98 Dodge 2500HD 4X4

Besides flying, cars are Bill's other great passion.  The truck earned its nickname of "Dodgezilla" while wheelin' with only short-wheelbase Jeeps in Clayton, OK.  Here, at the SouthWest 4WD Association Fall Quarterly, the little guys started referring to us by this name on the CB.  In comparison to them, we must have looked like a big green monster in their mirror.

Bill has the unfortunate tendency to drive into unknown trails trying to find the limits of his truck and his driving skills.  And to his wife's dismay, too often finds them.
 
 


Pictures

Ram Apr 98: New

98 Dodge 2500HD 4X4--new in May 98

SLT-Emerald Green-Quad Cab
1.  138 in wheelbase, 6.5 ft bed, 35 gallon fuel tank
2.  4X4 with NV241HD transfer case
3.  V-10/8.0L/488cu engine,
     300 hp @ 4K  rpm, 450 ft-lbs @ 2.2K rpm
4.  47RE  4-speed OD automatic transmission    
5.  4.10 axles: Dana 60 front, Dana 70 rear w/ LSD
6.  4 wheel antilock brakes, disc front, drum rear
7.  LT245/75R16 tires on 16X7 wheels
8.  Heavy Duty Service Group--includes: 136 amp alternator, max engine cooling, aux A/T oil cooler, T-case skidplate
9.  Trailer Tow Group--includes:  Class IV hitch receiver, HD flasher, wiring
10.  Travel Convenience & Light Groups--include:  reading lights, compass, automatic dimming mirror 

Total Delivered Price:  $30631

Apr 99

Truck and dog posing for Four Wheeler Magazine Dec 99 Reader's Rigs. With Skyjacker 4.5" Class II suspension lift and 36X12.50 Swampers

Ram Jan 00

Jan 00

By September 99, we had experienced  two separate tire blow-outs at 70 mph.  So I decided to switch to BFG 35" M/Ts.  Losing that one inch of tire allowed me to lower the truck two inches and still clear the tires.  To minimize costs, I had the local shop keep the Skyjacker components I could use and install as required Superlift parts to give me a total of three inches of lift.  The finished product works great.  The truck drives much better also, and this is probably a combination of: smaller tires with tighter tread, lower cg, single hydraulic shocks instead of the front double nitros, lighter aluminum wheels, and removing the rear overload leaf.

Ram as of Oct 02

 Oct 02

      I decided I needed more clearance for four wheeling.  With the BFG's starting to wear out, I re-installed the Skyjacker 4.5" lift and added 3" blocks in the rear to level it out.  I also had the rear U-bolts reversed to improve my trail clearance.  This made room for Goodyear 37x12.50 MT/R's on MT 17x9 wheels.  A little cutting (see below) eliminated some minor clearance problems.  I did have to remove the front fender flare for clearance.

The 37" tires with 17" wheels look deceptively small.  At a distance, the sidewall proportions are similar to a 35" tire on a 15" wheel.
Ram Rear

Rear view


The flags are all the countries Bill has been  to.  Latest count is 60.  License plate proudly displays my choice of engine.

This is a modified Reunels steel bumper.  I didn't like the $200 option from Reunels for integrated driving lights, and I'd seen and heard of Reunels bumpers suffering from corrosion.  So instead I ordered the bumper with the receiver welded in for additional ground clearance, and then had it modified locally.  I paid $40 for the light holes, tabs, rock guards, and lift points (for my Hi-Lift jack).  The lift points are barely visible in the picture as shadows on the bottom lip.  I also paid $20 for tractor flood lights, and another $50 for having it Line-X'd.  In the receiver there is a Ram 3rd brake light and next to it is a heavy duty shackle I use instead of tow hooks.  The whole thing weights about 170 lbs and cost $765, including my mods.
Ram flex
 Showing some flex.  Notice how much the rear tire moves in comparison to front tires.  The picture above is the same location showing the opposite tire travel.
Shock cut-out With the great amount of rear axle flex, I needed to notch the frame to stop shock-frame contact. Cuts are approximately 1/2" deep.
 Tire cut-out With front suspension compressed and the tire turned, there was  minor tire-fender contact.  This fender-well cut eliminated it.





