Still looking for a '98 12V but if I don't find one I like what are some of the improvemnts(or downfalls) that the later 2nd gens have over the earlier ones?

Upgradred interiors? Quiter cabs? When did heated seats come in(was top on the wife's list)? Any other notable changes? Is there a year that they changed substantially in? My sister has a 2001 1500 with leather and heated seats and I noticed that the interior is a bit different than the earlier 2nd gens.

Are the auto trannies any better?

 

One of the biggest changes from the 98 to later is that they started using the 24V engine instead of the 12V and pretty much everything on the engine went from mechanical to electronic . One of those changes included the injection pump that supplies high pressure fuel to the injectors. It changed from an all mechanical pump (P-Pump) to an electronically controlled pump (VP44). The reason people love 98's is because the VP44, put on later models, is not reliable at all...there are a lot of guys on here who have been left stranded with a broken VP44 and the repair bill for one of those is in the thousands....as for interior and the rest, I don't really know if much changed. I've driven a 98 2nd gen and the only thing different from it and my 2000 is the placement of the A/C controls and the cupholders....hope that helped a little! Someone chime in if I'm wrong!

 

Cosmetically the only real difference is the dash and seats/doors in the quad cabs. The major change was the engine. And Okie did a good job of summing up the difference there. I do believe the autos changed, not sure how much, or if they are any better, or just different.

 

The auto became electronically controlled in 1998.

47RH = hydraulic
47RE = electronic

 

hydroboost brakes started in 97

 

Quad cab doors

 

I guess I should have explained myself better, I really want a '98 12V quad cab but if I cann't find one I like I'm wondering what goodies were added to the later models(earlyy '00) that I can use to console myself.

When did heated seats and the extendable mirrors come in?

 

Both came in 98. If you want a 98 12v, I would hold out. Get what you want, or regret it, and then find what you want for sale after you can't get it because you got someting else...

 

quad cab's four doors is the main feature I missed out on by getting a 97.

you also get to miss out on the fun connected to fuel pump failing. fuel injection pump is $1,000 even if you do your own labor + cost of lift pump.

my 97 has a 47 RE and it's difinately electronic controlled. as I just adjusted bands and partially dropped the valve body a few days ago.

 

FWIW- I greatly prefer teh older A/C controls in the 94-97 trucks.

 

I'm pretty sure that in 98.5 when the 24V came out, that is also when the club cab was changed to the 4 door quad cab. I do not think that you can get a 12V quad cab. If you can, they must be VERY rare. I also hear everyone complaining about the VP44. Yeah, in stock form, with the factory lift pump, it will fail. But you put the FASS unit on, replace your VP, and you're good to go. The benefit, IMO, with the VP44 as opposed to the P-pumped 12Vs is the electronic boxes that you can get for it. Simple plug and go hook ups make it very easy to add power to these engines. With boxes like the Edge varieties, smarty, Van Aken, and Quadzilla just to name a few. With the 24V trucks you also had the addition of the 6spd manual tranny. 98.5 was also the year that the seatbelts were run through the top of th seats instead of attching them to the door pillars. I also think that the 12Vs rev limiter is also lower than the 24Vs. The 12V guys have to add the 3K governor spring where the 24V trucks already rev that high. HTH

(PS No offense to all the 12V guys out there. I know you can make insane power too, the 24V is just better for me and my train of thought)

 

There are 1998 12v Quad Cabs. They are not growing on trees, but they are not exactly rare, either. They are however, popular trucks and most people price them accordingly.

Yeah, what's that, only a couple of thousand $$$s?

The 24v is easier to get more power out of with the plug 'n play boxes. The 12v is less expensive if you do the work yourself. I've also heard that the 24v heads are more prone to cracking. Personally, I'd rather have the proven greater mechanical reliability of the 12v engine.

 

Took me 2 1/2 years to find my 12V Quad Cab, there out there but here they want big bucks for them, I lucked out mine was an estate sale and the kids did not know what they had

 

You guys correct me if I am wrong about the year model but I understand that between the '96 and '97 model year, they upgraded the braking capacity on the '97's.

K.

 

96 came electrically controlled auto transmission and 00 came heated seats with slt+ package.