2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Questioning a '98 Sport Model

[krs]

I've just gotten a '98 clubcab 5 speed sport model with a build date of 8/97 and it kinda' puzzles me.



It doesn't have sport headlights. It does have turquoise colored "RAM2500" tags and had turquoise "Sport" decals on the rear quarter. The dash looks like a late model - very similar to the 2001 dash. The seats are cloth but have black interwoven with the grey color that I've usually seen. The truck seems to sit lower and more level than other unmodified 2500s as if the rear springs are different. It also has full length molded steps and mudflaps that are made of fiberglass and are body colored.



Question(s):

Is this a DC product or maybe a dealer add-on package? Is it the first sport model offered?



Mostly I'd like to know whether or not this is some kind of rare thing that ought to be preserved as is, rather than modified as I will otherwise go ahead and start doing. Is there such a thing as collector interest in any of the models like there now is in the seventies "Lil' Red Wagon" version?

 

[midwestdually]

i had a 98 12 valver and had no sport lights as well... they either changed it when they changed the motor 2 the 24 valve later in the year or all 98 were made like yours and mine were but i know 99's had them for sure

 

[Black Cloud]

Looking at the '98 Ram brochure there is no mention of sport headlights as part of the Sport package for that year. As for other differences like the running boards, the truck is about 6 years old and we all know how we and probably previous owner(s) like to add or remove stuff from our trucks.

 

[midwestdually]

i c you say "club cab" ... is it a club cab or a quad cab... were the ext cab doors open?

 

[krs]

It's a club cab, or extended cab, like the prior years. No opening rear doors and a nice tight no rattle or squeak ride. NOT the quadcab.

 

[tcourse]

I have a 98. 5 24V. Sport lights didn't show up until 99.

TC

 

[John]

Sport language spoken here baby!

As Terry stated, the Sport headlights didn't show up until the '99 model year...



as did the new front bumper assembly...



as did the new version of the "Sport" decal on the rear sides of the hood...



as did the newer style grille.



However, the interior redesign took place at the beginning of the '98 model year with a few things being different with early 12v models... mainly door panel differences.



I have a '98. 5 Sport model (24v). It has a build date of 5-12-98. I was also one of the first in the Northwest to receive a Ram with the new (then) underseat storage option (I'd ordered it sight unseen on the first day the option was able to be processed, or close).



Through the entire '98 model year ALL Sport model Rams had a monochromatic grille that were identical to the chrome SLT grille except for finish... the Sport grilles were body color (as were the steel portion of both bumpers, the plastic inserts, and the plastic "chin" piece below the bumper). It wasn't until the introduction of the '99 model year that the mean lookin' grille found its way onto the front of Sport Rams. In fact, I liked the new grille so much that I purchased one and "adapted" it to the front of my '98. 5 Sport (it can be done). You see, I still liked the looks of my '98. 5 bumper assembly better (aesthetically speaking) than the newer version. So, I had (have) the best of both worlds (IMO).



Also, I added Sport headlight/turn signal assemblies 3-4 years ago using the trick, Brite-Box upgrade wiring harness (It can be purchased through Geno's Garage). Note: the special Brite-Box wiring harness upgrade can only be used by '94 though '98. 5 Rams. The later Rams have a negative switching headlight system (or bass ackwards of the '94 - '98. 5 systems). Also, on all '94 through '98. 5 Rams, a significant amount of sheet metal must be removed in order to install the Sport headlights. The Sport turn signals install without any revisions. '99 and newer NON-Sport Rams can upgrade to the Sport headlight assemblies without modification to the sheet metal however, creative wiring must be added for the second set of headlight bulbs.

 

[krs]

You sound like quite a sport model enthusiast, John.



I have this truck by the unfortunate circumstance of an aquaintance, and I have an option to buy it. It's a nice truck with a few minor paint glitches and one ruined panel of that stainless steel aftermarket lower body trim that extends down from the beltline. I don't know who put that trim on but wish it weren't there.



Couldn't ask for a sweeter running totally stock engine, and it drives beautifully, especially for a truck that I can't find a sign of repair or modification.



I'd like to keep it but it would mean I'd have to sell my '01 and that would mean removing all the money parts on it or giving them away.



