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These old trucks are real work horses. I inherited my grandpa's 1994 2500 12v when he passed away in 2005. He used to keep one of those disposable tear off calendars struck to the dash. The last one is still there, stuck on the last month he drove it before he passed away..... 17 years. That truck took me and my dumb young adult choices all over this country and always managed to bring me home safe. Sometimes she was limping, but she always got me home... or somewhere safe. All the while chugging a cheerful tune, sounding like she was happy to be there, and glad to help. Now days, she is a little worse for wear. The dash is cracked, and there is more primer and light surface rust than the original Champaign paint left, but she still sings that happy song, and even though it would be cheaper to take the motorcycle or the new Chevy to work (especially with current fuel prices), I prefer to use the old 12v.... that way, I can ride with all my memories...

I think we all need to take a minute to honor the old codger that took METICULOUS care of this awesome truck for all these years before the new owner bought it!! Wow Wes - what a fun job to get!!

The movie Twister made the Dodge Ram even cooler to me as a kid. Love these 2nd gens. I don’t live in the rust belt so I get to see all these rigs almost daily. Thanks for the content Wes!

Wow, this truck is immaculate. It’s amazing how well an old vehicle can hold up when the owner takes care of it.

Diagnosis....."It's a dodge." Seriously though...to see a dodge pickup of that era that hasn't literally disintegrated from rust is pretty amazing. Also seeing that the door panels and the dashboard haven't shattered into a million pieces is also pretty amazing. Every pickup from that era with at least some sort of accumulated milage all have mechanical issues. I'd take these issues over a disintegrating pickup any day. Thanks for the video Wes.

To Wes. The remaining "sloppy steering" is caused by the steering shaft rag joint. Speedway engineering makes a solid joint for this. I had mg 99 Ram 2500 and same thing. All new front end parts and still a slight slop. Yep yep

The 1994 Dodge Ram was the first modern truck. That model changed trucks from a utilitarian tool, to something even people in the suburbs wanted to drive. What a beautiful specimen! Thanks for showing it to us...

That’s a great truck right there. I’d take that over a new one. Love the engine tone on those. What a find.

Love the fact that when Wes finds something other than what he was asked to fix, he addresses it. I see too many mechanics just fix what they were asked to, when it would be ultimately cheaper for the customer to fix it when you are in there. Nicely done Sir!

I appreciate the fresh take on 90's dodge trucks; at least speaking of them in a positive light in the intro. Weird to think about but dodge was a real underdog in the truck market since... well forever until the second gen came into the market in 94'. I try to think about that whenever I find any short comings on my 97' Cummins truck. Chrysler didn't have the kind of investment capital to put into these as much as Ford/Gm did due to sheer volume/production #'s. The introduction of the second gen, in my opinion, was the hail Mary that saved Chrysler's participation in the US truck market

Can't believe I saw a mint '95 Dodge Ram on this channel. Getting all the 90s nostalgic vibes too. Total unicorn indeed. I'm pretty sure I just dreamed this video and none of this ever really happened :(

This is one if the nicest looking 5.9 cummins shipping crates I have seen.

that twin ram intake helps get air to the rear cylinders, the intake manifold didnt do a great job of distributing it evenly from the factory. It also helped conditions with the rear cylinder temperature being a lot hotter than the rest. if a cylinder went out on one of these, it was always that rear one.

Odd, I really thought Dodges were made out of rust at the factory.

The cam bolts for the caster adjustment from the factory “tuck the axle into the truck”. If you adjust them to “rock the axle” as far out as possible it is a massive improvement. A friend that worked at a dealer when these first came out did that even when new. I did the same to my 2003 and I also added a steering box brace. That also made the steering much more positive.

First, nice work on such a nice rig! Second, it’s great to see an owner let you do the work that needs to be done and stay ahead of it turning into what you usually work on. 😁

I've been going through a lot, Wes, and I gotta say, your videos always cheer me up. I recently got accepted into the plumbing union and started my apprenticeship last week. I've been pretty excited over it but when I finally broke the news to the few people in my life, they acted uninterested and bored. Definitely stung a bit and it makes me feel like I'm the only person who takes genuine interest in other peoples' success and hobbies. Or because I'm quiet and patient, everyone is always emotionally dumping on me or looking for advice. Anyway, rant aside, just know I appreciate whatever videos you put out and I enjoy them to the fullest the way they are. And whenever I have asked for your advice on car stuff, it's always appreciated and accepted. Thank ya, Wes.

