97 projecr truck

well picked up my second ram about a mounth ago now. its a 97 1500 rag cab shortbox and 4x4. its got a 5.2 in it. picked up the truck to fix up and give me somthing to do in my spare time. now trying to get the truck on the road for winter to give me time to fix a couple things on my 2001 (daily driver). well heres the 97 first time i seen it.







i seen the truck in the feild on my way to collage and i dident move all year. the preveus owner sed it only sat for 9 mouths but its been there for at lest 2. iam in on canada so the rust is there but its not to bad considering its sat for so long. thing wrong with it are brakes are all rusted together and needs brake lines. leaks oil out of the oil pan is my qwick gess could be wrong and the rust. other then that it starts up and runs good only 173xxx km/107xxx mi. so i got the truck and took it home.



and couple more pictures of around it.







so number one thing iam working on right now is the brakes. make some brake lines off the master and started on the back drums. had to get spring kit shoes and drums. the old drums were so stuck i was taking chunks out of them with the hammer. also sanded and ground down the fram a bite. took fenders off to make the brake lines a little less pain.







now i no a little about trucks and cars but am still lerning. may have to bug everyone for some help some time. but sofar happy with how this is coming. i work full time and and hoping to have the both drums done by the end of the week end and some more brake lines. once i get the truck rolling and stoping think it will go into the drive way to cut off the bumpers and fix the oil leak. then it will be onto body work. also want to say what a nice forum this is plenty to keep me bizzy. anyways feel like iam draging on now what dose everyone think?

It's a good start man. I'd ditch both bumpers and get some off road style ones.

Looks like your on your way man. Like slacker said ditch the bumpers and beef it up. You live in Canada and want it for the winters so beef that thing up some


Sent from the Rocket in my Pocket

Looks like a fun find! My wallet would hate a project like that, but the rest of me would LOVE it!

Good work so far. May I make a suggestion though? Since you apparently already have the bed off, drop the gas tank, clean it out and replace the fuel pump. Since it'll be out, replace the brake lines along the frame. I'd also clean everything rear of the frame real well and POR15 all it as well as make sure all the wiring is good.

dodge dude94 said:

Good work so far. May I make a suggestion though? Since you apparently already have the bed off, drop the gas tank, clean it out and replace the fuel pump. Since it'll be out, replace the brake lines along the frame. I'd also clean everything rear of the frame real well and POR15 all it as well as make sure all the wiring is good.

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ya i was planing on cleaning the trank. but the pump should still be good no? and i will for sure be making new bumpers just not sure what style yet.

well been working lots lately. got the back brakes done..



and how they look now…





also made a more brake lines. but its raining today so starting some more on the interor. also got the frount bumper off had to cut it all the bolts striped and broke



also saved a 95 1500 from being crushed at the scrapers this week.

As soon as i saw the rust I thought to myself, is this dude from Canada? Lol

Lots of work to do but looks like a good start!

that makes me want to go spray paint the bottom of mine

well been working alot lately but have this week off so time to try and get lots done. last night i got all the brake lines and flex lines on the truck and put the rotors and calipers on. so today iam going to bled the brakes and get the brakes all working.





and just to prove my parents wrong (they sed the truck wont drive agean) i pulled it forwerds with my blue truck.

damn thats gunna be a nice one. im a little jealous. looks good for a 97. the 5.2 in my opinion is a tank of a motor. im thinking of swapping in harland sharp 1.7 rockers in mine but its debatable.

I love restore builds!! Keep us posted.

ok been realy bissy latly with work but got a big step done on the truck. well started by working at the main motor and tranny problems.



not hard to see what was wrong with the tranny pan but a little bite of grinding and a weld good as new with some new paint to.



now the motor is leaking oil out the oil pan gasket and rear main seal. so took off the oil pan and clean where it sits removing what was stuck from the old gasket. then looked in the cylenders to see how the look and there all pritty good shape.



nexted i removed the oil pump and then the bottom crank bearing holder? (not sure if thats right) to get at the rear main.





out with the old and in with the new. then put everything back and filled the tranny fluid and motor oil and started it up….. no more oil leaks then took it for a little rip. it ran realy nice other then the drivers u join is shot. now all thats left is ujoints and body work. got about two mounths to get it done shouldent be a problem.

That trans. pan cam out nice.

Always looking forward to progress.

ok havent been on in a bite been bizzy working. done alot to the truck thow. its been painted. water pump, painted rims got diffreant tires. got fenders a frount bumper. new headlights and fixed a couple other small things. ITS STARTING TO LOOK LIKE A TRUCK AGEAN!! all that is left is muffler and back bumper wich i am making one. will try and upload some pictures in a bite.

ok so took me a long time but finaly got the roof radio and dash all back togerher.



got some stock tail lights for free off a buddy.


and got new (new to me) tires the mt baja and i put them on the stock rims and balanced them my self. then i plastydiped them black.







i payed 70 for the tires and only one leaks air but am planing on geting diffent ones as thes are just to get it on the road. i have re painted the truck. now i more worryed about putting the money into the truck to make sure its safe and cheap out on paint a little bit and spray paint it. i picked flat army green for the colour. now the plan for the truck is green body and black everything els. try and make it like a army truck realy… so hes spme pictures there not the best but ill get more up soon. let me know what you think







thanks.

Trucks coming along pretty good. Enjoying seeing your progress...makes me sad for letting my old ECSB Chevy go after i bought my RAM, but now i wanna restore a 1st Gen Ram...so ill get over it

maz94protege said:

Trucks coming along pretty good. Enjoying seeing your progress...makes me sad for letting my old ECSB Chevy go after i bought my RAM, but now i wanna restore a 1st Gen Ram...so ill get over it

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thanks ill get some more up tonignt going to put in the new headlights i got

Awwww yeah. I've got a soft spot for OD green 2g Rams.

Making some nice progress