just bought a 2000 dodge but when I went to have it inspected it came up as a 99 does this make it a .5? how do I know? This is my first diesel got it with 112019 miles wanting to make a few changes so I can pull my camper without any trouble. thanks for any help or suggestions.

 

need to move this to 3rd gen, and identify month of build on door jamb

 

ok thanks. now need to figure out how to move it

 

Welcome! You should move or make a new post to the Second Generation Ram section. The third gen 2500/3500 started in the 03 model year.

 

There really wasn't a .5 in that year. You see a 98.5 because it was a split year between 12 and 24 valve, and 2001.5 because it was a split year due to the disk brakes.

Look on your drivers side door jamb and tell us the build date of the truck. They might be interpreting a build date of 11/99 as a 1999 model year when it really is a 2000. The definitive determination is in the VIN number.

If your 10th digit is an X it is a 99, if it is a Y, it is a 2000.

http://dodgeram.org/tech/specs/VIN_decode.htm

Hope that helps!

 

005.9newbie just know that build dates and year models dont always work out to be the same. Its weird but the model year is just the marketed year and the build date is when it rolled off the assembly line. Example would be, there's lots of 2001 trucks which were built in 2000. The only year that came out with a 1/2 year model was 1998.5 because that was when the 24 valve trucks were introduced. So the 1998 trucks are 12 valves and the 1998.5 are 24 valves. Why didnt they just wait until 1999?..... Who knows.

 

Marketing, plain and simple. Word was out that the 24 valve Cummins would be available soon, replacing the older 12 valve version in the Ram trucks. So those who were waiting to purchase a new truck ( like me ) were waiting on the sidelines for this to happen. Plus these buyers were not influenced to purchase a different brand of truck, as the newer 24 valve engine had more power and torque. Thus your 98.5 was born.

 

I'm not sure "marketing" is the answer otherwise all vehicles would constantly be introducing a 1/2 year model. Given that the 24 valve VP engine was a temporary emissions compliant engine replacing the 12 valve but before the CR injection system was finalized, my guess is that there was a restrictive production timeline being enforced which meant Dodge had to introduce the 1998.5.