I know it’s a lot of work to film and edit the videos but I love these hour plus long videos! Thank you for all the extra work it takes to allow us to see what you do so well! Like you and many comments that truck is in unbelievable good shape! Too bad you don’t get more like that to work on.

I was watching Diesel Creek today, also. Two things you 2 have in common: 1) You ALWAYS make things INTERESTING, and 2) You both would be NOWHERE without your good WIVES and your HAMMERS! Love ya!!!

When I had a '95 ram, i found much improvement in steering after replacing the steering gear and a special kit that puts a special pitman arm nut that rode in a big bearing supported by frame structure.

My 88-year-old uncle has the same truck, different color here in Arizona with 50,000 miles. Absolutely mint, never seen rain or of course snow. As a former Chicagoan car guy, Arizona spoiled me. Also, Wes has the best channel and content. For the grown people. Takes me back to Illinois without having to be there.

That was a pleasant change for you - no rust, and ran as sweet as a nut. You deserve at least one of those every week.

Twister was the movie that set those Dodges off for me!

Just had an 04 Cummins 2500 roll through my shop with 42k original miles all stock lived it's whole life in a garage in southern Illinois it was a time machine for me only being 22

I bush hogged an ancient barbed wire fence that was “mostly” buried in a heavy grown over ditch bank…took me hours to uncoil (using a torch, wire cutters and grinder) all of that barbed wire from the “stump jumper”… wire was probably 2-3 inches thick in spots. Got a new respect for the guys that cut ditch banks everyday!

Thanks for the video, I have a 1996 Dodge Ram 4X4 that was converted to a mega cab 4 door, when it was pretty new. It only had 120,000 miles on it when I got it. It had been parked for 10 years. It now has about 157,000, I changed the interior to cloth, not a fan of leather (cold in winter and hot in summer) We did brake and axle seals ect. The killer D pin ect. I use it usually for towing. almost every time I drive it someone will come up and try to buy it, I always tell them I need it to launch my boat. My daily is a 2003 Dodge Ram 3500 four door short bed, 6 speed with over 300,000 miles and runs like new. 20 mpg regular use and 16 towing over 10,000 lbs. The 1996 gets about 16 mpg and about 12 towing

As a Dodge owner, Dodge, not Ram, of a slightly younger vintage, mine's an '04, I will say, finding a Dodge in that shape in my neighborhood, is impossible. South Western Ontario Canada, where we "season" our roads quite liberally. And being on a main road from major population, to another major population, my strip of asphalt gets "Extra Sauce." A Unicorn? Yes, almost a "Holy Grail" of pickups in general. Had it been a manual, there would need to be an accompanying shrine to the third pedal and "that extra steel lever looking thing." But in all honesty, OMG! that truck is freakin' clean!!!!! Nice work Wes, keep 'em coming.......

Dude. The opening was awesome. This channel is coming so far. I have loved watching you learn your way through every conundrum that rolls through your door. Your an inspiration brother.

Wes, production quality continues to improve with no loss of interesting content. Three thumbs up!

That sending unit swap is a piece of cake, setting aside the dropping the tank part. 😉 Great video with diagnostics and multiple fixes. Thanks.

Love seeing unicorns Wes. i can't speak for others but I would rather see unicorns being worked on vs. beat up old run down vehicles that you can tell the owners don't care about. I have been fortunate that over the years I have weeeded out the clients that don't take care of their stuff and now have a good selection of well maintained vehicles that run through my shop owned by people who care about them and don't cringe about spending a little bit of money to keep them pristine and in proper running condition. Also, a little tip when doing front axle work on solid axles (Mopar) when you have to pull axle shafts is to cut a pole jack down so that when you pull an axle shaft on one side you can place the cut down pole jack under one side and slightly raise it enough to prevent the differential fluid from the center housing from running out the seal and into the axle tube. Makes for a very clean job without having any cleanup of fluid afterwards plus makes the outer axle housing end more solid when working so it doesn't bounce from the coil springs. Another great video Wes. Keep em' coming, especially those "unicorns". Mike

Nice to see that you actually get a nice vehicle to work on once in a while and really good to see that, for once, most of the truck actually leaves with the truck and not, as seems more usual, swept up and leaves in the dumpster.

