I just changed a heater core and flushed the radiator in 2 hours on a friends pickup this morning. Not worth spending $800 to have someone else do it. He did give me 3 bills though

 

also the 4.7 before 2008 were not that powerful. 08 and up has all new heads and manifold and they went to the 2 spark plugs per cylender like the hemi. you wouldnt be happy with the buy unless you gotta a dakota or ram that 08 or newer ,also the pre 4.7 has alot of oil problems . keeping looking around

 

I went and test drove the 03 ram, I really like it, a lot better than my truck now. It'll take some getting used to. Found out every little thing wrong.. : heater core, 4x4 bar that connects the shifter to the transfer case, missing the latch for the hood, and just a pet peeve of (manual locks/wind).. :/

 

I'd pass on it for 7,800. Maybe 6,500.

 

Nah, not really any oil problems, unless it was abused. However, the pre-2008 4.7s did have problems with manifolds breaking bolts = exhaust leaks. Not the worst thing in the world, but annoying.

And once you tune them, they are potent little buggars.

However, all that being said, a good HEMI would be a better choice. Roughly the same mileage (maybe only 1 MPG less in town than the 4.7, tops), and a lot more power.

 

If you have 8k cash you usually can buy a truck someone was asking around 9k for. Try moving price up and see what you find or buy a cheap truck with no mods and use the extra money to add whatever mods you want

 

Being that your truck is a 2 wd and a 5.2 and the year he offered a good price

 

He wants 7k, could prolly bring him down to 6,800.

 

Wave 65 100 dollar bills under his nose, watch him start drooling...... if you act like you can take it or leave it..... and are more inclined to leave it for more than the 6500.... he will more than likely take it.

 

tatiup8: just an fyi, which will likely cause me grief with the mods and admins here, but you posed a question in the 3rd gen section.. beware.. there is ONE person in that section who knows his stuff (Hammer).. the rest are questionable at best..

anyway- the 4.7 is a horrible engine.. terrible.. timing chain issues, lash adjusters (lifters) suck, it's terribly underpowered, valves clack.. I'd rather run a 3.9L magnum ANY DAY.

the hemi is a great engine.. the power curve is a bit higher than the magnums, and they have some valve clatter issues (hemi tick), but all in all, it's a great engine..

third gens in 4x4 1/2 ton are tricky.. if you go '06+, you'll get springs in the front.. 02-05 have torsion bars.. I'd rec springs.. the 1/2 tons don't have solid axles.. that solid axle is a heckuva advantage for a truck- not so much for a car, but for a truck? YES..

02-04's have electrical issues.. 04.5-05's w/ 5.7 engines are considered by some (as in Dodge too, because of customer satisfaction and maintenance records) the best trucks dodge ever made (axle and torsion bars not withstanding)..

this part is pure opinion: If it were me, and it isn't, but if it were- I'd aim for a '02 2500.. you get a second gen body style, with most of the bugs worked out of the engine and chassis.. the second option I'd target is a 04.5-05 Hemi 4x4.. I'd swallow the split axle and torsion bars, because those trucks had other things going for them too..

if you want to talk to someone who has knowledge of all things dodge, (he likely isn't as knowledgeable as some here about the second gens, or others about the third gens, but he likely has more working knowledge of all of them in comparison), seek out Hammerz71 and hit him up with some questions.. He's worth his salt.. take everything else you pick up from the 3rd gen section with just a grain of the stuff..

mods and admins: sorry, I call 'em like I see 'em.. that section needs help.