I'm looking at a 2nd gen club cab 2wd at a dealer. Not sure of the exact year. The guy said he just replaced the v6 with another v6 but "couldn't remember" what size and that it had 16x,xxx miles on it. I've had a couple of 2nd gen 318's that had the 44re 4x4 that both had trans issues. I asked which trans it had and he said he doesn't know but it has no problems. I'm assuming it's the 42re. My questions are, 1. What v6 engines did they have? 2. Which tranny could be behind it? And 3. He's asking $3800 cash (I think its over priced) but I'm thinking of offering more like $2800-$3000, is that a decent price? I looked over the truck a little in less than 20 degree weather with snow everywhere so didn't look much but the body and interior are in great shape. Supposedly has new tire on it but 1 was flat. Didn't take time to try and start it and listen to or anything because I work 3rd shift and had a doctor's appointment that morning and i figured the battery would probably be dead. I will do all the test driving and everything again later if he still has it (probably will wanting $3800 for it). But jist wanted to try and get some opinions and info about it before I look into it much more.

 

3.9 or 3.7 v-6, gotta know the year to tell ya which one. Also gotta know the year to tell you what trans would be behind the six.

Where is the truck at? How many miles on the rest of the truck?

 

I want to say he said like 23x,xxx on the truck and maybe the 3.9l. I had somewhere to be so wasn't too thorough about looking at it atm. I'll find out for sure next time I'm out that way but it's in Tennessee and he said it's not a northern truck and I did look at the cab and the frame around the wheel wells and there is no rust that I could see without laying on the ground. He told me where he got the engine from but it is like our only junkyard in our town that really over charges for stuff. Oh and he did say it has a rebuilt title because it got hit on the drivers side door and he fixed it and had the door painted to match the truck himself and they made him do it as a rebuilt title??? I'm not too worried about what the title is as long as the frame isn't bent and the door shuts right and there is no major problems with the drivability or anything. I don't really plan to resell it because I loved my 97 4x4 318 dakota. I'm mainly jist worried about the tranny and the price.

 

Rebuilt title dramatically reduces the value of the truck. In the neighborhood of 50%....... 230K miles is a LOT as well. Everything is going to be approaching End of Life. I wouldn't even pay 1500 bucks for it, regardless of condition.

 

Agreed. It's overpriced without a salvage title, much less with. Not the type of vehicle I would even buy from a dealer as they always gouge. It's not like they're going to offer you a warranty, so there is no benefit to buying from them. Hit up craigslist.

 

I'd take $1500 cash, put it on the end of a fishing pole, and hang it in front of him. If he doesn't bite, no loss to you.

 

The title means nothing to me as long as I can have it put in my name. I don't plan to try to "flip" it for more than I buy it for or sell it or do anything else with the title anyway. I plan to drive it till it is no longer fixable. The 97 I had for 5 years had over 320k miles on it and it didn't have any issues with the body or frame other than peeling clear coat. The price is a big red flag for me no matter what but the fact is that the market for trucks in a 100 mile radius from where I live is ridiculous. People are wanting at least $2000 for crap that is either rusted to the point of falling apart or not even running or in need of an engine or transmission before it would be drivable. It's all about supply and demand. I'll have to bite the bullet if I go for this truck or something completely different from some random person. Anyway, other than the price being a big issue, are either of the v6 engines in these trucks any count or are they both crap and not worth messing with? And what kind of issues does the 42re normally have? I just don't want to get into it and 4 or 5 months later end up needing a new engine or transmission. I know it's just a matter of time before 1 of them goes but are they even worth replacing? It's just going to be driven by me going to work and back or when I need to haul something small that will fit in the bed. Basically it's just going to be driven 40 - 70 miles a day.

 

The 3.9 isn't the most powerful, but, change the oil semi-regularly, and it'll run forever. No idea about the 3.7.....

I would suggest expanding your search radius. My plan for my next truck purchase, is to find one in good shape, NOT in the rust belt, fly/train/bus down there, and drive it back. I found trucks a lot like mine pretty cheap elsewhere, and in a LOT better condition. I would actually end up spending LESS than finding a similar deal around here.

 

If run the VIN # you can find out what was on the truck when it was new. Ask the dealer for a CAR FAX maybe. those two things will answer many of your questions.

 

In Arizona a good used Dakota is not cheap I've looked on and off some beaters can be had for cheap that's it.