Yeah, there are not that many Rams around with what I am looking for (4x4, extended or crew cab) in my price range. Most that are have a gizzillion miles or are eat up with rust. Would you shy away from a ram with over 200k miles?

 

Personally I wouldnt. Hell you can find a older 12v cummins with 200-250k that needs a little bit of work for 5-7k depending on condition. It took forever to find my truck and I must of looked at 100 trucks. You just have to keep looking that perfect one will show up. With gas going back up you will find the gas rams going down in price.

Dont know your price range but here are a few I found quick

http://greensboro.craigslist.org/ctd/3219631213.html

http://greensboro.craigslist.org/ctd/3168465591.html

http://greensboro.craigslist.org/cto/3217827704.html

http://greensboro.craigslist.org/ctd/3217023997.html

Nicest one I found. If you can talk him down to 9.5-10 would highly be worth it.
http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/3200908932.html

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/3203520655.html

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/3185222274.html

If I was closer I would prob buy this one fix it and resale it. I've pretty much done it before and it was pretty easy.
http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/3159937350.html

 

Well I picked this up today. Right in my price range for what I needed and I could not turn it down. 1997 Ram 1500 SLT Laramie 4x4, 160k on the clock. Fresh rebuild on the transmission. Motor (5.2L) sounds good, no ticks, no smoke no leaks. Paint needs some work (clearcoat peeling, bed scratched up), interior is dirty, but I think it will clean up nice. Got a big ol dent on the tailgate too. Its got a small lift and running 33x12.5 tires on pretty corroded aftermarket steel wheels. Pretty much just what I was looking for. Not a daily driver, but it's a truck and it is still a DODGE! oh, and the questions will be coming now....hehe...

 

hey... that truck looks vaugely familiar. lol. fix.the.plenum and make sure that cat isnt clogged. after plenum is done replace the o2 sensors and run a can of seafoam thru the brake booster hose! ram looms great btw!

 

Nice score on the gen 2, how much if you don't mind me asking? Around your price of 2K?

Gotta check the plenum, make sure it is not eating oil by the quarts. Just fixed mine and the difference is night and day. Bad plenum, leads to possible clogging of the cat, and eventually cracking the heads.

How's it shift? Did they have any paperwork on trans rebuild?

 

I picked it up for $2500. Got clarification from the seller, the trans pan was leaking so while he was replacing the gasket, he serviced trans. Not rebuilt. It shifts kinda weird compared to the Dakota.Definitely not as firm, almost like it is slipping sometimes. Which engine is the plenum issue with? 55.2 or 5.9, or both? It has a puff of smoke on cold startups, nothing out of the ordinary when running. The underside of the engine is free of leaks. Looks like a small leak at the drivers side valve cover.

 

all the magnum engines. 3.9, 5.2, 5.9 take off the throttle body, and have a look down the throttle bores with a flash light and a mirror. see any pooled oil? fix the plenum!

 

^^ x2

My Trans shifted funny after I got it, pulled the output shaft sensor and it was gummed up pretty good, changed it out and Trans shifted smoother for me. Just throwing that out there, might not be your issue. Only real way of checking is dropping the pan and looking for shavings and cleaning the govenor selenoid.

 

I'll keep an eye on it for now. I got another project I'm working on at the moment, I don't want to start tearing into this right now. It's gotta get me around for a few months. I would like to ditch those wheels. I dont like the offset with them sticking out like that.

 

I like the offset look, to each his own! I'll ship you mine and you can ship me those!! Lol