all rams i've ever seen were metal. i could see someone hooking a coil up to the ram. the coil is enough to shock you but not as bad as a taser.

 

I know the difference between plastic and metal. I've had this truck since new and it is metal - NOT plastic.

 

Well then sometime before 1988 they changed. Both 88's I've seen were METAL covered PLASTIC.

 

My kid found one for the truck when he still had it, don't know what year it's from but it is chrome plated diecast metal. I told him to keep it for a souvenir, I never cared for hood ornaments. Don't get excited, it's already spoken for if he decides not to keep it.

 

Here's a pic of what I mean. The one on my 84, my 88, and my spare from an 88 are all plastic with metal chrome plating.

 

original ram heads were all metal but if yours gets stolen you can go to Chrysler and pay $100 for a brand new plastic one so if you have a plastic one i would say its been replaced before, we had a 1990 cummins dually, the previous owner came up with a good idea, instead of the spring style hold down he welded the ram head onto the top of a 1/2" bolt then bolted it down solid to the hood, sadly it did not stop it from getting stolen, but it was stolen by someone who really wanted it (not teenagers), they left 2 big dents in the hood, we figure they stood on the hood and either kicked it off or hit it off with hammer, but i will tell you if a kid grabbed that baby at 20k on a bike he would be on his *** with a broken arm before he got that thing off lol

 

My father has had his 88 ram since new. His ram is plastic, and has never replaced it.

 

i cut the spring off mine,grind bottom of head[where it meets the base]flat,then drill and tap threads in it.
put long bolt through the base into the head,makes it pretty strong.
hope this helps.

 

JC Whitney has the little guy for $39.99. You can get him in chrome or gold.

 

The one on my 82 was metal, But the one on my 84 is plastic.