I have a 97 1500 with a 318. The truck has about 101000 mi on it and has never had a new cap or rotor (just got the truck 3000 mi ago). I normally do not have a problem working on vehicles and doind the tune-up, however the dist. is under the dashboard (seems like it at least) and looks to be almost impossible to get to. Does anyone have any secrets to changing the cap and button on these trucks?

 

I really don't have any "tricks" for you, but I can provide sympathy for you. lol. It sucked getting that thing off and lined back up right when I did mine. I trashed a rotor button in the process, so I guess my only advice really is to just be patient and take your time to make sure all lines back up and fits on right. I had to stand on the bumper and lean over the whole engine bay to work on the stinkin' thing. A nice cool engine would be best advised for this. Its not too bad, just rather time consuming. Hopefully others will be able to give you better advise than I.

 

I feel for you. Been there done that. As he said take your time. Good sense of sight with your hands. A step ladder next to the side worked for me.

By the way, now that I have a 3" body lift there is more room to get to it... Just had to go up a step on the ladder...

 

it was wicked easy to change out the cap and wires when i had the intake plenum off...something you should check to see if yours is blown... very common problem on the rams

 

thanks for the sympothy, I guess I will give it a try and see how baddly i screw it up today.

 

It's realy not as bad as it looks. You need to be able to feel around and tell where you are at just by touch. The cap and rotor on my truck was the first one I have ever replaced so it just seems normal to me. The best was I have found to do it is climb in the engine bay and sit on the fender and if you have to much trouble take the throttle body of and lay a towel over the intake so you don't get anything in there. It would probubly also be a good idea to clean your throttle body and all the sensors as well while you have it off. Also get a flashlight and a small mirror and look down the holes of the intake and make sure there is no oil pooling at the bottom. A light film is normal but if there is oil pooling then your plenum gasket is blown and needs to be replaced.

I know this is a little more info than you asked for but I hope it helps.

 

The 318 may be differn't but on my 360 once I took the air box and everything off it wasn't all that hard to get too.

 

Its at PITA, thats for sure. Way I did it was to stand on the bumper, then kneel on that brace going in front of the rad. Kneel of on that and lean foward and brace yourself on something, then youy can reacdh around back there with both hards.

Good luck seeing what your going though haha!

I have a body lift and now its really easy to get to with that extra 3" of view and clearance!