Thank you sir!!


Thank you as well! Is it really 22 pages worth? Geez. I never thought I'd own an '81 -- let alone a Macho and it still amazes me that I have this one! Finding a nice 80s Power Ram in general is hard as most are pretty beat, rusty, or beyond saving even out this way.

The junkyards really ebb and flow out here -- this past summer and fall it's been pretty slim pickins for older vehicles although hopefully it picks up again in the near future!

Yeah, around here most of the older trucks are rotted. Just missed an 87k original mile 86. Called last night and he'd sold it last week. Still need to get down to Pittsburgh to check out that 79 "could be" Macho. I'm second shift and he's daylight. We both work 6-8 day stretches as well. Going to try and get there Mon tho as I am off.

Since I haven't updated this in a long time, it seems like the Dodge dealers are no longer able to get senders for the 30 gallon tanks (there are about 20 on back order with no expected delivery date -- they said they're not dropped yet, but that isn't a good sign either).

However after doing some research there is a Mopar restoration site based just 20 minutes north of me in Fort Collins, CO that has started carrying them. Unlike the zinc coated OE units, these are stainless steel and are only $100 (for 30 or 20 gallon tanks). I got to drive up and meet the owner and his wife (they operate out of a large garage and outbuilding on their property). Very nice people and although they don't carry much for the trucks, he said the senders have been selling like hotcakes since they started carrying them in March (more than any they sell for cars, etc)!

Their website is: http://www.521restorations.com or eBay store: http://www.ebay.com/itm/121614122663 (30 gallon sender for reference).




(filler neck grommet replaced too as the old one was in bad shape)

I also removed the electric fuel pump from the truck as well -- for one it was mounted above the tank (where the installation instructions said this Carter was supposed to be mounted lower than the tank) so it was constantly working too hard which I think made it wonky. Basically it was getting starved for fuel once it'd been running for a while and the vehicle came to slow traffic or a stop.

It was installed prior to me buying the truck -- and I never liked the fact that if the ignition was switched to on it was running. I had never paid that close of attention, but it looks like the new mechanical pump that was installed with the new engine was bypassed. I'm not quite sure why, but I'm assuming the creased/nearly folded over filter on the old sender was the culprit.

With the electric pump removed and a NEW mechanical pump installed it seems to be running great! I also took the time to replace all of the rubber lines back by the tank/frame rail as well as up in the engine bay.

NICE!
Good info on the sending units too

Reasonably priced and local pickup for me!

FWIW when I was searching there was one other seller in the northeast on eBay who looked to be selling the same stainless steel units too.

From the interweb!

Take a close look at this one.

Turbines...plaid and cashmere bench...and 2X or is that the angle?

*edit* and the higher end grille/headlight bezels since they look to be chrome?

I'm digging the plaid seat!!!!
Turbines... interesting...

Me too...
(albeit the wrong upholstery for the Macho, they don't look bad in there, minus the rips/tears... )

Well after a month and a half of trying to get it to pass emissions it finally passed today -- for the last time!

By the time 2020 rolls around it will be 39 years old -- and in Colorado all 39 year old vehicles are now exempt from emissions testing! So, will just have to go in and pay the 5 years of fees (which in the end is cheaper than paying even 4 single years).



Oh and when I got back to the shop to put the new plates on, this was sitting next to it...Dodge gods must be appeased?