Just bought a 2002 Dodge ram 1500 with 8 lug wheels

[Westcliffe01]

Hi folks. Im a recent buyer of an old 2002 Dodge ram 1500, quad cab. The bed appears to be 80" long. Its a 4wd model and the engine air intake says "Dodge Magnum Hemi 5.7L V8".

Front and rear axles have 8 lug wheels. Stickers on the bodywork say SLT and Hemi. Mopar decoder says 45RFE transmission.

If I run the VIN on mopar decoder it comes up as a 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB PICKUP but it says a 4.7L V8 not a 5.7 Is there any part of the vin which may clarify the 8 lug wheels/hubs ?

How would I get the correct parts to rebuild the front left and right axle shafts ? I may also need to replace wheel bearings on both front hubs. Most of what is out there for the 1500 trucks have the 5 lug hubs and wheels. Was there a special HD version of the truck that got the 8 lug wheels and hubs ?

Thanks for any insight.

 

[diymirage]

Sounds like a 2500 to me

Did you check the vin on the title to the vin plate on the dash?

Perhaps a digit got transposed

What does the door sticker say?

 

[Westcliffe01]

All vins match up.

 

[mrack]

Isn’t there a vin plate on the frame somewhere? See if that matches the vin on the body. Possibly someone swapped the 1500 body onto a 2500 frame with 5.7.

 

[Westcliffe01]

That sounds like a tricky situation if it is the case.... I dont know of a VIN on the frame, if anyone has a clue in that regard give me an idea where to look.....

 

[diymirage]

Does it say 1500 on both doors?
Maybe someone just swapped the doors out

 

[Westcliffe01]

The Vin plate on the dash and the door sticker (drivers) match. If they put the cab on a 2500 frame that is going to be harder to figure out... Engine, transmission and frame in that case may not match at all....

 

[Westcliffe01]

Im probably going to go with a one piece rear drive shaft to get rid of the old 2 piece with carrier bearing. It vibrates pretty bad at highway speed. All I have to do is measure the actual length and identify the transfer case yoke OD/spline configuration as well as the interface on the input to the pinion of the rear axle. The driveshaft is then custom made. But the front axle is going to need the half shafts rebuilt and potentially a new front driveshaft so that it runs smoothly. Everything on the truck seems original from the factory.

 

[diymirage]

There should be a vin on the engine too...but not sure if that's easy to get at

 

[chopperman1]

Maybe a dumb question, but have you pulled the plastic hub cap and verified it's actually an 8 lug wheel? They do have universal fit covers.

 

[Westcliffe01]

Yes, definitely 8 lug. The spare was missing so I had to buy the 8 lug rim and a matching tire.

 

[crash68]

Was there a special HD version of the truck that got the 8 lug wheels and hubs ?

There wasn't any heavy duty 1500s listed in the sales brochure for 2002. Probably the closest I can think of was the 1500 MegaCab, it was 2500 with a softer suspension but yours is not that cab configuration.
Most likely you have a 2500/3500 with the 5.9 Magnum motor, but someone replaced the cab due to damage or rust.

 

[Westcliffe01]

Anyone have any advice on where to find the engine serial # for a 5.7 Hemi ?

If there ever were any ID stickers on the valve covers there are definitely none now..

 

[diymirage]

Pull the engine cover off, and show us a picture of the engine

 

[Westcliffe01]

There is no engine cover. The only plastic is the air box over the air intake.

I will get a proper wide angle shot tomorrow when the sun is out.

 

[crash68]

Anyone have any advice on where to find the engine serial # for a 5.7 Hemi ?

If that actually is a 5.7 Hemi, Dodge didn't start using that engine till the 2003 model year. There should be a 5.7 casted on the driver's side of the block.

5.7 engine numbers

Where are the engine serial numbers located, and how do I tell if it is the original engine?

www.ramforum.com

 

[Westcliffe01]

If there was a cab swap onto a different chassis, it could have happened anytime between 2002 and last week, so the year of the donor running gear would be anyones guess... Not sure how the integration with the BCM etc would work...

 

[GTyankee]

First thing that comes to mind ..

If you look at the VIN,
one of the first 3 numbers or letters, will indicate what Country it was built in

some Dodge Rams or just Rams 1/2 tons were built in Mexico at the end of some Production years, which could be May, June, & possibly July.
When the Dodge Plants were behind schedule at the years end, they would have Saltillo Mx. build some to catch up.
BUT, i think they only did that with CREW Cabs
because no Quad Cabs or Club Cabs were built in Mexico

 

[HemiLonestar]

As soon as you said "2 piece driveshaft". Half tons only ever had a one piece, except for the SRT. Someone put a 2500 chassis under your 1500 cab. Got any pics of the suspension or front end? A half ton will have IFS with t-bars, anything else will be a solid axle.

 

[Westcliffe01]

There is the engine compartment