2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Well!......I got it today!

[EMD-Run8]

Well!... ... ... . I got it today! Yessir, a properly valved '98 2500 regular cab, 115,000 miles with a 5 speed no less. Oo. It's one plain Jane too... ... . not even cruise control. But that's OK 'cause I needed a truck since I just sold my '04 and I just couldn't bring myself to buy an S-10, Tacoma, or Frontier or whatever. No! I had to have me a Cummins! But I also needed money left over to pay for land clearing/prep for my house, so that's why I wound up with a regular cab. I did good on the resale of my '04 but geez, if it's got 4 doors just go ahead and add 4,000 plus to the price of anything used! Anyway, the truck runs, rides and drives very good! I didn't see any drips or anything that looked like a true leak underneath. The front end of the motor did look like it may have a faint bit of weepage but it wasn't really wet at all. A KDP check is coming. The interior is in nice shape and the bed is used (no 5th wheel) but doesn't have any real hard hits inside. The truck probably had a toolbox or cap or something, it looks like. I have a couple of questions though. 1) Since the truck looks to have been used pretty lightly, should I be too concerned about the 5th gear nut? 2) What's the easiest way to find out which P-pump # I have? 3) What can you guys suggest about salt exposure? The truck was titled in Maine for a bit. The truck looks pretty much fine underneath but the very lower rear part of each front fender is about to rust through and for some reason, there is moisture build-up under the vinyl flooring which has attracted rust on the floor pan on each side, mostly near the doors sills, but oddly enough, the doors look fine! Looking through some old threads, there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason as to where these trucks start to rust. Did Dodge just do a lousy job prepping/painting these trucks? It's not bad but I definitely need it fixed because I'm really liking this truck! Oh yeah--------when I asked my kids to help name Daddy's "new" green truck, my daughter immediately blurted out "Green Bean". So there we have it-------Long ride the Green Bean! My son suggested the "Green Lizard" but----well, I just said that "Sissy spoke first".

 

[KennethS]

Wish you luck with your truck

Sounds like you got your priorities IN order. I hate payments. Home Is all a fellow needs. That what wrong with the world today. I feel If you can't pay for It you don't need It. Credit has gone through the roof. Some people will never get out of debt. And that bad. Good luck on your home.

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

Sounds like you came to a similiar conclusion that I did. Off the payment tread mill and expendable income to other priorities. I do miss the four doors, tight steering, and how wonderfully the 04 cruised down the road. But when that happens I just recite the "it's paid for" mantra... . Ooommmm



The 5th gear is always a concern unless you purchase and install one of the aftermarket splined shaft an gear with set screws - Standard Transmission, I think??? However, just drive it and keep the rpms up, or down shift, so that you aren't lugging or in the lower rpm band (14K-18K) should give you many miles.



The banged up box is easy to take care of - replace with a flatbed.



Happiness is a paid-for-truck - let the mods begin

 

[nps]

You want to look/treat inside the doors at the bottom seam - might find some rust there.



Yep - gotta love them paid off trucks. :-laf No 3rd Gen for me (besides I think the 4 doors are ugly - but better than the 06's with the Durango front end).

 

[Forrest Nearing]

I loved my little 97 plain jane truck...

 

[EMD-Run8]

I hear ya on the plain jane! Yeah, I don't like the way the grilles on the new one's look either. These 98's have great cup holders too!