My Collection of projects

[strang3majik]

Lets start with the Ram. My dad bought it with 70,000 miles on it upon our moving to Florida as we didn't need the 4wd Ram we had anymore. So, he drove it daily till it had 120,000 miles on it. By this point, the paint was gone, the ball joints were bad enough they had quit squeaking, and many other little things that he just turned the radio up to fix.

Well...being I was a big reason why he got the truck, and from day 1 I begged him for it, upon my turning 16, he gave it to me.

So...I had my work cut out for me. Good part is, it still ran great. So...first off...ball joints. $400 later (and I even did them myself), the ball joints were new...turned out the pitman arm was bad as well...so...after that, 6" worth of steering wheel play made it tight like a new one again.

Next came paint...well...before that was measuring the location, then peeling the original stripes off. Let me put it nicely. That sucked...royally...lol But, after that, my dad and I sanded it down. I did all the neccesary body work, then, off to the paint shop (ElectroBake in Sarasota) where my dad and I even taped it off. All I had them do was spray it. So...the next day, the truck was now 4 coats of black, and several coats of clear coat heavier.

Even better, the day I picked it up from the paint shop, I drove it up to PA for the summer...took it to Carlisle and put it in the show despite it not being done.
Then...whilst up north, my step dad and I wetsanded it, then my uncle buffed it out, and it came out beautiful.

Drove it back home to PA (13mpg the whole way)...then striped it upon arrival. Theres more time in just the grille and bumper than in the whole rest of the truck. That too was a highly stressful event. But, the outcome was well worth it.

Since then, I've had a 2.5" true dual exhaust put on, and a CAI ($25 junkyard grab :p )...and I also added a rear sway bar from a Ram dually and lowered the back 2". For a truck, it handles very very well. Its actually more fun to drive then the Conquest TSI I used to have.

But...anyway...enough of my rambling about the truck...here's some pictures. A lot of work, and with 152,000 miles on the clock now, she's looking as good as ever. And, it is one running SOB. Haha. First gear, all I hear is the pavement begging for mercy.

Also...the SS/T package -
1997-98 Ram 1500 regular cab, short bed, 2wd, 5.9L, automatic, 3.55 posi 9.25 rear.
They came stock with American Racing 17x9 wheels wrapped in Goodyear Eagle GTIIs. They also came with the stripes from the factory.
Production was somewhere around 3000 for both years.

Okay...pictures. Before, during, after.

When it first came into my possession.
http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt282/strang3majik/sittinatthedockonthebay.jpg
http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt282/strang3majik/docksidebg.jpg

Getting it ready for paint...
http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt282/strang3majik/DSC03750.jpg
http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt282/strang3majik/DSC03750.jpg
http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt282/strang3majik/DSC03761.jpg
http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt282/strang3majik/DSC03804.jpg
http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt282/strang3majik/DSC03765.jpg
http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt282/strang3majik/DSC03813.jpg
http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt282/strang3majik/DSC03815.jpg
http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt282/strang3majik/DSC03868.jpg

Picked it up from the paint shop...
http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt282/strang3majik/DSC03883.jpg
http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt282/strang3majik/DSC03880.jpg

In Pennsylvania, after wetsanding and buffing...new headlights installed...lowered 2" in the rear. Now is when picture whore started kicking in :p
http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt282/strang3majik/DSC03925.jpg
http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt282/strang3majik/DSC03950.jpg
http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt282/strang3majik/DSC04123.jpg
http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt282/strang3majik/DSC04223.jpg
http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt282/strang3majik/DSC04559.jpg

And...now...back in FL...stripes on. :D
http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt282/strang3majik/DSC04952.jpg
http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt282/strang3majik/DSC04949.jpg
http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt282/strang3majik/DSC05512.jpg
http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt282/strang3majik/DSC05489.jpg

And...thats the truck. A lot of work went into it. Many people have given me crap over the fact my dad gave it to me, but, they don't understand the countless hours I've put into it. Sanding it down and doing the bodywork (I filled 27 dings!)...took a week of solid work morning till night with my dad helping after work. That right there was enough...lol But, that doesn't include the cleaning, detailing, fixing, upgrading, and other stuff I've done along the way. As a matter a fact, I'm so anal about it, my dad is afraid to drive it...lol
I also put leather seats in it out of an Acura...after a lot of fabrication. They pretty much look like the SRT-10 seats. Believe me, I wouldn't have put ugly seats in it :p
As far as stereo...I'm more for performance stuff...but, a stereo is important as well. So...I got the stock for 2000 Infinity setup from the a-pillars, and the stock for 1998 tweeters in the doors and installed them both, along with Sony Xplod speakers both in the doors and behind the seats...all powered by a Chrysler CD/Cass head unit (I like stock appearance) So, thats 8 speakers in a regular cab truck...it sounds good. No booming bass, but, I'm not into that. I have a V8 for the low tones...lol

My Omni is undergoing its own reviving right now...so...I have similar pictures of it...just much more detailed as that one has been taken down quite a bit more.

But, let me know what you think!

[Fla 66 cuda]

Very nice truck congrats very nice job who cares how you got it it's all the work you have done when you do it your self your more proud when you get complements on it welcome to the forum can't wait for the other pics.

[#860]

Looks great man, Be proud.

[BAD HABIT]

a good amount of work put into that truck and its one good lookin piece of work....great job

[unionmanofsteel]

Nice I would love to find me a SS/T

[NOTPAID4]

http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii247/deboyacej/th_x1-1.gif?t=1291686743 (http://s266.photobucket.com/albums/ii247/deboyacej/?action=view&current=x1-1.gif)From a FOUR MAGNUM family in North Carolina.

Your truck looks FANTASTIC!!!!! YOU ought to be proud of yourself! I love it!

[Storm Rider]

Great job!!! She looks beautiful. Some people are just jealous. You can see all your hard work. She truly belongs to you.

[Onk]

Wow, I know you said there was a lot of work in that truck, but didnt really know till I see the pictures...

and dont let anyone give you crap about your dad giving you the truck....look at what it was when he gave it to you, compared to now......Job well done!

[strang3majik]

Haha...thanks for the compliments everyone. And, yeah...I'm thinking they're just jealous...lol I actually have a friend who's mom bought him a brand new car, $20,000 and he didn't have to pay a cent...
and he told me he'd rather of had my truck. Then again, he did get a Focus :p

But, a lot of work it was. My final dream for it is to build the 360 up a little bit, then plop a T56 6 speed beneath it...just for added enjoyment, but, don't know if or when that would happen...haha But, she's a keeper. Way too much work to get rid of it now.
Oh, and its my daily driver :) A very thristy daily, but, part of that may be due to the fact that the throttle plates seem to stick in the vertical position. Slight problem that only seems to be alleviated in the presence of the police. Very strange. :roflsquared:
Oh...and in all the time I've had it and my dad has had it...never one engine problem nor transmission problem. And, even when my dad had it, this truck has been run hard. It must like it or something, because it just keeps on going. So, I often use it as an example to people who say Dodge's are crap...haha.


But, I'll add pictures of the Omni GLH tomorrow. I have very few of the Barracuda as the project hasn't really begun yet, still in the parts gathering phase. But, I'm down to needing only a rear driver's quarter and both front fenders, and I can basically get the show on the road. Already have a rebuilt 360 with 10.5:1 pistons and swirl port 360 heads, 340-6 pack cam....a 4 speed...and a dana 60 ready to throw in it. Just have to get the car around it done...haha.

But, more pictures tomorrow. I wore my self out of typing today :p As I'm sure you can tell...I type...a lot. Its a wonder I didn't like english class more...lol

[Onk]

Haha...thanks for the compliments everyone. And, yeah...I'm thinking they're just jealous...lol I actually have a friend who's mom bought him a brand new car, $20,000 and he didn't have to pay a cent...
and he told me he'd rather of had my truck. Then again, he did get a Focus :p

But, a lot of work it was. My final dream for it is to build the 360 up a little bit, then plop a T56 6 speed beneath it...just for added enjoyment, but, don't know if or when that would happen...haha But, she's a keeper. Way too much work to get rid of it now.
Oh, and its my daily driver :) A very thristy daily, but, part of that may be due to the fact that the throttle plates seem to stick in the vertical position. Slight problem that only seems to be alleviated in the presence of the police. Very strange. :roflsquared:
Oh...and in all the time I've had it and my dad has had it...never one engine problem nor transmission problem. And, even when my dad had it, this truck has been run hard. It must like it or something, because it just keeps on going. So, I often use it as an example to people who say Dodge's are crap...haha.


But, I'll add pictures of the Omni GLH tomorrow. I have very few of the Barracuda as the project hasn't really begun yet, still in the parts gathering phase. But, I'm down to needing only a rear driver's quarter and both front fenders, and I can basically get the show on the road. Already have a rebuilt 360 with 10.5:1 pistons and swirl port 360 heads, 340-6 pack cam....a 4 speed...and a dana 60 ready to throw in it. Just have to get the car around it done...haha.

But, more pictures tomorrow. I wore my self out of typing today :p As I'm sure you can tell...I type...a lot. Its a wonder I didn't like english class more...lol

I have that very same issue....

Its gotta be a Mopar thing cause it doesnt matter which of my mopars Im in....happens all the time

[strang3majik]

I have that very same issue....

Its gotta be a Mopar thing cause it doesnt matter which of my mopars Im in....happens all the time

lol. Something the engineers must've overlooked...idk. :p

But...now for pics and story time, Omni style...haha. Prepare yourself...this is a long one.

Well...my dad is the police, but...he became one so he could drive fast and get away with it...lol Due to that, he won't write tickets for speeding or not wearing a seatbelt as he doesn't want to be a hipicrit...so...its okay. He's a cool cop. :D

Anyway...he was out riding around a neighborhood here in Englewood and found a car sitting in front of someone's house. He told me about it, an Omni GLH...Carroll Shelby built them...all that stuff. So, I told him to show it to me. So...we rode by, and, it was rough, but, complete. So, I went home and did some research on them.
Well, I wanted it...haha. So, I basically stalked the house for about 2 weeks until I finally found someone home, and it was the wife out walking the dog.

Coolest lady I've probably ever met. We stood out front of her house for about an hour talking about the car.
She bought it brand new in 1985 and it was her first new car. She didn't even know how to drive a manual, so, she had her husband (boyfriend at the time) drive it home for her and teach her in that car. She actually wanted a Shelby Charger, but couldn't afford the couple extra thousand dollars.

But, she drove it everyday for about 9 years, then, the a/c went out and her husband's mom had just passed who had a brand new intrepid, instead of fixing the Omni, she just drove the intrepid.

So...the Omni sat from 1994, until 2008 when I came acrossed it. Never moved, sat in the same place in her driveway.

After talking to her, I asked her if she'd sell it. She told me about scrappers offering her $200 for it, but, she wouldn't let it get junked. So, I asked how much, and she told me, "If you're going to fix it up, you can have it, under the condition you let me drive it once, when its done."

I agreed to that, no problem, and hauled it off the next day, where she walked out with a folder and handed it to me. It was everything about the car.

The window sticker, build sheet, warranty work, even the original temp tag it came home with...haha. I thought that was cool in itself...along with a copy of the dealer brochure for the car from 1985.

But, anyway, my dad and I pumped the tires up and flat towed it home. The front brakes were locked up, so, I had to use the ebrake to slow down...luckily we only lived about 2 miles away.

So, took it home, through some bug bombs in it (it had a bee problem as I came to discover), and parked it beside the house on blocks. The true redneck way :D

Now is when the research started. I looked into what to do to better it, and basically make it driveable again...so...I started with what was necessary to get it back on the ground. Getting the underside cleaned up and painted and getting some brakes on the car...pulled the interior out...stuff like that.

Well, the underside looked clean and brand new, but I painted it with Rustoleum to keep it that way. The brakes...they were going in the garbage anyway. I did the SLH 2 (stops like hell) package upgrade, which consisted of Dodge Caravan front brakes (from a 46mm to a 52mm piston), and upgraded the rear drum to disc brakes off of a Lebaron, and upgraded the master cylinder to one off of a Dodge D100. Needless to say, this thing has enough braking power to stop a vehicle 3 times its weight...lol

Also, the interior was shot. The seats were dryrot and there was a biology experiment going on in the front floorboards, which scared me, but, upon peeling the carpet out, all I found was solid floors with only a few pin holes, which I'm guessing acted as a drain...so...good news there.

As far as the engine...threw a hot battery in it and dumped some gas down the carb...fired right up. Smoked like crazy, but, that may have had to do with the marvel mystery oil I filled the cylinders up with a month prior...haha.

So, as for what I've done to the car so far...
I brushed ospho on the floor followed by painting the entire floor with brush on rustoleum black, nice and thick to preserve it.
Then I installed a new interior with a used, but redyed carpet out of another Omni, and grey Shelby seats out of a Shelby Charger, along with painting all of the side panels grey to tie the grey seats in with the blue. Came out nice...all its waiting on now is me installing the door panels and getting a headliner put in.

But, engine wise...being its a GLH, its the High Performance 2.2L, carbuerated. So, to bump the power up a little, I pulled the head off and replaced it with the later model swirl port small chamber head to bump compression up a little more, fed by a Holley 350 2bbl through a gasket matched intake/head, and being exhausted through a Hooker long tube header. I have a stock 2.5L roller cam in it, which actually sounds pretty good, but, should offer pretty descent performance as well.
So, should be at about 11.5:1 CR, which ought to run pretty good. From what I've driven it, it does run great, but, the clutch is slipping so badly I can pull the ebrake and let the clutch out...lol
It'll still spin in first gear if it grabs just right...lol

But, right now, its in a running/driving, with interior phase. Nows time for the body. I also put on a set of 17" wheels I got out of the junkyard. $60 is a great price...haha. But, I also plan on installing a Shelby Charger spoiler on the hatch (its a very small one) and a Mustang hood scoop, which looks right at home on it...and then comes the Shelby only Sante Fe Blue along with the reinstallation of the grille/bumper and ground effects kit.

Also, just so you know why its getting the love it is...this car is roughly 1 of 250, as everyone wanted the turbo version...the carb version is very rare, and the color makes it even more rare. :D

And, I also have a 555 transaxle for it, which will upgrade me to a cable style shifter which is much more precise, and the 555 is basically impossible to break, even behind 500hp 2.2s, so...I should have no problem with it. And, that will also bump the final drive from 3.55 to 3.86 for a little more low end enjoyment :naughty: But...at the time of this install I'll also resurface the rusty flywheel and install a new clutch.

My plan with it, is basically just to have a daily driver that is cool and can get out of its own way, and won't kill me on gas. And, by the end of it, I'll have no more than $1000 invested and a Hell of a story, so, well worth it I think.

But...here's some pictures of the beast. A face only a true Mopar guy could even tolerate, especially with the grille and everything removed (preparing to for paint purposes)...lol But, it should be a fun car when its done. It also does handle very, very well. The suspension is stiff enough I can jack it up at a corner with a scissors jack and get 3 wheels off the ground...lol

But...pictures. Enough of me typing. Told you I'm bad for that.

