So I am starting this thread a little late, but better late than never. This was a family truck my Uncle left me when he passed. He was a second dad and I want to honor him by breathing new life into the rig. Three months have passed, a lot has been done....




Old tint being stripped off.

New ceramic coat limo tint, 30%


Pick a part scores, goal is keeping the build under 6k total. Scoring used parts wherever I can.

Swapping manual doors for pick a part doors with auto windows and mirrors.


New doors from a donor 1500.



Post dustless blasting, highly recommend it as an abrasive blasting method.

Prepping for primer, used an grinder with a plastic bristle attachment to get clean the metal and knock down the metal in prep for epoxy primer.


Great local painter, and teacher. He’s been a great teacher in regards to spraying and life. He has a 1997 2500, so it’s been fun cleaning her up.



Epoxy primer and with the Craigslist rims and new tires installed.

Swapping out the mirrors for the black plastic, later model Gen 2 mirrors.

Wiring complete thanks to a smart OP on the Dodge Forum.

Taking advantage and swapping out the speakers and adding sound deadener.

 

Going to strip the headliner today and save a few bucks at the upholstery shop. Using a wire brush on an angle grinder, with a razor blade and shotgun bore brush to clean up the edges.

Finished product


Finished product

 

Only problem I see is soldering the connections you won't be able to pull the mirror if needed. I would have used the connector.

Awesome truck!! Keeping it stock or lifting it?

 

Should have put a better picture in there, but used the original harness connection, just had splice in the new mirror wiring into the old.

Will look at lifting it, but probably going to tune up the motor first. Had the tranny rebuilt already (overdrive was fried when I got it)

Thanks for the feedback brother

 

 

Picked up an old tool box off Craigslist for 40.00...A lot of surface rust, but structurally in good shape.

Got this back yesterday, if you need a good dustless guy in Riverside, Kevin and Mike are both good guys. Mike knocked this out in 30 minutes both inside and out. A coat of epoxy primer and it will be color matched with the trucks final coat. My goal is too bring life out of old used parts.

 

That's good using the connector lol. So far I think you are spot on with what needs done. I arm liking this so far. Im restoring a 2500 to!

You are doing good focusing on the drivetrain first

 

Wow what a transformation you done with the truck, you must be a body guy. Curious if you have an auto or manual cummins? Best engine mod for a 12v is the 4gsk and adjust the afc for max rack travel. We usually just removed the fuel plate and let her buck. You could probably also do a rack plug, and max rack the barrels on the injection pump. Block off the wastegate from opening . Curious if the engine has had the killer dowel pin fix done? You could also bump the pump timing ahead to 18-20 deg's. You probably be over 400rwhp just doing these mods.

 

Mopar, thanks brother, would love to see what you are doing, and if you need spare parts let me know. I did three or four junk yard runs and have some extra stuff you may need.

Mike, thanks for the tips, definitely will be picking your brain on the tune up. She’s an auto, but not my first choice. Down the road I would like to swap it out. I plan on keeping her for life and with only 279,000 and clean motor it will be fun to see how many miles in my lifetime I can put on it.

Not a body guy, but learning from some pros. Definitely an art, but learning as best I can.

 

I would get the transmission upgraded with 47/48 stuff (extra clutches, more line pressure), cummins will kill automatics as easy as you can drink beer. I had one truck go thru 5 built transmission over 15 years of use. I had it dyno at 670rwhp and 1200 ft*lbs (02 VP44 truck), it was alot of fun, third gen brakes, fourth gen wheels, and 3500 watt stereo (ya even me was once I was young once). You can make your truck run a 10 second quarter mile truck, with the right mods. These 12v's make tons of power with nothing for mods.

I'm not a dodge auto 47/48re fan, the 68rfe works way better. I've built-up lots of cummins stuff over the years, unfortunately these days it was almost ten years ago. I currently own a 2010 dodge 6.7 68rfe truck. I probably had five 2nd gen diesels, one 2nd gen gaser (mighty 5.2L) and a bunch of third gens hemi's.