni here on MR50 has good knowledge about tweaking the mechanical advance on distributors to accommodate Weber upgrades. The plug gap recommended 0.35" to 0.43" - I'm using metric. The factory recommended gaps in metric are 1.0-1.1 mm. I find undersizing the gap by 0.15 mm allows a more aggressive tune and will hold tune longer. So if you aim for 0.33" to 0.35" you'll be in the ball park. You might need to experiment with what plugs you are using too. If it's running rich even though the carb and timing are good, go up a heat range to counteract the higher AFR's or... you may need to go down a range depending on CR's and combustion temps and retune :shrug:

[Sscorpion]

10-4 makes sense. I do tune the carb with the vacuum advance hooked up but after i get it right where i like it then i check the ported vaccum and adjust the idle screw to remove any ported vaccum back to 0". Ok well i will stop chasing my tail on the off throttle afr, i was begining to believe it was exactly what you were saying it was. I found that if I tune the idle circuit a little leaner then I get really loud lean pop thru the exhaust with a 60 jet so I went up to a 65 jet and now it just slightly blurbuls when off throttle. much better but the difference it 12.5 to 11.5 with the jet change which I guess is driver preference. I opted for no loud backfires and lean pops but richer fuel when it is off throttle. I just hate the sound of lean pop and backfiring. but I guess from researching on google now they are tuning for sound of the lean pop when off throttle. Kidz these days!!! I always believed that tuning was for performance not the sound of your exhaust but whatever. hahah

[Sscorpion]

on another note how do you uplead videos on here from your phone without posting them on youtube first?

[Sscorpion]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-7LOSLIt1c

in this video you can here the exhaust blurbuls

[Salteen]

You shifted into 4 a bit early, try 90 for that.

[xboxrox]

Nicer 'n mine truck :)

Am really liking the way you drive safe; you waited for the traffic to clear before hitting it..!

[Salteen]

yeah I noticed that. that was some fancy driving, but 6 to 65 is a good shift point. I don't like to push my motor, I would be in 5th by the time you were going in 4th! lol I love the truck, I love that far meter, sure helps alot with tuning huh! I might get me one and hook it up on one side of the dash and put the tach on the other side. (I bought the world's most common tachometer you see in half cars at car shows: https://www.autometer.com/5-tach-10-000-rpm-shift-lite-auto-gage.html?utm_source=google_shopping&gclid=CjwKCAiAjrXxBRAPEiwAiM3DQqfp-YEiGu4jCThUd-cn0WtDnFoTdUBxZJ73kcA50yawDOKRWw3ykhoCEjYQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds thats the link)

I would recommend it, it looks good and will support nearly any car given its 10k rpm range

[xboxrox]

Am really liking the way you drive safe; you waited for the traffic to clear before hitting it..!

I'm hoping to get a BIG LOL (Montana, waited for traffic to clear..?) :grin: