1978 Dodge Ramcharger build - Swamp Donkey

The truck as I bought it...


In the process of getting a rolled on Rustoleum gloss black paint job.


Chevy 56" Rough Country 4" lift springs and Dana 44 w/ 4.10 gears going in.


Chevy Full Float 14 bolt with disc brakes and 4.10 gears going in, same springs as the front.


Almost finished on 16.5x9.75 Outlaw II wheels and 40" Ground Hawgs.


First time truck hit the road after doing all of the work. Still have some kinks to work out.

Truck is now getting Rockwells and bigger tires. Couldn't make a front shaft that would work for less than about $800 with the angles I have. An inch or two of lift is coming out of the front.

looks great! can't wait to see the duece's on there

I got a good deal on the Deuce axles that I couldn't pass up on.

You going to keep it on leaf springs?

Yes, its going to be on leafs for a while at least. I'm putting a trac bar on the rear to help the axle wrap.

Might want to put one on the front as well.

I'm sure that I will need it.

so what point are you at now? still tearing down or starting to rebuild?

I just got the new axles Saturday. Work is starting this week to remove the old ones.

any plans to lower it or put bigger tires on it?

cool, should be an awesome build to watch

kymudhunter wrote:

any plans to lower it or put bigger tires on it?

Both, probably a few inches are going to come out of it. The rear has settled more than the front since those pictures. The Hawg's are now about 2-3" above the bottom of the rockers in the rear and the front is about even. I'm going to leave the rear where it is and take about 2" out of the front. I haven't decided on a tire, but I can get some 42's locally and cheap, but ultimately I'll probably be running a 46-49" Michelin. The 900R20's are supposedly about 39", but they're a full 2" taller than the 40" Hawgs that are on there.

Old axles are sold and truck it cribbed up so I can remove the old and install the new. Just need to make up some spring perches for the Rocks and order my U-bolts. Then, the rear hubs will be flipped and it'll be rolling on stock NDT's until I can find new rubber. For the time being, the stock brakes are going to be inspected and retained.