JBNeal

4th gen Rams for years had an embossed blank on the HVAC box that could be upgraded by carefully cutting along the perimeter to add a cabin filter and a snap-in access door from the minivan. The 2015 Laramie Longhorn that I bought from my elderly neighbor was almost fully loaded but did not have that cabin filter, so I snagged a kit off eBay and made the magic happen. I have replaced 2 heater cores on Ram 2500s, and it is a chore as the airbags have to be disabled, the steering column is dropped, and the dash is removed as an assembly...easier said than done and with a helper, but I managed to do both by myself out of necessity. 2nd gen Rams had an issue with a plastic adapter between the blend door motor and the blend door shaft. This adapter would develop a split so that the blend door did not rotate fully to completely seal off the heater core or the evaporator. Not easy to check unless HVAC box is disassembled. The symptoms would be heater that does not get very hot and AC that does not get very cold, yet engine coolant would be at operating temperature and AC pressure would be good. The QuadCab had this problem for years but Dad didn't say anything about it until I started driving that truck and asked...tore into it when the AC compressor bit the dust, replaced the busted adapter and kaput compressor, and it's been blowing ice cold or lava hot as needed for the last 7yrs.

Take that master cylinder to the hardware store and look for a NPT square head plug, preferably black pipe...brass could work, but why be extra

VINTAGEPIC: saw this shiny big B-1or2 emergency services truck at the dealership on the FB

VINTAGEPIC: saw this Dodge available at Munson-Smith on the FB

AC performance check is in order from a qualified AC tech...if you've got a hole in that condenser or a leaky gasket spmewhere, then AC no worky. These newer systems seem more robust than the R12 days when they all seemed to leak over time. Before R134a came along, I remember asking several mechanics why R12 had to be topped off so much for a "sealed" system, and I was purty much told they all leak a little bit...YIKES. The last AC leak that I dealt with was 5 yrs ago on the QuadCab: hose retaining bolt apparently vibrated loose enough to break the seal, but gasket was still good, so every spring I crawl under the truck with a 10mm to retorque as required...so far, so good ❄️

VINTAGEPIC: spotted the tail end of this Pilot-House on the FB

SURVIVOR: saw this advertising Dodge near Henrietta...needs some work

VINTAGEPIC: saw this B-1or2 wrecker on the FB

VINTAGEPIC: saw this B-1or2 beer delivery truck on the FB

VINTAGEPIC: saw this B-1or2 wrecker down at the dealership on the FB

On my first attempt to remove those 2 little bolts, the bypass housing flange ears busted all to pieces...not sure why, cuz I was taking my time and had applied Marvel Mystery Oil a few days prior, maybe that's just what they do. Anyhow, a local weld shop fixed that, then a few years later, I scored several NORS bypass housings and gaskets on eBay...the seller mentioned that he sourced this haul from a long ago closed down service station that he was cleaning out, so maybe these housings were known to be a common failure back in the day.

VINTAGEPIC: spotted this B-1or2 by the service station on the FB

VINTAGEPIC: saw this B-3or4 at the dealership on the FB

this does not appear to be OSHA compliant

VINTAGEPIC: saw this B-3or4 wrecker by the service station on the FB

VINTAGEPIC: saw these B-1or2 wreckers on the FB

HOLLYWOOD: saw this slightly modified '39 on Enterprise "Carbon Creek"

SURVIVOR: spied this B-3 Panel south of Wichita Falls...needs some work

truck picture B-1-B-108: the yellowjackets take up residence in surprising places 👀