 
Modifications to Dodge:
  1.  Skyjacker 4.5" suspension lift with Velvet-ride  shackle springs
  2.  Goodyear 37X12.50R MT/R on MT 17X9 alloys
  3.  Gibson cat-back, single, swept side  exhaust system  #316511
  4.  Warn Trans4mer grille & brush guard   with M12000 winch
  5.  Two 6" 55W flood lights, two 6" 100W spot lights (fogs disconnected)
  6.  Warn 4X flares, 4X removable running   boards, receiver shackle bracket
  7.  Rancho RS9000X adjustable shocks  (6)
  8.  Two 10K lb. front tow hooks
  9.  ARB air locker with air compressor in  front and Detroit locker in rear
10.  Leer 100LE truck cap
11.  Yakima rack (only brackets pictured)
12.  Rhino bed liner
13.  Battery Buddy--prevents inadvertent total battery discharge
14.  Central electrical power distribution block to wire accessories
15.  Custom Sony CD changer/MD stereo
16.  Custom alarm & other theft deterrent items
17.  Garmin GPS III+ w/Tri-M Mighty Mouse antenna, software, & acc.
18.  Reunels rear bumper (w/modifications)
19.  Ram hitch cover brake light
20.  Midland 77-285A CB with external speaker and 3 ft steel whip
21.  First Alert 5-B:C fire extinguisher
22.  Hi-Lift 60" jack w/ rack and bumper lift
23.  K&N air filter
24.  Flag stickers
25.  1.5:1  Howe steering quickener
26.  Modified AGR Super P power steering pump (4 GPM/1600 psi)
27.  AGR Super Box 1 (0.165 spring, variable ratio) 5133S
28.  Locking gas cap
29.  BedRug Soft Bedliner
30.  Bed-Hopper tailgate step
31.  Solar Gard tinted front side windows:  Sputtered HP Titanium Grey
32.  Metra power FM antenna
33.  Torque converter lock-up switch
34.  Weather Guard floor mats
35.  Solar battery charger
36.  Fiamm three-tone air horn
37.  Optima Yellow Top deep-cycle battery
38.  PML  .160" 356 T6 cast aluminum transmission pan w/drain plug
39.  Shift kit
40.  Transmission auxiliary oil cooler
41.  Transmission temperature Banks gauge and sender
42.  Flipped rear U-bolts
43.  DT adjustable trackbar
44.  Notching of frame for additional shock clearance
45.  Superlift TruSpeed speedometer calibrator
46.  EGR front vented rotors/calipers/Kevlar pads, rear Kevlar pads/1-ton
       pistons,  4 Speed Bleeders.
 Cost (parts & labor)
1.    2000
2.    940
3.    283
4.    1463
5.    242
6.    696
7.    515
8.    20
9.    1758
10.  1300
11.  219
12.  494
13.  36
14.  5
15.  2337
16.  741
17.  566
18.  747
19.  18
20.  351
21.  10
22.  98
23.  48
24.  64
25.  478
26.  160
27.  297
28.  12
29.  127
30.  40
31.  53
32.  120
33.  10
34.  45
35.  31
36.  39
37.  180
38. 220
39. 180
40. 180
41. 230
42. 100
43. 430
44. 60
45. 163
46.  1300

Future plans (not in order):
1.  Throttle Body upgrade
2.  Double batteries (yellow tops)
3.  Add spare tire mount for  37"   tire
4.  T-case fixed output shaft
      

LINKS

I subscribe to DiRT, an e-mail forum where Dodge truck owners discuss Dodge trucks.  Pretty simple, and a great idea. It primarily deals with 4X4 trucks, but also has members who prefer street performance trucks.  If you're interested, follow this link: DiRT List

Dave Fritz maintains the best Dodge truck website I have seen.  Check it out:   DodgeRam.org
 

 HOME