82 Rampage 84hp journey to 300+Whp

[Sethyboy85]

This thread will document the changes, breakages, blood, sweat and swearing at my Rampage.

I plan to apply for a Antique plate here in PA for the car as it is old enough.

I also plan to drop in the drivetrain from my Bastard RT (8 valve) after I upgrade the suspension to G-body front struts/springs and something on the rear.
11.25 vented brakes front and back
Take care of the rust holding the floor up.

Acquired car a few weeks ago, had a nasty sound in 1-3rd but 4th was silent.
Thought it was the starter catching so I replaced it- nope not it still making noise.

Yesterday I made it 2miles from the JY where I had scoped out a 520 with 93k and the only reason the car was in there was because it was rear-ended really bad (said on window "runs/drives good") and I believe them.
My 460 decided to lock up on the side of the road as I knew something bad was happening.
Good ol' AAA got me home in no time and I went out scouting another JY (found a rampage with a good front clip and a few other pieces I might go back for)

Today with the help of my dad I got the trans from JY and tomorrow I will attempt to pull drivetrain and slap in new trans (axles arriving as well) and maybe by friday I will be able to drive it.

Pic will be updated here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelone...7604556758237/

[Sethyboy85]

SO I got everything setup today only to realize my floor is just a pile of rust, after poking around a bit im not sure how I don't fall through when I sit in the vehicle...

[contraption22]

Yup, seems to be pretty common. For a shot of inspiration and determination, check out 54inches' Rampage project log.

[54inches]

Did I hear my name? If you lived closer I would come by and watch you work on the floor.

[cordes]

Check the frame rails where they meet the firewall too. Crap gets in there and causes water to sit and rot them out. My dad's page was going to be a street/strip car, but after seeing how there was no floor or frame rails it's going to be a full on drag car. I was really surprised because the rear quarters weren't totally rusted out.

[Sethyboy85]

I am debating if the rust free Mercedes I have in my p-lot that I was gonna scrap could yield some good floor material on the cheap and if I think it's worth it to purchase an Arc welder and see how much fun I can have on this project.

[Sethyboy85]

Check the frame rails where they meet the firewall too. Crap gets in there and causes water to sit and rot them out. My dad's page was going to be a street/strip car, but after seeing how there was no floor or frame rails it's going to be a full on drag car. I was really surprised because the rear quarters weren't totally rusted out.

they are fine up at the firewall but after that they are nothing but rust. Not sure how I didn't notice this the other week

[54inches]

You will need a decent Mig welder, hammers and dollys, a good 4.5" grinder, an --- load of cutoff wheels at the bare minimum. Be sure to get a full face shield as well.

[Vigo]

If you lived closer I would come by and watch you work on the floor.

LOL

[Sethyboy85]

You will need a decent Mig welder, hammers and dollys, a good 4.5" grinder, an --- load of cutoff wheels at the bare minimum. Be sure to get a full face shield as well.

Went looking at a JY rampage but the effort involved to get that floor and the fact that it was lightly rusted (maybe 3-4yrs of life left) just isn't worth it. Pondered getting a big section of floor from an omni and making up the rest but not sure.

Stopped and looked at some welders, a flux wire caught my eye.

I have hammers and a good grinder- a ton of scrap metal that could be stripped to bare metal and used

Going to grab some pictures and work on removing some rust

[54inches]

LOL

I loathed working in that tiny little floor. The Suburban is going to be much more fun....oh wait the floorboards are made out of plate steel......no rust. Chevy wins.

Went looking at a JY rampage but the effort involved to get that floor and the fact that it was lightly rusted (maybe 3-4yrs of life left) just isn't worth it. Pondered getting a big section of floor from an omni and making up the rest but not sure.

Stopped and looked at some welders, a flux wire caught my eye.

I have hammers and a good grinder- a ton of scrap metal that could be stripped to bare metal and used

Going to grab some pictures and work on removing some rust

Definitely try to get a donor floor, IF you can.

Phuq flux. Solid wire with gas or you will be wasting your money.

Pictures or I hate you.

[contraption22]

To repair the floors on my Horizon, I used some old steel drawers that we had laying around. I also wouldn't hesitate to find a hood or trunklid from an older vehicle at a yard to use as donor sheet metal.

[54inches]

BTW, I need a:

headliner,
passenger's mirror,
nice rear view mirror.

[Sethyboy85]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelone...7604556758237/
^link to my flickr account set that I will upload rampage photos too.

(for the life of me I can never get it to post photos or attach them on this forum- im not a newbie on the intranets by any means but whatever)

Cut out 99% of the major cancer this afternoon, only used 1 harbor freight brand sawzall blade (very surprised)

Tomorrow im picking up a welder +gear, new grinder wheels and some steel.

Coming home learning how to weld, grinding down what I didn't do tonight.
Tacking in some support and gonna go from there and see how far I get.

[Sethyboy85]

To repair the floors on my Horizon, I used some old steel drawers that we had laying around. I also wouldn't hesitate to find a hood or trunklid from an older vehicle at a yard to use as donor sheet metal.

Haha, I have a LeBaron hood that I had already decided was gonna be the new floor.
I also have 13"x23" 25lb steel plates from filing cabinets that are going to make the main support for the floor, along with bracing it so it will be stronger then it ever was.

[Sethyboy85]

Day 2 pictures up.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelone...7604556758237/

I went through about 4lbs of wire today welding, I practiced on a recently replaced motorcycle chain (the old one) and welded the links together every possible way and then tried some smaller gauge metal and jumped into the rampage and started tacking pieces in.

I think I got pretty far for my first day welding/replacing the floor.

The LeBaron hood is almost all gone and next up is a spectrum car door and then a neighbor just replaced his tail gate so I have that metal at my disposal before I need to start taking skin grafts off of the mercedes that is sitting next to it, lol.

[54inches]

Man, that looks FN terrible compared to mine. You are going to need donor braces, so you can mount the seats. WOW.

Good Luck.

[Sethyboy85]

I worked about 5hrs on it today and that is probably it for awhile- next week I go back to work and then friday jump in a plane to go to my brothers wedding in austria. After that I have my normal 5 days of 3rd shift work and I don't think the neighbors will appreciate it very much if im outside late at night making all kinds of noise so im sure progress here on out will be slow.

As far as seat's I have some 1 1/2" sqaure tube that I was gonna use for additional support/seat mount across the middle and then do the same in the back, tack them in from the side to the middle exhaust tunnel and back towards the gas tank.

[Sethyboy85]

And oh how my back hurts from crouching down and squating to get in that dang car- I liked working in it better when I could stand on the ground

[54inches]

I feel your pain brother. My other project is a Suburban and it is SO much easier to work on.