Well I just became the second owner of a 97 Ram 1500 4X4 yesterday. I am currently stationed in Iraq and my wife got it for me as a replacement for my lifted 97 Jeep Grand Cherokee. (which means I am very familiar with the 5.2) So I have not actually seen it yet. I know that may sound strange to some but this was not an impulse purchase. I have wanted one for a long time and I found exactly what I was looking for on the internet and jumped on it. From the pictures I recieved and a good description I believe I got a pretty good deal. Purchased from a small dealer who recieved it from the original owner it has the SLT package, Brilliant blue pearl coat (which I was insistant on, and must not have been a popular color that year because it is hard to find). Anywho I recieved a build sheet from Crysler and have read a lot of posts concerning factory OEM lifts. I read that the build sheet will not actually say 4X4 package on pre 98 vehicles. I also read that the 4X4 package includes a t/c skidplate. Mine has the skid plate and my wife has described lift blocks over the rear axle, but can not tell me how tall they are. She did state that their were no spacers in the front springs, but even my neighbor says it sits higher. (like a sport) Does the Heavy Duty Service Group come with taller springs? It also came with 265X75R16 tires. So here is the build sheet, I am hopeing sombody can tell me in inches if and how high this oem lift is. My goal is to install BFG 285X75R16 or possibly BFG 305X70R16 tires.


According to our records, your vehicle was equipped from the factory with the following:

*P1 - Premium Cloth 40/20/40 Bench Seat
-C3 - Mist Gray
ADAP - Light Group
ADJ - Heavy Duty Service Group
AHC - Trailer Tow Group
AJKP - Convenience Group
AJPP - Power Convenience Group
APAS - Monotone Paint
ASPP - SLT Decor Group
AWK - Travel Convenience Group
A05P - 5.2L Engine(ELF)/4Sp Auto Trans(DGT) BAZP - 136 Amp Alternator BCQP - 750 Amp Maintenance Free Battery BGJS - Pwr Disc/Drum Rr Anti-Lock Brakes BKAS - 11x2 Rear Drum Brakes CBEP - 40/20/40 Split Bench Seat CGTS - Driver Air Bag Only CHEP - Deluxe Headliner CKEP - Front Seat Area Carpet CLAP - Front Floor Mats CSPS - Passenger Assist Handle CSRP - Passenger Assist Handles CUNP - Overhead Console

DGB - All 4-Speed Automatic Transmissions DGTS - 4-Spd. Automatic 46RE Transmission DHAP - Lock-Up Torque Converter DHKS - Shift-on-the-Fly,231HD Transfer Case DJCS - Dana M44/216MM Front Axle DMDP - 3.55 Axle Ratio DRBP - Corporate 9.25 LD Rear Axle EAAC - All Engines ELF - 5.2L V8 MPI Engine GACS - Tinted Glass Windows GBBS - Tinted Windshield Glass GCBS - Front Door Tinted Glass GFD - Rear Sliding Window GNKP - Rear View Auto Dim Mirror GNMP - Passenger Side Sun Visor w/Mirror GPPP - Power 6 x 9 Bright Mirrors GVBC - All Vehicles W/Power Mirrors HAAP - Air Conditioning HGAP - Hood Insulation HGBS - Dash Liner Insulation JAYP - Instrument Cluster w/Tach JCBS - 120 MPH Primary Speedometer JHAS - Var Intermittent Windshield Wipers JJAS - Cigar Lighter JJBP - Dual Note Electric Horns JJJS - 12V Auxiliary Power Outlet JPAP - Power Windows JPBP - Power Locks

KRSP - STRIPE/BADGE/MOLDING/COLOR
KTSP - STRIPE/BADGE/MOLDING/COLOR
K1XP - STRIPE/BADGE/MOLDING/COLOR
K17P - STRIPE/BADGE/MOLDING
LAAP - Ignition Time Delay Lamp
LBAP - Map/Courtesy Lamp
LBCP - Glove Box Lamp
LDAP - Underhood Lamp
LMAS - Halogen Headlamps
LNJ - Fog Lamps
LPEP - Cargo Lamp
MBFP - Bright Rear Bumper
MCTP - Bright Front Bumper
MDAP - Front License Plate Bracket
MFDS - Bright Grille
MHAS - Black Windshield Moldings
MPBP - Black Tailgate Applique
MWDS - Removable Tailgate w/Caliper Latches MXBS - Front Air Dam MXCP - Front Bumper Sight Shields NAA - Federal Emissions NBHP - High Altitude Emissions Tracking NBKP - EVAP Control System NFWS - 26 Gallon Fuel Tank NHBP - Auxiliary Transmission Oil Cooler NHMP - Speed Control NMCP - Heavy Duty Engine Cooling PCHA - Brilliant Blue Pearl Coat

