CumminAlong
Observer
First off, let me re-introduce myself after my not-so-brief leave from the forum. My name's Ian, 19 years old and currently living in Thousand Oaks, CA. My truck is a 97 12-Valve, surprise surprise. :elkgrin: You may remember my halted 95 SCLB Dodge I put 37s and military beadlocks on, seen here: http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/84407-My-95-Cummins-Expedition-project I decided to stop this project because I wasn't picky enough with what I did, ran short on funds, and in general made some mistakes throughout the build. I decided the standard cab (although more desirable for the shorter wheelbase) didn't really suit my needs very well. I wanted a sleeper in the back and just general room for my stuff!
So here's what I ended up with. A 1997 Ram 2500 CCLB 4x4 5spd that I bought with 276k in Antimony, Utah. It was bone stock, one owner and unmolested. I looked long and hard for this exact truck, and knew I had to have it as soon as I found it on craigslist. I paid a little more than I wanted to ($8000), but you get what you pay for, and this truck has now given me nearly 25k miles trouble free (aside from a leaking hydroboost unit, which is now fixed). So, one cool March morning, I rented a car and hi-tailed it up I-15. Here are a couple pics the day I brought it home.
Initially the truck stayed pretty stock, receiving a 4" MBRP exhaust, a little slide of the fuel plate and a few clicks of the star wheel, and boost and EGT gauges. For months thereafter, the truck served as daily driver, workhorse, tow rig, you name it. All without skipping a beat.
Here are a couple pics from when I took a fishing trip with my Dad up around Lake Wallowa and Joseph, Oregon.
Here is the reason I'm making this thread now. I was *supposed* to leave today for a trip to see some friends in Calgary, Alberta, do some wheeling, fishing, etc. and head over to Vancouver then down to Oregon, to see my Dad. But due to an expired passport my trip is delayed a week and a half. :Wow1: Oops!
In preparation for the trip I made a sleeper and storage box for the back of the cab as well as installing a leveling kit, Bilstein 5100 shocks and, after much research, Firestone Destination M/T tires on some Ford steel wheels my boss gave me. I just installed these yesterday and don't have more than 100 miles on them yet but so far am happy with the tires. I am very curious to see how they'll do offroad. I am a bit concerned seeing as these tires are supposed to be 12.5" wide (they are narrower than that though) and I have them on 8" wide rims. Concerned I will wear my centers out. I'm currently at 40 PSI up front and 35 PSI in the rear, and I seem to have a decent contact area.
I have fairly extensive plans for this truck, eventually. It will be getting a front bumper (kind of like the ARB bumper without the chrome brushguard, and in place of that something like an ARB 60 series Land Cruiser bumper has, mounting a 12k winch. Then will get a flat bed with 8' of toolboxes on either side, water-methanol injection, HE351CW turbo (my HX35 is tired after 300k) and a 3-piece exhaust manifold as mine has shrunk a decent bit, and I don't want to it to shear off studs or create an exhaust leak, like my best friends '96 12v.
I am happy enough with the 35" tires and 3.55 gears, so I won't be regearing to 4.10s (although that would be better).
Anyways fellas, I hope you enjoy the progress I make on this rig. I do have plenty of other things to keep me busy (like planning to buy a house this coming year) and work. Depending on my schedule, I would like to build a bumper while I'm up in Oregon in a few weeks. I'm also looking for a camper shell for this Alberta trip, so if anyone knows of a decent one for sale around the Ventura County, CA area please let me know!
Thanks for reading everyone!
Ian
So here's what I ended up with. A 1997 Ram 2500 CCLB 4x4 5spd that I bought with 276k in Antimony, Utah. It was bone stock, one owner and unmolested. I looked long and hard for this exact truck, and knew I had to have it as soon as I found it on craigslist. I paid a little more than I wanted to ($8000), but you get what you pay for, and this truck has now given me nearly 25k miles trouble free (aside from a leaking hydroboost unit, which is now fixed). So, one cool March morning, I rented a car and hi-tailed it up I-15. Here are a couple pics the day I brought it home.
Initially the truck stayed pretty stock, receiving a 4" MBRP exhaust, a little slide of the fuel plate and a few clicks of the star wheel, and boost and EGT gauges. For months thereafter, the truck served as daily driver, workhorse, tow rig, you name it. All without skipping a beat.
Here are a couple pics from when I took a fishing trip with my Dad up around Lake Wallowa and Joseph, Oregon.
Here is the reason I'm making this thread now. I was *supposed* to leave today for a trip to see some friends in Calgary, Alberta, do some wheeling, fishing, etc. and head over to Vancouver then down to Oregon, to see my Dad. But due to an expired passport my trip is delayed a week and a half. :Wow1: Oops!
In preparation for the trip I made a sleeper and storage box for the back of the cab as well as installing a leveling kit, Bilstein 5100 shocks and, after much research, Firestone Destination M/T tires on some Ford steel wheels my boss gave me. I just installed these yesterday and don't have more than 100 miles on them yet but so far am happy with the tires. I am very curious to see how they'll do offroad. I am a bit concerned seeing as these tires are supposed to be 12.5" wide (they are narrower than that though) and I have them on 8" wide rims. Concerned I will wear my centers out. I'm currently at 40 PSI up front and 35 PSI in the rear, and I seem to have a decent contact area.
I have fairly extensive plans for this truck, eventually. It will be getting a front bumper (kind of like the ARB bumper without the chrome brushguard, and in place of that something like an ARB 60 series Land Cruiser bumper has, mounting a 12k winch. Then will get a flat bed with 8' of toolboxes on either side, water-methanol injection, HE351CW turbo (my HX35 is tired after 300k) and a 3-piece exhaust manifold as mine has shrunk a decent bit, and I don't want to it to shear off studs or create an exhaust leak, like my best friends '96 12v.
I am happy enough with the 35" tires and 3.55 gears, so I won't be regearing to 4.10s (although that would be better).
Anyways fellas, I hope you enjoy the progress I make on this rig. I do have plenty of other things to keep me busy (like planning to buy a house this coming year) and work. Depending on my schedule, I would like to build a bumper while I'm up in Oregon in a few weeks. I'm also looking for a camper shell for this Alberta trip, so if anyone knows of a decent one for sale around the Ventura County, CA area please let me know!
Thanks for reading everyone!
Ian
