SouthernBlues87
Junior Member
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2013
- Posts
- 1
- Reaction score
- 0
- Ram Year
- 1998
- Engine
- 318
Hi, I just wanted to introduce myself. I have always been a Dodge fan and I just baught a 98' ram sport for a decent price.
I'm Brandon, this is the second 2nd gen ram I baught. My first one I baught down in NC while in the military. I left the military after my 6 years and came home.. gave the truck to my dad since I owed him one(when I was in high school I blew the motor on his old 82' ram and promised him I would get him another truck just like it.. well turned out he got it repayed with interest as I gave him a 99' ram 318 4x4 with a lift. Didn't bother me too much as I got it for $2500 on some back road and it had the lift already. Truck has practically no rust and near perfect frame so the price was a steal.)
Anyhow, I had an 05' srt-4 aswell at the same time, but outgrew the car scene and I've always liked trucks more anyhow. So I sold it, pocketed the cash and found me a 98' ram. Its a little rough, I consider it a mechanics special. It needed tires, a windshield, and brakes for inspection. It would not warm up and heat did not work. it has 160k miles but runs quite strong..
I figured the thermostat was broke in the closed position(I was right, only like $15 with seal). A vac line for the cab heat was cut so replaced that and the heat works great now. The leaf spring shackles were rusted bad so replaced those ($50 a piece, plus like $10 for hardware). The hitch on it was rusted just as bad so dropped it. Replaced plugs and wires and belts, ran some fuel system cleaner thru first two tanks. flushed coolant and changed oil, safelight did the windshield for less than $300. Steering cyl needed replaced it was leaking.
All together with price of truck and fixing some things I spent $4000. Not as good of a deal as the one I found in NC but that was shear luck driving on back roads and seeing it behind a barn with a for sale sign on it. The one I have now is a Jersey truck so its got some surface rust in the typical places. My next step when the weather gets nice is to get under neath and sand the few spots and seal and paint to preserve it.
I'm hoping the motor will last to 200k atleast, the rest of the truck is good enough so if the motor/tranny go I'll drop a new one in. When I was searching to buy, the 2nd gens in good shape that did not need work were all $5000+ so took my risk with this one. I'll try to post pics soon!
I'm Brandon, this is the second 2nd gen ram I baught. My first one I baught down in NC while in the military. I left the military after my 6 years and came home.. gave the truck to my dad since I owed him one(when I was in high school I blew the motor on his old 82' ram and promised him I would get him another truck just like it.. well turned out he got it repayed with interest as I gave him a 99' ram 318 4x4 with a lift. Didn't bother me too much as I got it for $2500 on some back road and it had the lift already. Truck has practically no rust and near perfect frame so the price was a steal.)
Anyhow, I had an 05' srt-4 aswell at the same time, but outgrew the car scene and I've always liked trucks more anyhow. So I sold it, pocketed the cash and found me a 98' ram. Its a little rough, I consider it a mechanics special. It needed tires, a windshield, and brakes for inspection. It would not warm up and heat did not work. it has 160k miles but runs quite strong..
I figured the thermostat was broke in the closed position(I was right, only like $15 with seal). A vac line for the cab heat was cut so replaced that and the heat works great now. The leaf spring shackles were rusted bad so replaced those ($50 a piece, plus like $10 for hardware). The hitch on it was rusted just as bad so dropped it. Replaced plugs and wires and belts, ran some fuel system cleaner thru first two tanks. flushed coolant and changed oil, safelight did the windshield for less than $300. Steering cyl needed replaced it was leaking.
All together with price of truck and fixing some things I spent $4000. Not as good of a deal as the one I found in NC but that was shear luck driving on back roads and seeing it behind a barn with a for sale sign on it. The one I have now is a Jersey truck so its got some surface rust in the typical places. My next step when the weather gets nice is to get under neath and sand the few spots and seal and paint to preserve it.
I'm hoping the motor will last to 200k atleast, the rest of the truck is good enough so if the motor/tranny go I'll drop a new one in. When I was searching to buy, the 2nd gens in good shape that did not need work were all $5000+ so took my risk with this one. I'll try to post pics soon!