QCHS - Brilliant Blue Pearl Coat
RAAC - All Radio Equipped Vehicles
RAZ - AM/FM Cassette Compact Disc Radio RCEP - Infinity Speakers RDDP - Fixed Long Mast Antenna SBAS - Power Rack and Pinion Steering SCVP - Leather Wrapped Steering Wheel SFBS - Front Heavy Duty Shock Absorbers SGBS - Rear Heavy Duty Shock Absorbers SHAS - Front Stabilizer Bar SUAP - Tilt Steering Column TBBS - Full Size Spare Tire TBMP - Tire Carrier Winch TXW - P265/75R16 OWL On/Off Road Tires TZAP - Goodyear Brand Tires WDB - 16X7.0 Chrome Wheels WLBP - Steel Spare Wheel WLYC - All Steel Wheels WMJP - Center Hub XBSS - Pickup Box XCMS - Vendor Painted Cargo Box XEFP - Transfer Case Skid Plate Shield YAAS - Build To U S Market Specifications YGEA - 5 Additional Gallons of Gas ZBSP - Spring - Left Rear ZHDP - Spring - Left Front ZPSP - Spring - Right Rear ZWCP - Spring - Right Front Z6AS - GVW/Payload Rating

0EGA - No description found
1AAS - U.S. Dealer Retail
174S - Zone 74-Denver
2TGA - Customer Preferred Package 2TG 24G - Customer Preferred Package 24G 3VTA - Customer Preferred Discount 4KZS - 4X4 Tracking 4XQP - Pickups Air Bag Tracking 5A6P - Waterbase Paint 5IGS - NM-Vehicle Family 5IVS - P2-Vehicle Family
6F3 - Paint Order Code
606S - Colorado State Code
906S - Colorado State Code

 

Sounds like a great truck Bro, I know you can't wait to get back and try her out...In the meantime stay safe- and on a personal note, Thank-you for doing your duty so far from home. It must be really tough! Hang in there, and get back to your family & RAM ASAP...

 

sounds nice, pretty much the same truck I have. You should ahve no problem with 285/75/16 on there. that is what size my summer tires are. you get a little rub at full turn but not bad. I'm not sure about the 305's but I'm sure someone on here can let you know about them. good luck with it. take care over there and get back fast and safe.

 

Doesn't have a lift unless the previous owner put it on. The Sport models aren't lifted at all, its just the trim thats diffrent. The only option that comes lifted is the Off Road package, and they only made those in '00, '01. As for the lift blocks the rear comes factory with them on 4x4s, they're only like 2" I think just to level it out a bit.

As for the heavy duty group and towing package thast just means it came with a reciever on the back with a 7pin connecter. Also has a factory transmission cooler up front.

Dodges seem to sit a bit higher then other 1/2 tons so thats probably why they said it looks higher

The 285s will probably clear with no lift, but your gonna have to adjust the steering stop so they don't rub on the control arms. As for the 305s, with a 3" lift and some offset rims you should be okay.

Good luck, stay safe, and happy thanksgiving!

 

So does that mean that if I were to order a 3 inch lift kit it would come with 5 inch blocks to replace the factory 2 inch ones? Or does it come with a 3 inch block you are supposed to stack on top of the factory one? Because if it comes with a 3 inch block I think I would rather order a kit that comes with a rear add a leaf and leave the stock block alone, rather than stack blocks. Also I noticed that the standard 3 inch kits do not come with a track bar bracket or sway bar drop down brackets or new drop down pitman arm. Is this not a problem on the 1500's with a 3 inch lift?

 

with a 3 inch lift you'll be fine. you dont need to start replacing all those steering components till upwards of 4+ inches.. as for the lift blocks, no they dont replace the factory 1 you can stack blocks (like i did, i got a 3 inch lift from rough country which came with 3 inch spacers for the front and 1.5 inch blocks in the back) or get a kit with a AAL.. how a 4x4 sits as it is.. it'll clear 285's.. with a 3 inch lift you can clear 315's with STOCK wheels with little rubbing.. if you get offroad wheels that are offsetted they will rub on the body when you turn (trust me i know) in that case you'll need to go upwards of a 5 inch lift to clear 35's (315's) but yes. 3 inch lift will clear 315's with stock wheels. how it is now it clears 285's. and no they dont replace the factory lift block in the back.


2wd rams dont come with the blocks in the back and smaller front coils.
4x4's come with 2 inch blocks in the back with bigger coils in the front
4x4 offroad's come with a AAL plus the 2 inch blocks and even longer coils. making it sit 2 inches higher then a 4x4

 

Not to beat a dead horse but... if you lift the truck 1.5 inches in the rear your track bar, which is mounted to the frame will not mount exactly in the same place on the axle as it did before. It will move left or right depending on which side of the frame it is attatched to. Same goes for the front end only more, because you are lifting the front 3 inches. If you dont have an adjustable track bar or a relocation bracket or re drill holes then the axle will not sit evenly from left to right. I would thing that the front end would move the axle 1 inch in iether direction. This was the single most difficult problem for me when I lifted my 97 Grand Cherokee in 1998 because they do not make an adjustable track bar for that vehicle.