First off I would like to say hello. First time posting here.

I purchased a Dodge Ram 1500 5.9L Gas 8 foot box with a 7.5 foot western plow.

PROBLEMS:
Knocking over bumps on driver side wheel.
Tranny double shifting or slipping. ( rebuilding or swap? )
Front end dipped
250k Motor ( engine rebuilding or swap ?)

Questions :

Front end dip?
What do I have to do for a proper correction other than just 2inch spacers? I installed gas magnum shocks by monroe, change springs too? add leveling hit? supersprings kit?

Rear end breaks? any conversions to disc brakes? change whole axle?

Was offered a 3rd generation hemi motor + tranny for a $1500 canadian but no idea if this is the ideal motor and tranny for what I do.

I really do not want to buy another truck I rather just spend a few grand and fix this one and keep it for awhile. Mind you its rusting away already. Is it worth for me to keep it and fix it or should I just swap it for a 2500HD ? Dodge, Ford , or GMC..

Used trucks a super cheap now, but Its hard make any money if i keep swaping trucks.

 

add 2500 coils to make it sit level rebulid both my trann dubble shifts at 40-50.

 

yeh double shifts around 40-50, K 2500 coils sounds good.

Thanks

 

Most will say a 1500 isn't the best for plowing. Some will also say the 2500 coil thing is a bad idea. If your gonna be doing a lot of plowing i'd get a 2500

 

What's ploughing?

 

WOW...don't mean to be a ***** but it sounds like you bought a heap of junk! It's RUSTING and you think it might need a new engine and transmission?! On top of that, a 1500 isn't a great choice for snow plowing. Dump that piece of crap for something bigger...

 

Get the 2500 springs,.. Had them on my '96 1500 for over ten years now,..
It won't sag. In the back I have 2 inch blocks under the leafs,..No problems.
Standard-type shocks won;t matter. They will last you one season of plowing
then, off to the shock-store for the rest of the year. get a BIG trans cooler if
your gonna plow. Just plow slow & easy with that trans and you'll be ok.
I've replaced my trans at 170,000 on the clocks. I'm now at 263,000 and I think
the trans is showing signs every now and then of needing a rebuild again.

 

probably ball joints on front. could be bearings.

rebuild trans. look for reputation, experience, and warranty, especially warranty with plowing. swap with another junkyard stock is just more junk.

look into www.timbren.com for rubber springs.

depends on your tolerance for downtime. someone recently posted links for complete long blocks rebuilt for around 1800

 

didnt we already have 2 plow trucks break down this season or was it just 1?

 

The knocking in the front on the one side could easily just be the shock bolt is loose. Or... it could be ball joints, wheel bearings, axle shaft joint...

As far as leveling it, I would put a set of 3/4 ton coils on it with some add-a-leafs to level it out. They work good with the addition of a plow... much stiffer spring rate.

My dad had a 2000 regular cab short box we used for a plow truck. Front straight blade, rear blade, and diesel springs with add-a-leafs. It was an awesome little plow truck... nice and short and steered really sharp. But, plan on replacing everything in the front end about once a year. Ball joints, wheel bearings, axle shafts joints, track bar... none of it lasts very long with a plow hanging off it.

And hopefully you got this truck cheep from the condition it sounds like its in... and I mean CHEEP. My dad sold his plow truck for 5 grand with about 160k miles. The motor/tranny/transfer case worked great (tranny and transfer had been rebuilt... at least once). Heck, the front and rear plows were worth that much alone, ha!