Nice job, Wes. Well done. The truck is beautiful. The owner is one lucky person to find it. An aberration here in Illinois. Max doesn't say a lot but speaks volumes. His face expressions say it all.

I've owned a 93, 95, 01, and now an 09, all with the Cummins. I also have an 89 that is 100% stock. Never a problem from any of the engines and believe it or not, not one transmission issue (yet). I have experienced most of the other "normal" Dodge issues along the way. I think it's safe to say that Cummins engines saved Dodge trucks.

no sound effects with brake clean no big nasty great video nice truck keep up the good work Wes

I test drove one of the first Dodge Cummins models, still in the old, square body style. It felt like I was driving a steel-wheeled tractor down a Chicago expressway. NOTHING gave when you hit a bump.

I really like that beginning. That was really good I can appreciate how long it took to make.

Good to see a well maintained vehicle so now and then. Love the fixing vids,nothing wrong whit diagnostic ones,but these i like more. Also great to see the owner is fine by spending some money on it

I like it young man. I’ve had 2 Dodge trucks with Cummins in them, good engines, but, it all comes down to maintenance, and that’s no matter what it is, No maintenance = junk. That was a beautiful truck sir, had to be nice to work on. Thanks for the ride along.

Awesome video! I just finished restoring a 1987 Mazda RX-7 Turbo. I worked on it for about a year. I use a cool prgram on my computer called Automotive Wolf car maintenance software to track all the parts and expenses so I know exactly what I have invested in it. I have about 6K in it now and plan to sell it for 12K after paint. Thanks for the great video

One thing that helps the steering on these 2nd gens is a steering box brace. It puts another bearing on the outside of the pitman arm on the sector shaft. Without it, you can watch the box/shaft wiggle side to side when you steer in place.

I hadn't ever seen a different indicator fluid for sparkless ignition vehicles. Found some available locally, but I'm gonna need to be convinced that it's not just different color before I open my wallet. Thanks for the info, keep up the great work!

I’m 65. We called them ‘wind wings’ instead of flipper windows. My mom used to keep her cigarette by the open wind wing between puffs and you could see the smoke get pulled outside. She died at 60 from lung cancer in 1990, so there’s a lesson for someone there (hopefully my son who smokes). If you opened the wind wing a little more you got a strong gush of air on yourself on a hot day. I love this truck. Great video Wes. First time watching your channel

So very nice to see you work on a vehicle that was in such great shape . Could actually see clearly what you were repairing and you weren't having to construct all sorts of methods to pry apart corroded parts . A touch of "normal" repairs is relaxing to watch .

Hey Wes If you want to get the Dodge Ram to stop wandering down the road (it's not the steering box) you will need to repair / replace the steering column. The bushing inside the column fails and leaves a lot of slop...

Thank you guys for the awesome content. I say you guys because I know a business like yours is a family effort. I really like the way you go about fixing all of these vehicles. You are very methodical, professional and clean. I’m always impressed with the work that you do. Wes, I wish I lived near your shops to have my truck worked on by you. It is a 2002 Ford F-250 XLT. It is a very clean truck with low miles. It needs a new bearing and outer axle seal on the driver’s side. It also needs a rear differential flush and fluid change. I have a new Rear differential cover. It is a good one that allows the fluid to circulate. I also have an electric diff locker from a 2008-2015 F-250 which can be retrofitted to work on my 2002 F-250. My truck is 100% rust free. I’m from Tucson, Arizona where there is no such thing as rain or humidity. Maybe a road trip? Thank you again for your videos and content.

Even Max can't resist popping bubble wrap.

Those 8 point sockets have been very handy for me! When I bought them, I had no idea I would ever use them except on antique farm equipment, but that was not the case.

