Well here's the story...

My first truck was a 98 dodge ram sport, rcsb 4x4 lifted 4 inches on 33's. I got it when I was in 11th grade as it was my older brothers truck first. I drove the truck for a few years then last semptember I went and bought an 06 hemi ram straight up, paid in full. They wouldn't give me **** for the 98 since it has 118,000 on the clock and I backed into a huge dumpster on our property when I was 15 so the rear drivers quarter is kind of rough (very fixable though) but now this truck just sits on the street in front of my house collecting dust and it really is not a bad truck.

Here is the deal, my 06 is having some weird issues and it will probably end up being bought back by dodge so I will have $23,000 back in my account. I was looking at other things and my girlfriends dad said "why don't you drive that ram sitting on your street?" Well it got me thinking, perhaps I could fix it all nicely and build it up better as my DD/bike hauler/hunting & fishing mobile.

Right now the motor runs fine but I am blowing blue smoke out when it starts every now and then, not burning oil or coolant so i am not sure of the issue on that.

transmission is starting to wonder around and slip a tad when in cruise control.

needs suspension reworking since I do not need a lift, especially 4 inches for 33's so I may do something so it is only 2 inches.

I came up with a list for what I need/want to have it street driveable again and have me enjoy it.

motor/tranny rebuild (should solve all my issues with them)

headers, intake, exhaust

tube bumper F/R with a winch mount, tow hooks etc

tint, herculiner, new paint and hit the bottom/axles and suspension parts/frame with black rustoleum (no rust yet but the stuff just looks old)

new A/C

regear to 4.10 since I am running 3.55's right now I think and 33's.

The motor/tranny rebuild is the only real expense and unless I will not do that myself so what do you guys think I am in for when it comes to prices on that done at a shop? If I end up doing this and I still have some extra dough left over after a nice compound bow and a new bike then I may do a 1 ton swap so I just need to know what to expect in terms of price from the motor and tranny rebuild. The motor is the 5.2, 318.

Thank you very much guys, I will keep you posted with this project if it happens.

 

For a motor rebuild, the price will vary widely depending on what you have done. There are several companies out there that will build motors and send them to you, though. Then you just have to drop them in. If you want a performance engine, you should look into that.

 

i would get a new truck a cheaper one say 17,000, and fix the older dodge...and there you go use the older one as a daily driver.use the new one when you are not hauling stuff, fishing ,or whatever else you like to do.