I haven't been overly active here in quite a while, for a multitude of reasons......
But among them was trying to give myself at least one nice vehicle.
Back in Early 2017 I bought myself this 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4. I was realizing that my 2WD 93 Chev was no longer suited to my daily needs, I needed something more powerful, with more capability, however I did not want a new truck as I work my trucks and can't justify buying a truck for $50k+ just to load it with scrap metal, car parts, lumber, branches, etc
So I started trying to decide what I wanted for a truck, my criteria was straight forward, lower mileage, largest available V8, tow package, 4WD, multiport fuel injection, 1/2 ton (at the time we had yellow sticker mania here in Ont-errible).
I quickly decided that I wanted a Second Generation Dodge Ram (94-01). Specifically one that was a 4WD with the 360 Magnum.
I went and looked at about 10 or 11 trucks and had began to give up. Then one Saturday afternoon at work I was scrolling through Kijiji on my phone and came across a terrible ad with only one photo
"01 Dodge 4x4
130k, runs"
I went to look at it the next morning and it was mine. I initially had to do some mechanical and tacked some door bottoms on.
Over the years I went through it mechanically, rebuilding the suspension, the steering system, the brakes, and replacing numerous worn parts.
I replaced the NP231 T case with a NP241 from a gas 3/4 ton as the original was seized into 4Hi from when the truck spent it's last 10 years before me as a plow truck for the original owners golf course.
And last year I had to rebuild the 46RE, at which point I did quite a few upgrades to it.
However after 20 Ontario winters the body was getting punky and I decided that doing the body and getting it painted by my friend was cheaper then buying another truck.
I mean a few grand is better then $41k that this truck cost new. So I cut all the cancer out, welded in new sheet metal. Swapped any rotten panels I could, such as the tailgate, rear bumper, front fenders and front doors (which I still ended up having to put bottom skins on) and the box which I found a decent replacement for.
Then it went out to see Ryan who did the filler work, final fit and then painted the truck back to its PB3 Intense Blue Pearl that I fell on love with.
I made the decision to purchase reproduction graphics to complete the process.
And that brings everyone up to speed for now. I put the grille on yesterday, and Ryan's still working on the rear bumper which is cursed apparently.
Now that it's back home I'll start reassembly of it, I have door panels to put back on, some door seals, and some cavity wax to do.
But among them was trying to give myself at least one nice vehicle.
Back in Early 2017 I bought myself this 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4. I was realizing that my 2WD 93 Chev was no longer suited to my daily needs, I needed something more powerful, with more capability, however I did not want a new truck as I work my trucks and can't justify buying a truck for $50k+ just to load it with scrap metal, car parts, lumber, branches, etc
So I started trying to decide what I wanted for a truck, my criteria was straight forward, lower mileage, largest available V8, tow package, 4WD, multiport fuel injection, 1/2 ton (at the time we had yellow sticker mania here in Ont-errible).
I quickly decided that I wanted a Second Generation Dodge Ram (94-01). Specifically one that was a 4WD with the 360 Magnum.
I went and looked at about 10 or 11 trucks and had began to give up. Then one Saturday afternoon at work I was scrolling through Kijiji on my phone and came across a terrible ad with only one photo
"01 Dodge 4x4
130k, runs"
I went to look at it the next morning and it was mine. I initially had to do some mechanical and tacked some door bottoms on.
Over the years I went through it mechanically, rebuilding the suspension, the steering system, the brakes, and replacing numerous worn parts.
I replaced the NP231 T case with a NP241 from a gas 3/4 ton as the original was seized into 4Hi from when the truck spent it's last 10 years before me as a plow truck for the original owners golf course.
And last year I had to rebuild the 46RE, at which point I did quite a few upgrades to it.
However after 20 Ontario winters the body was getting punky and I decided that doing the body and getting it painted by my friend was cheaper then buying another truck.
I mean a few grand is better then $41k that this truck cost new. So I cut all the cancer out, welded in new sheet metal. Swapped any rotten panels I could, such as the tailgate, rear bumper, front fenders and front doors (which I still ended up having to put bottom skins on) and the box which I found a decent replacement for.
Then it went out to see Ryan who did the filler work, final fit and then painted the truck back to its PB3 Intense Blue Pearl that I fell on love with.
I made the decision to purchase reproduction graphics to complete the process.
And that brings everyone up to speed for now. I put the grille on yesterday, and Ryan's still working on the rear bumper which is cursed apparently.
Now that it's back home I'll start reassembly of it, I have door panels to put back on, some door seals, and some cavity wax to do.
