2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Body/hood differences between '01 and '02 and '96?

[SRath]

I have a '96 extended cab longbed. My brother has an '02 quad cab longbed. He lives in California and has only had his truck here once. I thought the bodies were identical aside from the quad vs. club cab feature.



Is there some difference I missed? Is the '01 quad cab different from the '02 quad cab?



I have a lower body trim kit I would like to send him that fits an '01 quad cab. It says it will fit from '94 to '01. Why would it not fit an '02?



Could this be because the kit was maybe made before the '02s came out, or is there really some body difference I'm missing? It is a 'discontinued closeout' kit and I suspect this is the case, but would not like to find out the hard way that I was wrong.



Also, I have a chance to pick up a custom grille I really like. The seller says it will fit ONLY 1500 series Dodge Rams, but will not fit 2500 or 3500 Dodges. What in the world is different about a 1500 grille from a 2500 grille of the same year?

 

[Road Dog]

Because in '02 the 1500 went to the 3rd generation body style and the 2500 & 3500 changed in '03. It confuses a lot of parts guys because their catalogues only list "Dodge RAM" by year. Dodge does a lot of midyear changes too which is why the dealer parts desk always wants the VIN.

As far as I know the cab part of my '98 1500 SB and my '02 3500 LB are identical.

 

[SRath]

Thanks Road Dog! I didn't know the 1500 changed earlier than the 2500/3500. I never have any interest in 1/2 tons.

Now, about the grille being different between a '96 1500 and a '96 2500. . ? Is there a difference?

 

[Road Dog]

I sold the 1500 so I can't put them side by side. The big difference is behind the grill. On the 1500 it's around 12" to the AC radiator. On my Diesel it's an inch or two. I didn't notice any other difference. The mounting hardware and hood release latch is the same.

 

[Bob V]

The 2nd gen "sport" grill and bumper are different from the non sport

 

[Demons_Ram]

The 2nd gen "sport" grill and bumper are different from the non sport

Adding to what Bob V said, somewhere between 1994 and 2002 the bumper and grilles even changed on the sport models. The earlier sports had a bumper with a level top all the way across and a grille the same size as the non-sport. The later sports had a bumper that the top surface dropped down under the grille area, and a grille that dropped down lower than the non-sport models (taller). So, the earlier and later parts definitely weren't interchangeable. However, the early sport and standard grille just may be interchangeable but, needs to be verified. I'm sure someone can chime in with the year the sport bumper/grille changed. Also, I can't see any difference between the 94-01 1500 and the 94-02 2500/3500 body/sheet metal.

 

[Hammer]

The bumpers Sport vs Non-Sport changed in 1999.



94-02 Non-Sport bumpers and grill assemblies are the same in the 2500/3500 and in the gassers its 94-01 the same and all will interchange.



1999 and up Sports are completely different and that even includes the mounting brackets. The Grills for the 99-up Sports are longer and their mounting hardware are different.



All the hoods are the same from 94-02 diesel and 94-01 Gasser and are interchangable between both gas and diesel.

 

[SRath]

Hammer: "All the hoods are the same from 94-02 diesel and 94-01 Gasser and are interchangable between both gas and diesel. "

Would that include the standard grilles, Hammer, not counting Sport models at all?

Thanks! Scott