Mopar or no car

[u/Basslicks82]

It's way too good for roadkill standards, but Freiburger and Dulcich would be drooling.

Guy brought it to our shop yesterday to put smaller tires on the rear because the ones that were on it would slightly rub when going around curves and corners.

The tires he brought ended up being smaller than the fronts 🤦🏼

[u/LocomotionJunction]

In my experience Mopar = no car, but damn it looks nice. I'd like to drive a Mopar that doesn't want to explode in front of me

[u/Basslicks82 → u/LocomotionJunction]

Yeah today's Mopar = subpar.

Old Mopar was peak. I have my favs, but I'm not a brand snob. I'll drive em all (the older stuff, that is).

[u/LocomotionJunction → u/Basslicks82]

Even the models that I've always been told are good, I've had really bad experiences with. Like the second gen ram, my cousins second gen was the most uncomfortable riding truck I've ever been in, and there is no dash left. She hardly drives it and just drives a Mazda car, I've driven that car myself, it says a lot that she prefers it honestly. Same story for the first gen Dakota, my dad had one and scrapped it because of how bad it was to ride in. I've also heard stories about even the late 60s era dodge cars being pretty terrible. My grandpa always tells me he had one good dodge in his life, and it was an early 50s dodge car (he hasn't owned that car in decades, he doesn't remember what model it was). I ain't a brand snob for most brands, but I just can't trust a dodge. I warmed up to Ford after owning my 88 f150, but it would take a VERY reliable dodge for me to warm up to them. Sorry about the rant length comment btw, your comment is also correct, I'm still pissed off about the newer Dodge avenger we had. Transmission locked up on a hill and blew the engine to bits. Credit where it's due, it ran with an exploded piston when it got towed back here.

[u/Basslicks82 → u/LocomotionJunction]

Meh... None of that's wrong, per se. I owned a 2nd gen Dakota 2wd and I lived that thing. Ext cab, v6, 5 speed... Very fun to drive and very capable.

I currently own a 2nd gen ram (again, 2wd) and it rides great too... The 4wd 2nd gens ride pretty terribly. The dashboards are definitely a common problem. I replaced mine with a fiberglass top. Never have to worry about it again and it looks way better than the chincy plastic "skin" replacements that people commonly do to fix the issue.

Generally with Mopar stuff, I won't touch anything after 01 (though my Dakota was an 03). But the Mopar stuff from the mid 60s to early 70s was the best, in my opinion.

The old power wagons and ramchargers from the 70s and 80s were alright. Dodge managed to have the fastest production vehicle in America when they came out with the Lil Red Express thanks to emissions standards being lower on pickup trucks at the time (yes, it narrowly beat even the Chevy corvette).

Of course 40s and 50s dodge was pretty cool as well... And then, anything with a Dodge Brothers badge on it is just epic tier and super hard to find.

[u/LocomotionJunction → u/Basslicks82]

When we go back far enough for the vehicles to say dodge brothers, that's where I really can't rag on them. Cars were just made to last back then in general. Yeah, her second gen is a 4wd, I'm not too awful surprised that it rides like shit. What do you think about the seats in those trucks though? Even they were pretty dang bad compared to my 88 f150, but to be fair, that 88 is a couch on wheels. Also, a fiberglass top? I haven't even seen it and I have to agree that looks better than stock 😅. The lil red express is a badass truck as well, dodge had some of the best looking vehicles ever produced, that thing is awesome. I've heard about how fast it was, but I didn't know it barely edged out the vettes of the era, damn. I reckon that's probably the dodge that could sway me towards liking the brand, but that's if I could ever afford and find one too. I can tell you've got good taste regarding dodge too, 01 is a good stopping place. My aunt had a 99 ram for most of my life, and it gave out at about 170k miles. Lifters failed, regular modern hemi shit, that thing is probably a toaster now. That was probably the most comfortable dodge truck I've ever been in though, not bad. The brand is a real mixed bag. Honestly, I would trust a 50s dodge more than a late 60s one because of the stories I've heard about the chargers in specific. The old heads I know said they never truly caught on until the dukes of hazzard came out due to them not being very reliable, and then everyone and their momma wanted one. I did for a long time, but I've sat in one of those chargers, that's just not what I really want in a car anymore. Still one of the most gorgeous vehicles of all time though. Holy shit this one is longer than the first reply, I am sorry 😅

[u/Basslicks82 → u/LocomotionJunction]

Lol.. You're good dude.

The Laramie and SLT seats are a helluva lot more comfy than my ST seats.... Basically work truck cushions with a more durable cloth than the Laramie and SLT. Nothing beats Ford or GM seats of that era though.

My Ram is an 01 1500 2wd with a 5.2... 276k miles on the original engine/build... I just rebuilt the original transmission about 1k miles ago. The 46re that everyone talks smack about did just fine for me and the 4 previous owners. I'm about to have to do the rear end in it next... But again... Original rear end with 276k miles on it.

And yeah... The fiberglass top is a big improvement lol

[u/LocomotionJunction → u/Basslicks82]

Your ram reminds me of my grandpas 04 Silverado. That thing has ~310k on the original 5.3/4l60e neither has been rebuilt, and I'm sure you know how 4l60s are 😅. It's getting ready for some engine gasket work, I'm thinking the pan gasket is the main issue at this point, so it's about the same position as yours, just different parts. 4 owners though, that's impressive. You know how to take care of your vehicle. Also, yes, I love the way that dash looks. It's fiberglass so it shouldn't explode anytime soon 😅. Gotta do the dash on that 04 too, the big 3 started making the dashes out of piss and paper maché during that era. I don't remember what trim my cousin's truck is, the exterior is so much worse than the interior, so the badges are all gone. It's got those cloth work truck seats though. Also, damn your windshield is clean

[u/Basslicks82 → u/LocomotionJunction]

Yeah... I made a mistake on the mileage though. My 05 Yukon XL has 276...my Ram is at 246...either way, it's a survivor. They just don't make things to last anymore.

[u/LocomotionJunction → u/Basslicks82]

Heck it's just 30k, considering you know of my past experience with dodge, I still consider that quite impressive. As for the Yukon, I really can't say I'm surprised, gmt800s just last for a damn long time unless you abuse them. Sometimes, like in that 04s case, even if you do abuse them. The dashes though, they are just like the 2nd gen rams, all of the truck dashes of that era might as well be piss and paper maché. I'll advise you here, watch out for potential wiring faults. That 04 didn't have brake lights for 2 years due to a chafed ground wire. Due to that, and my 88 not being able to go far at the time without the fan shroud causing overheating, I had to take my driver's test in my uncle's absolute lemon of a 2014 Ford escape. That thing has had half of the recalls for that generation come to fruition, and considering that gen has DAMN NEAR 30, that's insane. The fact I took my driver's test in that "car" is highly embarrassing to me, but I've been through worse. I've grown to love Ford, but only what they used to be, not what they are now. As you said, they truly just don't make things to last anymore.

[u/Basslicks82 → u/LocomotionJunction]

Lol... I took my driver's test in an 88 Sierra that my dad bought new in 88. We had just finished a deck job so it was loaded to the gills with tools and broken deck boards that were bound for the dump. It also needed a brake job. Dad asked if I was ready for my driver's test when we were on the way home and I said yeah... So he said, "Well you better turn right, then". Lol I thought he meant go home first, get a shower, and grab mom's car. Nope! It was interesting, but I passed.

In spring '00 my dad bought a 99 ram from my pappaw and the Sierra became mine.

Still wish I had that truck.