1998 Dodge Ram 2500: Reimagining the Truck That Started It All

Some builds are about creating something new. Others are about honoring where it all started. For this 1998 Dodge Ram 2500, it’s both.

This was the first major build RTRI took on entirely under our own name, making it a milestone for our shop before work even began. But for the owner, this truck means far more than that.

A family member bought it brand new. It was his first significant vehicle—the truck he drove in high school, the truck he used to start his concrete company, and the truck that carried him through the earliest years of building the business he has today.

Now, after years of hard work and success, he wanted to completely reimagine that same truck into something that reflected how far he’s come.

He wanted it more than simply restored or lightly updated. He wanted it fully redone and fully custom—a truck built to honor the journey.

Starting From the Ground Up

To create the kind of truck the owner envisioned, a bolt-on approach was never going to cut it. So, we removed the factory suspension entirely and started over from the chassis up.

Using RTRI ScanLab technology, we laser scanned the truck and designed a fully custom long-travel linked suspension system in CAD for both the front and rear.

The suspension package includes:

• Fox coilovers
• Fox air bump stops
• RockJock sway bars

By building the suspension from scratch, we were able to properly correct geometry for steering, ride quality, and handling—creating a truck that drives far smoother and more confidently than something of this size has any business driving.

Axles, Brakes, and Steering to Match

To support the rest of the build, we upgraded the truck to 3rd-gen axles front and rear and positioned everything precisely to fit the wheel and tire package without sacrificing function.

The chassis now clears:

• 40x14.50 Toyo Open Country tires
• 22-inch wheels

Behind those wheels sits a serious brake package from Little Shop Manufacturing:

• Wilwood TX6 6-piston calipers
• 16-inch rotors front and rear

Steering and driveline support upgrades include:

• PSC Performance Big Bore XD steering gear
• Front hub conversion to reduce wear on 4WD components

Diesel Power, Built Properly

Under the hood, this Ram received a complete drivetrain overhaul to match the scale of the rest of the build.

The engine package consists of:

• Industrial Injection Stage 2 24-valve 5.9 Cummins long block
• Industrial Injection Hot Rod VP44 injection pump
• Compound turbo setup

Supporting systems include:

• aFe power high-capacity all-aluminum intercooler
• aFe power high-capacity all-aluminum radiator
• Kill Devil Diesel billet aluminum engine dress-up components

Fuel delivery is handled by:

• Fleece Performance high-flow in-tank sending unit
• AirDog high-flow external lift pump and filtration system

Keeping It Manual

The customer specifically requested that the truck remain a manual—because he still likes to “row them gears.”

To make that happen reliably at this power level, the drivetrain was upgraded with:

• Fully built 5-speed manual transmission
• Centerforce dual-disc high-horsepower clutch
• NP271 transfer case upgrade

Everything was selected to ensure the drivetrain can comfortably handle the torque and horsepower this truck will produce.

Modern Comfort in a Classic Platform

Inside, the goal is to make the truck feel as refined and capable as any modern premium vehicle.

Interior upgrades include:

• Custom Scheel-Mann Vario F heated/cooled leather seats
• Factory-custom stitching completed in Germany
• Six-way power seat bases
• Upgraded power mirrors
• Power sliding rear window

Technology upgrades include:

• Switch-Pros RCR Force 12 switch panel
• JL Audio premium sound system with amp, subs, and component speakers
• Pioneer head unit
• 360-degree camera system

And because a truck this large needs practical entry assistance:

• Amp Research PowerSteps

More Than Just a Truck

As significant as this build is technically, what makes it truly special is what it represents. This truck is a rolling reminder of where the owner started—of the hard work, risk, and long days that built his business and shaped his success.

And during the course of the build, it took on even more meaning. We had the opportunity to share the vision for the finished truck with the owner’s father before he passed away.

We had hoped he would get to take the first ride in it, but sometimes, life moves faster than a build timeline. He did get to see what the truck was becoming, and he got to share in that excitement with his son. Because of that, this build now stands not only as a tribute to the owner’s journey but also in loving memory of his father.

Final Result

When complete, this 1998 Dodge Ram 2500 will be more than restored. It will be a fully reimagined version of the truck that started it all—built to celebrate the past, honor the people who were there from the beginning, and stand as one of the most ambitious projects RTRI has ever taken on.