1998 Dodge Ram 2500

5.9 Gas V8 4wd 360 Powerhouse Reliability NoRes! Extended Cab Pickup

5.9L 360Cu. In. V8 GAS OHV Naturally Aspirated

Automatic

1b7kf23zxwj236431

Clear

Gasoline

64 pictures, front back, top, bottom, underside. Everything as if you were standing here with me. This is MY personal truck. I am the second owner for about 2 years and bought it with approximately 193k. It's been ultra reliable. Starts every day in any weather. I've used it for all my car hauling...originally with the tow dolly and now with my car trailer. Easily performed whenever I asked it to. NO...it's NOT beat. I take care of my stuff. This was somebody's baby originally and I followed suit. I just bought an Excursion with the V10 since I needed more interior space and not the truck. It's time to sell to a new home...NO RESERVE!! ABSOLUTE SALE!! Being a 2500 4x4, even a car on a trailer couldn't make this beast squat in the back!! Amazingly it rides very well for a truck. One of my reasons for replacing my last truck....also a Ram 2500 but only a 2wd. I needed the 4wd for the winter around here. This truck is NOT perfect by any means. Reasons to buy: you hate truck payments, like me you can't afford a diesel, if you can afford a diesel-it will kill you if it breaks down, you need your truck to start in the cold, you need a beater truck, you need a nice truck, you need something to get you to work, you need to bring the kids to school, you need a plow truck, you need to haul heavy things, you need reliable for the cheapest possible, you know THIS is the truck for you and/or your business!! NO RESERVE! I'm no bodyman, but I can't see any signs of an accident or repaints. The color is that weird blue-purple color depending on how the light hits it. The truck is loaded with all the goodies including the driving lights and roof lights. Matching front tires are the 10-ply versions. Rears are 8-ply. All are on nice factory chrome rims. Tread is at least 60% or more on all tires. Typical midwest surface ugly. ALL suspesion is tight. No looseness. No popping squeaking rattling. No major oil or coolant leaks anywear. No axle seals leaking. No bearing noises. No shock leaks. Super tight and strong. Straight axle up front of course. 4x4 works in all positions with no issues or noises. Transfer case is dry as a bone. No damages. No signs of former abuse such as a plow or 5th wheel. Transmission shifts thru all the gears as it should. Front brake pads and calipers are brand new. Fluid is flushed and new. The rotors need to be turned or replaced. They have a pulse that gets pretty annoying especially with some weight behind the truck. I tried to get away without but it needs the rotors to be turned at least. Been driving it fine as it is. No grinding or uneven wear. There are some shops that will "turn" the rotors on the truck. RAMs use an auto 4WD hub system and it operates perfectly. Paint shines well but NEEDS a professional buff and detail. It's dry but not faded. Light typical scratches that will easily be removed with a buff. Only a couple small dents to be found, a handfull of dings and no major dents. Truck has rust (see below) but is primarily in the front fenders which can be replaced for cheap if desired. Doors are rust free. Cab only has the one easily repairable spot and the bed is great save for a few rust bubbles. Glass looks great. Please remember...it is a 1998 model with 199k miles from Illinois. That said, it looks and drives like a truck with 80k!! I've seen worse around here with LESS miles! Typical RAM front fender rust. The large rock guards probably saved the doors and cab at least even tho they contributed to the fender rust from the screw holes. Note the stainless steel full length step tubes. Strong and solid. ALL the cab doors operate and open properly. Power windows work perfectly. Hard to see above but pointing out no rust under the doors. Below is the ONLY cab rust and it's only surface now. Above you can see the corner dent. Below, the chrome tubes are NOT stainless up top, in turn dripping stains down each side of the bed. Again, buffing will remove this. There is also a dent (forefinger) that looks to have been paintless dent repaired as best as possible. Note that there are nice hidden flip-up hooks for tie-downs in the square holes in the upper bed rails. Rear tailgate is near perfect with the one scratch top left corner. No rust here either. Rear bumper is great. Tow hitch is the 10,000lb version with the 7-pin plug ready to wire up the brake assist, which this truck is prewired for. Note: the lack of this addition shows it wasn't used for heavy towing prior to me. Below the spare tire is brand new Michelin aired up ready for your trip home! I have raised and lowered the cable in the past and it works fine. I had a read brake line rust out and blow on me, fortunately in the driveway of my shop. I replaced it with a new coated steel line. That said, I never properly "bled" the rear brakes. As you know the bleeders love to break off of the brake cylinders. The brakes work but with the warped rotors and the rears needing to be serviced, they are not at their full braking potential. I have towed in it's current state, but the lack of brake assist and this service, it was pushing it's stopping power (or lack of) to it's max. For the records, I have replaced the speed/ABS sensor in the rear axle. See below on why. The tiny rust bubbles above and the one cab dent below. Note no rust on the cab here (cept