New Ram owner / First truck
Thread Starter
|
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 251
Likes: 0
From: Colorado Rockey Mtns
New Ram owner / First truck
Hello Dodge Forum so I'll try to give yall a solid intro to me, my truck, and the work I've done. I am a new member to this sight and also a new owner to a 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 Sport. Second Crystler ever owned (had an Eagle Summit as my first car in Highschool).
I recently purchased this truck after owning a 95 Chevy Blazer for 6-7 years. The vacume/electric 4x4 was a nightmare on that truck and after about 250K of otherwise reliable miles I decided it was time to buy a full size truck for several reasons; I live in the Rockey Mountains working as a Professional Snowboard Coach so 4x4 that's reliable is a MUST. I own a snowmobile and though my Blazer towed it just fine I like the idea of tossing it in my bed and not having to tow a trailor, clearance, and the ablility to move stuff around / haul loads (firewood, moving apartments and such).
After about four months of serching GMs, Fords, Dodges, and Toyotas, I came across this 2001 Ram truck new in on trade at a dealer. So new in on trade that it had some issues and had yet to be washed and detailed, that and there was a discrepancy on the miles since the odometer was broken for a year and had recently been fixed I was able to pick it up for a good price (about $2,000 under a lot of other trucks I had looked at were priced).
So began some cleanup work:
-I removed all the doofy Ram symbol accesories, Ram symbol tail light covers, Ram stearing wheel cover, Ram floor mats, Ram logo 4th brake light in the reese hitch.
-Upper dash had cracks and holes, replaced that with a new one from Mopar
-Fixed the interior dome lights
-Replaced a leaky power stearing line
-Replaced the two license plate lights. It needed pig tail harneses, the old ones were melted and just hanging from the rear
-Replaced the right upper and lower ball joints and axel shaft seal
-New front brake rotors and pads
-Oil change/filter
-Spark Plugs, wires, cap and rotor
-Air filter box was cracked and in need of a new filter as well, so I just went with a Spectra Ram Air intake/filter (give the engin bay a little bling).
-OEM exhaust was in need of two new claps, so that fixed a minor exhaust leak it had.
-The tranny fluid was waaaaaaaaaaaay (like nearly a quarter of the dipstick) over filled causing it to hesitate to shift. I drained it and added new fluid/filter. Smoothed her right out.
-In the middle of replacing all 8 fuel injectors now. It has to crank for a minute to start. I have ruled out that it's the fuel pump, regulator, relay, or temp sensor causing this. The truck smells of gas when it starts so my next guess is I have a bad injector that leaks out when the truck is turned off, Ill give an update once finished.
-Took it to get an alignment.
-Added an Eagle Topper/Cap from Craigslist since I travel a bit and live in a alpine winter climate I need room carry Snowboards/Gear and such.
-Also tracked town a matching aluminum wheel and a used tire for a spare. I had to dremel out the middle of the wheel to get the hanger through, so now I have a nice all terrain spare that I could drive freeway speeds on.
The truck has after market rear speakers and a nice new CD player with removable face and a USB port. I think the previous owner had sub woofers because I removed alot of usless audio wire that was hiden under the interior trim. Also came with decent all terrain tires with little whear
I still need to fix the power locks, right power window switch, instrument bezel (cracked but not to bad), and find a new sunglass holder for the ceiling consol.
The engine runs/idles smooth, she shifts smooth, and drives smooth. Once everything is fixed I plan on adding a after market cat back exhaust, and an extra spring in the rear for heavly loads(maybe a truck camper). Haven't really decided on a locking diff or any type of different gearing yet because this is my only vehical and sees alot of freeway time as well as off road/back road and snow road time.
I recently purchased this truck after owning a 95 Chevy Blazer for 6-7 years. The vacume/electric 4x4 was a nightmare on that truck and after about 250K of otherwise reliable miles I decided it was time to buy a full size truck for several reasons; I live in the Rockey Mountains working as a Professional Snowboard Coach so 4x4 that's reliable is a MUST. I own a snowmobile and though my Blazer towed it just fine I like the idea of tossing it in my bed and not having to tow a trailor, clearance, and the ablility to move stuff around / haul loads (firewood, moving apartments and such).
After about four months of serching GMs, Fords, Dodges, and Toyotas, I came across this 2001 Ram truck new in on trade at a dealer. So new in on trade that it had some issues and had yet to be washed and detailed, that and there was a discrepancy on the miles since the odometer was broken for a year and had recently been fixed I was able to pick it up for a good price (about $2,000 under a lot of other trucks I had looked at were priced).
So began some cleanup work:
-I removed all the doofy Ram symbol accesories, Ram symbol tail light covers, Ram stearing wheel cover, Ram floor mats, Ram logo 4th brake light in the reese hitch.
-Upper dash had cracks and holes, replaced that with a new one from Mopar
-Fixed the interior dome lights
-Replaced a leaky power stearing line
-Replaced the two license plate lights. It needed pig tail harneses, the old ones were melted and just hanging from the rear
-Replaced the right upper and lower ball joints and axel shaft seal
-New front brake rotors and pads
-Oil change/filter
-Spark Plugs, wires, cap and rotor
-Air filter box was cracked and in need of a new filter as well, so I just went with a Spectra Ram Air intake/filter (give the engin bay a little bling).
-OEM exhaust was in need of two new claps, so that fixed a minor exhaust leak it had.
-The tranny fluid was waaaaaaaaaaaay (like nearly a quarter of the dipstick) over filled causing it to hesitate to shift. I drained it and added new fluid/filter. Smoothed her right out.
-In the middle of replacing all 8 fuel injectors now. It has to crank for a minute to start. I have ruled out that it's the fuel pump, regulator, relay, or temp sensor causing this. The truck smells of gas when it starts so my next guess is I have a bad injector that leaks out when the truck is turned off, Ill give an update once finished.
-Took it to get an alignment.
-Added an Eagle Topper/Cap from Craigslist since I travel a bit and live in a alpine winter climate I need room carry Snowboards/Gear and such.
-Also tracked town a matching aluminum wheel and a used tire for a spare. I had to dremel out the middle of the wheel to get the hanger through, so now I have a nice all terrain spare that I could drive freeway speeds on.
The truck has after market rear speakers and a nice new CD player with removable face and a USB port. I think the previous owner had sub woofers because I removed alot of usless audio wire that was hiden under the interior trim. Also came with decent all terrain tires with little whear
I still need to fix the power locks, right power window switch, instrument bezel (cracked but not to bad), and find a new sunglass holder for the ceiling consol.
The engine runs/idles smooth, she shifts smooth, and drives smooth. Once everything is fixed I plan on adding a after market cat back exhaust, and an extra spring in the rear for heavly loads(maybe a truck camper). Haven't really decided on a locking diff or any type of different gearing yet because this is my only vehical and sees alot of freeway time as well as off road/back road and snow road time.
Last edited by topkin; Oct 6, 2013 at 11:40 PM.
Administrator
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 87,461
Likes: 4,219
From: Clayton MI
Ditch the vacuum axle disconnect, and get a posi-lok. That will make 4 wheel drive fool proof. (and also give the capability of 2 lo.)
Nice truck.
Welcome to DF. You should post this in the 2nd gen General Discussion forum as well. Folks there will appreciate it.
In the tech section, there is a stickied Plenum thread, I highly recommend you read that as well.
Nice truck.
Welcome to DF. You should post this in the 2nd gen General Discussion forum as well. Folks there will appreciate it.In the tech section, there is a stickied Plenum thread, I highly recommend you read that as well.
