Ram girl needs info

[Ramproud96]

Hello! So I recently purchased a 97' 1500. It's a 5.2 V8, 4x4. The information sorta dies there haha. I hardly know anything about this truck even though I've tried to look stuff up for hours for the past 5 days.
I would like to know more about the engine (like hp&torque), pros & cons, durability, regular maintenance (mine has 106k miles), the 100k tuneup, best tires (I'm looking for 265/75; is that a good size?
Just all the information that you guys can give me about this truck

 

[quietpeen]

some of our 2nd gen guru's will be along to help you out

 

[MoparCody]

Hello! So I recently purchased a 97' 1500. It's a 5.2 V8, 4x4. The information sorta dies there haha. I hardly know anything about this truck even though I've tried to look stuff up for hours for the past 5 days.
I would like to know more about the engine (like hp&torque), pros & cons, durability, regular maintenance (mine has 106k miles), the 100k tuneup, best tires (I'm looking for 265/75; is that a good size?
Just all the information that you guys can give me about this truck

Cool. Im glad u bit the bullet and got it. Im not sure how much different the numbers are for a 5.2 and aa 5.9. I have a 5.9 and stock mine had 235 hp and 330 tq. On the 100k tuneup. Do sparks, wires, cap, rotor, oil/filter, air filter, i would drain the tranny pull the paun and change the filter, do both diffs front and rear. And transfer case. I the last thread i went over the pros and cons of it. You most likley have 3.55 gears. Im not sure where you live but bfg all-terrain ko are good tires. They last a long time look good and as long as ur not in serious muck they are not bad offroad. Ive never had them in snow so i dont know how they do. If u have any questions just let me know.

 

[Chewy]

Congrats on the truck!


Sent from my iDevice using data nodes and algorithms.

 

[HolyRamBatman]

Welcome to RF.

 

[Ramproud96]

Thank you everyone! This morning I changed the oil, added coolant & windshield washer fluid.
Do you think you guys can give me some tips on a couple things
1. Installing a new IAC
2. Putting in new sparkplugs and wires
3. Cleaning the engine bay.
Thanks guys!

 

[ramman54]

If you have the towing package 265-75 should be stock size and 3:55 gears. Durability largely depends on maintenance & treatment. I have an '01 quad cab 4x4 5.9 magnum with 167K mi and runs great. I've owned several trucks over the years and this is by far the best one and the easiest to work on. And the only truck I've owned that had more pulling power was my 77 silverado with a mildly built pontiac 400 big block and reworked turbo 400 trans. You have a nice looking truck and hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoy mine.

 

[MoparCody]

Thank you everyone! This morning I changed the oil, added coolant & windshield washer fluid.
Do you think you guys can give me some tips on a couple things
1. Installing a new IAC
2. Putting in new sparkplugs and wires
3. Cleaning the engine bay.
Thanks guys!

I havent done the IAC or the clean yet. But i can tell u look up the firing order online. Mine is on the intake manifold. And do it one at a time. Its a little cramped where the cap and rotor is but not too bad. Also take the air intake off, helps out alot. Let me know if u need anything else.

 

[johnnysart]

Simple green works great for cleaning the engine. Just cover up the cai and spray all over except the battery then wait like 5-10 minutes then hose it off. If you have a compressor you can dry it off that way. I use around 40-60 psi to dry it off.

And welcome to ramforum.

 

[quietpeen]

Simple green works great for cleaning the engine. Just cover up the cai and spray all over except the battery then wait like 5-10 minutes then hose it off. If you have a compressor you can dry it off that way. I use around 40-60 psi to dry it off.

And welcome to ramforum.

i second this...did it on my 05 and it worked great. Just one bit of advice. Remember to take the plastic bag off of the air filter before you start the truck. Ask me how i know lol

 

[mumbles84]

the biggest con is the intake manifold i noticed my truck was using oil and lot of smoking coming out of the exhuast at first i thought the piston rings wore shot i also change my iac for irregular idling found oil in the intake didnt know dodge had plate on the bottom of the intake whitch the gasket fail after doing the hughes kit runs awesome

 

[Ramproud96]

So, yesterday we did a lot of work! I was out there with my dad for about 5 hours, lol.
We began with the IAC. Which is located between the air filter and the throttle body. When we removed the af cover, there was a gasket (or supposed to be a gasket, we only had a small shred left). So, that was no good - had to run to the auto parts store and buy this "Air Control Gasket" & some carb. cleaner.
Replaced the IAC and the trucks idle went back to normal. and my boyfriend reset the check engine light.
Next - the sparkplugs.
We got the left side done, in 3 1/2 hours. Each sparkplug was nicely rusted in there with at least 2" of mud and sludge around it when we pulled them out. We had to break the crud up, vacuum it out and then TRY to rip out the sparkplug.
Yeah, not a good time, LOL. The left side now has brand new plugs and wires though! and it's all nice and clean.

I'm doing my engine cleaning this weekend! It's pretty much covered in a blanket of mud, so I think I'm gonna hose it down (knock the large parts of dirt of), use Simple Green, and dry it with an air compressor.
LOL @QuietPeen, I'll remember to take the bag off xD
I know someone that details engines, so HOPEFULLY they'll help me out a bit. I'm not looking for spotless - I just don't want anything to get messed up.
There's a bundle of wires on the battery side, closer to the windshield - should I cover those as well?

Today (7/22), I plan on doing the right side of the sparkplugs and then moving on to some body work.
I have a rust spot in the wheel well that I plan on fixing with some wire mesh and bondo. This is the worst spot, and there's just some surface rust on the bumper.

and also, the underbody is rusted, but not super dodge rusted xD. Can I wire brush it and spray it with like a clear anti corrosive spray?

 

[Bigtman07]

Wow now that is some impressive work!! Did you happen to remove the heatshields from around the plugs when you changed them?? They like to hold mud and be a pain haha. You should be able to wire brush the underbody and hit it with some anti corrosive or rustoleum to help slow it down. But sadly you can't stop the cancer lol.

 

[johnnysart]

Try applying some apple cider vinegar over the rust with a brush then using wire brush to remove the rust.

 

[Saltillo Express]

Hey - congrats on the new Mopar. There is a product called Ospho that eats up rust. You get it at like a Ben's Paint Supply or auto body supply shop. You spray it on the rust and it is pretty amazing how it kills it.

 

[Benzin]

Welcome to the forum. If you want to get a build sheet of your truck, use this http://www.dodge.com/wccsapp/univers...ull&category=U and make sure to type "Requesting build sheet" when the form asks "Please describe in one sentence the reason for contacting us." This info has come in handy for me.