Well buying the 1970 Dodge just didn't work out. So now, still on the hunt, I've come across a 1986 Dodge Ram D150 with a 318 automatic. It needs a battery and a power steering line replaced (seller has the new line) with unknown mileage for $800. Would this be a reliable daily driver? I only need something to take me 10 minutes to the van pool to work 6 days a week.

 

 

 

Doesn't appear to be a lean burn but I'm not a Dodge expert. Couple people have told me that these things are tanks that never die but then I've had a guy tell me things will keep breaking on it due to age.

 

Too many unknowns to really answer your question but its a 28 year old rig (I have three including an 86 D-150) your paying $800 for, your going to have to work on it to keep it on the road and as your friend said, things will keep breaking on it due to its age.

 

IME, it could go either way. I've driven my 38-year old Blazer almost daily for 8 years and have had only minor problems. On the other hand, I've driven vehicles that weren't quite as old and/or didn't have as many miles, and had to deal with maintenance issues on a monthly basis.

My Slant Six Dart ran like a top for two years, and then things started to get ugly. Radiator leak, then brake calipers seizing, wiper motor died, etc., etc..

 

Hmm, well my daily driver now has a transmission on the way out and a blown resistor switch and broken squirrel cage, and I hate the thing (01 Taurus). Would the D150 be easy to keep up with and pass inspection with. Turn signals, horn, wipers, high beams, brakes, idle & 2000rpm emissions.

 

They are easy to work on and none of that you mentioned would be an issue to get up to par to pass inspections in my state but I dont have an emissions test and that would be my concern if I were you. An 86 would have a cat and emissions components and you have to be careful if you have tough inspections because lots of people remove emissions components or they dont replace them when they go bad.

 

They had an revised type of lean burn The computer should be behind the drivers side head light where the air intake tube runs.

 

Well the owner sold it before I could buy it, so it's back to craigslist to look for something else, thank you for your replies.