Major overhaul on a newly purchased truck.
Thread Starter
|
Rookie
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
From: White Mountains, NH
Major overhaul on a newly purchased truck.
Heh, warning, I tend to write alot...
Some background info:
I have a Dodge Ram 2500 which I just purchased in private sale. I took it for a short test drive and had it taken to a shop to ensure it would pass inspection. I was advised that there was a power steering box leak, the track bar bushings were worn, and the tires were borderline passable, but told that only the missing rear bumper needed replacing to take a sticker. I replaced the bumper and brought it back in to them and now they tell me it needs a rather large amount of work before it will take a sticker. Rather than have them do the work and put the cheapest things they can find in to make it pass, I would rather do things properly the first time, so I'm here for a bit of advice.
First: The steering gearbox is obviously gone, leaking like a sieve. I'm currently thinking about going PSC, but I'm not sure exactly what: Replace the gearbox, upgrade with a Stage 1 kit, or what.
Second: The track bar is notorious as a weak link in the front end, so if I'm going to replace it I might as well upgrade it to adjustable. Do I go with the DT Tracbar Kit, Spohn Performance, Skyjacker, or someplace else I've not heard of. This of course begs the next question:
Do I level or lift? I'm a big fan of the Tuff Country kits. Do I go 2in Leveling, or all the way to the 4.5in Kit with Shocks. The tires need replacing and are currently 265/75R16, I planned to replace them with 285/75R16 Firestone Destination M/Ts, but if I lift I could go up to 315/75R16s. The driving I do off road is trail driving, no rock crawling and no blasting through a mud pit, a decent amount of travel is needed, but flotation and traction is key, hence the bigger tires and I'd prefer not to do a massive lift.
Then we come to brakes. Brake lines have been replaced, but at the moment the rear drums are rotted and have unevenly worn the shoes, so the rear brakes need replacing. The front driver side caliper is also frozen and needs replacing plus hose. Any recommendations? My current thought process was to stick with Centric components, SportStop Crossdrilled and Slotted Rotors, Calipers, Premium Semi-Metallic Pads, Premium Drums, and Severe Duty Shoes.
So the last and most important question. Do I bother with all of this? It's a 5.9L Gas engine with 106k miles. Frames in good shape and undercoated, New bed and fenders with a new coat of paint, interior's going to require some replacement parts and seat covers, but is it worth it to invest all this money in this truck in your opinion? You should also know the shop which made the screw up offered to bring it to inspect-able shape for $1100 (minus tires). That's with only replacing one front caliper and hose, no disks, rear drums and shoes, ball joints (which I didn't even mention here yet), track bar with OEM and steering box with OEM. If it was my dream truck (01-02 3500 SLT/Laramie Sport with HO Cummins) I'd have no problem building it up, but this isn't my dream truck...
Any further info you need on my truck:
2000 Ram 2500 ST Quad Cab Long Bed
5.9L V8, Automatic, 4WD
RWAL Drums, Factory Overload Springs
Ask if anything else is needed/ pertinent.
Thanks in advance!
Some background info:
I have a Dodge Ram 2500 which I just purchased in private sale. I took it for a short test drive and had it taken to a shop to ensure it would pass inspection. I was advised that there was a power steering box leak, the track bar bushings were worn, and the tires were borderline passable, but told that only the missing rear bumper needed replacing to take a sticker. I replaced the bumper and brought it back in to them and now they tell me it needs a rather large amount of work before it will take a sticker. Rather than have them do the work and put the cheapest things they can find in to make it pass, I would rather do things properly the first time, so I'm here for a bit of advice.
First: The steering gearbox is obviously gone, leaking like a sieve. I'm currently thinking about going PSC, but I'm not sure exactly what: Replace the gearbox, upgrade with a Stage 1 kit, or what.
Second: The track bar is notorious as a weak link in the front end, so if I'm going to replace it I might as well upgrade it to adjustable. Do I go with the DT Tracbar Kit, Spohn Performance, Skyjacker, or someplace else I've not heard of. This of course begs the next question:
Do I level or lift? I'm a big fan of the Tuff Country kits. Do I go 2in Leveling, or all the way to the 4.5in Kit with Shocks. The tires need replacing and are currently 265/75R16, I planned to replace them with 285/75R16 Firestone Destination M/Ts, but if I lift I could go up to 315/75R16s. The driving I do off road is trail driving, no rock crawling and no blasting through a mud pit, a decent amount of travel is needed, but flotation and traction is key, hence the bigger tires and I'd prefer not to do a massive lift.
Then we come to brakes. Brake lines have been replaced, but at the moment the rear drums are rotted and have unevenly worn the shoes, so the rear brakes need replacing. The front driver side caliper is also frozen and needs replacing plus hose. Any recommendations? My current thought process was to stick with Centric components, SportStop Crossdrilled and Slotted Rotors, Calipers, Premium Semi-Metallic Pads, Premium Drums, and Severe Duty Shoes.
So the last and most important question. Do I bother with all of this? It's a 5.9L Gas engine with 106k miles. Frames in good shape and undercoated, New bed and fenders with a new coat of paint, interior's going to require some replacement parts and seat covers, but is it worth it to invest all this money in this truck in your opinion? You should also know the shop which made the screw up offered to bring it to inspect-able shape for $1100 (minus tires). That's with only replacing one front caliper and hose, no disks, rear drums and shoes, ball joints (which I didn't even mention here yet), track bar with OEM and steering box with OEM. If it was my dream truck (01-02 3500 SLT/Laramie Sport with HO Cummins) I'd have no problem building it up, but this isn't my dream truck...
Any further info you need on my truck:
2000 Ram 2500 ST Quad Cab Long Bed
5.9L V8, Automatic, 4WD
RWAL Drums, Factory Overload Springs
Ask if anything else is needed/ pertinent.
Thanks in advance!
Professional
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 151
Likes: 0
From: Mentor, OH
Why spend money on a truck that isn't your dream truck? I would say get the 2500 running enough to pass inspection, save the money you were going to toss into this one, and put it on a down payment for your dream truck. At least, that's what I would do. =)
Professional
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 152
Likes: 0
From: South Carolina
^^^^^What he said^^^^^
Spending a bunch of money on a truck you don't plan to keep may not be wise. Getting it squared away to drive but not much more is probably a good way to go. I've screwed up like that before and just wasted money in the end...
Having said that, installing good quality upgrades for your OEM replacement parts isn't that bad. I purchased Moog parts for my track bar plus all of my front parts and I'm happy with them.
Spending a bunch of money on a truck you don't plan to keep may not be wise. Getting it squared away to drive but not much more is probably a good way to go. I've screwed up like that before and just wasted money in the end...
Having said that, installing good quality upgrades for your OEM replacement parts isn't that bad. I purchased Moog parts for my track bar plus all of my front parts and I'm happy with them.