Long story short, I know I am going to drop another motor in my truck. At first I was thinking another 318. But I know where there is a 440 Ramcharger. It is a 4wd, the body is not worth trying to save, but I know that as recently as 2-3 years back someone poured gas down the carb and it ran. The real question I have is this: with a factory donor vehicle such as I am looking at, this would be a bolt in, correct? I would love to have a big block in my flatbed w100. And I have been told I could buy the thing for $300, maybe $350. Would it be worth it assuming the drivetrain I am looking at is solid?

 

Take the whole truck.
What year is the Ramcharger?
Could be the full time NP203 but that can be swapped to a NP208.
Just have to swap the output shaft on the transmission.
If Automatic it means a complete tear down.
If standard. .. idk.
But either way, you need the big block transmission.
Also the radiator is a good score as it should be a 3 row.
For $300 and all the parts you need are right there. Its awesome.

 

Not sure about the year, but it is a pop top Ramcharger. It has been sitting there for a while, so it hopefully will be when i can get the money together.

 

Removable roof. So pre 1980. Full time 203. Heavy and 2-1 low range.
Swap it out. 208 has a more desirable 2.61-1.
208 is about 100 pounds less than a 203.
You may still be able to get a part time kit for the 203 and you could always make a 203/205 combination.

 

The 203/205 combination gives you 1-1, 1-1.96, 1-2, 1-3.96 gearing.
But it is extremely heavy. But a plus for low range and strength.
Plus I believe you can twin stick the 205 for your choice of front power, rear power, or front and rear power.
But very very heavy. And quite long. But a full size truck can take the length. And you'll get your part time two wheel drive.
Using just front or rear you also have your choice of low range.
Meaning 3. 96 two wheel drive or 2-1.
But that was long ago and I can't quite remember it.

 

You might want to read this http://www.bpeusa.com/BPEtruckKit.asp

Dave

 

Thats a helpful link for sure.
Im trying to remember if Advance Adapters makes a plate to mount your small block transmission to the big block. Seems as I think they may.
But I forget, big block and small block dodge do not share a common bell housing. Do they? Dang its been too long since I played with old dodges like that.

 

Would a small block trans even be able to take the torque of a big block? For that matter, this will never be a hardcore wheeler. I am planning to use it for a work truck with a small cool factor. Plus my tight budget. My plan was to drop the whole drivetrain out of the Ramcharger into it and run it (assuming it is all solid). I was counting maybe on having to deal with driveshaft length issues and some different linkages maybe. But if I can get away without any custom adapters and the like, I would prefer it.

 

Same transmission. Just different bell housing. Larger on a big block.
Unless your running a 4 spd standard And the donor has a 4 spd. You can just swap bell housings. But the 727 is integral.

 

Yours being an 88 may be using a 4 spd auto. The pre 80 was a 3 spd auto.