Nice job Wes, the new owner is off to a good start. Agree with your views on valve adjustment, for mine, just a light drag.

I love watching these. Would love to know the story behind this truck and how it was kept so clean. Don't let whistlindiesel get a hold of it.

I absolutely love this channel. This project is very complex. I admire your dedication and attention to detail, not to mention your ability to problem solve.. I look forward to seeing how this finishes up.

Well boys still got my 94 Cummins dually , 200,000 mi Flame red Showroom condition 💥💥💥

They really are great trucks when taken care of. i did a g56 swap in mine. 742k miles and still going strong and gets over 22 mpg compared to my durtamaxes 12.... though with the 60-gallon tank im running it now costs $300+ to fill up....

Decent looking shipping crate!

I love the attention to the little things: When reinstalling the valve covers you wiped the tops down to get your fingerprints at least slightly less greasy. All in a greasy engine bay, that no one is gonna see. Keep up the good work!

That was a clean 95 Dodge! The new owner sure knew the right person to take it to!! I had a 2000 Dodge diesel and I loved that truck. I put in the Edge module so it had 330HP and 670FP of torque, I got 17-19 mpg city driving and several times I got 27 mpg on the hiway!! But it did wander and no one could fix it. Also the trans would would go out of overdrive with a Big bang when under a load so I had it rebuild and it did the same thing which was a common problem. It finally broke and left us stranded! Went to a dealership and they finally got a factory remanufactured Trans and I never had that problem again, but it was 5 grand! If I'd lived close to Wes and he had the time he could have fixed all of that and I wouldn't have had to put up with all that for several years. Thanks for another great video, I'm going to watch some more of your videos right now.

Glad your back

This year is hands down my favorite truck ever made.

Had a 93 Dodge Cummins D250 2WD. Gave it to a cousin in '03 w/ 225K miles. He kept it a decade as an off road truck. He sold it to his propane guy a decade later for $700. It's still running almost 30 years later. These old Cummins are awesome motors. Great video.

bought a new stripped down, bread-truck white 1/2 ton manual one of these with the 318 standard cab, AC, hand-cranked roll down windows and rubber floor mats in 2001 for 18 grand. it's not got about 92,000 miles on it and still running great. it's been dinged to death but no major crashes or dents in the body or bed. ...love it! it would still look good if i ever washed it., haha best manual transmission and clutch i've ever owned, and i've got a 2007 aston martin and porche cayman with manuals that suffer in comparison.

Whenever I see a unicorn like one of these I always feel like they should be in a museum or something. It's kind of a shame to imagine it lasting this long only to potentially have something happen to it. Hope that viewer looks after it well!

Thank you for the video, Wes!

I remember when those came out too. For me that body style was the beginning of Ram trucks. As a kid I didn't even know they made them before that.

Geno's Garage FTW! That's where I used to buy all my Cummins maintenance supplies for my previous Dodge Cummins trucks. Now I have a Jeep so no more Cummins. 😞. Oh well, I will always be a Mopar man at heart and a Cummins man at heart too. This is a sweet, diamond in the rough, type truck right here. You wouldn't see many of those types of clean trucks here in NH ... thats for sure.

Just saw you using the suction pump and over here in the UK I've just bought a 1.5litre version of the same pump (already got two of the smaller ones like yours) and it's really handy. Differs in having a much longer tube plus a stop tap arrangement on the end to stop dribbles whilst transferring liquids. Also has a handle to go around the larger body. Just letting you know as we are usually behind you guys so no doubt they're available on your side of the pond. Enjoyed the video too. 😁👍 P.S. AvE says "Cut towards your chum, not your thumb".

First time I've seen a truck leave the shop at the same weight it came in at, most leave half their structure behind as rust chunks on the floor. Nice work Wes

Lots of routin Maintenance ON this old Rig That extra deep trans Pan Is beautifully made going to be a brand new Truck when your done with all the repairs and Maintenance on this old rig good video as always @Watch Wes Work

Beautiful old truck. Sometimes I miss my Cummins but the then remember changing out water pumps, seals , steering box , and front end parts more often than you would think . Had the death wobble several times. The good feeling goes away fast.

