New 86 Ram 50 owner, glad to find a forum!

[Razmear]

Howdy,
I picked up a used 86 Ram 50 (2.0, G63B, 5 Speed) a few days ago off of the local Craigslist for $800. The body is very solid, and the guy I bought it from was planning on converting it into some low rider monstrosity, so hopefully I saved a good truck from a fate worse than death.
He had already added his version of a custom exhaust, a straight pipe, badly welded, running from the curve in the manifold downpipe under both axles to a 'flowmaster' muffler with a 4 inch intake (and more bad welds) that was hanging about 3 inches off the ground next to the spare tire. A sawzall quickly removed the exhaust on day 2 and I stuck on a cheapo muffler on day 3, which made the truck quiet enough to hear the loud tapping coming from the engine.
So today I pull the valve cover and find the #4 (furthest back) intake rocker has the nub that pushes on the lifter snapped off. No sign of the broken pieces, so I'm hoping the seller knew about the problem and removed them and they are not floating around the engine somewhere. His CL ad said he installed a new valve cover gasket, so there is hope he saw the broken rocker and then decided to call it quits on his project.
I've ordered a new rocker arm, should be at Oriely's on Tuesday, so now I've got a few days to learn how to replace the broken rocker arm. Seems pretty straight forward, and it being the furthest back gives me hope of an easy job, but we'll see.
Well, that's why I'm here and how I stumbled on this forum. I'll be digging thru the threads looking for hints on the job and if you have any advice, please share.

Thanks for being here,
eb

[Razmear]

OMFG! You have PDFs of the FSMs!!!! Awesome! Looking at the right diagrams for the job now, looks like I might be able to just take off the rear cap and slide the broken rocker right off.
I am so glad I found this site!
One quick questions tho, how do I tell if I have a Gen 1 or a Gen 2? The Ram50 is an 86, door panel says it was made in January 86. I'm guessing there is a VIN code or something?

Thanks,
eb

[camoit]

OMFG! You have PDFs of the FSMs!!!! Awesome!


Ha ha ha ha ha. Now thats funny.

In the factory manual there is a Vin code thing that will tell you what it should be if it's stock. As for first gen to second gen take a look in the WIKI for history. It will get you in the ball park. We need to put in our own pictures at some point. As for the swap out its just like it looks. Be careful not to over torque the bolts. Aluminum head..... The missing part is in the oil pan. Pull the plug and use a magnet on a stick. It will come out. The screen should stop it from doing any damage.
Oh and welcome to the board. You now have access to our privet on line radio station. Just look at the top of the page for MMD5 radio. You can schedule up songs and up load music to it as well. Enjoy.

[Razmear]

Thanks for the welcome, and the tips.
I'm guessing I'm 2nd gen, but really don't think it matters much for the current task. I have a timing belt instead of a chain (as shown in the manual), and my VIN doesn't match the formula in the book: JB7FP24D9GP123456, but the SOHC assembly looks pretty much the same.

[pennyman1]

The easy way to tell 1st gen from 2nd gen is the body shape - 1st gen has rounded sides and 4 headlights, 2ns gen is flat sided and 2 headlights. Also, your manufactoring date makes it a 1st gen, as 2nd gen 86's didn't come out until march or April of 86. Welcome to the site - I also have an 86 like yours besides my 1980 avatar truck.

[Razmear]

Thanks Pennyman,
It's got 4 headlights, so guess it is a Gen1.
Been reading the service manual, been a couple of decades since I had a rig with a carburetor :D

[DroppedMitsu]

Welcome to the site, and yes by the looks of your avatar you have a first gen.

[camoit]

The late model first gen had 4 head lights. Not sure what year the change over took place. I want to say around 84 or 85.
Yep looks like we need to find a late model first gen book. Mine covers the early models.

[Razmear]

Just got back from Oriely's, they ordered me an exhaust rocker instead of an intake one, so will be a few more days til the Ram is back on the road.
Looks like its not a standard stocked part, so they had to email the supply center to see if they can even find one.
If anyone knows of a place online to find one at a reasonable price, or maybe has one sitting in their garage that they can part with, let me know.

eb

[Razmear]

Part has been located thru the dealer for $41.70, would have to be shipped from Saluda, SC or Ohio (+$15 or so). Looks like the Ram50 is down til payday + shipping time. No one local can get the part.
Part # MD072117

[DroppedMitsu]

try rockauto.com for great priced parts.