By the way, is there anyone who's ever removed that aftermarket stainless stick-on panel trim? It seems like it's really stuck on good.



The truck's in my gallery now.

 

[midwestdually]

is this truck rare or what?? a 98 12valve 5spd sport but is a club cab and not a quad cab?? it must have been a very early on model of that year...

 

[LHartman]

Mine's the 98 Quad Cab Sport. I haven't seen many running around. As far as it sitting lower than other trucks, I've made the same observation. My old man has a 97 and we both put leveling kits in ours. He can run 315's, but I can't. I could only go 295's. Different springs in the front? I'm not sure... ...



Loren

 

[Hammer]

To answer someones question above...



No this truck is not rare,meaning the Ext-cab was more prevelant than the Quad-Cabs of the same year. The one thing that will make it stand with only a few others though is the paint. Light Aqua Metallic was a one off year color only,1997,and how it slipped out on a 98 is where the mystery lies. Not many trucks were made with this color in a Sport model and most you see were SLT's and have the Driftwood bottoms. The rest of what he describes is a normal sport optioned truck for 98. Its a keeper in my mind just for the rare paint and in a Sport combo yet..... Andy

 

[Tardog]

Also, on all '94 through '98. 5 Rams, a significant amount of sheet metal must be removed in order to install the Sport headlights.

Just so we don't scare off any body thinking of changing over to sport headlights in these years, the amount of sheet metal that must be removed is about the size of a couple of 50cent coins, and can be cut out with a scroll saw in about 10min a side. This upgrade is worth every penny





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[krs]

Hammer,



I'm "someone" above.



Where did you obtain the idea that the truck in question is painted "Light Aqua Metallic" ?



The truck is instead painted a rather dark blue/green. It is shown in my gallery titled ""98sport" I only said that the badging was turquoise- decals and model designating badge only. The bedside decals were pretty tattered and I have now removed them

 

[John]

Sorry Hammer, I seriously disagree! In '98 the CC (Club Cab) was offered the entire year as was the QC (Quad Cab). Although there were a few holdouts that thought the CC might have a stronger frame/body, they were mis-informed... either that or they didn't want to pay extra for the QC option that they might not need. However, that would have been seriously short sighted! Just try and peddle a non QC Ram anymore. It's about as lame as a RC (Regular Cab). I'm not trying to start anything here but the fact is RCs and CCs don't sell very well and you will get substantially less for it and wait longer to sell it (on average)... that is unless you trade it in. And then you will just be brutalized on price!



Although I don't have data in front of me to prove the following, I would be absolutely amazed if CC/DC (remember... the merger was mid-year that year) sold more CCs than QCs!!!! In fact, I was wondering why a particular '98 2500 4x4 Bright White SWB Sport had not sold (BTW, it was a 12v) at my (then) Dodge dealer... that Ram had seem to have grown roots there. I had looked at that Ram many, many times before and all of a sudden I saw it! It was a CC. After a subsequent conversation with the Fleet Manager, he told me that he and the other salesman at that dealership could have sold it at least two dozen times if it had been a QC! There were still people that wanted the 12v engine although there seemed to be no way they were going to sacfrifice the flexibility of the QC!



Tardog, although that is the absolute minimum material that can be removed and still be able to install the '99+ Sport headlights, I chose to very carefully and accurately enlarge the opening making it look just like it was done at the factory. I also fully deburred, prepped, and painted the exposed sheet metal for a (IMO) professional appearance.

 

[krs]

John,



Though it probably is true that most buyers prefer the QC, likely for familial/passenger related reasons, there are exceptions and I'm one of them. Owning both I can say that the CC does maintain a FEEL of greater body integrity than does the QC. At this time I can only demonstrate this through the examples which I own but I have some not small experience of other trucks aside my own. The CC feel tighter and that feel is important to me. Perhaps I'm alone in that. Nevertheless I've already elected to keep this new to me truck and to sell my newer more fully optioned version. My 2001, by the way, has only 20,450 miles and is already beginning to creak a little in the area of the right side rear door. Neither of these CC vehicles, both with over 100,000 miles do that at all.



But nevermind all of this. What do you know of the paint procedure codes listed on the tags under the passenger seat and at the r/h fore of the radiator?