the body lip underneath) or this side of the doors. Rust free doors. This front fender may be salvagable but I'd replace so it doesn't come back. A man, his truck and the NEED for perfect chrome bumpers!! Remember when trucks were ordered new without bumpers?!? Close as you can get to new right here! Interior is an easy 8+ out of 10. Steering wheel has minimal wear. Seats only on the lower portion edge and I glued it closed (hence the dark line now). Padding is barely flattend. Carpet is minimally stained and can be cleaned for better appearance if desired. Otherwise no damages to the carpet, leather or panels. Headliner looks great. I HATE smoke and can't see or smell any signs of a former smoker. Rear seat looks never sat on. Roof is clean. The pod hanging front left is the BlueTooth speaker module for the DUAL Cd Player that I installed but never set up. Truck also has the upper center info display for the Temp etc. ALL the dummy lights illuminate with NONE staying on during run (except the ABS/BRAKE-see below for explanation). Note the high oil pressure at idle. All gauges work as they should with all the power items: cruise, power windows, power locks, power driver's seat, heated power mirrors, Passenger airbag switch, all lighting, both power plugs including clean cig lighter, Dual AM/FM/CD player with iPod/Aux inputs, detach face and USB plugin. Handsfree Bluetooth option as well. Professional installation by yours truly. Stock Infinity style speakers still work perfectly. Heat is hot, but will need the thermostat changed for the winter...which I have included new with the gasket (see pic below). Air conditioning DOES work, but has a typical age related leak. I used to recharge it each summer but didn't do it this year. It will need servicing, but it is functional. Notice the PERFECT uncracked, undamaged dash!! Not very common! Nice woodgrain trim kit. Button fell thru for the driving light switch, hence the hole. Just needs to be re-glued. Bedliner is nice. I pulled up to see underneath. Bed is scratched up but looks unused for the most part. Plenty of twigs, leaves and dirt underneath. Note the lack of typical rust under the lip of the tailgate below. Center console isn't worn either. No cracks. No elbow dents. Nothing. Perfect. Above you can see the brand new thermostat and gasket. The "iPlug" for the radio but you can still use the face plug instead. Instructions for the ProComp ignition box (MSD copy) and the original ECM-Computer. Story: as you may or may not know, the Dodge trucks were notorious for computer failures. Boom, dead. This happened to me about 200 miles ago. Luckily in my shop driveway but over the winter so I didn't fix right away. I chased the problems-installed a new crank sensor. New ABS/Speed sensor in the rear pumpkin. New transmission speed sensor. NONE fixed the non-start issue. Went and grabbed an older version AD computer brain (this truck uses an AF), cleaned the ground contacts, installed it and poof!! Started right up. Now...this said...the computer lets me run and drive the truck but being an older ABS system integrated inside the programming, THIS truck's ABS/BRAKE light will come on after about an 1/8 mile of driving or more. It doesn't jive with the sensors on the truck. Some truck didn't even come with ABS. Others came with front and rear. This truck ONLY came with rear, I believe. So...there are many companies that rebuild the factory RAM computers for a mere couple hundred bucks WITH a warranty. I suggest sending off the original AF that you see in the picture. Reinstall and keep the AD current version as a backup just in case you get stranded. Insurance policy. Super easy to replace if needed. Below, the factory manuals and working keyless keyfob with only ONE key. This is NOT the transponder type so copies are easy to make. Engine compartment is clean and leak free. No drips. No coolant/oil leaks. Minor sweating at the valve covers. Engine fires right up with the strong NAPA Legend battery. Even in the Negative temps. BRAND NEW Accel 8.8 300+ Race wires. NEW Spark plugs. Aftermarket intake. Recent serpentine belt is about 2000 miles old. ProComp ignition box is mounted and wired up but not sure that it works since I bought it used. Feel free to double check my wiring and retest. People still buy these unworking, but if you have an MSD 6A or 6AL box, you can swap it right out with my wiring. As you can see, the transmission is dry. No leaks. The factory original dual in/single out Cat-Converter was on it when I got it. But it was cracked and leaking at the welds, not plugged tho. I removed it (no emissions here) and installed 2 small resonators in place. Then connected it to a Chinese Stainless (note the surface rust) eBay dual in/single out muffler. All welded up. No clamps. Sounds awesome but NOT obnoxious. Factory tailpipe still. No the engine light hasn't popped on without the converter. Yes, there is a tiny bit of rear pinion seal sweating, NOT dripping. No whining. No noises or drivetrain clunks. Tight and quiet. No u-joint flutter. Note that the frame and body floors are nice and solid. PLENTY of years and life left in this truck!! BTW...I have observed REAL 10-12 MPG no matter pulling or not. It's far from being worn out. CLEAN and CLEAR title in hand ready to transfer to you!! No fees. No taxes. Inspect my excellent feedbacks! BID, BUY, and DRIVE ANYWHERE with 100% CONFIDENCE!! NO RESERVE!! ABSOLUTE SALE!! GOOD LUCK!! Venue of sale is Will County Illinois