[TrabiaNola]

Bought my 1998 Dodge Ram 1500 5.9L V8 Magnum 360 for $500. 160,000 miles. Didn't run. Sat around for abt 18 months. Huge gamble. 500 bucks is a lot of $ for me. But I rolled the dice. I've been working on her for the past 8 weekends in a row & now she's resurrected in a big way. Did all of the basics first. Battery, spark plugs, wires, distributor & rotor, oil change, trans fluid, flush radiator, fuel system, throttle body, O2 sensors, etc. Now I'm changing the power steering pump, reservoir, pulley & pressure line & return line. Next is the serpentine tensioner. My question is abt flushing the block. Where are the drain valves & I'm not really sure abt the step by step process. She runs great. Engine was coughing & sputtering but now she runs silky smooth. But I still want to flush the block. Previous owner probably NEVER did it. I can tell that my baby was extremely neglected. Any advice on anything else that I should do? Thanks a lot fellow Ram lovers! This truck has made a believer out of me!

 

[dirt dauber]

congrats on your ride!!
just so you know,our second generation dodge's have a vaccum operated a/c unit under the dash near the gas pedal.
the vaccum lines go to the engine and when you turn on the a/c or defrost,you will hear the door slam either open or closed.
I had a problem with mine,but I wiretied it from underneath as there are 4 pins visible on it,and to replace the box you would have to take the whole dash out to do it.
you should be good.
everything on my 99 ram is factory stock still on my a/c unit except a new a/c compressor I replaced last year,still blows cold air.
www.lmctrucks.com has a dodge ram catalog with all interior and exterior parts,they will send you their catalog.

 

[slimpartywagon]

when you say flush the block, I am assuming the cooling system. Tkae out the thermostat, and replace the thermostat housing, take off the heater hose from the thermostat housing, apply garden hose to thermostat housing and backflush... water will pour out the heater hose you just disconnected.