I have a 1996 Dakota slt rwd with 163000 miles. Plenty of new parts and runs like a dream but it's not pretty to look at. I met a guy yesterday wanting to trade for his 1994 jeep grand Cherokee loredo 4x4 with 240000 miles. It definitely needs to be cleaned up and a few things replaced but ran good besides it had a sputter to it on take off, probably spark plug wires or something simple. Y'all know if this a decent trade? I would trade in on a truck but they will only give me $400 trade in value.

 

If your happy with your truck, then I would pay to have it painted. That's what I did.
That sputter, could be a burnt valve or several other things. A bad wire usually misses all the time and not just at take off.

 

You'd be getting vehicle two years older and with 100,000 more miles than you currently have. Not sure I see the logic in even considering that....

 

I wasn't happy with the truck. It ran good but needed a 4 door and something better to work on. I did the trade. Put new plugs, wires and coil on and sputter went away. oil and trans fluid change with filters. Now the truck is in the shop cuz it would die on me going down the road, put in neutral and hard start back up. Then it did it a few more time and now won't start so I'm replacing crankshaft sensor since its very common to go out. Let's hope that's all it is. I know it needs new transfer case chain cuz when I get off the gas, theirs a single knock right under my ***. Don't seem hard to replace at all. The reason I went through with the trade cuz my brother had a 93 Cherokee with same everything and he had 279000 on it running great.

 

I hope this isn't an expensive learning experience. I'm with JKeaton on this--I think I would have kept looking.

That said, I think I'd take to one of those places that does an inspection and diagnosis. Check everything out. The clunk could be a worn u-joint in the drive lines. Quit tossing money at it and have someone who knows and cares do the diagnostics.

I have 238,xxx on my 96 4wd V8 Dakota, and, knock on wood, it's my favorite truck ever. Looks good, drives great, and runs like a top. Gets lousy gas mileage, tho.

 

I just talked to the shop and they replaced the crankshaft position sensor and it's all good now. I'm happy with the trade just wish the jeep was in a little better shape but it's a 4x4 so I want to fix it up and get muddy. Couldn't do that with the Dakota.