2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission The delema: rebuild or replace

[darkhorse]

I rolled my beloved 2001. 5 two weeks ago. I nearly lost my life in the process but I am now recovering in a Halo Brace looking forward to a 100% recovery in three months. I'm not sure my truck fared as well. It most likely needs to have the cab replaced. This is all new territory to me. Are cabs even available on the salvage market? What kind of cost am I looking at? Any input from any one with rebuilding experience would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Richard

 

[TurboTweaker]

Glad to hear your making a good recovery. sorry to hear about your truck. you might find a cab from one of those places where you can get "Texas" rust free cars and truck parts.



The Fat Kid

Andy

 

[darkhorse]

Thanks, Andy. I suspect looking outside the "salt belt" makes a lot of sence.

 

[JFaughn]

Give this a try .
Car-Part.com--Used Auto Parts Market

 

[EBottema]

there is a guy on ebya that has cabs every so often. check ebay auctions... . also, replace the whole cab, dont even try fixing it.

 

[JRagland]

I'm afraid most people would consider that a totaled truck. Trouble is you know the heart of it is strong and you've built it the way you want. Tough call. I'd be looking at an '06 before the dreaded '07 emissions hit.



There's a couple of guys on E-bay that sell completetly parted out CTD trucks. I mean everything down to valve cover bolts are sold for $10 a set. Might be an option if you had the time.



Good luck.

 

[Joe Mc]

Glad to hear you are recovering. I think I'd be looking at another truck. However, you never know till you get there . . . Consider finding a 1500 in good shape for cheap and swap "all" the goodies (axels, trans, CTD of course, computers, and on, and on) over to the new "host". Ever see a 1500 Turbo Diesel? Me neither . . . It might be cheaper in the long run. You might find all other kinds of damage once you remove the cab from your truck?

Wishing you a speedy recovery.

 

[EBottema]

Stay away from 07, and 06 too. 2nd gens are longer lasting trucks than 3rd gens, remember , less parts to fail down the road.

 

[jgillott]

Wow... I'm happy to hear that you are going to be ok. Best wishes and we will keeping you in our thoughts and prayers as you go through your recovery.



There is a local guy here that buys, rebuilds, and sells wrecked Cummins Rams. I don't know him personally, but he may be able to point you in the right direction. His site is www.balsleyautosales.com/



Justin

 

[Big Mike]

First, Good luck with your recovery.



Second, rebuild or replace is atough question to answer until you have the ability and time to tear it down to the frame, there could be a significant amount of damage you can't see until then. Whatever you decide good luck and a speedy recovery.



Mike

 

[HAnderson]

DARKHOUSE i PUT A NEW FRAM AND WHOLE FRONT CLIP ON MY 2000. HAVE PUT OVER 75000 SINCE THEN AND HAVE NEVER REGRETED DOING IT. hOWARD

 

[NVR FNSH]

If you decide to total it/part it out please contact member Gary Dunn - he is looking for a front end. The casting is bent on his axle.....



Brian

 

[Grizzly]

Good luck and speedy recovery. Whatever you decide to do, a 3rd generation Quad Cab Dodge is a good choice. Best Dodge yet.

 

[burnin oil]

Make sure the frame is good along with the drivetrain. Then buy a 1/2 ton and switch the body onto the frame. If you are really lucky you may even find a truck with a blown motor or trans for like $1500. Contact your local highway patrol about retitling/VIN number. In VA a few years ago all you had to do was prove that you bought the parts (reciepts) and they would issue a new VIN tag. I think it was even free at the time. If you just try to repair your truck you will be amazed at the amount of minor damage that you cannot fix easily.

 

[KHelfrich]

what i would do but it would be a fair amount of work is look for a flood or high mileage 3 gen 2500 or 3500 and then swap all your parts into the 3rd gen so you get the quadcab but keep the dana axles none of the common rail crap on the motor this is what i plan to do to my 12valve if anything ever happens to it



ken

 

[JKinney]

Hi Darkhorse, after reading the thread, decided to hit ebay and a couple sites. I did see a nice buy it now on a 02 cummins with 95 k no damage in texas for 15,000 buy it now. I was really looking at the 1500 second gen and that might be the way to go. Lift the whole cab and box might even have good paint.

 

[darkhorse]

Thanks for the tip. I'm weighing my options now. I'm going to be shopping for a truck as similar to my broken one as I can find. & I appreciate all the leads I get.

 

[Bart]

Only a little voice in the distance here. I had a one crew cab dually that my son tried to park in the same place as a Ford. Front end was messed up. I bought a 1/2 ton front clip for it. The radiator support group was completely different than the one ton. I found out that different models have different holes for attaching stuff. Things like the trans cooler was the problem on my old Cheby. Good luck and speedy recovery. P. S. don't start workin' on the old girl until you get your neck outta that lamp shade

 

[darkhorse]

Thanks Bart. I won't be doing much of my own wrenching while I am in this "lampshade" lol. My recovery is progressing very well but of course, bones grow slow so I'll be trussed up for 3 months. That does give me some time to shop for a good replacement. The old girl was about the perfect truck for my needs & she sure ran sweet with the BOMBS I learned about here on the TDR. I'll want to get back on the road with something as close to my old truck as possible. There is sure a lot more to chose from if I go with an automatic, but I'd have to send that out for a "full meal deal" rebuild to handle the power I have.

 

[dmhollister]

darkhorse glad to hear your still kicking, get better and rebuild.



You weren't trying to miss a deer were you? I am from WI and have had several encounters with them in the past and so has the family.