Still the original engine?

 

97 Laramie SLT 281,000 just did the 2nd side wheel bearing, left mirror has problem, & pass window no longer works , trans @ 240 . Great truck 318 auto 355 gears
The other one has 230,000 just did the signal switch & caliper rusted off yay MINNESOTA 318 auto 3.92 gears Long & strong. gotta love those 318's

 

"Still the original engine?"

Negative. Short block couple years ago, cleaned up the valves at home. Took a bit of looking to find an uncracked pair of heads to give the machinist. Got them done and swapped them on 30k? ago.
Had 200k on the 47RH done by TMI in Phoenix many years ago. Smoked it a bit off road on the fireline last summer, Oil was pretty dark. Transfer case jumped out of gear, sounded like I had junked it, rolled off side of Cat track, stuck in deep mud. Had a stash of parts I had been saving just for this, I rebuilt tranny and case when home for Christmas. Other than some clutches the transmission/OD was in outstanding shape, very surprised. I use Mopar ATF+4 must be some good stuff, changed it twice in 200k, once when adding a Hughes triple clutch converter.

 

Yeah, when I was looking for the replacement truck, I was truly astounded at the mileage some of the 8.0's had on em. I think the highest I was was a bit over 300K. Seeing them with over 250K on the original motor was not unusual. I got LUCKY finding mine. Only 132K on it when I bought it. (2017, I think....) Only at a bit over 160K now.

 

Yes, bought mine in 2001? from original owner, 136k on the clock. So I am guilty of the 264k added since. Towed quite a bit but never more than a loaded 20ft car hauler, lots of back and forth to TX and B.C. Be the last truck I buy for myself. Been an experimental toy.
So far:
Short block, .496 cam. .030 shaved heads, lightly ported, backcut/radiused Manley stainless valves for Viper. Mopar Performance ECM, Hughes Performance modified throttle body. Davis Unified coilpacks and wires. Rebuilt engine wiring harness.
Rebuilt tranny and case, Hughes towing converter, Sonnax servos and valve body parts/modifications. Deleted cooler check valve, changed cooler flow. Electric cooler fan. B&M deep pan.
Yukon front hub conversion. Heavy duty T-steering conversion. Front lift, 2.5 in., Bilstein 5100s all around. Steering brace and homemade box reinforcement.
Front tow hooks.
Sport headlight conversion with relay setup. Upgraded battery/starter and ground wiring to 0ga. Group 31 marine battery for the deep cycle feature.
Insulated roof/back of cab, swapped blue '95 interior for grey '97. Added tinted rear glass and remote mirrors as well as compass/temp overhead. 1200W inverter, satellite radio, cell phone booster. Small solar panel. Have internet everywhere I have cell service. Tranny temp, engine vacuum, and A/F ratio gauges.
Rear mounted 16k Warn.
285-75/18 DuraTracs, US Made Eagle rims.
Collapsible lumber rack project, unfinished.
If I relocate a shock mount and radius the frame, I can keep my undermounted spare.
Have stashed parts to:
Rebuild differentials, change ring/pinion to 3.73
Add second battery to frame behind cab. Relay/isolator setup.
Onboard dual ViAir compressor.
Cibie driving lights.
Just bought a Pierce 4k dump box conversion.
Truck has been bent couple times and everything not yet fixed is pretty well worn. I'll get to the body work/nit noy when this list is done.

Probably be done working on it about the time they take away our gasoline for wind up cars and FlintMobiles.

 

I bought the truck 7 yerars ago with 86,XXX, it now has 91,200 miles.

 

Wow...... less than 1000 miles a year??? Obviously not your daily driver.

 

got a 1997 dodge ram 1500 slt laramie club cab

376,712 mi.
cold air intake
cammed
straight piped
dana 60 rear axle

 

1994 v10 extended cab - 75000 miles. Only used to tow a small 5th wheel. Great truck, no issues. Doing complete brake job this year, other than that just oil change and fluid top offs from time to time.