Hi

I've been a Dodge fan for quite some time now and finally purchased a Dodge pick up. Its the 1998 Ram 1500 Club Cab Laramie SLT. Loaded with the 318, 4 speed auto.

I'm going to be moving from Maine to Indiana soon and was wanting to know what I should definitely work on before I go for the trip.

Thanks!

 

How many miles on it?

Check the plenum, if it hasn't been fixed yet, do that, and the timing chain and gears (if near/over 100k miles)

Trans fluid/filter/band adjustment.

Tune up.... (plugs, wires, cap, rotor, pcv valve, air filter. PCV from the dealer, they actually have the correct flow rate..... only about 8 bucks.)

Look at all of your brakes, and lines. Especially the one that runs above the gas tank.... it's notorious for rusting out and breaking.....

Check all the rest of the fluids.

Welcome to DF! Be sure to check out the plenum thread at the top of this forum.

 

I'll check those out. I know right now I just have to replace that brake line box mounted on the rear axle, not too big of a deal. It does have 177k miles on it and the previous owner said the trans was rebuilt in '08, so roughly 50k ago, I know I'm definitely changing all of the fluids. I just put pics on my profile (not sure if I did it right) and I did get plenty of parts with it. Thankfully. lol

 

ok first you need to swap in some Dana 60s, at least 4.10 rations too. Probably wanna get the rear disc brakes also.

Then you need to put a Mega Viper trans so your tranny wont crap out on you

next comes the real fun, stroke it to, whatever you stroke a 318 too. lol POWER

Now you need some fuzzy dice

Oh wait im getting ahead of myself spending other people's money again

Im jk, welcome to the club

 

Lol, thanks! I know I'll like this forum compared to my old Saturn's forum. They weren't very friendly

 

We're friendly, most of the time that is lol

You should post info about your truck, and a pic( we LOVE pics, more the better) in your signature. Its under the user control panel

 

Well, here it is, the truck has some rust repair here and there but it wasn't done right unfortunately. It's got the 318 4 speed auto. Two door edition. 6 foot bed on it. Tow set up on it. I do know the U-Joint on the passenger side needs replacing. I am replacing that little junction box for the brakes on the rear axle. Um.....I'm still working on finding out more about the truck. It is a great truck already, I tell you that much.

 

I think that little box on the rear axle is part of the soft line that comes down from the body.

Nice garage..... can I have it when you move?

 

This is true. It's a hyrdaulic fitting. Have to get the soft line, it comes with the block.

It would be a great time to replace that line that goes by the gas tank also

 

Also if your going to be towing anything make sure to put an aux trans cooler on and do the check valve delete in the trans line at the bottom of the radiator.
Run trans fluid thru aux then thru radiator, it helps maintain proper trans fluid temp.
If you run it thru rad first then thru aux cooler, in the winter fluid wont get to proper temp and trans wont shift into OD.

Dave