Still sounds like VTSS. I wonder if maybe whomever said they removed it didn't do it right, and it is looking for a signal from the CTM (I think that is right) and that is why you start and die. Try crossing the bus wires and see if it will run like I suggested in the post I link to.
My bet is that any Ram with a V10 had the upgraded (Highline) CTM and so the PCM is looking for the VTSS signal to know security is off. No message on the bus means security is still on so disable the vehicle. Your baseline CTM doesn't output the message so no VTSS signal.