'84 Dodge Rampage Build Thread

[38flattie]

Looking good, Steve!

Good luck!

[gkabbt]

Steve, Now that the windshield is in place, how much is left to do? When are you leaving for Wendover?

Gregg

Currently in Rapid City, SD on our way to WoS!
Hope to catch up with Trent (Tman) Thursday.

[SteveM]

I still have some "checklist" items to complete on the Rampage, but I'm in pretty good shape with those.  I am fully committed to having it buttoned up and ready to run on Sept 7th.

I probably have more to do on the trailer that I'm using than on the Rampage itself.  I am borrowing an enclosed race car trailer from a friend who races a sports car.  I think he only used the trailer once last year, before undergoing knee replacement surgery.  Due to a bunch of complications from that surgery, he is still not back in commission, and hasn't done any maintenance or improvements to the trailer.

The trailer was basically "Rode hard and put away wet" last year, so there are several areas that I'm having to address before feeling good about taking off across the country with this trailer (tires, brakes, bearings, electrical issues).

My plan is to depart from St Louis on Thursday morning, with the intent of arriving in Wendover on Friday evening.

See you on the salt.

Steve.

[wheelrdealer]

Good racing Steve, safe travels.

Leave a nice smoke trail.

BR

[SteveM]

Thanks, Wheeler.

Quick update(s) - me and my Crew Chief spent a couple of hours sorting out trailer issues last night.  We got pretty much everything working the way it's supposed to, with the exception of 2 "spotlights" mounted on the top of the back of the trailer.

Like so many trailer wiring issues, most of the problems stemmed from spliced connections and bad grounds.   

I wish the trailer industry would adopt the practice of running a dedicated ground wire to all 12V accessories, instead of relying on "chassis grounds" at all locations.  If I ever get around to re-wiring this whole trailer, that's what I intend to do.  Too many Scotch-splice connectors and self-tapping screws for grounds have caused just about every trailer wiring problem I've ever encountered.

Steve.

[Tman]

Good luck Steve!

[Milwaukee Midget]

 
I wish the trailer industry would adopt the practice of running a dedicated ground wire to all 12V accessories, instead of relying on "chassis grounds" at all locations.  If I ever get around to re-wiring this whole trailer, that's what I intend to do.  Too many Scotch-splice connectors and self-tapping screws for grounds have caused just about every trailer wiring problem I've ever encountered.

Steve.

Part of the issue is the crummy wiring harness kits that tend to get used, and the location of the aux and running lights with respect to the main brake/turn/running light locations.

I cobbled mine together in late July - an annual ritual - and made the trip out without any difficulties, but I'm looking to replace it all with weather proof boxes, Switchcraft connectors and 16/3 insulated wiring.

Nothing more frustrating than getting pulled over for an erratic tail light.

"Yes, officer, it's a 1971."
"No, Bonneville."
"No, that would be Utah."
"Really, your dad had one, too?"
"Yeah, the electricals were bad on these."
"No, I haven't had anything to drink."
"L,M,N,O,P . . ."

Best of luck, Steve!

[Seldom Seen Slim]

To add to your woes - are the wires long enough to do any patching?  Our trailer was built by folks that paid top dollar, by the inch, for the hookup wire.  The factory wiring was dang near banjo-string taut - and whomever fixed a light here and there before we got it did NOT make good splices with plenty of slack.  Crawling underneath the trailer to chase out the newly-corroded connectors is an annual event for me - and each time I refresh my stock of curse words when I find the 4x4 weathertight junction box crammed with seven in and seven out and a bunch of jumpers.

And yes, we have a light or two that flickers because the ground wire to it goes to a sheet metal screw.

Steve, you're not alone - nor are you, Chris.

[SteveM]

Slim:

   Obviously, you have been laying underneath my borrowed trailer, checking the connections.  One 4x4 box with a spaghetti plate full of unlabeled, not color coded wires, and about a dozen scotch splice connectors.

[Tman]

They come factory that way Steve!

BTW, should have a Gregg sighting here in a couple hours. They are playing tourist on their way to the Crazy Horse Memorial. Hope this heat doesn't kill em. They hit the only hot time we have had this year!@

[SteveM]

It finally got hot here as well (high 90's, with 120% relative humidity).

[SteveM]

Super-short video of the Rampage "Rollin' some coal".   This thing pulls VERY HARD!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6p8EYJ7BfH8

[gkabbt]

Can't wait to see this belching black smoke on the salt.....On it's way to a record!  

Gregg

Currently in Rapid City, SD on our way to WoS!

Also, stopped by Trent's this afternoon for a REALLY good visit! Spirit of South Dakota is looking good! 

[fordboy628]

GO Steve, GO!

Best of luck on the salt!
 
Fordboy

P.S.   If Trent's there, he'll probably have the best beer!

[SteveM]

That's good to know.  I'm not a big drinker - I'd much rather have one really good beer than several not-so-good beers.