How's the clear coat? Mine started going in 2014 and it's really bad now. But I got 15 years out of a black truck being always parked outside so I can't complain.

My driver's door is starting to rust at the pinch mold too. Could you get a new lower door and weld in then just bed liner it? That would be a cool two-tone contrast to it but not break the bank.

I miss seeing these trucks everywhere as they are the best looking trucks ever built! Man! Have you seen the 5th gens? barf. At least there's still a bunch around out here being no salt and totally Dodge country. Once you hit Montana, it becomes Dodge Ram world. It's awesome.

Yes, the bypass hose should have a bead of sealant around it where it enters the water pump. The pipe is pretty loose and the o-ring barely fits anyway. Turns out I had to do it twice to get it right. Have to insert it into the hole while setting the hook into the bolt tightly first, then tighten down. I initially put it into the pump, then installed the bolt and it didn't seal well that way.

 

Are you talking about the return line for the heater core??

 

It's just starting to wear through the clear coat on a spot in the hood. Other than that, it's not bad yet.
I thought about this, but it doesn't really help me bed issue as where it's rusting (only about the size of a quarter now) I'd have to go up to high. I'm not sure what I'm going to go. I may tackle it next summer. Or I may try to find some rust free just k yard parts.

Yeah, for me I have some strange attachment to my truck. For a while now I've said the next owner of my truck will be the junk yard. I just don't think I can let it go. I know it's not the greatest truck in the world, but I've had it for 13 years and I have a lot of memories that go with it. That combined with the fact that when I need a truck enough to have one, but I can't justify spending $50k plus on a new one that would barely get used makes me willing to spend some money keeping mine running. I can do a lot of work to mine for $10,000 and still be a fraction of the cost of a new truck and I'll be able to do the things I need a truck for just as well, if not better that if I had a new one. So for me getting something else just doesn't make sense.

Are you talking about the metal tube with the o ring that goes in the water pump on the driver's side and the heater core return hose hooks to? I did use rtv on this.

The bypass hose is the short rubber hose that runs from the top of the water pump to the intake manifold. I didn't use any sealant on it. I'm hoping I don't have to redo any of this, but if I do at least I know how to do it now.


Now I've just got to decide what to do about the exhaust. I used to have a dual exhaust with a Flowmaster 40 and I loved it. However, after it rusted out I just welded up a pipe with no muffler and a turn down at the axle. It didn't sound nearly as good, but was a fraction of the price of the dual exhaust. I'm not sure I want to spend $450 on another dual exhaust that didn't last that long, so I'm debating doing a Flowmaster with a turndown or just another piece of pipe with no muffler for a turn down. I know which one sounds better, but I also know which one is cheaper and will hold up better, so it's a tough decision for me. I'm hoping to attack that next week.

 

Yes, yes, yes. I'm sorry guys. I meant the stupid metal pipe that goes in the pump. The heater hose. Got my terms mixed up. It gave me so much grief this year that I was thinking through rage.

I'm in the same boat with the exhaust! I had a beautiful custom exhaust with a flowmaster delta 50 with dual 4" angle tips out the side. Loved it! One of the pipes finally broke last year so I threw on a pipe and a glasspack. Sounds okay. Miss the setup! It actually freed up a bit of power though going to the Thrush.