Junkyard rescue of an '87 Dodge Power Ram 50

[WarStryker13]

Small update:

Oil pan, crank pulley, water pump pulley all painted.

IMG_20200422_202950074 by Ben Stryker, on Flickr

And the engine is now ready to go back into the truck.

IMG_20200425_221546675 by Ben Stryker, on Flickr

I've got a few small things left to take care of, but it's a matter of days instead of weeks.

 

[Scottydoggs]

looks pretty cool. now lets drop it in already lol

 

[cheatah faheatah]

Pulley sheaves should be free of paint, no ?

 

[WarStryker13]

They will be, whenever I get around to cleaning them. I was not about to try and mask off the pulley sheaves... Lol

I just picked up the engine hoist, the engine WILL be back in it's home by the end of today.

 

[WarStryker13]

It's in.

IMG_20200502_164340657 by Ben Stryker, on Flickr

IMG_20200502_164347687 by Ben Stryker, on Flickr

IMG_20200502_164356200 by Ben Stryker, on Flickr

I'm quite pleased.

 

[WarStryker13]

More progress:

IMG_20200503_165735141 by Ben Stryker, on Flickr

IMG_20200503_165757155 by Ben Stryker, on Flickr

All that's left is the spark plugs, plug wires, fuel lines, and finish installing the gauges... And it'll be ready to fire.

 

[Scottydoggs]

looking good.

 

[WarStryker13]

It's alive.

IMG_20200511_192035474 by Ben Stryker, on Flickr

 

[ItHurtz]

Idont hear it

 

[WarStryker13]

 

[SgtMarshal]

WOW, that is one loud fan, and one quiet engine. Nice work.

 

[ItHurtz]

Road trip time! If it makes it back well done!

 

[WarStryker13]

After the 40-ish miles I've put on it since yesterday, one of the belts is squealing. Other than that it's doing just fine.

 

[Scottydoggs]

90 psi on the op. damn,

whys the idle so high? a cold start?

 

[Fivefingerdeathpunch]

I think he was breaking in the camshaft/lifters.

 

[Scottydoggs]

I think he was breaking in the camshaft/lifters.

now thats very possible.

 

[WarStryker13]

Bingo!

Clutch slips a little when I try bang shifting, but I kinda expected that... Guess I'm shopping for a centerforce now. Lol

 

[Scottydoggs]

dont that tranny got a old school Z bar and adjustable threaded rod? or is it just the old one still.

 

[cheatah faheatah]

After the 40-ish miles I've put on it since yesterday, one of the belts is squealing. Other than that it's doing just fine.

Didja ever remove the orange paint out of the pulley sheaves ? hmmmm

 

[WarStryker13]

It's a cable clutch, and I've already tried adjusting it.

I meant to remove the paint, but the belts have done that for me. Lol I tightened them back up and no more squealing.

And now for the depressing part: the pickup in the distributor went bad. Again. No signal from the distributor while it's spinning, so no spark from the coil. I saw the tach start jumping around, then drop to zero, then the truck died just as I was pulling into the driveway.

This truck never fails to fail.