The day I after I brought it home...
http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt282/strang3majik/DSC00894.jpg
http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt282/strang3majik/DSC00943.jpg
http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt282/strang3majik/DSC00947.jpg
http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt282/strang3majik/DSC01088.jpg
http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt282/strang3majik/DSC01239.jpg
New disc brakes...
http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt282/strang3majik/1280glh.jpg
http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt282/strang3majik/GLHSLH.jpg
http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt282/strang3majik/DSC01797.jpg


On the ground now...
http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt282/strang3majik/DSC01959.jpg
http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt282/strang3majik/DSC01963.jpg
http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt282/strang3majik/DSC01244.jpg
http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt282/strang3majik/DSC02192.jpg
http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt282/strang3majik/DSC02200.jpg

New wheels
http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt282/strang3majik/redbrakes.jpg

All the spoilers off
http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt282/strang3majik/DSC02576.jpg

[strang3majik]

Engine pics...
BEFORE:
http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt282/strang3majik/DSC01245.jpg
http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt282/strang3majik/DSC01325.jpg
NEW PARTS:
http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt282/strang3majik/DSC05903.jpg
AFTER:
http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt282/strang3majik/DSC05960.jpg
http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt282/strang3majik/DSC05949.jpg
http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt282/strang3majik/DSC06402.jpg

New interior:
http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt282/strang3majik/DSC06030.jpg
http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt282/strang3majik/DSC06034.jpg
http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt282/strang3majik/DSC06031.jpg
http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt282/strang3majik/DSC06049.jpg

Night shot :p
http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt282/strang3majik/dark.jpg

As of last week when I got it running correctly (still needs a little tuning on the carb).
http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt282/strang3majik/DSC06444.jpg

And...thats the Omni thus far. Lol.

So...whats your thoughts on my soon to be daily?

[Onk]

Wow....thats all I can say...

Thats some history behind that car for sure!!! I love old people like that!!!

What are you gonna do as far as paint? Keep it the factory color? Maybe paint it black and stripe it to match the SS/T, instead of SS/T on the hood, you could make it say GLH!!

[redneckrocket38]

Cool rides. I love the ss/t. We need some pics of the seats and I want some detailed shots of the tonneu cover. Do you still have a hitch with your roll pan?

[strang3majik]

Wow....thats all I can say...

Thats some history behind that car for sure!!! I love old people like that!!!

What are you gonna do as far as paint? Keep it the factory color? Maybe paint it black and stripe it to match the SS/T, instead of SS/T on the hood, you could make it say GLH!!

With the paint, my plan is to redo it in the stock blue, then do a black vinyl stripe where the body side molding is supposed to be in matte black, along with re-doing the matte black between the tail lights (thats stock), and I also plan on matte blacking the center cowl of the hood and outlining it with a red pinstripe like the lower moldings are. The grille is also matte black along with the bumpers.

I was also thinking about putting 135CI on the sides like they used to do on the SCCA GLHs in the 80s, but, idk about that yet...haha.

Though I am thinking of leaving the rear bumper off and just making plates to cover the mounting points...the rear bumper sticks out like 8" and looks retarded...so...looks better without it...lol

Cool rides. I love the ss/t. We need some pics of the seats and I want some detailed shots of the tonneu cover. Do you still have a hitch with your roll pan?

I'll get some pictures of the interior. The bed cover and spoiler were actually on it when we got it...but, I kinda liked it :)
The bed cover is a Check Mate flush cover.

As far as the roll pan...that was stock. All SS/Ts and Indy Pace Trucks came with a roll pan, you actually had to option for a bumper. And, no, there's no hitch. Basically, this truck's truck days are over :p They do make aftermarket ones that the tag folds down, though.

[B.A.Retro10]

Fantastic Work !!!!!!! Sweet my brother.

[BAD HABIT]

very nice, you have done a fine job, when you are done the old lady will def appreciate what you have done to that car, along with your own satisfaction...

[Fla 66 cuda]

Great story nice work quite a collection should be nice when you're done.I personally do not like any front wheel drive car no matter what brand never have, my son is into the [import] small car stuff i made him get a rear wheel drive tuner for his first car.No offence intended just say'in i'm old school.

[NOTPAID4]

Well, I'm impressed; that's AWESOME! It's so great to see a person redoing a car that could have ended up in a salvage yard! Kudos to you.

So far you have really done an excellent job.

I have too many old cars here that I have gave up on. Getting older and just can't do it anymore ~ wish I could! I sold THREE of them off so car.

[Stealth Mode]

That truck is fuckin hard.