Author Topic: Dodge Rampage with VW diesel engine - is this a diesel truck?  (Read 15803 times)

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Offline SteveM

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Dodge Rampage with VW diesel engine - is this a diesel truck?
« on: November 02, 2011, 10:29:00 AM »
Would a Dodge Rampage (like a miniature front wheel drive El Camino) with a transplanted VW Diesel engine, qualify as a diesel truck?  I know that I've seen VW Rabbit pickups compete as diesel trucks, but I think these Dodge Rampage "pickups" should be more aero than the Rabbit pickups.

At this point, it's just a vision, but I'm curious about how this would be ruled.

Thanks,

SteveM.
1/2 of the Rampage Brothers

Offline nrhs sales

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Re: Dodge Rampage with VW diesel engine - is this a diesel truck?
« Reply #1 on: November 02, 2011, 11:58:12 AM »
I could be wrong but I believe the engine has to be from the same manufacture as the vehicle or been available from the factory with such engine to be legal.

Offline Milwaukee Midget

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Re: Dodge Rampage with VW diesel engine - is this a diesel truck?
« Reply #2 on: November 02, 2011, 12:18:25 PM »
While it wasn't available in the Rampage (or Scamp), the Volkswagen gas engine was an option in the Omni/Horizon chassis. 

I would think fitting a VW Diesel into a Rampage would be a pretty easy swap.

As for legal?  Hmmmm . . .
"Problems are almost always a sign of progress."  Harold Bettes
Well, I guess we're making a LOT of progress . . .  :roll:

Offline BHR301

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Re: Dodge Rampage with VW diesel engine - is this a diesel truck?
« Reply #3 on: November 02, 2011, 12:25:41 PM »
The 2011 SCTA rule book under section 5.F.4 (Diesel Truck) reads as follows:
"Engine And Driveline Swaps Permitted". There is nothing about the brand remaining the same.

Bill

Offline nrhs sales

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Re: Dodge Rampage with VW diesel engine - is this a diesel truck?
« Reply #4 on: November 02, 2011, 12:39:07 PM »
Well then I think I need to find an old el camino and pull the power stroke out of my F350!!!   :cheers:

Offline Stan Back

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Re: Dodge Rampage with VW diesel engine - is this a diesel truck?
« Reply #5 on: November 02, 2011, 12:41:24 PM »
'cept an El Camino is a coupe.

(SCTA do have funny ways.)
Past (Only) Member of the San Berdoo Roadsters -- "California's Most-Exclusive Roadster Club" -- 19 Years of Bonneville and/or El Mirage Street Roadster Records

Offline SteveM

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Re: Dodge Rampage with VW diesel engine - is this a diesel truck?
« Reply #6 on: November 02, 2011, 01:16:02 PM »
Previous searches and info on the 'net indicate that ElCaminos and Rancheros are specifically not allowed to be raced as trucks under SCTA.  However, I believe that VW Rabbit Pickups, as well as Dodge Rampages, have been classed as mini/mid pickups.

Is there a way to determine the make and model of vehicle used to set previous records?  I "think" that the existing H class diesel pickup record was set by a Rabbit pickup (around 105 mph), but have no idea about the existing G class diesel pickup record of 129.xxx mph.  Obviously, there were not a lot of small diesel pickups ever brought into the US marketplace, so it's entirely possible that the G record was set by use of an engine swap.

A strong enough VW TDI diesel engine in a Rampage just might have the potential to get close to the existing 129 mph record.  As a previous poster noted, VW gasoline engines were used in the earlier Omni/Horizon/024/TC3 vehicles on which the Rampage is based.

Steve.
1/2 of the Rampage Brothers

Offline nrhs sales

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Re: Dodge Rampage with VW diesel engine - is this a diesel truck?
« Reply #7 on: November 02, 2011, 01:48:48 PM »
well that makes no sense!! :roll:

Offline dw230

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Re: Dodge Rampage with VW diesel engine - is this a diesel truck?
« Reply #8 on: November 02, 2011, 02:35:37 PM »
Record vehicles for:

G/DT Mitsubishi
H/DT VW

DW
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Alcohol - because no good story starts with a salad.

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Offline SteveM

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Re: Dodge Rampage with VW diesel engine - is this a diesel truck?
« Reply #9 on: November 02, 2011, 03:28:08 PM »
Thanks DW230.  I was pretty sure about the VW in the H class, but not the Mitsubishi in G.

Steve.
1/2 of the Rampage Brothers

Offline Dreamweaver

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Re: Dodge Rampage with VW diesel engine - is this a diesel truck?
« Reply #10 on: November 02, 2011, 04:02:11 PM »
I believe you can put ANY diesel in it, Duramax, 6BT, whatever you can fit.

Offline dw230

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Re: Dodge Rampage with VW diesel engine - is this a diesel truck?
« Reply #11 on: November 02, 2011, 04:07:39 PM »
From the 2011 rulebook:

5.F.4   Diesel Truck - /DT
This class is intended to represent typical diesel pickup trucks that may be of either American or foreign manufacture. This class is limited up to and including one (1) ton vehicles. The body shall remain unaltered in height, width and contour, with all stock panels mounted in original relationship to each other.
Engine and driveline swaps are permitted. Flywheel shields are mandatory. Roll bars shall be mounted inside the cab.
In this class, all other rules will be the same as Gas Coupe and Sedan class.
Rules for this class will be strictly enforced to ensure that trucks entered herein are typical of street machines that may be purchased from any automobile dealer.

This class has seen S10 Chevy trucks with Cummins engines and other configurations.

DW
White Goose Bar - Where LSR is a lifestyle
Alcohol - because no good story starts with a salad.

Don't be Karen, be Beth

Offline SteveM

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Re: Dodge Rampage with VW diesel engine - is this a diesel truck?
« Reply #12 on: November 02, 2011, 04:11:19 PM »
I guess at the root of the question is whether a Dodge Rampage qualifies as a truck or not.  One of the current diesel recordholders is a VW Rabbit Pickup, which is fundamentally not very different than a Dodge Rampage.  That would seem to suggest that a Rampage can run as a truck.  However, as we know, El Caminos and Rancheros are not considered trucks.

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Offline JackB750

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Re: Dodge Rampage with VW diesel engine - is this a diesel truck?
« Reply #13 on: November 02, 2011, 04:37:36 PM »
If I understand correctly, the fundamental reason that Rancheros and El Caminos are not accepted as trucks is because the pickup box is not a separate structural unit from the cab. If this is the correct interpretation then a Rampage wouldn't qualify either. But what do I know, I'm a bike guy!
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Offline SteveM

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Re: Dodge Rampage with VW diesel engine - is this a diesel truck?
« Reply #14 on: November 02, 2011, 04:46:21 PM »
VW Rabbit pickups are unibody construction also, with no removable bed.  A Rabbit pickup is the current H/DT record holder.   I have sent an inquiry to SCTA asking for clarification on the Rampage.
1/2 of the Rampage Brothers