OK here is the scoop. I've finnaly gotten to the point in my hydro assit business that i want to improve my product even further, so that i can comete even further with the big guys.

My main concern is getting a product that my customers can use and abuse. Up to this point i've been selling rams that anyone could buy online. they worked but they weren't the best way to go or everyone had trouble with mounting them.

The Big boys have a ram that is the right size and mounting configureation but it too weak and too pricey for most of us Rednecks

So my only choice is to have a ram custom built.

My quetion for you guys is what do you want?

I'm thinking 1.5" bore,7.5 or 8" stroke, threaded for heims on both ends, thick wall 1/4" tubing for the body, 1/2" high stress chrome shaft to keep the pressure equal both ways, and rebuildable.

What do you guys think? What do you think a fair price would be. want to try to get it cheap enough so that i can include it with my kit but keep the same price.

I've got a machinist working up a quote on what i listed abouve and should know after the weekend.

150.00

Dunno about a price, but I was already plannig on getting one of your kits. If you're planning on something like this with keeping the price comparible, I'm really interested! :bounce: :bounce2:
Good Luck!

Originally posted by flmanyj
150.00

with or withouit the heims?


And Outlaw. I've got a ram right now that works awesome with the TJ's.
Also since you so close you ought to come down and go wheelin with us Monday and check out a few rigs with it on.

If the price is not outrageouse, I would be very interested. I have been looking for a reasonably priced 1.5" ram, that I could recommend, when people ask me for info about my set up.
"Build it and they will come"

Keep us posted, I will buy one in a heartbeat for my set up.

hey matt,we spoke a few times on the phone im the guy with the hummer rims i would luv to still get a hydro kit for my tj not full just assist as i my jeep is a daily driver count me in i was supposed to send ya my box to be drilled and tapped let me know what it will be for the whole kit and kaboodle.what do you have for the tj set-up....
email me or call me at 336-986-5337...like i said if you want humvee rims or runflats i can hook ya up or maybe we can do somekind of trading ... you know us jeep guys broke as hell...:D

Originally posted by TheLakeRat


with or withouit the heims?


And Outlaw. I've got a ram right now that works awesome with the TJ's.
Also since you so close you ought to come down and go wheelin with us Monday and check out a few rigs with it on.

Does it work awesome on a TJ with a D60 front? That's what I've got out in the shop to be installed one of these days.
You go wheelin on Mondays? I have to work for a livin! LOL! BTW: I'm on call for work next week and have to work on Memorial Day. :( Oh well, I'll hook up with ya'll sometime. Got a few that would probably enjoy a change of scenery over here.

I've got an EB and like how the "Rock Ram" fit in the last 4 Wheeler (I think it was 4 Wheeler). At around $500 for a complete kit with an updated ram, mark me down for one kit. Heims included?

Im getting ready to order one for my chevy but will wait if there is a stronger ram and a good price :D :D I liked your price and setup already but maybe I will even like it more ........

Real interseted keep me posted...
toddkish@hotmail.com

Originally posted by jslater
I've got an EB and like how the "Rock Ram" fit in the last 4 Wheeler (I think it was 4 Wheeler). At around $500 for a complete kit with an updated ram, mark me down for one kit. Heims included?

Matt does a good job with the narrow EB axle and mounting...he moved my trac bar above and a little behind the axle to give himself plenty of room to install the ram... If anybody can make it fit, Matt will... his work is OUTSTANDING!!!

matt

we've talked and im sendin that box over to ya... let me know what you come up with for these rams i would be interested if the price is right.

I'm also interested.

What's your typical turn-around time when you're shipped a box to drill/tap/rebuild?

$150 range sounds good to me, but I could care less about the heims on the ends....

I talked to you a week or so ago. I am really interested in one for my 78 bronco. If your going to get a purpose built ram., than I am in for one as well!

I would pay $150 for a 1.5x8 ram with heims. To really do it the right way you must have some kind of spherical rod ends.

