82 ram charger, body parts , need info

[chemistkat]

I am a woman that likes to restore old trucks...what year dodges and rams have the same body and interior, dash parts....pic-a-part is huge, and I must replace seats, ashtray, front grill......etc....this truck of mine is a 4-wheel drive, 1982 ram charger....thanks

[TurboDuck]

From '81 to '84 they were identical, but clear up to '93 they were pretty much the same stuff. I'm getting ready to change the front-end on my '84 W350 to a '86 front. I do have to change the core support because the headlights aren't in exactly the same location. But probably 98% of all those years will interchange....

Good luck, Gary.

[slantsixness]

81-82 is the same
82-86 has different upholstery style
87-93 has different electrical layout (wipers on the turn signal, different ignition switch) and different upholstery again, except for base model vinyl.

Everything interior wise except the dash wil interchange (bolt up) from 73-93. even door panels, but you may have to swap door handles if you use earlier (pre '81) door panels.

The vent window glass has three different styles, changing in 77, 83 and 89. the primary difference is the latching mechanism, and whether or not it has the full metal bar across the botom and the handle clips to the weatherstripping rail, or the button mounts, with the latch that clips to the window divider rail.

ALL window glass is the same all years, except the vent windows.

You can mount the old style dash in the newer trucks, and vice versa. The mount points are the same for either the steel or fiberglass dashes. Electrically, the 81-87 dash can be easily adapted to any 72-87 truck or ramcharger WITHOUT AC. To add AC, you'll need the AIR box and all the plumbing, which is a cinch with the dash out.

Notes:
81 up... to add tilt wheel, just buy a tilt column.
72-80, to add tilt wheel, you would need to find a tilt wheel off an SE truck or ramcharger, or replace the steel dash with the fiberglass.
All years: be carefull with the carpet replacement. the 2WD and 4WD carpets are different, the center hump is twice the size in 4WD and Manual 4 speed transmission trucks, except the overdrive4, which has a large transmission shifter cover on the left side, but the smaller tunnel... go figure!

Power windows:
All years are the same, the motors were changed to a newer style (faster) in '86-up. power door locks are the same, all years, but 73-79 have a different original mechanism (the switch was actually located on the lock button, but still the same mechanism and wiring. (kind of pointless, eh?!)

Body:
Yes, you can use the all fiberglass tailgate on an older(73-79) Ramchargers/traildusters, but you won't be able to remove the top! You can use the 2 piece older (73-79) tailgate on the newer (81-93) but why?!



Last but not least,
They never did make a Tach inclusive dash for the '81-93's I always thought that sucked. the 72-80 dash has a provision fro a tach, on the left or right ear of the cluster.

Ok, I admit that this is probably way more info than you asked for, but i figured it was worth posting.
Slantsixness

[TurboDuck]

I knew someone out there would know a lot more than me. I just happened to see the post last night and noticed that nobody had replied, so I tossed in my .02 cents worth. I've had (5) Ramchagers from '82 to my last (favorite) '86. Then my wife just had to have a gooseneck horse trailer, so there went my R/C... :-(

I am wanting to redo / upgrade my '84 W350 so your info will help. It's pretty well loaded for an '84, Cruise, Tilt, A/C. And, it's originally from Northern CA, so it still has absolutely no rust..... I'd love to convert it to a newer Magnum 360, the original CA / smogged 360 is about worn out.

Thanks, Gary.