Great video Wes. Your videos are always like it is. Your living right, those unit bearings NEVER come out that easy. I’ve got a 2000 Dodge 2500 CTD since 2002. 120,000 miles on it, love it. I put a Fleece cooling system bypass on it, and a PacBrake exhaust brake system on it, a FASS lift pump and just put a manual locking front hub kit on it. No DEF and no cats, My forever truck. I would like to find another one, 97 or older so I can avoid the smog line here in Commiefornia. Then install a 24 valve with the P- pump conversion kit. Interesting, the ball joints press into the knuckle on the 98’s and older. Om my 2000 they press into the ears on the axle tubes.

WOW, incredible I actually got 1st like and 1st comment on one of Master Mechanic Wes's vids which is pretty much impossible given how fascinating and popular his vids are. Vocational school, we don't need no stinking Vocational school. We'll just watch an episode of Watch Wes Work Y'all. It's always nice to wake up to on a Sunday morning and see he's posted a new one.

In 1995, I bought a 1990 D250 Dodge pickup with 85,000 miles in upstate NY. I could not believe that it had no rust on it. I sold it with 210,000 miles on it. The engine did not burn or leak any oil and never had to replace any front end components. Did one front end alignment and never wore out tires due to misalignment. I really hated to part with that truck but did not use it anymore and by 2006 when I sold it, was badly rusted underneath.

I bought a brand new Ram in 2001, 2011, and in my current truck in 2021. 10 years and 200k plus miles on the first two. Love my new one. Some folks must have had bad luck I guess. I'll likely buy a 4th in 2031 if I'm not dead.

That is indeed a super nice rig! I have a bit of a Unicorn or holy grail Dodge truck of my own. 2003, 5.9 (pre-emissions), NV5600, Manual XFER case quad cab with 135K. It looks about the same as that one paint-wise. I want a new one but this one is too good to give up. BTW, yes, the volt meter thing is normal. As far as the loose steering, if the gear hasn't been replaced, it needs it. No adjustment of the secotr will correct for a worn box. I learned this one the hard way. Red Head makes a great rebuilt gear. Yes on the constant tension clamps and if you use OEM hoses, they come with them.

Wouldn't be a Cummins or a dodge if it didn't leak something. That's miiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnntttttt 👌as an old wise man said

I had a truck like this from 96’ to 88’. I never had any major issues at all. Sold it at 269k miles. It was probably 90% clean.

The nice thing about working & owning a high miles taken care of truck is that for the most part anything you go to fix has probably at one point been replaced. The disadvantage of buying a clean low miles clean truck is that a lot of the stuff on it hasn’t been done at all or it’s barely driving w 30yr old grease in places.

Pretty clean for a rust belt truck. If you think that sending unit is a pain, I have a 98 12 valve, the only sending unit still made for the half year unicorn is at Geno's Garage and it's nearly $400. I have a universal ultrasonic sending unit on the way, can't wait to see how it works.

FYI, there is a difference between "new" and "rebuilt or replacement" steering gears. Rebuilt steering gears usually only replace seals, but they don't really replace any internal parts. The main issue is the center shaft. This shaft wears the most at the center when the truck is driving straight ahead since that is the position that the steering wheel is pointed most of the time. The shaft then wears out in the middle but not at the ends. This over time causes the truck to wander when driving straight, and there is no adjustment that will fix it. This is why you need to have a new steering gear or one that is completely rebuilt by a shop that knows how to do it. Also, be careful with the sector shaft setscrew - if you over tighten this it can cause the steering gear to lock up while driving. It is usually just best to leave this alone if at all possible. They make a steering gear support brace that can help a bit with a wandering issue, you can get from most Cummins aftermarket shops. The frame tends to flex where the steering gear is bolted to it, the brace helps with that. If you have a front end that is slap worn out, you can crank in the most negative caster that the front end will accept and this will help it to track straight a little better until the front end can be rebuilt.