[Razmear]

Thanks Dropped,
Just checked them, they only have the exhaust rocker in stock.

[Razmear]

Got the part coming from a member here, $20 shipped, YaY!

eb

[abeemanator]

I haven't ordered anything from rockauto.com, because once it is said and done, it would have been cheaper to order it through NAPA. Rockauto has great priced parts, but then they have horrendous shipping costs.

[DroppedMitsu]

I always order from them, even after shipping most of the stuff I get is still at least $5-10 cheaper, guess it just depends what you're buying and how much parts also.

[Razmear]

The seller sent me a pic of his rocker, but I can't tell for sure if it matches mine or not, I'm leaning towards not.
Here is the pic of his:
http://razmear.com/misc/lift_va.png

And some pics of what go in my 86 2.0:
http://razmear.com/misc/lift1.jpg
http://razmear.com/misc/lift2.jpg
http://razmear.com/misc/lift3.jpg

Think it's a match?
eb

[Razmear]

Got a second front view pic of the sellers rockers, and they now look more like a match, so going thru with the sale.

btw, I really gotta figure out how to edit a post on here....
eb

[camoit]

btw, I really gotta figure out how to edit a post on here....
eb

That is a feature you get when you upgrade and become a donator. You can check it out here. Give it a try, it's worth it. Besides you will find your self on this site all the time. It's like crack to a D50 owner. Just ask my wife... http://www.mightyram50.net/vbulletin/showthread.php/76-Donations-Made-and-what-you-get-by-becoming-a-donator.

[Razmear]

Aha, that explains why I can't find what I usually find on every other vbulletin forum....
I just sent my last $20 to Virginia for the rocker arm, but will probably chip something in next payday. You've already saved me a chunk of change just by having the resources available here.

[camoit]

Our thought behind it is that the Donators will be a more active member in the community then just the one time guy. Just like crack, it's keep you coming back. We also have a sell to donate area you can use. So if you have an old part or hand grenade you want to sell to donate you are more then welcome to do so. Just read how it works and you will see we have more then one way to support your fellow D50 guy.
OH one more thing you might have over looked. go to the top of the page and click on the MMD5 Radio. Yep we have a private on line radio station that you can run. You can be the DJ or upload to it. It has one of the widest varieties of music you will find on the net in one place, or so I'm told. Enjoy

[Razmear]

I checked out the radio page, looks pretty cool. I noticed a disturbing lack of Mojo Nixon in there so I uploaded "You Can't Kill Me", not sure if it got indexed or not. I would have uploaded the entire discography, but it seems you can only upload 2 songs at once.
btw, Mojo is anti-copyright and supports the free passing around of his works (unlike most of the other 15gigs of music I've horded over the years).

eb

[camoit]

Ya I need to finish off the upload page. If you zip up all the songs you want to upload in a Zip file you can upload 0.75Gig per file. Or at least it's close to that size. I need to put up an explanation and instructions. Once it's uploaded I pull them off the server and place them on the juke box. I should have it finished up by the end of the year. It gets worked on when it rains and I can't work on the truck. As for copyrights it's technically a privet Juke Box and not an "Internet radio station" for use by the general public. The only fokes that know it's there are members. If you log out the links go away. No spiders or web crawlers index it.

[camoit]

Hell looking at the picture you did not need to swap it out. It's only the air jet valve tab that broke off. There nothing but problems anyway.

[Razmear]

Hell looking at the picture you did not need to swap it out. It's only the air jet valve tab that broke off. There nothing but problems anyway.

Huh????
http://razmear.com/misc/lift3.jpg
That's not an intake valve to the right of the rocker?
Sure feels like it's running on 3 cyl, which would make sense if nothing was getting thru that intake due to the broken off tab.

[Razmear]

Well crap.
Just read a bit further in the FSM and your right, that's a freaking jet valve.
So, looks like I didn't find the source of my tapping and lack of power after all when I saw the broken rocker arm.
Not a happy camper.

