What Drives me

"Ram_Riot_6" (tony-ram-riot)
04/03/2015 at 17:19 • Filed to: None

My name is Tony and this is an intro with a little about me, but more about what I drive.

I live in the great state of Texas, studying Mechanical Engineering, and will be graduating soon. I currently have two vehicles, a 2007 Jeep Patriot and a 1986 Dodge D150. I love both my vehicles for the qualities they exceed in, and more for their flaws that keep popping up even after years of ownership. I have owned the Patriot for just a little over 6 years now and I am in no rush to trade it in or replace it. It is often a car that's laughed at and seen as generally awful. Maybe it is, but I absolutely adore for what it is and wouldn't change much about it. The Patriot was my first car and is part of the reason I adore it far more than any sane person would. I'll only ever have one first car. I plan to keep it forever because I am a bit sentimental and unreasonably in love with the thing. Fortunately it has been exceptionally reliable with only requiring a new battery after the original one ran out of water. Batteries take water; my mind was blown by this as I had assumed all batteries were now maintenance free. Here are some pictures of my Patriot.

I came into possession of my D150 about two years ago. Driving that old truck is unlike any other vehicle I have ever driven. It may have twice the cylinders of my Patriot, but it has a good 30+ hp less. That doesn't change the fact that it is a blast to cruise around town in and the sound it makes is perfect. I plan on restoring the truck to better than new and dropping in a new engine to boost the power to somewhere around 300-350hp later on. I'll have many more updates on the truck as progress is made. It is going to be a long process, but I am excited and in it for the long haul. These are my favorite photos that I have taken of my truck so far in addition to the leading image.

So that is what drives me, feel free to ask me about the Patriot, the D150, or anything else that you may be pondering.

DISCUSSION (18)

Nibbles > Ram_Riot_6
04/03/2015 at 17:21

Love the 150! What powers it right now?

$kaycog > Ram_Riot_6
04/03/2015 at 17:22

Welcome to Oppo, Tony! Lovely first post!

Coty > Ram_Riot_6
04/03/2015 at 17:23

Hey welcome. Love the pickup.

If you have any questions about anything let me know. I'm not in charge or anything, just like to help. Enjoy your time here, and try not to get too sick of my constant VW Beetle posts.

Ram_Riot_6 > Nibbles
04/03/2015 at 17:24

Thanks, it has the original 318. Enough power to move it, but not much more.

For Sweden > Ram_Riot_6
04/03/2015 at 17:27

RIOT

Coty > $kaycog
04/03/2015 at 17:28

Oh and watch out for $kay. She beats me.

Nibbles > Ram_Riot_6
04/03/2015 at 17:29

Ah. That would be an LA 318 right? Nice thing is you can get a 5.2 Magnum for really cheap, stroke it out and install for less than 2 grand.

$kaycog > Coty
04/03/2015 at 17:30

Somebody has to keep you in line.

Coty > $kaycog
04/03/2015 at 17:31

Last time I fell and hit my head on a concrete floor.

Or maybe that was something else.

$kaycog > Coty
04/03/2015 at 17:34

You've lost your memory. You'll never know.

Ram_Riot_6 > Nibbles
04/03/2015 at 17:35

That's the one. It is a fantastic work horse, but you cannot get much more power out of it than stock.

Ram_Riot_6 > Coty
04/03/2015 at 17:36

Thanks, I'll keep that in mind.

Nibbles > Ram_Riot_6
04/03/2015 at 17:36

Indeed. I've got the 5.2 Mag in my Dakota (4x4 manuél) and it does a pretty good job. I've seen some really neat numbers from those stroker kits tho

Ram_Riot_6 > Nibbles
04/03/2015 at 17:40

I've toyed with getting an unnecessary amount of hp with a replacement motor, but my reasonable self keeps talking me back down to a manageable number. I'll have to wait until I actually do the swap to find determine how much I actually want.

RallyWrench > Ram_Riot_6
04/03/2015 at 17:50

Welcome! Hard to argue with that hood ornament.

Ram_Riot_6 > RallyWrench
04/03/2015 at 18:32

Yep, it's my favorite part of the truck!

desertdog5051 > Ram_Riot_6
04/03/2015 at 20:37

You'll be sorrrrry....This is a land where things are not as they seem and before you realize there is no escape, you are trapped.....This, my friends, is the OPPO ZONE.

Welcome.

That patina on the Dodge. Yes. Looks like good shape as well.

turbojames > Ram_Riot_6
04/03/2015 at 20:49

So much 'Murica