'84 Dodge Rampage Build Thread

[kiwi belly tank]

Welcome to the trusty-rusty van world. Clean & cover the electrical connections on the trans with silicone spray, it will save you a lot of heartache.
  Sid.

[Seldom Seen Slim]

Once upon a time a racer from way up north thought he'd done enough to protect the understuff in his truck.  And then, surprise one day the next spring when his transfer case went kaflooey 'cause it had no fluid in it.

Seems a hunk o' salt must have got crammed into a crevice or something way up there - and slowly ate through the aluminum and allowed the fluid to escape to freedom.

I say again:  The best way to clean the salt is to park the vehicle is a fast-moving stream slightly deeper than the vehicle is tall.  Return in a few days.

Back to you and the Aerostar, Steve.  I spent lotsa time in them there vehicles - stories to tell. . .

[SteveM]

Welcome to the trusty-rusty van world. Clean & cover the electrical connections on the trans with silicone spray, it will save you a lot of heartache.
  Sid.

Good tip, Sid!

thanks,

Steve

[SteveM]

OK - time is getting short now.  I'll just throw up some pics of progress over the weekend....

















That's most of my weekend.

[manta22]

That shade of green looks a lot like my zinc chromate primer, Steve. 

Regards, Neil  Tucson, AZ

[Peter Jack]

That's a sturdy looking weld Steve. Are you using a back purge? It really adds to the quality of the weld.

Pete

[SteveM]

No back purge on that weld, Pete.  "Some Day" I will get myself a back-purge setup, and maybe some more neat welding stuff.

For now, I'm just trying to get everything done on time to show up at Speed Week with a running, driving race truck.

...and a lime green support van.

Steve.

[WOODY@DDLLC]

Lime disease suits you well Steve!   

[wheelrdealer]

Steve:

Looks good. Stainless is my favorite to weld...once I learned to use the right heat.

Keep thrashing.

BR

[tauruck]

No back purge on that weld, Pete.  "Some Day" I will get myself a back-purge setup, and maybe some more neat welding stuff.

For now, I'm just trying to get everything done on time to show up at Speed Week with a running, driving race truck.

...and a lime green support van.

Steve.

Back purge is simple. Put a T piece in your hose and buy a box of latex gloves. Check out Vince Roman at Burns Stainless. He has video. You won't be sorry.

[SteveM]

Thanks for the latex glove and "T" advice.  I'll have to give that a try next time around.

However, there was no welding yesterday.  Last night was spent on fixing the A/C, and advanced body work for the Aerostar...







She's just about ready for the Oakland Roadster Show now.

Steve.

[wheelrdealer]

I remember fixing my loud exhaust...kept getting tickets, with cut up beer cans and bailing wire. Steve I think I qualify for your body work crew!

BR

[Seldom Seen Slim]

I hearken to the days of metal Hills Bros. coffee cans being cut and trimmed to be wrapped around the pipe, then muffler clamps to hold it there.  We went high-zoot, no doubt!

[tauruck]

Good move using the license plates.
You may have just started a trend.
Rampage Rust Buster.

Hey Steve, are you getting time to watch Le Tour?.

[SteveM]

I'll be keeping my fingers crossed that the green van with the license plate rocker panels does what it needs to do for the week.  It may be up for sale immediately after that.

I have been finding a little time to watch LeTour, normally late at night as I'm settling in before sleep.  How about you?


Regarding the "big" controversy - I do not think that Peter Sagan should have been DQ'ed.  Relegated for the day - perhaps, but not DQ'ed.  That decision by the judges was completely arbitrary in my estimation.  Those are the fastest guys in the world, all fighting for position and first place.  They make their livings sprinting for the line and finding gaps where there are none. 

Steve.