Squash

are you going to get any double ended rams

i realize you are talking assist, are you looking at the full hydro market?

what is the advanatage of heims? Seems just another thing to wear out? The ultimate would be one that bolts on in place of the one you sell now he he ;)

No complaints on my ram whatsoever and eventually I will do a full tech article on it, but then again I have never driven a rig with assist so I have absolutely nothing to compare it to assist wise.

smitrock, bigdude....... i use MATT's setup and it works great...... allthough i went with a heimed style ram for ease of install for my current set up...... heim style makes it very easy for some of the tighter setups..... i would buy your rams with heims at 150$ all day long!

I run Matts setup on my TJ with a Currie 9 inch front and it is the shit all the way. I will be buying another from him for my next progect.

Originally posted by Brandon
what is the advanatage of heims? Seems just another thing to wear out?

Because of the way the tierod moves, it doesn't move through just one plane. If you just have steel tabs on each end for the pins that normally come on an el-cheapo ram it will bind unless you make the holes larger than they should be.

Squash

"I would buy" doesn't really play into what the market will bear as this is a 'redneck' crew. :flipoff2: I got a good price on the ram I got from Lee Mfr and they go for about $240 without rams. Cheaper from Kilby Enterprises ($220). Heims cost me about $45. Nice setup though, and completely rebuildable. 1.5x8". Pictures are on my site here: http://www.jeepshots.com/shots/projects/steering

BTW - Lee makes those rams in house. No middle man....

Paul

I got Matt's setup on my D60, at the time the only thing that didn't fit was the ram due to it's size, I went with a 1.5 Howe ram with heims, anything larger and there just isn't enough room to mount with a small lift (5") on a full size. With a 1.5 ram Matt should be able to sell the crap out of these with the service and price he offers.
http://coloradok5.com/temp/uavhydro1.jpg

h8monday, i'll post when i get them but does what i'm suggesting sound like what you want?

outlaw99tj, sorry no it wouldn't work very good with that axle but what i'm wanting to build will
i wish i could afford to just wheel all the time but since Mondat is a Holiday and i just got a crawler kit put into Lisa little Sami we thought we'd make a day of it. But ya'll are welcome to come down any time, just give me a call.

bigdude, our turn around time is from 2 to 4 days, unless we have to special order any major parts that i don't have. whch is vary rare.

smitrock, i wasn't planning on a double ended ram but if i get this deal i'd be more than happy to see what i could do. just let me know exactly you want.

nasvik, that's almost exactly what i want to build but if i were to just buy those and include them with my kit at the regular price i wouldn't be makeing any money. that's why i want to get some made locally and in bulk so that i can offer you guys a better product than AGR and at a better price. :D :)

Steve, you and BadAssJeepGuy are a few of the main reasons that i want to do this. I felt really bad that i couldn't get you a product that would work for you in you application. so i'm going to do my best to remedy the problem.

everyone else, you guys rock!!! thanks for the imput and keep it coming i really appriciate it.

Hey, I want one too...no p/s sucks, special in that crack by he lake... We're trying to redo the gauges and dash right now in the cruiser and might need to do something with the springs...i get more flex in the garage then codys jeep does altogether :flipoff2:
i'll just get some 4inch lift springs and get 44s...my dad went to a goodyear place downtown a few days ago and they want $120 for 37 MT/Rs, but its too soon for those...
hopefully see you monday

Joseph A.

I'll be working on a full hydraulic steering setup soon and would be very interested in a 1.5"or 2" bore double ended cylinder / heims to keep the "lock-to-lock" equal. Let me know if possible. Steve

MATT ... we talked/emailed a little bit about this a while back. I have the '76 FSJ Chero 2dr. I now have the Chevy D60 and 14bolt under it. I am aiming at the "tie-rod behind the diff" like H8Monday did to his 44. Here's what I hope to achieve ...

I would like to go with the Hydro-assist with the orbital valve due to being a DD and "self-return to center" would be reeeeal niiiice!!! I dunno if tire size is important or not but they will be 37"x12.5"x16.5" to start. I am most likely going to change up to Hummer rims and runflats, if that has any bearing on it at all.

Lemme know what you have that will work for what I'd like to achieve. From what I have read the 1.5"x8" should do it ... :confused: You tell me Mr. Rock Ram!


BTW, can a tranny cooler be used on the return side to cool things down a bit? What about filtration to keep it clean? Last but not least, will synthetics work okay for this? THANKS!!! :beer:

Keep us posted!

Please call me Mr. Redneck Ram or hell even just dumb Redneck:D :p :beer: :beer: I dont want to be assosiated with AGR :rainbow:or their rock ram. :barf:
Well if your wanting to go for hydro assit and want to keep it a daily driver then you want to stay away from an orbital valve. Those are used on full hydro systems and are extremely hard to get a return to center feel out of them.
What i can do is put a reverse gear in your steering box so that it will work for your behind the knuckle setup. Unless you have room to turn your pitman arm around to the front then you can leave the box gearing alone.
And yes a tranny cooler will work fine for a cooler. just make sure you keep it below the level of the fluid resivior. and yes synthetics work great. in fact thats what i use.

Originally posted by tigger4x
MATT ... we talked/emailed a little bit about this a while back. I have the '76 FSJ Chero 2dr. I now have the Chevy D60 and 14bolt under it. I am aiming at the "tie-rod behind the diff" like H8Monday did to his 44. Here's what I hope to achieve ...

I would like to go with the Hydro-assist with the orbital valve due to being a DD and "self-return to center" would be reeeeal niiiice!!! I dunno if tire size is important or not but they will be 37"x12.5"x16.5" to start. I am most likely going to change up to Hummer rims and runflats, if that has any bearing on it at all.

Lemme know what you have that will work for what I'd like to achieve. From what I have read the 1.5"x8" should do it ... :confused: You tell me Mr. Rock Ram!


BTW, can a tranny cooler be used on the return side to cool things down a bit? What about filtration to keep it clean? Last but not least, will synthetics work okay for this? THANKS!!! :beer:

Keep us posted!

:emb:My most humble apologies Your Redneck-edness !! :D

Thanks for the clue-in on the orbital. DD is definitely gonna hafta be it, for a while anyways. I'll hafta check into how my pitman arm is going to have to run and get back with you. How deep in the pockets will the reverse gear for the steering box run? About the cooler, I can easily put it below the reservoir. If you are familiar with the FSJ Cheros & Waggies, I can put it where the optional outer headlamps can be put.

Will the 1.5"x8" ram be enough for my beast?

Can it be run the way I am hoping to, "tie-rod behind the diff" style?

Will my stock steering box & pump be effective and last long?


What kinda $$ am I looking at here O' Wise Ram Man :question:

Originally posted by tigger4x
:emb:My most humble apologies Your Redneck-edness !! :D

LMFAO... I love that:D :D :rasta: :beer:The 1.5 " ram will work great for you and your stock pump should work fine as long as it's in good shape to begin with

we'll it looks like the ram is a go. I talked to my guy today and he gave me a quote that will alow me to sell them in the 150-160 range. which will also alow me to keep my regular price of 450 for the full kit. It cuts my profit margin down a bit but i can live with that if it creates a better product in the process.
He told me he would have a test model done for me by the time i get back from TTC. then it will take me a week or 2 to test it out then if i'm happy with it we'll start full production.
Supplies will be limited to first come first serve so if you want to you can reserve one now.

Matt,
Definitely put me on the list.
Sounds like just what I need to fine tune my set up.
Great price also.
Thanks
Jeff

i want on the list.... just let me know when your ready. i can send you the steering box whenever you want me to send it (since its a spare anyway)

im game WHOOOHOOO

call me at the shop tomorrow and give me or Lisa your name and number so we can get it too you. Remeber it will be at least 3 weeks. because i'll want to test it out before i let them go out.
i'll be gone to TTC for a week is the reason it will take so long.

Money is tight all around right now and I will have to work out the other steering components before I can pull off the ram. BUT, I will give you plenny of lead time and ship off the pump at that time to give any head start possible. :headbowed:I thank you your Redneck-edness!! :D

no problem tigger but you might send your gear box instead of that pump:rolleyes:

Now why would I wanna go and do a silly thing like send you the gearbox:rasta: But IF you insist I guess I will hafta send what you say.:D

I have a zuk with full width d44's.....Id love to put a ram on mine!!

Let me know when you have something available!

no problem, i'll make sure i post a topic about it and let everyone know.

put me on the list matt. and i imagine jason will want that one instead of the one he has now from you, for that matter he hasnt used it yet? 1 reason is cause we were waiting to do hy-steer on both of our burbs and would prefer to have both the same as well!