Hello everyone, my name is Mike and I am new to the forum (except for a couple of dumb threads 6 yrs ago). My truck is a 97 1500 2wd 5.2L Extended cab and I think it is the long bed as well. My reason for this thread is to get some advice and start a log for my truck. I have recently done some maintenance on my truck and between that and driving a friends 06 2wd Hemi Ram for a day, I've grown an interest in updating and upgrading my truck. Below are the things that I would like to address. Some may seem trivial or outlandish. Please leave any advice that you may have to offer.

Wheels - I really like this look and would like to get those 20" oem wheels. Someone is selling them locally for only $550 they I may go pick up soon. I know there is a problem with 2wd 2nd gens and these wheels. The dust caps stick out too far but some were able to get them to fit by squishing the dust cap or machining out the centers.
http://i609.photobucket.com/albums/t...0418-00242.jpg

Seats- This is purely for aesthetic reasons to go with the update theme here. I think that new seats and center console will dramatically update the interior. I like the new Ram's seats a lot. I'd like to put leather 3rd gen buckets in the front and back. I would add in seat heaters as well. Initially I will do the fronts first but then I would also like to have the rears match as well while keeping the folding capability.
Front http://i3.ytimg.com/vi/N8tzuhpNbb4/hqdefault.jpg
Rear http://www.leatherseats.com/images/s...ther_kit05.JPG

3rd gen Steering Wheel - It would have been nice but it is too involved to get the airbag to work.
http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/a...achment-10.jpg

Backup Camera - What backup camera systems have you guys used and liked? It would need to have a wireless camera. I live in a major city and parking is rough. I like what I'm reading about the Magellan wireless camera. It mounts to the license plate and the video is fed to one of Magellan's GPS units. Including the GPS (which I am not opposed to getting), it runs about $300.

Tow Hitch - I know this truck wasn't designed to haul much but would I be ok with getting a hitch installed? My hauling goals would be a motorcycle on a trailer or a UHaul trailer for moving.

Carpet - As you can see from my pictures, the carpet is pretty stained from 15 years of use. It looks like a replacement carpet runs $250 shipped.

Steering Slop - Is this "Rock Solid" steering bushing worth it? Has anyone tried it? Now that I have new ball joints, mine actually isn't that bad.
http://www.rocksolidramtrucksteering.com/

Radio - I currently have an aftermarket radio that kinda sucks and would like to add an OEM radio that is from a new truck. Would one of these fit? $99 on ebay.
http://i.ebayimg.com/t/O-E-M-Mopar-C...9h!~~60_57.JPG

Side view mirrors - are there any oem mirrors that could replace the power mirrors that I have now that aren't so old looking with the skinny bar mount? Would these mirrors work?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1998-2002-Do...94d45b&vxp=mtr

Thanks for looking. Any comments are welcome. Pictures of my truck below.
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/m...-12-22_327.jpg
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/m...-12-09_471.jpg
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/m...3-10-50_24.jpg
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/m...-11-30_102.jpg

 

Hate to be a jerk but, read the plenum thread.

Fix stuff before you start prettying your truck up.

 

That ain't a long box. It's a shorty, just sayin'.

 

Thanks for the tip. Jeez, I would hate to have to parallel park a longer truck everyday. This one is enough for me.

 

Thanks for the tip. I had no idea about this problem. It looks like a days worth of work. I should probably get this done soon. A family member bought this truck new so I highly doubt this has been fixed. It has 160k miles on it.

Other than the ball joints which I just replaced yesterday, there appears to be no problems with the truck so luckily I don't have much to fix.

 

Plenum, cap, rotor, plugs, wires, double roller timing set while your in there, new cat, transmission line check valve delete...then start purtying her up...

 

Thanks for the maintenance advice guys. I have read a great deal about these issues today. I will start to plan for the plenum fix.

Any advice for the updates which I mentioned?

 

You want a truck that just looks good or has some performance as well? I don't see anything in there that would add performance. Just dress up stuff. If thats all you want, then do a little research to see what will work. Then get the stuff you want to make the truck look like you want it to. If someone has experience with any of the items you have listed, hopefully they will chime in, otherwise, your on your own to do a little research to see if it will work or fit. Thats a nice looking truck, by the way, except for that fugly front license plate.....GO HOKIES!!!!

 

Is a new carpet in the mix with that interior upgrade. The front looks a little stained....not judging, mine is nasty as all get out too.

 

haha yeah trust me, I'd hate to park a long box too lol

Sorry I didn't have enough time to go further in my first post, just wanted to let you know it was a shorty.

As for upgrades, well, as jk said you may have to do most of the research on your own unfortunately.

Seats, there are threads on here about putting 3rd gen seats in with not alot of fab work. 4th gens not going to lie that is going to be tough. They are to new, not alot of people have tried taking from those trucks yet. That to me sounds like it would be quite a hassle, seeings how the stark difference between the 2nd gens and 4th gens. Why not throw some leather seats in your truck from a 2nd gen? Or get some iggee seat covers? The iggee's are friggin nice, expensive but definitely nice. The links for your seats/covers won't pull up for me sorry.


Wheels, if it's 4th gen wheels ya want... that is going to be tough. A few people have put 3rd gen rims on their trucks but not alot. 4th gen good luck, unless you get lucky. Perhaps a dealer could give you dimensions and could help you there? Might be able to give you an idea of how they would bolt up and stuff, and if you will run into any problems. Worth a shot.

Back-up camera. Not sure if I have seen one mounted on a 2nd gen yet. Wouldn't be to hard. And it definitely would be a nice mod! Magellon - I've heard LOTS of good reviews about them. A GPS unit is an awesome thing to have as well. So if you can swing it, get the GPS and the back up camera. win/win

Towing hitch absolutely! I have a hitch on my truck. I've hauled a 16ft car trailer multiple times with a car on it with no issues. I've hauled 10ft trailers loaded with scrap no problems. Haul snowmobiles no problem. Definitely a go there.

Carpet... your call. Bit of a pain, but no difficult by any means. Time consuming, but it will be nice when it is done.

Steering slop... never rule out the steering box. Do a search on here for steering slop/play and grab a soda, you should find something close to what you are experiencing.

Radio, again may not be a bad idea to go to a dealer and get some dimensions, then just measure and see. I've never really heard of anyone wanting to switch their aftermarket for an OEM style even if its newer, kinda new territory there.

Mirrors, there are threads of guys putting the 98-02 (technically 01 for half ton but they had the 2nd gen body style on the 2500's yet in 02) mirrors on their 94-97 rams. That is a pretty easy swap, nothing to difficult.

By the way, nice Ram I've always liked that color blue on a Dodge.