1984 Dodge Rampage Modified Shelby Clone 340 R-3 small block from North America

Summary:

Awesome little truck

Faults:

Replaced the original motor with a 1986 Shelby 2.2 turbo; lasted 6 years before spinning all the main bearings. Upgraded to a full chassis chrome-moly tube. Now building a small block blower motor.

General Comments:

Just love the car in general, it's been a unique truck, and the limited production makes it the best drag car-truck ever!!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 5th March, 2015

1982 Dodge Rampage NA 2.2L 4 cylinder. from North America

Summary:

Fun, utilitarian ride

Faults:

Carburetor, The vacuum system and that little Weber carburetor are junk. I keep an extra freshly overhauled carburetor on hand. I wish they could have used fuel injection.

General Comments:

I love they way it handles and the excellent fuel mileage. This is my second one. I put over 150,000 on the first one. Both get over 30 mpg on the highway and handle very well in the snow during our winter months. It will actually haul 1/2 ton. I know because I've done it.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 15th November, 2008

15th Aug 2013, 18:42

First off, I love mine. It's an 84 and it runs great.

I don't know about the previous comment on Webber carbs, because mine and all the ones I have ever seen have Holley carbs on them; even all the Omni / Horizions I've seen. But that's neither here nor there. Fuel injection would have been nice, but alas Chrysler didn't want to use it till they were forced to.

I really can't complain about mine. The ride is nice, and the handling is good, but it totally lacks power. That's why it gets 30 MPG I guess. I don't abuse mine and it's been rust checked every year since new. I guess that's why I still have it. I just wish they had made more of them. They are a cool little truck, and I'm lucky I own one.

1982 Dodge Rampage Base 2.2 CC from North America

Summary:

One cheap and good running truck

Faults:

It seems that the automatic choke system is defective in the 2.2 carburated engine. It idles high, and leaks some oil. Hard starting after it sits for a few days, but pumping the gas about 20-30 times it will start.

Around 105,000 miles, it developed piston slap. It sounds more like a diesel engine than a gas one.

Replaced the seats at 110,000 miles.

Replaced rear shocks, front struts, brakes tires etc.

General Comments:

This truck does not owe me anything.

I have not had to replace anything major on this truck.

The clutch was replaced at 49,000 according to records I found.

It is my second vehicle, but this truck over the last 5, almost 6 years, has started when the primary vehicle has let me down. Even with the high idle, the truck gets almost 30 MPG.

I like the manual steering on my truck. It's almost like driving a sports car.

I have another truck that is for parts, and even it still runs. I will replace the drive train in this truck when it finally goes. It's a little rusted; nothing bondo could not handle.

I may be willing to sell it to the right person who would restore or use it as a back up vehicle, and the parts truck would go with it, plus the extra parts I have

This has been my backup vehicle since 1998, and it will start and run when the others won't. I call this truck "Penny" because she doesn't owe me a penny.

mgsites@juno.com

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 15th March, 2007

1984 Dodge Rampage Pick up 2.2 from North America

Summary:

Most adorable little pickup truck in the universe

Faults:

Fuel pump cracked in half in extreme winter cold.

General Comments:

Suspension could use some help, but other than that, this truck is reliable, quick,& simple to fix.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 6th August, 2006

1982 Dodge Rampage Base 2.2 NA from North America

Summary:

If Mick Jagger owned one maybe he could get some satisfaction.

Faults:

Engine had rod knock in it when I bought it, a junkyard engine fixed it right up. Be sure to replace the timing belt and clutch if you ever do this, ask me how I know.

I have put 5 clutches in it, one from age 3 from defective parts and 1 from pure abuse.

I have also replaced the alternator and voltage regulator.

General Comments:

I bought this little truck for $50 from a guy who couldn't keep it running, it had a bad hall effect pickup coil in it. Five years later I still have less than $500 in it and this includes replacing the engine once, the transmission 3 times (I had to have a 5 speed rather than a 4, it took 3 trannys to get a good one), the clutch 5 times, the alternator once and the voltage regulator once. I have replaced the stock bucket seats with a 50/50 bench from an Acclaim and installed a center console from a Charger. I put 70 miles a day on this truck, average 29 MPG (it has a Shelby transmission with the tall gears), and have hauled everything from furniture to firewood in it.

Future plans after the bodywork is done include a turbocharged motor and some brake and suspension improvements. I would like to see if I can get the ABS from a Caravan to work in it.

It is slow to warm up on cold days and has a hesitation under partial throttle. Fuel injection would fix this, but to install it would take a tank change. I can't seem to get rid of all the oil leaks, seems that I get one fixed and another crops up. The heater core is partially plugged and will need to be replaced.

All in all this little truck owes me not a thing, it starts when I turn the key and takes me everywhere I want to go. If I could find another one I would buy it, but it seems like anyone who has one wants to hold on to it just a little while longer.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 30th November, 2005

10th Dec 2008, 17:51

I think that was a very honest and uplifting review of the Rampage. I have an 84 Rampage that is a project car for me. It was also my first car, which makes it just that much special to me. Everyone I know laughs at the car, but I believe with good care, the Rampage can live forever.

It's sad the Rampage didn't leave a bigger footprint to be remembered by, but at the same time, it makes our few examples just that much better.

17th Jan 2009, 23:00

I have a 82 Rampage Sport that I bought new in 82. Am resurrecting it. Put in the 83 motor to get the 'D' port intake and higher compression. With the little porting to the exhaust, and intake matching and re-machining the carb, I should pick up another 10 to 15 hp. So should be around 110 hp. There is a website that helped quite a bit www.fwdperformance.com. Cindy and her crew have a lot of hard to get parts.