98 Ram SS/T Redo/Restore

[xlexl]

Lookin good Dusted!

I've been known to pick up some haggard vehicles from time to time and sometimes about the only thing you can do with carpet is yank it out, clean out the floor pan and pressure wash the hell out of both sides of the carpet.

For future reference I would recommend staying away from polishing compound for anything but un-coated metal. It removes A LOT of material from paint and clear coat. Worst case it can chew through clear coat into the color, best case it takes a slew of life off the clear.

Recommend liquid polishing, you can tell its made for paint because it will have a number on it denoting its aggressiveness. Meguires makes some decent stuff that's readily available at any auto parts store, their better stuff I think you have to order or find an auto paint supply place. I, however, am partial to 3M stuff, little more pricey but much easier to get a glass finish. Griots is pretty good as well.

 

[dusted72]

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

Thanks. I love it too. Got a great deal on it as well with only 90000 on the clock. I plan to put the stripes back on it sometime when I get home. One of the PO's wrecked it and they put on the 99-01 Sport front end so yeah our trucks could be twins.

Lookin good Dusted!

I've been known to pick up some haggard vehicles from time to time and sometimes about the only thing you can do with carpet is yank it out, clean out the floor pan and pressure wash the hell out of both sides of the carpet.

For future reference I would recommend staying away from polishing compound for anything but un-coated metal. It removes A LOT of material from paint and clear coat. Worst case it can chew through clear coat into the color, best case it takes a slew of life off the clear.

Recommend liquid polishing, you can tell its made for paint because it will have a number on it denoting its aggressiveness. Meguires makes some decent stuff that's readily available at any auto parts store, their better stuff I think you have to order or find an auto paint supply place. I, however, am partial to 3M stuff, little more pricey but much easier to get a glass finish. Griots is pretty good as well.

Thanks for the info. I will have some more work to do to the paint once I get back. I will definitely not use that stuff anymore then. Gonna look for the Meguiers or 3M stuff for the finish products.

 

[dusted72]

No new pics yet but once the parts arrive I will post them then. But I bought an SCT tuner, new Mopar Performance valve covers, and a new Mopar M1 intake. Can't wait till they come in, don't know why I can't do anything with them till I get home next year. Oh well.

 

[dusted72]

So here are some pics of my new valve covers I got from Dart71 over on the truck site. Man these are nice I can't wait to see them in person when I get back.

 

[dusted72]

Not alot going on with this build just mainly buying parts if anybody cares. Here is a quick picture of my SCT Tuner I bought from a member of another site that I frequent.

 

[goldfish65]

Cool Corey, good to see you have a project to focus on now. It will be a bad-a$$ truck. I am enjoying this thread as it progresses.

 

[dusted72]

Thanks David, hopefully my intake will be in in the next week or so so I can get it sent to CudaChick for powder coating so I can take advantage of the end of year deal she has going on. I spend all day reading about and looking for performance parts online. I have nothing to do now so it gives me a way to pass the time so to speak.

 

[dusted72]

Just more parts to report if anybody cares. My M1 came in today. Got a pretty good deal I think especially since it is brand new never bolted on. Gonna send it to the Mistress of Metal to get it coated as soon as I can.

 

[dusted72]

Obviously still no real progress but I received my Mopar EVSII keyless entry/alarm yesterday. Still in the box brand new. I always wanted keyless entry but I hate the look of aftermarket crap. So I found this deal on Ebay and bought it. Here's a few pics of the system. My new t-stat housing arrived yesterday at Leanna's place for powder coating and hopefully my intake will arrive in the next few days.

 

[demonmike70]

see that evs alarm system brings back memorys of installing them.follow instructons to the word.

 

[HOTMOPR]

ditch the gasser and put a 12 valve cummins in it!! Awesome trucks. I have always wanted to do a cummins conversion on a shorty 1/2 ton. 550 rwhp is a peice of cake with a 12 valve.. Just joking Great project!!

 

[dusted72]

ditch the gasser and put a 12 valve cummins in it!! Awesome trucks. I have always wanted to do a cummins conversion on a shorty 1/2 ton. 550 rwhp is a peice of cake with a 12 valve.. Just joking Great project!!

If it wasn't a limited production I would consider that. That actually sounds like a fun project.

 

[dusted72]

Well more parts are in. My 2bbl throttle body adapter showed up at Leanna's yesterday and she was kind enough to send me some pics.

 

[CudaChick1968]

LMAO @ Poof showing off the adapter. She's always gotta get in there and see what I'm doing.

 

[dusted72]

Leanna is taking great care of me. Here are a few pics of the T-stat housing. The mounting flange is a full 1/2 inch thick. Hey all you C.A.T. products haters this is a quality piece and was only $11.50 shipped.

 

[DART71]

Trucks looking good!

 

[Abodybomber]

Nice to see,Corey! Yot treat this like I used to treat my trucks!Miss my minis,and my El Caminos! Good Times!

 

[dusted72]

Yeah this truck is a blast to drive, I just wanted to get some more out of it for now. I have 2 inch lowering shackles waiting at the psot office since my wife is away visiting family for the holidays. I also ordered my stainless heater hose, bypass hose fittings yesterday as well. I have a pretty extensive list of stuff I will be buying in the next few months.

 

[dusted72]

Nothing new really just got some more parts. My JDM lowering shackles came yesterday. I found these on Ebay and got a great deal I think. If you do research alot of times you can find things really cheap, take these for example. They are listed as fitting 99-06 Chevy 1500 but in all actuality they will fit 88-06 Chevy 1500 and 94-01 Rams as well as some years F150's but I didn't research them. Got them for $3.25 plus shipping of $14.95 so basically $18.20 to my door. Which is about $30 or more less then everywhere else. Chevy stuff is always listed cheaper.

 

[Abodybomber]

Shackles look good,Corey.Cool tip on the interchange.

 

[Rockerdude]

Man, Ive got to get my hands on one of these someday. This thread rules.

 

[dusted72]

Thanks guys. I know this is an A-body site but I know alot of guys have Rams too. Knowledge is power right?

 

[RustyRatRod]

This is gonna be cool. Have you seen the valve covers Edelbrock has for the Magnum motor? I am fixin to build a Magnum headed LA 318 and I want a set of them sumffin fierce....but stock ones are gonna have to do. Dammit all.

 

[dusted72]

Just went and looked them up. Man those are nice but I couldn't beat the price of the ones I bought.

Here is a list of what I have bought so far. Still quite a bit to go though.



Headers
Header Gaskets
Valve Covers
T-stat Housing
T-stat Gasket
TB Adapter
Intake
Performance Stainless Steel Heater Fitting
Performance Stainless Steel Bypass Fitting
Performance Stainless Steel 1/2 Plug
Shackles
EVS Alarm
SCT Tuner
Autometer Tach

839.78

 

[RustyRatRod]

Yeah ain't they badass??? So when you comin home? We gotta drink a beer. Or two.