Is it a misfire??

 

if it was a misfire It would have to be 2-3 cylinders not firing to shake that bad, and there is no misfire code.... And it runs way too well. I'm borrowing my brothers 99 1500, same motor. I pulled one, then two wires and ran it and not even close to same symptoms.

this morning I pulled them belt, thinking (and hoping) it might be one of the belt driven accessories messed up, but same problem. I'm starting to lean toward maybe the damper/harmonic balancer being messed up. It has about a 1/8th" wobble to it looking from the back side. Thing is, I looked at the one on the other truck and it's about the same. It feels like something is very off balance from the time it starts to any rpm range. When it's not today, I'm going to start some more diagnostics.

 

Broken engine mount? Trans mount?

 

Nah. I think it might be something internal, maybe something on the crankshaft throwing it out of balance. I'm thinking harmonic balancer, chipped piston, maybe the tail of the crankshaft is warped. Something like that. Really I feel like just revving it up to 5k till it breaks so I can go 'aha! It was THIS' then rip it apart and fix it.

actually, I decided to buy another one. I'm gonna fix this truck soon but it's my d.d. and only vehicle. I found a 98 1500 with 90k miles on it for 2700

 

If you have the 5.9 maybe one of the weights came off the flex plate

 

Neither weight came off, but I replaced it anyways. I'm wondering if the crankshaft got bent or twisted from everything wobbling in there.

got some good leads on 02/03/04 rams tho. Going to look at one tomorrow for 3500. Probably buy it.

 

I'd NEVER get rid of my 2nd gen. NEVER!!

 

why not? Actually, I have no plans to get rid of it at the moment.... park it, yes. But realistically is has $580 in back registration, a cracked windshield, body damage on the passenger bed, 274,000 miles, leaks oil, burns oil, has a torn up interior, bad pinion bearing..... and as-is I might be able to rip someone off for $500 for it.

My end goal though is to just park it because dropping 3500 on a new truck is gonna break me, but it will also let me fix the truck when I have time and get some more money. The thing really just needs a rebuilt motor and the pinion bearing fixed, it's been bad since I bought it at 142,000 miles and looking at the yolk a few days ago when I took off the driveshaft I was like ho lee **** this thing is screwed up. It had like 1/2" side to side play. I'm surprised it hasn't flown apart yet.

 

I sunk about 8K in my first ever second gen before someone hit me. Here is why I would never get rid if mine:
Simple to work on
Love the body, best looking Ram in my opinion
So much room in the engine bay
Did I mention not a lot of electronics which makes it easy to work on?
Work horses
Damn tanks

 

Yep it easy to work on, when you can properly diagnose the problem. LOL.

anyways, I was just messing with it and the IAC was getting stuck but after I got it to idle I could hear a good knock, not super loud where you'd want to say 'shut it down quick', I would normally not notice it or if i did not be too concerned.... but it's definitely there - sounded like valvetrain. Also, while revving it, it was sputtering intermittently then not holding to 3k rpm, it would suddenly drop to 2500 with the same amount of throttle. I pulled the 1 3 5 7 side plugs and 1 and 3 were normal, 5 and 7 had some fuel or what i assume is fuel, wet / shiny compared to the 1 and 3 plugs. I pulled the valve cover and turned it over and it appears everythings moving, but i can hear a very high pitched metal on metal squeal. Checked the oil, still clean (brand new), and no signs of metal or anything abnormal. I have a feeling I run it any more it'll get a catastrophic failure.