So I am finally getting around to building up my truck. Back in Summer 2008, after I graduated High School I bought this truck. 1996 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4. Truck when I bought it was bone stock had the rims which are still on the truck (For now at least) and had bald 32's. The guy gave me a set of 4 stock rims/and good tires. Which I traded to a guy I used to work with for a Pioneer CD Player and some cash. Used the cash to buy me a Confederate flag for the rear window. I always liked the rebel flag on the General Lee from the Dukes of Hazzard and decided when I got my dream truck (a Black 2nd gen Ram) I would put a confederate flag on the back window. I understand some people may not like it but I do. Some people see it as a symbol of rascism I don't. I took the bull bar with the two KC lights that was on my 85 and put it on my black truck. ****-canned the 32's and put my 33x12.5 mud king's on it. Eventually I bought two 4' black cb whips for the truck.

Then the inevitable happened the day after Christmas 2008 tranny wouldn't go in reverse. Put in a re-build trans with a shift kit and away we went again. Unfortunately I had to sell my beloved 85 to help pay for the tranny, to this day I wish I still had it. Then I started adding all sorts of stuff that I've wanted. But now the body is nasty and needs repair. Truck is now at 203k miles and I know I won't get anything for it, so screw it here we go!

I bought a 5'' lift kit from a awesome dude on Pavementsucks. I have a bunch of stuff in the closet for my truck so its like well lets do the body first, then the lift kit can go on. And we can build from there. This project will take some time, as money allows I can fix it up and build it.

Here is a picture of my old 1985 Dodge Ram D-150


Here is my current Truck


Plans for it. Well, I am putting replacement 6' bed sides. New fenders, new hood, new rear bumper (keeping it stock). And I will need to get doors, not sure if I will buy them new or not, they are kinda pricey. Truck will be painted black, as it is. Will do the frame either POR15 or with some kind of rubberized undercoating. Need to wire wheel it, and clean it up.

I have silver metallic rumble bee racing stripes for the back sides of the bed. They are for the 3rd gen Ram but heck with it I'm putting them on got them dirt cheap anyways. Plus I think it will look fricken sweet. Then I have some recon lights for it that are in my closet.

Going to run 35'' tires. Tire choices I've picked are Baja Claws (I'm leaning towards this tire choice), swamper radial's, possibly boggers. Re-gear to 4.56, but thats later down the road. Got big plans for it, it will get there eventually.

 

Work that has already been done to it in the past couple of days....

Tailgate and Roll Bar off:


Whips off, man my truck looked naked by this step lol
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Bed was a PITA to take off. Six bolts hold it on, only two I could get off with a impact the rest was with a breaker bar or ratchet. This would've been a great time to have a torch at the house! But after a bit of struggling broke'em free.

Bed off and on saw horses: (Good ol'Dad even got in on the picture )



Going to sand the frame, rear axle, and paint it as well. Might use some SEM rubberized undercoating as I can get that at work. Or POR15 it.


Brought her in the garage, well best I could anyway lol.


Other note worthy things have been done.
Scoops are off
Bull Bar is off
truck is de-badged
flame grille inserts are off
both bedsides the spot welds are drilled out and ready to come off. This has been a PITA. Very time consuming drilling the spot welds out. But now the net step is rip them buggers off, and start repairing the box.

Forcasting rain tomorrow all day but we will see what happens when I get back from work. Will get more pictures up tomorrow.

 

Looks like you have your work cut out for ya. Defiantly take plenty of pic's and keep us up the date, I'd really like to see how this turns out.

 

Nice!! Things gonna be real nice once youre done!


I hated taking the whips off my truck. It just didnt look right!... Looks like I gotta get new ones and a cb anyways lol

 

Nice truck.
Are the photo's dark for you guys?

 

Its overcast.

Well I know what my truck frame will look like after this winters plowing season.

 

Should make a great project. Really diggin' the roll bar, looks sexy on the all black sport pkg. Keep us updated with lots of pics and progress!

 

Good luck, can't wait to see it with the lift on.

 

Well tonight I made good progress. The bedsides are completely off now! Woohoo!! What a b*tch they were but finally they are off. Got the frame and rear axle and leaf springs sanded and ready to go for POR15. Need to get a nozzle for the metal ready spray and tomorrow night I will be laying the POR15 on it. On to the pics.

Here is what the it looks like with out bedsides.



Pictures of the old bedsides... pretty nasty.

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Perfect example of why the wheel wells go to hell on these trucks so fast. Look at this foamy, glue crap that is on the inside of the wheel well.


Some pics of the spot welds:

 

Started wire wheeling, brushing and sanding the frame for POR15




Backed the truck into the garage so I can work on it after dark. Boy she sure looks different lol.



Didn't get any more pictures, but the frame, rear axle and leaf springs are all ready for POR15 tomorrow night.