[abeemanator]

No, no, Your problem is that crappy stock carb you are running on there, upgrade to a Weber 32/36. When I first got my truck it ran way rich and would fire on only 3 cylinders, after I replaced it it ran better but still missed, come to find out one of my spark plug wires was "Broken" somewhere, and once I replaced it, it hauled a$$, but it doesn't run now (That's a different story)
An air vale just shoots air/fuel right at the spark plug so it can burn the fuel more "efficiently"

[abeemanator]

Or, you have a bad hydraulic valve lash adjuster, or a rod cap is coming off of one of your connecting rods. (like mine did)

[abeemanator]

This is what it should look like, just not as messy.

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/252941_218213954866346_100000332301244_763428_5046 942_n.jpg

[Razmear]

I'll recheck everything after work tomorrow. When I noticed the broken tab on the rocker arm I figured I found an obvious problem and stopped looking further. Also stopped running the truck out of fear of damage with an alleged non functioning intake valve. At least I know I can take it to work on Thursday and avoid having to have my wife drop me off, bit too late to reassemble for tomorrows commute.

Well, now I feel like an idiot, which I guess is the first step in the learning process. Last time I had a rig with a carb was around 1991, so time to start educating myself again.

eb

[abeemanator]

This is actually my first rig. I got 2 Webers, one I got free, with the adaper plates, and is missing a few parts and the other I picked up for $20 at the scrapyard (I'm a usual there lol). Yes a Weber will seem like magic, I heard on a Toyota 22r (Which I am running now, in my Toyota), it will "wake up" the sleeping beast inside the engine. (It should the damned 22r falls flat on its face when the secondary kicks in)

[Medevack1]

hey OP welcome to the forums im also new too, this weekend i will be checking mine too just incase since mine came from someone else and is acting up too.... :( the good thing is that the local yunk yard has about "15" mighty max and D/50's so as far as parts im GOOD!!!!

[camoit]

Medevack1
Is there a good first gen D50 drivers door there??? Fordbushi is looking for one. He needs one sent to him. Take a look and and grab one for him. He should have no problems sending you the cash. He is in Canada somewhere. You could make his X-Mas for him. He is in no rush to get it but he is looking to secure one. Send him a PM.

[Razmear]

Ya, Med, you could probably make a decent living chopping up those 15 trucks and shipping them to members here.
I don't have a great choice of junkyards around here, most places just crush for the quick buck.
On my XMas wishlist would be an exhaust manifold complete with flange and the downpipe cut past the first mounting bracket. I'll have to google your location and see if a trip up that way from SC is worth the effort.
Welcome to the Boards!

eb

[pennyman1]

You might think that you would do well selling those parts, but most of the people don't have the money to buy them. Better to have people ask if there is one, then get the money, and pick up the part.

[Razmear]

I think I may have found the mecca that Med speaks of, Google Map: 36.056568,-80.205056
Its about 200 miles from my house up I 85, if I get a good scouting report it might be worth finding a new battery for the cordless sawzall and taking a road trip.

eb

[Fordubishi]

LOL yeah I NEED a drivers door bad, the scrap yards around here crush anything older then 1986 and I haven't seen anything but second gen's for the last few years.

I have no problem sending some money anyone's way for the door. then shipping it COD or FOB to my place.

[Medevack1]

yeah im down anyone let me know ill go to the junk yard this weekend and take pics and post them i know i saw several ones so ill be posting soon.

Guys here is the junk yard web site.
http://www.upullit109.com/

[Razmear]

Thats the yard I was looking at with Google Satellite view :D
Looks like their website has the same useless parts finder that our local junk yard has, everything results in a contact form.
Here is a price list from Pull A Part, there is one in Winston Salem (and Atlanta closer to me), just so you have an idea what going price is. From the comments on their Google results seems they jack the prices a bit.
http://www.pullapart.com/pricing.aspx?letter=&loc=4#pricelist
If you can locate an exhaust manifold in good shape for a G63B engine see what they would want for it plus the flange and if possible a foot or so of pipe below the flange. Mine was hacked up by the previous owner pretty bad when he attempted to weld another pipe to it.
I haven't checked locally yet, waiting for payday plus a day off to scrounge.

eb

[camoit]

log out then clear your cash / history then log in again....

[onerex]

That sucks man!! Glad you found the forum though. I have found a ton of useful info on this site. Good luck!!