Lars will have us thrown in prison LOL! i almost spit out my breakfast. i've been patiently waiting for you to work on this truck as it has been in the yard for awhile. it really is a unicorn; 12 valve, Inline pump, regular cab, 8 foot box, 4x4, Laramie. AND NO RUST! new enough to be comfortable, but old enough to be simple and reliable. i have the same truck but 2wd. mine is nice but not as nice as this one. here on the Canadian prairies that truck would sell for $30,000+ for sure. older truck/equipment prices have gone crazy. i hope your viewer realizes what he/she has with this truck. i'm sure they do.

I like how you talk and film your episodes. I just get a cold snack or two and forget my daily nightmares and zone out.

Hi Wes, thanks for the vids. Is it possible that since that transmission was modified for heavy towing (deep magnesium pan, extra fluid capacity, who knows what else...), it does not reach normal operating temps when running with no extra load - so it may shift like its cold and the temp gauge may not register? Perhaps the pickup doesn't get deep enough in the modified pan?

I always watch you and Rainman Ray for your diagnostic expertise. You’re both very good at your job. Thank you for your hard work.

I would bet whoever sold it knew exactly what it was worth and got every penny for it. Nice work making it like new again Wes!

You didn't do the Andrew Camerata radio intall.....rip off dash pad to get to wires.chainsaw to make raido hole larger..( looks factory)

Well I never, a Dodge radio install without a chainsaw.

I am still driving mine, with the V10 Magnum engine, well over 350,000 miles. Only a new alternator, a few sensors, a starter, battery, shocks, brake pads, tires, and a belts in the last 4 years. No major issues. Only now I am noticing it starting to show barely visible light surface rust.

Visited my daughter in the UP of Michigan, and every Dodge I saw over a few years old was literally disapearing before my eyes from fust! this one is amazing looking. Todd the retired trucker.

looks like it was bought in Midlothian Texas

This was the day and age when Chrysler was AMERICAN! I worked at the Belvidere, IL Assembly plant during the summer when I was in Law School and when the Dynasty & New Yorkers were being built now FIAT owned them and Chrysler is going down his. Should have stayed American!!

A truck with no rust. You must have been in heaven. Great Video. Stay blessed.

Bob Lutz made this truck happen - design holds today is a testimate. Iconic redesign - Dodge Ram 94 was the first entirely computer designed vehicle. Vendor parts coming together without shipping pre-production parts all over had never happened before.

An AirDog or FASS lift pump/water separator might be a worthwhile investment... Great video!

Pro grade videos....A+++...learned allot..where else can you get to see a real mechanic work..Bravo..!!

I hate the summer heat but 50-year-old cars come apart that easy in Arizona. I hate the rust belt! Former Northeast resident.

I bought one in 1995 when I First seen it on the car lot! 6 foot bed single cab 318/ 4wd and a 5 speed manual transmission. I paid 27 k out the door title, tax , registration, and a full tank of gas. The sales manager I went to school with threw in life time Pennsylvania state inspection. Great truck and thank for sharing. I will watch it and pass it on for you Wes! Great evening to you and your family. Pet the old puppy for me would ya! Thanks.

BIL is a mech at a shop in town.Dropped my Avalanche off for an alignment and he was installing a stereo in a NBS Chevy.He said "you know it's slow when I'm doing audio stuff!" That's a nice old Dodge,I'll bet it's got another 300-400k in her.

Definitely the definition of a unicorn , but I will admit that yelled FU at the tv when you popped that wheel bearing out with just a prybar in under 30seconds . Ive had it take hours on only a few year old trucks . But thanks the great content as always!

My dad had a 97 Ram 2500 gas engine truck. He used it for his construction business. It had the back seat but no rear doors. I remember riding in there for thousands of miles.

I have a 95 regular cab long bed like this truck, but mine is metallic brilliant blue w/ blue interior it has the nv4500 manual transmission w/ the 12 valve its 4wd. I'm the 2nd owner I bought it early 2020 right before the shutdown. truck has been garaged its entire life. Kicker is the truck only had 45,800 miles when purchased, 2 years later she just rolled over 47,000 original miles thing is immaculate. Also another fun fact I noticed when watching your video. the truck your working on and my truck were built in the same warren truck assembly plant in Mi in the same year. The x on the valve cover is a dead giveaway that i have only seen with trucks that were built out of warren! super cool.