Anyone else in this category?

After 12 years of ownership I Sold 96_12Valve 5-speed about 4 years back with 373k on it in Illinois. Rust had just taken it over badly, even the frame was getting shaggy...but...

Never realized how spoiled I truly was. Ability to pull anything that wouldn't move, run 22-24 mpg on the freeway, and just a great driving/handling truck (coming from a person who autocrosses their car too). For a truck that weighed over 6000 pounds, it handled great.

Now in a 2007 Half-ton Gas 4wd Auto truck, about 17 mpg in 2wd, drives "light" feels a bit on the fragile side, and in 4wd might as well count on 13.5 mpg. That on the handling isn't nearly what the Dodge 3/4 ton was. Oh well, I'll keep my eyes open but even 24V's are hard to find in halfway decent shape anymore.

Thanks for hearing out my rant. If you haven't owned one of these, well, you just don't understand...

 

I'm in the same boat. I sold my 98 12v about 8 years ago and bought a 08 3500. Just recently made the "not one more dime" decision on that one.

 

They are out there, our Toyota dealer had one on the lot a few weeks ago when I drove by in the morning, all they had on the window was 97 12V, it was gone at lunchtime.

Nice green over silver 97, clean and stock looking. Don't know what they got for it.

 

Exactly why I decided to keep the 12v when we got our new truck to fit a growing family. It isn't perfect, but its been doing everything every day for the last 10 years/ 170k miles without any signs of giving up. I've since retired it to strictly heavy work to keep the miles down a bit. Now I don't have to worry about cleaning the passenger seat off pulling out of the woods...

 

Bought probably the nicest 1997 Dodge left in existence 2 weeks ago.

Bone stock (other than the KDP tabbed & the 5th gear fix), original paint, original exhaust, 2wd, 5 speed with air ride & leather interior.

Owner used it to pull his vintage 1960's drag race cars to the track on weekends. He folded up the back seat when he got it & just folded it down for me to see it. No one ever sat back there ever !

All leather interior, last of the all mechanical (no computer) diesels, air ride suspension etc. 90,000 actual miles in 18 years.

Planning on putting the next 200k on her.

The fender flare/running boards are coming off though.......not my style at all.

 

Ramruff, that truck is beautiful!!! Great find man. Put up more pics when you get time. You said air ride? Helper bags in the back?

 

Yes helper bags on the rear with onboard compressor & controls at the dash.

Under the hood looks like it just rolled out of the showroom.

The previous owner was a mopar fanatic to say the least !

I'll grab up a few more pics later in the week after I get the flares off.

 

Beautful ride RamRuff!! I really like those duallies in White...

So yesturday I was driving up into Wisconsin and came across what may be my next truck! 1998 12-valve 4wd, it's going to need some work but only 160 k on it. 5-speed as well. Question for those who know---what sort of mileage could a 4:10 rear end truck get? If you all tell me 14 or so, I probably won't do it. But 17-19 I could deal with. Also is there anything else to consider with that rear end? I noted it was running pretty a little more rpm at 60 mph than I'm used to.

Still sorting out the detial with the owner but as long as everything checks out I'll pick it up next weekend. Pretty excited to be headed back, even if it needs a lot of clean-up and probably new driver-seat (torn up, he's in construction.)

 

So the 1998 Ram 12-valve is in my driveway now. Just decided to follow through with it. Driving this big rig back, 250 miles was quite the adventure. It runs out great and for the most part...drives well. Just till you go to stop.

My biggest issue with my long-term 2WD 1996 truck was the braking system. Same seems to be true here so far. Very massive shudder coming down from any speed with anything more than a very light touch on the pedal. Odd but I'm thinking it could be the rear drum rotors as the whole truck seems to shake from the rear, though that could be due to the weight balance. You will stop in time but you'll shake yourself silly in the process. So took it VERY careful and will get into the brakes this weekend, not driving it till then.

Other notes: The NV4500 in this truck is really "tight." my '96 2wd was "loose" meaning you could just slide between the gears easily, even if the clutch pedal was not fully depressed. This one, especially into 3rd requires a pause, then a dedicated, firm shift into the next gear, or it will grind. Hoping I don't have a synchronizer starting to go out.

But the truck has potential, and really, once used to it, it's starting to sort itself out. I've gotten a little soft driving around the 1/2 ton Chevy for a year, but this may indeed work out to be a good truck.

 

Pulled the flares off & found the original aftermarket installer in '97 used about 10 self tapping screws per side thru the lower rocker panels on each side to install the flares/running board combo's. Yechhhh !

Put the truck up on the rack & mig welded them shut thru the mint original paint.

Sent the truck off to my local on call body man & this is what we came up with:

Factory color 2 tone lower body silver.

Let me know what you think of the transformation.......it broke my heart to paint on an original paint rust free 18 year old truck !

 

A few more pics:

 

Few more pics (flip phone not the best quality)

 

Wow, she's pretty!

 

Interesting thread. I'm looking at getting rid of 1 of my 96s for a new Aisin 2014-2016. Have resisted the temptation for a new truck for a LONG time, but need something newer for next year when I start full-timing in the RV life.

 

Let me know if & when you're ready to sell one.........I'm looking for a non dually daily driver for my shop truck.