Okay, so I have recently acquired a 98 Ram 1500 4x4 that was converted to a 24 valve cummins and a 47RE tranny. The VIN is for the original V8 gas motor, so I can't use it to program the ECM that I just discovered is "unflashed". I have basic functionality, (starts after a delay and runs okay at most speeds) but if I could get the ECM in line I'm betting life would be easier. I tracked down the owner who did all the conversion/mods to this truck and he is deceased, and there is no surviving documentation on what was done.

So in a nutshell, is there ANY way to get an ECM programmed without a VIN?

 

You can use a smarty to flash it. There are a few companies that you can rent them from.