2nd Gen Ram Pickups

[Kiwioilboiler]

While performing the spring install, I ran into some trouble with the Track Bar hardware. I got by for a week or so, but today I had to replace it, as it was backing out. The threads were damaged when installed the bolt last time, and the nut didn’t hold..

Here’s the new hardware, metric of course.
View attachment 463666


And in the process of removing the track bar, the castle nut that holds the ball joint in the frame side, stripped out. So I ended up making my own castle nut after trying several auto, implement, and hardware stores looking for a 14mm X 1.50 size.
View attachment 463667

Took longer than I wanted to repair, but it’s done right and I shouldn’t have to worry about this for a long time.

Commie.

 

[Loony661]

Commie.

Trust me, it hurt.

 

[Loony661]

I’m starting to get frustrated with the aging plastic dash in my pickup. It’s slowly falling apart - and I mean underneath and behind the main pieces. Granted, my truck drives over rough terrain nearly 1/2 the time. I don’t know what I’m going to do to save it..

 

[redline4]

I’m starting to get frustrated with the aging plastic dash in my pickup. It’s slowly falling apart - and I mean underneath and behind the main pieces. Granted, my truck drives over rough terrain nearly 1/2 the time. I don’t know what I’m going to do to save it..

Gorilla glue and indoor/outdoor carpet.
Your welcome.

 

[Woodslasher]

This was my plan when I had my 2nd gen: https://drtparts.com/product/dodge-dash-replacement/

 

[davidwyby]

There’s a company that makes aluminum dashes

 

[FergusonTO35]

Just take off the rotten pieces until you have an open dash. Easier to work on that way!

 

[davidwyby]

Doesn’t work out that way. The whole things collapses, dropping the stereo and AC controls. Ask me how I know

 

[mainer_in_ak]

I’m starting to get frustrated with the aging plastic dash in my pickup. It’s slowly falling apart - and I mean underneath and behind the main pieces. Granted, my truck drives over rough terrain nearly 1/2 the time. I don’t know what I’m going to do to save it..

I repaired one with very thin remnants fiberglass and epoxy resin. Roughed it up, primed it and shot a few coats of UPOL raptor with my shutz gun. Color-matched the factory color as best i could.

On the tintable raptor, a napa paint department can help color match and sells certain paint in small batches. Make sure no binder is added to the automotive paint. The raptor cured better.

U could also wig the fk out while driving and then get a dash skin. Doesn't help the lower exploding dodge interior parts though:

 

[Loony661]

So to be clear, I have already invested in, and replaced the main top dash piece that is known to crack and bust up. When I replaced that, is how I saw some of the damage underneath.

The top piece took me 14 hours to replace over a weekend with how bad everything was getting (I also did a heater core while it was apart).

 

[Loony661]

This was my plan when I had my 2nd gen: https://drtparts.com/product/dodge-dash-replacement/

Good info. Pricey, but this is what I would need… Thanks for sharing!

 

[Loony661]

Gorilla glue and indoor/outdoor carpet.
Your welcome.

On the larger pieces this could work, but it’s failing on the smaller structural pieces underneath everything. Also some of the tabs that hold the larger pieces are just breaking off.

 

[redline4]

On the larger pieces this could work, but it’s failing on the smaller structural pieces underneath everything. Also some of the tabs that hold the larger pieces are just breaking off.

Ok then.
Great stuff expandable foam, gorilla glue and indoor/outdoor carpet.

 

[Loony661]

Ok then.
Great stuff expandable foam, gorilla glue and indoor/outdoor carpet.

Brilliant!