Bringing 96 5.9 2wd back to life need a little help

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Wareagle81

Junior Member
Joined
Jan 16, 2018
Posts
6
Reaction score
0
Location
Alabama
Ram Year
1996
Engine
5.9
I have a 96 5.9 gas 2wd that has been sitting under the carport for 3 years. The wife wants it gone or fixed. I'm looking for a project to do in spare time so I'm going to get it up running.

The details of why the truck is sitting. Heater core went out a year or 2 before it sat and I just had mostly water in the engine. I was scared of removing the dash to change the HC and having to replace the dash in the process. I'm in the South but had a bad freeze 3 years ago and it spit some freeze plugs out. The engine has over 220k on the odometer.

What I would like to accomplish is to get the truck running with some more performance. I have a budget of 4-6k to do just engine and tranny work. This really is just a project to give me something to do in my spare time to get a truck that will only be used occasionally 4-5 a month probably. Towing/MPG/having heat or Ac are the least of my concerns. I don't really have a desired HP or TQ parameter that I'm trying to reach. I just want a dependable build with more power than stock and good sounding exhaust. I want a mild street performer. I plan to drop it and put and new wheels and tires at some point.

Assuming my block is serviceable how would you build this motor? I'm thinking cam, heads, intake, tune, headers, and TB. I have no idea what specs I would need for the parts though specifically the cam. I've read the EQ heads are good option for what I'm looking for. Thoughts? Give me your opinion on what would be a good build for what I'm looking for. I'm not opposed to anything I'm just throwing money at a 20 year old truck just get my hands dirty and make my wife happy. I just want be able to do truck things occasionally but when I put my foot in it I smile and maybe turn a head or two.

Things I'm aware of.
Hughes TB is supposedly not true to there claims but they offer a decent intake.

I should I get a tune and should definitely check with a guy named Ryan.

That's really what I can remember from reading over other posts. Also plan on changing the gears in rear end maybe to 4.10 unless there's a better recommendation.

I'm open to all reasonable builds but if you have recommendations please be specific with part or vendor so I can do a little research. Also if anyone knows of a quality machine shop in Southeast preferably AL or GA I could send my block and other parts to please let me know because there isn't really anything local that I'm aware of.

Thanks
 

DodgeDude99

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 16, 2016
Posts
590
Reaction score
275
Location
Oak Lawn, Illinois
Ram Year
2014
Engine
6.7 Cummins
A 21 yr old truck that hasn’t been touch in 3 yrs and needs engine & trans.....
I’m with your wife, let it go.
 
OP
OP
W

Wareagle81

Junior Member
Joined
Jan 16, 2018
Posts
6
Reaction score
0
Location
Alabama
Ram Year
1996
Engine
5.9
Well this is a project for me. This isn't a daily or maybe even weekly driver. I get a few things out of this knowledge, experience, new TOOLS, and I'll get to work on this with my Dad and brother before he gets to old to do projects like this. I could easily go get a used Toyota to go to home depot and help someone move but that's not really the point.
 

crazykid1994

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 21, 2013
Posts
5,040
Reaction score
4,963
Location
Florida
Ram Year
2017
Engine
Hemi 5.7
For one I would say screw the heater. I had to cut the hoses on mine a while back and run the line as a bypass. Second. You pretty much have it all right. I would try and see about fixing the freeze plugs and maybe drain the oil and put fresh oil and see if you can crank it over and run it before you swap motors. May get lucky. And it’s a cheap test before biting the bullet


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

DodgeDude99

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 16, 2016
Posts
590
Reaction score
275
Location
Oak Lawn, Illinois
Ram Year
2014
Engine
6.7 Cummins
If you just want to see if it will run, you can run it for very short periods without coolant.
And I wouldn’t say screw the heater, you do need the defroster, unless you only plan on driving on warm sunny days.
 
OP
OP
W

Wareagle81

Junior Member
Joined
Jan 16, 2018
Posts
6
Reaction score
0
Location
Alabama
Ram Year
1996
Engine
5.9
Heat and defrost are no concern where I live.

I should have made a better title.
 
OP
OP
W

Wareagle81

Junior Member
Joined
Jan 16, 2018
Posts
6
Reaction score
0
Location
Alabama
Ram Year
1996
Engine
5.9
Dude99. I appreciate you taking the time to respond to my post. With that said nothing you have said is relevant to my original post. I'm only looking for advice on what parts to throw at this truck to make it get down the road faster and louder that's it.
 

MeatCurtains

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 9, 2018
Posts
121
Reaction score
23
Location
US
Ram Year
2012
Engine
6.7 Cummins
Without knowing the exact condition of the truck it's hard telling. You could invest 500, or 20k.

If the engine blew out the freeze plugs and just had water in it the cooling system is completely shot. The block will need to be removed and cleaned and you still risk coolsnt passages being corroded to useless levels. I've seen iron blocks rot through from sitting with open coolant systems. Your best bet from my side of things is to source a new long block. Replace anything dealing with fuel, oil, and coolant. At that age it needs done anyway. Check the fuel tank for contamination if you can as well.

Basically unless you can do everything yourself you've nearly got your budget in labor alone.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
 
OP
OP
W

Wareagle81

Junior Member
Joined
Jan 16, 2018
Posts
6
Reaction score
0
Location
Alabama
Ram Year
1996
Engine
5.9
Yes all work done by self other than machine work. The truck is in good condition. Been sitting under the carport mostly out of the weather. The truck ran decently until it dropped the plugs.

I'll get the engine out this weekend and get everything broke down and go from there.
 

MeatCurtains

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 9, 2018
Posts
121
Reaction score
23
Location
US
Ram Year
2012
Engine
6.7 Cummins
Yes all work done by self other than machine work. The truck is in good condition. Been sitting under the carport mostly out of the weather. The truck ran decently until it dropped the plugs.

I'll get the engine out this weekend and get everything broke down and go from there.
Just plan on every seal gasket and drop off fluid everywhere being contaminated. Brakes would be another high priority.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
 

DodgeDude99

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 16, 2016
Posts
590
Reaction score
275
Location
Oak Lawn, Illinois
Ram Year
2014
Engine
6.7 Cummins
Dude99. I appreciate you taking the time to respond to my post. With that said nothing you have said is relevant to my original post. I'm only looking for advice on what parts to throw at this truck to make it get down the road faster and louder that's it.

Grant it my first post want, but the 2nd was. If the engine isn’t going to run, then there isn’t any sense on working on the freeze plugs like what was mentioned.
I know these damn trucks like the back of my hand mechanically as I had rebuilt EVERYTHING on my ‘99, engine, trans, t-case, diffs, power steering.

But hey if you don’t want to take advice I won’t bother wasting my time on your foolish ass.
 
OP
OP
W

Wareagle81

Junior Member
Joined
Jan 16, 2018
Posts
6
Reaction score
0
Location
Alabama
Ram Year
1996
Engine
5.9
Not trying to be an ass Dude99 I understand you are giving decent advice it's just not answering any of the questions I was asking.

I'm probably going to run EQ heads unless someone has a better option. What would be a mild cam to run in this or what would be a good company to contact? Which headers/mufflers would give me a nice deep sound but not obnoxious? These are the questions I'm trying to get some answers to. What I currently have is really irrelevant other than the block but I'm assuming it's shot and am prepared to get a new/reman/junkyard one. I'd like to keep the engine and tranny work under 6k but it's not a hard budget. I have no deadline. I'm just looking for opinions on building a solid 5.9 motor alot better than the stock motor.
 
Top