Hey From Texas - 2002 Dodge Quad Cab 1500 4x4 - Build Thread

Hey guys, 1st time Dodge 4x4 owner, and hi from Texas!

So I picked this little bute off C-list from an owner who def didn't take care of it, but I talked her down $2K so I figured I would be able to fix it up with the difference.

Condition when I got it:
Roof and Hood paint peeling
Yellow headlights
Tailgate Dented
Inside..was disgusting. I don't think she ever cleaned it...once.
4x4 linkage missing...(crossing fingers 4wd works but doubt it)
Cracked Defrost and Dash board
Driver side hole in seat.
Needs a tune up: Gas is averaging 9mpg with 91 octane and fuel injector cleaner added.
Needs a wheel alignment

She did have a filter and 4 quarts of mobile1 ready for its first oil change?
She also just put some new 285 BF goodrich's on it so the tires look pretty good.

So knowing this I knew it needed about $2-$3k of maint to get it up to par..
So I will post the before pictures here

Here is what I have done so far...

Repainted Hood and Roof
Repainted and repaired dent in tailgate
Replaced Headlights with ebay replacements
Replaced Defrost Dashboard with ebay replacements
Got interior cleaned twice by local car spa...(still smelled bad) rented a steam cleaner and used Tide with Febreze and that sucker smells like clean laundry now!
Added Chrome door handles and mirrors
Patched the seat
Added "Catch All" Floor mats
Changed oil and filter to Mobile1 Synthetic

Headlights...before and after... Makes such a big difference on this truck.

poor gas mileage

Well, I filled up the tank with 91 octane and added fuel cleaner to see the best gas mileage I could get and I think I did 212 miles to the tank..21.5 gallons=9.8 highway driving! I was a bit horrified...

So I decided to give it a tune up and I think I figured out what was causing the bad gas mileage...
Last night replaced the spark plugs and they were really corroded...also they were gapped at .80 and the diodes looked like they were worn down to nothing..but I don't know if other Champion plugs looked the same...attached is a pic..

but a gap of .80? I mean how was that even working ha..

I got some NGK VPower gapped them to .40 and put them on...

Also removed the stock airbox and filter and replaced with a aftermarket cone filter and so far driving, I think I just added about 100mi to the tank..I'm on par to 320 mi to this tank on Seven eleven gas at 87 octane with no additives.
I'll keep you updated....

Also ordered some more maintenance and toys for the truck...more coming soon.

Welcome. Nice work.

Dayum. Some serious neglect you're having to reverse here. Good work so far.


Those plugs have probably never been changed, they're SUPPOSED to be replaced every 30k mi....but obviously weren't.

Nice hook up. Nice job


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Tell us if you run into anymore problems? Have you thought about flushing the transmission, differential, and cooling system? Can you post before and after pictures of the seats? How did you do the paint? I am just wondering what you have into the project. Looking for a cheap Regular Cab 2wd as a project.

Thanks for the welcome guys,

@"Have you thought about flushing the transmission, differential, and cooling system? Can you post before and after pictures of the seats? How did you do the paint? I am just wondering what you have into the project. "

Yes, flushing fluids is next on the list of things to do, especially since I bought another new toy..pics coming soon.

Any recommendations on tranny fluid for Towing applications or will any suffice?

Paint was $1150, done by a body shop, decided not to do it myself since I was only gonna paint the upper part and wanted it to match the rest...they did a great job you can't tell.

Just added a Dee Zee 43300 Tailgate Assist from Amazon for $28 bucks. Works "ok", as sometimes the wire protector actually makes the unit pop off its hinge..and other times the tailgate gets stuck, it works 70% of the time but even still it's pretty handy!



Also, I mentioned the 4wd didn't work... I ordered a transfer case shifter control linkage rod & bushing grommets for $33 bucks from Ebay... Connected it yesterday and tested it... IT does work! Ha I was sure it wouldn't work and I would hear horrible noises but all works well...

The only wierd things is that when I put it in 4W High that 4WD light goes off...but when I put it back into 2WD the 4WD Light comes on and says I'm in 4 wheel drive... I drove in circles in a parking lot like a crazy person trying to figure out if I had it in 2 or 4 wheel drive...

So now it reads I'm in 4wd all the time but Im pretty sure I am in 2WD (I don't get wheel hop or slow down when I take sharp turns) but the light is on.. I tried driving in reverse for 100ft. No change, I suspect its the sense on the transfer case. Will add that to the things to replace.

Also just finished installing these Lund Catch All mats. Makes a big difference.


Next on the list of maintenance and upgrades:

1. Flush differentials $?
2. Replace Front Suspension Components. (Tie Rods, Control Arms, Ball Joints) $149 - Ebay (They are loose on left side, tire wears on the insides)


3. Install Double Din MP3/GPS/DVD/NAV Unit $319 - Ebay


4. Install backup camera. $9.76



I realize I am going to have to do the fluids sooner...just picked up a new toy.
Def going to need some gears and/or more power as it had a tough time towing it up hills.

Is that truck a 4.7 or 5.9? I'd put in 4.56 gears.

It's a 4.7...
I do a lot of highway driving. Do you know what 65MPH RPM would be with 4.56's? It's currently around 2100RPM. I currently have 17 inch wheels with 285/70/17.

2500-2600 guessing. I have a 2013 Hemi with 3.55 and I tow about 10k lbs with it. I will be swapping to 4.56 soon. It will really wake up truck as it makes acceleration better and easier to pull heavy loads. What's the camper weigh?

Dry Weight, 5,540 lbs,
Currently at 2100 RPM my highway gas mileage is indicating about 17.5mpg. Towing I get about 8-9mph, so I'm not worried about towing...just regular use. I hear you get better gas mileage towing with gears anyways.

Do you know what your 0-60 is now without gears? I would be curious to hear how that changes for you when you go to 4.56..

At stock mines about 9.0?

Not sure on 0-60 but I run the 1/4 mile in 14.6@96mph with a horrible 2.4 60 foot time so if I can get that down to 1.8 I'd be happy but will probably need drag radials and a 3000 rpm torque converter to do that. For every .1 you cut off the 60 foot is worth .2 at the end of the track so that would put me in low 13's before I spray nitrous.

So was able to add a few features in this past week.

I'm surprised at the quality of the head units coming from China. THis one was a really good bargain and works really well.

Also installed a backup camera...makes a big difference on these trucks. I tied the power into the reverse light and had to run a wire all the way up the frame to the cab.

GPS, DVD, Reverse Camera, Bluetooth, SD card, Iphone Dock, multi-monitor support...also has netflix, pandora, gmail etc...its like an android tablet in your vehical...its pretty slick. all for less than $300...can't beat that...

Oh by the way, if you happen to purchase a new bezel so you can fit a double din in your truck...DO NOT GET the supplied epoxy glue on your hands then handle the bezel...peels the paint almost instantly.. ...I didn't realize until there were all these paint spots removed from me touching the bezel while I was trying to glue it down...ughhh... lesson learned.

Also I found out that you don't have to have an air saw to cut out the plastic casing behind the bezel...a utility knife and a serrated kitchen knife works... it only takes an hour of hacking with no a/c...but yeah you can do it that way...