I had a good Birthday on Monday. My fiance went and bought me a 95 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4. First 4wd truck I ever owned.

I had been working on her for 5 weeks to try and get this truck. From the first day I drove it I have been nagging at her about it. Then we got that big snow storm, and she had to walk to the store in all that crap. I gave her a rash of shit then about oh boy!
Well I finally get her to goto the bank to get the money for it. I then call the car lot that has it (a friend of mine for many years). I proceed to tell him that she went to the bank and we will pick it up on Monday. I then said it's not sold is it? He said yes, I was like WTF! I finally get her on the ball and now it is sold to someone else. Needles to say I was mad at the world.
Well last friday night my sister from out of town came to town. My woman couldn't contain herself any longer. So they use the excuse that they are going to look at a house that we want to buy. At 8pm at night! My sisters boyfriend stayed here and chatted with me while they were gone. I was to ingrossed trying to repair my website to notice the time they went to look at the house.
She get's back and hands me a big envelope. This envelope has a skin for my laptop of Dale Jr's number 8 car! HELL YEAH! I was happy with that. I grabbed the envolope to do the ole double check and there is a smaller envelope inside. HUH, What the hell? So I open it and out slides this Dodge key ring with a note attached. The note said to look outside and you will see your gift. Now guy's I don't like admitting it, but I cryed like a baby.
This was the best Birthday ever!

Thats a good looking truck bud.

damn! Now you owe her big for here birthday!

Nice truck!

That's very cool Bud! Congratulations on the cool truck and the very cool fiance!

I have also got myself another DSM. But it is one that will take a while to build and get right. Now that I have this truck I am not to worried about having one to drive. I hope to make it into the drag car that I want.

^^^DSM hauler!!!

Hell yeah!

Let the upgrading begin!

I have already been looking at CAI for it.

Not worth the money.... here's instructions for putting a 14" round air filter on it that will work just as good, for around $30.

http://www.dodgeforum.com/m_528512/tm.htm

Transmission services on these things are a regular MUST. Also, there is sometimes a small filter on one of the transmission cooler lines (usually the return line). 90% of people don't change this filter because they don't know about it and it ends up starving the transmission. Make sure you change it!

And make sure the bands get adjusted and not just a fluid and filter change!!!!

So I should take it to the dealer to get the tranny service done? Do the guys at a fast lube place do this work also? Or can I do it myself?

If you remember Rob I said in another thread that it was shifting hard and it won't go into drive until you are over 35 mph. Does yours do this also?

Unless you know someone in particular and their personal experience, I STRONGLY recommend that you do not take your vehicles to any lube place for anything more than a basic oil change. I've had to fix too many walmart and quick lube screw up's to ever recommend them.

Go to someone that has particular experience with the Dodge transmission. It may cost more short term, but you will be happier long term.

Stealership FTW

You may get a good wallet whooping for it but it'd be well worth it.

Trans filter and fluid change
change the cooler filter (if it has one)
and adjust the bands

I'd say either do it yourself, or take it to a rebutable transmission shop. I'll do my own when it's time (which is now). I also plan on adding a deep tranny oil pan with a drain plug.

And if you don't have a tranny cooler... GET ONE!!! 1st thing that fries a tranny is heat. Mine typically runs in the 150-160 range (also have an autometer temp gage, another good idea if you'll do some towing with it).

Too often the dealer is limited to what they can do based on factory policies and trying to retain warranty, etc... A good tranny shop should be able to make it better than new.