GENERAL:

The highly sought after 1998 Dodge Ram Cummins 12 valve diesel, 5 speed manual transmission, 4X4, short bed, quad cab.  3 inch lift.  206,000 miles.  Clean title. (This model truck 12 valve diesel, quad cab was only offered for the first 6 months in the 1998 model year) KDP has been fixed. ARP head studs

THE GOOD STUFF:

This truck is RUST FREE!! It was an Arizona truck until 2011. I have regularly bathed the underside of the truck with WD-40 as a way of keeping it free of rust here in Nebraska. The entire undercarriage is as clean as the day it was made.  The truck is pretty much all stock.  Low mileage tires are LT265/75R16E1 Falken rocky mountain ATS.  I have spent a good deal of money getting the parts on this truck up to date with all maintenance records to prove the work has been done. The engine and compartment are extremely clean with no leaks.  I have had no issues with the transmission and I believe the clutch is a south bend.  It came with the towing package so the alternator is a little more beefy and this truck has the Dana 80 (1 ton) rear axle with sway bar for towing. It has been kept in a garage and I have always let it warm up before driving and cool down before shutting it off.  I’ve kept all the fluids changed out at the proper intervals as well as all filters.  I’ve flushed coolant about every 1.5 – 2 years (not needed I know). Currently running fleet charge in the system. I have literally babied this truck since I’ve owned it.  I even had a custom filter built that I could pump fuel through into the tank just to ensure I was getting clean gas.  I did catch a few particles every so often. I run Diesel Kleen as well as 2 cycle engine oil TCW-3 as a lubricating fuel supplement. The truck runs very smooth and the engine purrs very nicely.  It does have EGT and boost pressure gages. I have put 25,000 miles on it in the last 3 years. Interior is VERY clean for a 1998 truck.

UPDATED PARTS

New front right axle, seal, and u joint, New shocks front and back

New front calipers, rotors, and brakes, New pitman arm, tie rod, and drag link,

New rear axle seals, New fuel sender unit (fuel tank was cleaned thoroughly)

New radiator/serpentine belt, New Thermostat, thermostat housing, water pump

New lift pump/New power steering gearbox

I replaced fuel return line (next to block) with marine grade quality fuel hose

Replaced fuel shutoff solenoid rubber boot

Replaced rubber hoses/fittings that were part of the vacuum system

New aftermarket dashboard that won’t crack

Fuel heater deleted (straight piping to lift pump to prevent air leaks, other issues)

New latch bracket for hood/New oil feed line to turbo, New K&N air filter

STORM block with additional oil port for two turbos

Had ARP head studs installed with .010 overhead gasket/ timing is about 16

Had some low mileage (below 20,000 miles) stock fuel injectors put in

KDP fixed with maintenance records to show work done

Custom installed  10,000 lb WARN winch with remote under front of truck

4 inch exhaust turbo back( diesel stack included, but not installed right now)

STUFF THAT NEEDS REPLACING OR WORTH NOTING

The first is the rear wheel hubs.  There are currently only 7 studs in each rear wheel hub due to the holes being stripped out.  I do have 2 spare rear wheel hubs that I have yet to put on, that I will include. The rear drum brakes need to be replaced.  The parking brake does not work very well., but does work.  The overall body and paint actually hold a very nice shine to it, but there are scratches, dents, and dings that would be associated with a 16 year old truck, but it’s just cosmetic…NO RUST!!!    I disconnected the heater grid because it kept cycling on me even in warm temps. (maybe sensor issue??) Honestly, the truck doesn’t need it. It starts up every time in the freezing temps of Nebraska.  

            The engine block is the 53, which is rare for a 12 valve. I have studied this at length, talking to Cummins and diesel specialists.  What I have gathered is that this was an issue for 53 blocks that came later in the 99 year through around 2001 and even than it was an extremely small percentage of blocks that were affected.  This truck has a manufacture date of November 1997 (early model year 1998). I asked a diesel specialist who had removed freeze plugs on 24 valve block 53’s to measure jacket for proper thickness if I should have my engine measured.  He advised against it stating that this issue arose later on in the 1999 and later 24 valve engines and that mine being early on in the production was a solid block. This goes with what I have been gathering on line though the forums and other articles.  In short, the engine is STRONG!! and clean and runs very smooth.  I bring this up because I want the buyer to know everything about this truck with no surprises.  It’s a solid working/running truck and a rather hard find.

I am asking $12,500 for the truck.  I will not accept lower, for I do not need nor want to sell it, but am because of other outside factors that I need not discuss here. Call or email if you have any questions at all about its history, maintenance, condition, etc. I have kept a small journal of its history as well as the car fax report.

Mike

801-644-1100

1224elsinore@gmail.com