I found a 79 Dodge Ramcharger full time 4x4 318 auto for $450. The problem is, it is very rusty and looks like it had not been driven in years. The body is a basket case, but it seems to run and drive OK. The tires are all bald and 2 don't hold air long. Is it worth the money? Thanks for your help.

Clayton

yup er maybe depending on yer lifestyle..
_I'de weld the rear diff find some 1/2 decent rubber... tune it up, put it a bit of a keep ya alive cage...and tuff truk the livin shit outta it...
eether that er, ya could weld both diffs and put some scrawny ag tires on it and just go play in the skeg with it.
...oh its a dodge, .. ya could prolly take the top off, i don't thinkits that hard, ...then go to the dirt yard and fire up the loader and put a yard er 2 of topsoil in the back..take home and plant shit in the back, then come klondike days runit as a flote......?

Those ol' things are damn tough. The 318 doesn't have enough power to really tear chit up but they last a long time and get decent gas mileage.
Auto should be a 727...can be built pretty tough....they just don't like abuse while in reverse gear. Guys here buy the ol' RC's for ploughing snow. Reverse is a problem but can be built up.
Like a buddy of mine in the Pass says...."nobody else wants them so I get parts trucks for next to nothin"
I had a 1979 shortbox Dodge once. Except for the full time 4wd it was a damn good truck. Got rid of it cuz I couldn't haul enough hay in it

look at it this way.... less metal to cut thru when ya trim the fenders fer 38"s and no lift

Wait! I just remembered..."The Ford got stuck an the Chev got stuck but the Ford unstuck when the Dodge showed up....but the Dodge got stuck in a tractor rut...."
Doesn't sound real promising to me...unless you got a couple sacks o' canola seed

Real country boys dont die!