Hey, got a few questions

[etlsport]

yea sbc (street boutique customs) has developed a metal channel that takes the place of the plastic tabs that break, hasnt been around long but seems to be helping many peoples window problems

the cv boots are replaceable, the replacement of them is well documented here

http://www.vehicross.info/forums/sho...t=cv+boot+cost

the joint itself must be rebuilt if allowed to turn without lubrication and filled with debris for too long

its not a certainty that it will happen either, there are members running 33s for years without any CV problems.. then there are others who have had CV boots tear after only a month or two of lifting but looking at that link you can fix it for 36 bucks and a weekend

[Jolly Roger VX'er]

welcome to the gang! The CV issue pertains to when you add lift; you put the CV joints at an awkward angle and they "can" tear and lose the grease as well as let dirt in and then they fail. Mine isn't lifted and at 70,000 miles they look great!

This is mainly why I never lifted mine; plus, when you lift you lose the sports-car like handling on the road.
The window issue is well documented here. I did a fix from this site and my driver side has worked flawless for the last 7 years while the passenger side is about 85% good. (you have to "jog" it slightly to keep it squared up with the track...too lazy to get it perfect..lol)

***Please check my gallery for my 1996 2wd Dodge Ram "StarCraft conversion" pickup! I got the 318 and it gives me 15mpg in winter (280lbs sand in back!) and 17-17.5mpg in the summer (-280lbs of sand..lol). I have a locker installed in the rear-end too and it goes great with studs & sand. Blasted through 2 feet of snow this past Saturday in Erie, PA!!!!!!

[tom4bren]

Welcome to the addiction.

By far, the best thing about being a VehiCross owner is being a part of this group. Owners run the full range of mechanical competance so the 'how to' threads tend to be very well written so that the shade tree mechanics can do the job.

There are instructions here on how to do the CV boot replacement with pictures, drain/fill the tranny fluid, fix your windows, install an electric fan, there was even one on a complete engine rebuild (not sure if it's completed yet). A pdf of the shop manual can even be downloaded here.

A few of us may even be close enough that it could be possible to lend a hand.

It'd be worth your time to search through the threads as you shop for your VX. There are currently some pretty nice one's advertised here for sale.

[crager34]

Other makes and models have issues as well, so don't take these as reasons not get one of these trucks if you really want one. Like just about everything, they require preventative maintenance and love love love

love love love

love love love

all you need is love

ba ba da da da dum

[nfpgasmask]

My 2 cents:

Everything Etl said is true. But like he said, if you give your VX a little regular TLC, most of the issues he speaks of can be avoided. My windows used to stick, but I lube them up with silicone spray at least once a month and they are still rolling strong and fast. I do not have a lift (yet), and my CVs are fine, and I live in an extremely dry climate. My VX does burn oil, but I dilligently watch it, and refill as necissary.

I think the most important thing you can do, if you decide to buy a VX, is be patient, and look nationwide for the best one you can find (low mileage, no previous mods, etc).

Bart

[LSkynard87]

Yeah, well like I said i've noticed them back in 2001 when I was about 13 (20 now) and thought it was the coolest lookin thing I ever saw. I did in fact search for one, when I was in the market for a vehicle to drive so I could park my Nova, but the one's around Orlando (use to live in Kissimmee, FL) were far and few, and the avg price was about 14k.

My truck was 3,000. lol.

But it's cool I cam across this forum, been considering a moderate 4x4 vehicle for awhile.

It's not necessary for me to lift anything, that's all for show where I'd be using it.

So when I do trade in my truck, I'd like to try and knock off 3-4k the price, so hopefully, crossing fingers, in a year or so I can find one for about 6k and with the trade, pay 2k and be done with it.

P.S.> When you say nationwide, did some of yall get them over 200 miles away? I searched autotrader, and noticed that the closest one here is that one in Kentucky for 7k. it's a little over 120-180 miles from where I'm at (still new to the Huntington-Ashland area)

I will NOT get into car payments.

Plus, I'm young, so I don't need a really low mileage vehicle, if it's over 80k that's fine by me. I'm use to taking care of old things. Also, I'm sort of fickle while I'm in this stage of my life, with the future of automobiles in flux and my dream car being a 1970 Hemi Cuda or a 72 Chevrolet Chevelle, it's all up in the air as to what will happen in the near future.

Thanks for the replies, I looked up some info on the VX as yall abbreviate it, and looks like only about 4100 found homes here in the states.

In comparison my 1996 Dodge found about 400,000 homes, lol.

[LSkynard87]

Well, I tried Editing my former post, didn't work. It appears the closest one to me is the one located in Kentucky, which I noticed was also posted and made note of on this forum.

If the guy was willing I'd trade him my Ram for it!!

Haha, but in all seriousness, did most of yall get your VX (as yall like to abbreviate it) over 200 miles from where you live?

[tom4bren]

Quite a few of us went 200 miles plus to get our VX (me included). I bought mine sight unseen from MO & I live in VA. It cost about $700 to have it trucked to me.

[LSkynard87]

yea sbc (street boutique customs) has developed a metal channel that takes the place of the plastic tabs that break, hasnt been around long but seems to be helping many peoples window problems

the cv boots are replaceable, the replacement of them is well documented here

http://www.vehicross.info/forums/sho...t=cv+boot+cost

the joint itself must be rebuilt if allowed to turn without lubrication and filled with debris for too long

its not a certainty that it will happen either, there are members running 33s for years without any CV problems.. then there are others who have had CV boots tear after only a month or two of lifting but looking at that link you can fix it for 36 bucks and a weekend

Oh that is a great writeup. But I must say I replaced all four ball joints on my 2wd ... That took me, a complete noob, about 3 weeks. That CV job looks like a piece of cake. Well most odd jobs look easy to me after that ball joint debacle. If that's one of the most COMMON problems, then I need to pick my jaw up off the floor.

I love my dodge, don't get me wrong, but my truck was a cement hauler, and abused like so. It runs fine, A/C and all that works no problem, but a whole bunch of little things have happened to it.

But I figure I'll keep toying with my truck for a year or so, maybe get a loan for school and stash some and use that for future vehicross cash.

Who knows, having a strong 2wd Ram and a sweet 4x4 VX could be a deadly combo, and I didn't catch the name, but noticed someone has that setup and seems to enjoy it.