98 Ram SS/T Redo/Restore

[dusted72]

Now I know it is only a 98 and this is also a car site but I spend alot of time here and I figured why not. First off thank you everybody for the support I have received during my deployment. Now for the truck. I bought this truck on Wednesday the 14th about 3 hours after I got off the plane from Iraq during my mid-tour leave. I think I got a smoking deal even with the few small problems it has. Here it is as I bought it. More to come.

 

[dusted72]

Day 2 of ownership and I spent a few hours in the yard and some purple power and I got the underhood cleaned up pretty good. I also washed it really good and did some test polishing on the dull spots from where they had a tarp stretched over the sides while driving from MO to NC. More to come soon.

 

[dusted72]

Ok so for today I got alot done and now all I am gonna do is drive it. A list if the things I have fixed so far. I replaced the crappy aftermarket radio with a factory CD/Cassette/AM/FM that I bought off of Ebay while I was in Kuwait waiting for my flight. Today I changed the oil, plugs, plug wires, distributor cap and rotor, left front caliper and brake rotor. The rotor and caliper were included with the truck and all other brakes were replaced already. Reason for the left front not being done is the former owner destroyed one of the lug nuts, I mean destroyed it. There was nothing left of the nut to get ahold of, just the tapered part that seats in the rim. So last night I unbolted the caliper and pulled the center cap of the rim. I pulled the dust cap off the rotor and through the hole. I pulled the spindle nut off and removed the rim/rotor/caliper all together. I took my little munchkin to preschool at around 8:30 a.m. and went to a local mechanic shop and they cut the stud off from the backside. The rims are pretty rough but I don't want to make them any worse since they are hard to get. Came back and put on the new rotor and caliper and stuck her back together. It has 89XXX miles on it and had a really rough idle. Now after the tune up she runs freakin awesome!! 10mph stomp and she breaks them loose for a second then GOES!! I think she definitely has mid 14's in her but I won't know till next Friday, the wife has agreed to take me to the local strip to play.

 

[duster731]

awesome toy im hitting up the drags on sunday and hopefully get low 14 to high 13s

 

[RustyRatRod]

Good lookin truck. Looks like you gotta great deal.

 

[sireland67]

Nice truck, one thing about black it always shines when it is clean.

 

[Old Tired Rebel]

Nice Buy.

 

[goldfish65]

It looks comfortable too. I like that design of steering wheel. Glad you're happy with your new truck.

 

[Abodybomber]

Sweet deal,hope you enjoy it.

 

[Rockerdude]

I've always loved these trucks. Subscribed.

 

[itate]

Are you going to have the stripes put back on?
I have to admit I love my SS/T, its a blast to drive. Enjoy your new project!

 

[dusted72]

Yes the stripes will definitely go back on. That's what sets these truck apart from every other Ram out there. Plus you don't see them very much.

 

[dusted72]

Ok it seems my 4 year old would rather ride in my truck then her momma's van so we have taken it everywhere since I got it. So today I was really looking at the carpet while we were driving to the doctor and it was nasty, I mean absolutely disgusting. So nap time comes around and I was feeling froggy so out comes the seats, it's time to shampoo the carpet. I will let the pics do most of the talking but here are the results of a little scrubbing with Tough Stuff fabric cleaner. It isn't perfect by no means but way better then before. Will be several sets of pics to follow.

 

[dusted72]

Ok seats are out now and now I know why it had a bad stinch inside.

 

[dusted72]

And a few more. It isn't perfect but I got alot of dirt out of the carpet so I feel better at least. Will give it 1 more go round tomorrow then seats are going back in. Gonna give the seats a good scrubbing too.

 

[dusted72]

So I got the seats put back in yesterday morning while my little one was at preschool and I was in a bit of a rush cause she wanted me to pick her up in it so I didn't get to paint the seat legs. They are kinda rusty and will get painted when it all comes back apart for new carpet.

 

[dusted72]

I have been looking at the paint on the truck since I got it and it needed some attention as well. So I went and bought some Turtle Wax rubbing compound the red paste stuff and some Turtle Wax white liquid compound stuff and went to work with my little cheap orbital polisher that I had. The previous owner had driven from MO to NC with a tarp pulled over the bed sides and it had beat the paint to a matte finish in a large protion of the bed including the tailgate. I worked slowly starting with the red then on to the white compound. After I was done I finished it off with a good hand polished coat of Meguiars Gold Class wax. All I can say is WOW!! This has become a totally new truck, clean interior, shiny clean paint, detailed underhood, new tune up. Sure don't look like or perform like a $1500 truck I can tell you that.

 

[dusted72]

Last few shots of it after being cleaned up. Looks great now I can just drive and enjoy till I get back from the desert.

 

[BadAss71]

I love the ss/t pickups! She sure is lookin much better with all that elbow grease put into it! My dad owned a 98 white with blue stripes ss/t for quite a while. My buddy currently has a 98 black with silver stripes. We ran his ss/t which is basically stock with some dual exhaust against my 05 dakota 4.7 and I got him by a truck length or so every time down the quarter mile. We were running mid sixteens. I would venture to guess your truck would be in the same area if its stock. Still fun to drive! Keep us posted with your progress! Any modifications planned at this time?

 

[dusted72]

Ok here are the last few pics I will be adding in the next several months unless my wife sends me pics of it. The rims were really bad with brake dust from the former owners lack of cleaning and general upkeep. I used a no scratch scuff pad like you would use in the kitchen with some red rubbing compound. Worked really good, not perfect but the clear is peeling anyway so it is a huge improvement over dirty. One pic of the screws that were screwed into the bed floor for some unknown reason. Also some pics I took at a local lake and one of me playing on a back road.

 

[goldfish65]

Wow! Looks really really good, and in such a short amount of time. Nice to see a cameo of Lilly the wonderdog, she seems to approve too.

 

[unknownsnake]

you did a good job

 

[dusted72]

Well not much to report bu I did manage to find a set of the Limited edition wheels that came only on the Indy Ram's and SS/T on a truck being parted on Craigslist. Hopefully the guy emails me back and is willing to hold them until the 1st when my wife can come pick them up. Fingers crossed hopefully he responds.

 

[dusted72]

Not alot to update but it is something. I got myself a set of Gibson stainless headers from a great member here Abodybomber, he hooked me up with a fantastic deal on them. The guy with the wheels was smoking crack and wanted $600 for the rims, I can get refinished ones for 130 a piece shipped. His were nowhere near as nice as the ones I already have too. But here are the headers anyway. I have also been considering a set of Caltracs but wasn't sure so Abodybomber called them for me and got me some answers to some questions I had. Now that is a great guy right there. :thumbrig:

 

[440jimr]

I love your truck! I have a 1999 Sport with SS/T wheels that looks like the twin to your truck.:glasses7: