Needed one small patch panel on driver's side rocker panel. Easy fix. Took me 3 minutes and use of my welder.
Loose engine mount. Only a bolt. Easy fix.
Caught for speeding. My own studity.
I love this thing! It gets unreal attention, runs great, sporty (even with the stock 2.2. I plan to drop a 472 Hemi in next year)
I have a '75 Monte Carlo SS now. The Rampage gets more attention then that!
It's comfortable, quick, and can haul stuff. The bed is big enough to carry my chopper or dirt bike around.
I love this thing!
A 1975 Monte Carlo SS?
I have never heard of an MC SS in 1975.
Neither, I suspect, has anyone at Chevrolet!
Your going to "drop" in a 472 hemi.
In a Rampage.
Yeah, right.
About the MC. It's customized. I badged it as an SS. I lowered it, bored the engine, customized the interior and smoothed the body. I hope to paint it sometime in summer, until now it's an ugly gold. The SS badge has been custom cut and chromed. The reason I chose SS is because it is very high performance. According to my computer the engine makes somewhere around 450 at the crank. I'll verify this when I have it dynoed.
Actually dropping in a 426 Hemi is fairly simple. Build a custom frame, I plan to use Corvette independent front suspension, a ford 9-inch rear (with limited slip diff. and four link) and just for fun I'll add an air ride system. Once the chassis is built fit the body over the frame, modifying it where needed. Of course this will need a high performance radiator (I like Ron Davis or BeCool radiators). Once all the other work such as linkage, wiring, etc is done you have a sweet rear-wheel drive sport truck that looks like a stock 2.2 Rampage, however, I may chop the to two inches for that lower look. Keep in mind I plan to drive this for at least 3 years so the engine swap is down the road.
I have owned an 82 Dodge Rampage Mini truck since 84 and have about 50,000 miles on the car. I do enjoy the truck very much. Lately it has become very hard to start and the engine runs too rough to drive. I do feel the problem is in the carburetor. I cannot find a Haynes book which covers the car. Does anyone know where I can find a repair book for the car and where and how much a new carburetor might cost.
Thanks,
Seamanseye@comcast.com.
About the carb problem, you may want to check your O2 sensor. The early 2.2 engines used a holley carb (6520) with a solenoid valve internal to it that was controlled by the computer based on inputs from the O2 sensor. If the sensor is bad, the car will run too rich. You can either replace the sensor or get different holley carb (5220 used in mexican cars, or try a weber 38/38). Check this site for info on 2.2 engines http://www.allpar.com/mopar/22.html.
I had an 82 that was doing the same thing. I tried to rock the carburetor around to see if it was loose and it wasn't. I took it off anyway and 3 of the 4 bolts had rattled and and that was causing the problem.
I am on my third Rampage. I owned an '82 and then an '83 back in the '80's and '90's and loved them. I recently bought another '82 which I am restoring. The two earlier ones had well over 175,000 miles. Both were destroyed by accidents, not wearing out.
They have several unique problems. The carburetors were junk and were mounted where they received all of the 2.2's engine vibration. I re manufactured many (beyond just putting a kit in - the body wore out). The CV joints (both inner and outer didn't last more than 75,000 miles.) All of the problems (like head gaskets) that all 2.2's had they shared. However, they really handle very well, (roadable and plenty of pep) cruise comfortably at 80 to 90 mph, and will carry an honest 1/2 ton, all while getting around 30 mpg. I live in the mountains of Western Montana and with the front wheel drive they get around great in the mountains and in the snow.
I have a 83 Rampage that I am half way to fully restoring. Parts are hard to come by, but it's worth it. It attracts massive attention.
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