Sorry, this is probably an unanswerable question but here goes. I'm in Texas, friend of mine in Mississippi has an "84 Ram 4x4 at the house next door to his.Old man that owned it died obviously shortly after he bought it and it has been there ever since.I looked at it several months ago. Here's what I remember, 35,000 miles,Manual tranny, 4x4. Perfect interior, paint almost gone but no rust and no dents. My buddy said oneof the old man's grandsons did run it once last summer. I got in the truck and ran through the gears with no problem. I am almost positive it is a half ton. It is an 8cyl. My question is what was the most common engine for this year w/4x4. I don't remember how many gears, what would be most likely. going to get my friend to buy it for me regardless, but wanted to know what you guys think?

 

I have an 84 W150. Mine has the most common engine for that year, a 318. The also made some 360, thouh not quite as common. If it only has 35k on it, scoop that thing up man!!!!!

 

oh yeah, if it is a manual tranny, it is a 4 speed.

 

Thanks guys, I think I can get it for 150.00. How does this sound for initial maintence? Check oil and drive to buddy's shop 20 miles away. Drain oil and fill w/ diesel. crank and let idle for 5 minutes. draindiesel and put on new filter, fill with oil and marvel mystery oil. grease all zerks. change tranny and diff. fluids. new air filter. Fill w/gas and sea foam. drive to my shop 90 miles away. drain oil, put fram oil filter on and fill w/amsoil. Does this sound good and should I change tranny and diff. fluids again after getting to my shop?

 

wow if that was a 1000 i would have bought it the day i saw it! and sounds like you plan on quadrupling the cost of what you paid for it in a couple of hours... But i would do the same. never heard of the fill with diesel part though.... and make sure you check the oil and filter for any chunks of metal after you change it. especially the differential oil for metal chunks. tranny should be good after one as long nothing odd is happening. good luck sounds like a SUPERB deal!

 

thanks 2young 2drive. I don't think replacing all the fluids should cost all that much. The diesel thing is to thoroughly clean the inside of the engine and wash any metal shavings out. Also lets you know you have a problem if there are any big chunks. The reason I haven't bought it already is b/c my buddy had to get in touch with the old man's relatives and I knew it wasn't going anywhere.

 

sounds like a good deal. and good luck with it. when you get it, we want pics!

 

Oh, and when I get it back to Texas, regardless of whether or not I convert it to a Pwr. Wgn here are the plans if I have any money left. I am going to make a "paint booth out of 2x4's and visquine with a box fan to blow out fumes. Remove all body panels and necessary interior parts, seat door panels, etc. paint the bottom of all panels w/POR-15. Prime and paint, clear coat.leave disassembled for a month to let cure fully. I have a piece of semi small I-Beam that I am going to make a winch bumper out of. CD player and speakers. Hopefully I will have the funds to galvanize the frame and the skid plate/front diff I am going to fabricate. I am also going to make protective plates for the drive shaft and rear pumpkin. Don't know how much the galvanizing will cost but I really want to do it. I've never seen it done before, but it should last indefinitely. I will probably go w/dark blue for paint instead of macho orange which i think would be too much trouble. Hopefully the pro welders we have in the shop will be able to make me a roll bar that looks good. what do you think about these accessory paint colors, black roll bar, black front winch bumper, white wheels, and white rear bumper? thanks for suggestions.