Hello guys,
Within the next few weeks I plan on starting up my truck that has been sitting for about 3-4 years. It's been a project on the back burner needing a tranny rebuild and now I would like to get back into it. 1996 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 extended cab. So is there anything I need to do to the engine before I crank it over for the first time?

 

Fresh gas, change the oil, I would be tempted to pull the spark plugs, and give each cylinder a squirt of oil as well......

Don't be surprised if it doesn't want to start.

 

^Yeah, maybe just turn engine over by hand first at the crank pulley. eeek

Pull valve covers to toss some oil on directly.

I'm curious how it goes!!

 

10 bucks it fires right up

 

I'll take that bet, too. As long as you have a good strong battery and the battery connections are clean and tight, the motor is full of oil and there's fuel in the tank, I suspect it will fire right up, as long as the truck was in a decent state of tune prior to it running last.

 

Only one way to prove it, YouTube.

 

LOL, Will do. It will be a week or so yet but when I put it in the garage the motor ran great

 

I was gonna change plugs,wires,cap and rotor. Any brand recommendations or ones I should stay away from?

 

Generally these trucks like plain ole copper plugs. I can't remember if I did a new cap/rotor/plugs when I did my plenum repair but if I did it was AutoZone brand and they haven't failed me yet

 

Priming the motor in these things is a PIA, I'd pull the fuel pump relay, or coil wire and let it spin to lubricate the motor and build oil pressure.