So I found a local 1500 4x4 with the Magnum v8. It was the owners work truck, but looks to be in great condition. I am on my way to look at it as we speak.

He is only asking $3800, and its the 5 speed which i love. 150k miles, blue, and looks great.

What are the main things I should be asking/checking?

 

Where are you located?

Basically, the only unusual thing you need to look at is the intake plenum. You can pull the air box, and just crack the throttle open, and take a peek. If you see oil pooling down there, that needs to get fixed fairly quickly. (intake needs to come off.) Aside from that, inspect it as you would any other used vehicle. (you don't have to worry 'bout the auto trans, as it doesn't have one. )

Welcome to DF!

 

Thanks for the welcome!

I am North of Atlanta, Georgia. So if the pleneum is good, and the normal stuff is good, Nothing else Ram specific?

 

Pretty much, the plenum is a know problem.... (intake) transmissions were notoriously weak, but, that was the autos...... Being it's 4x4, be sure to check the front driveline closely as well. (just because it's a 4x4, not because it's a ram. )

No salt on the roads for your folks, so, rust *shouldn't* be an issue......

Unless it is FULLY loaded, price seems a bit high to me though........

 

Already planning to haggle. But it seems around here, its either high mileage, or high price. This one seems to the best price for what im getting.

 

Yeah, that is REALLY location dependent.....

Let us know what happens.

 

Same truck here but 2 years older. Check these out:

-loose steering (linkage, track bar, ball joints)
-steering box slop
-pinging when hot
-clutch will go soon (my stocker lasted 165k)
-front hubs
-u-joints everywhere
-vacuum hoses and climate control


All 2nd gen Rams suffer from bad steering, cracking dashes, hvac issues, and plenum and/or pinging. 2001 being the last year of the 5.2 and 2nd gen 1500, got a bit stripped from the factory and different computer tuning. It probably has the deathflash already. If you want to tune and use a colder t-stat, it will throw codes. But you have dual piston calipers and a different pitman arm taper so there's that.

I've replaced just about everything on my truck at least once in 16 years except the engine, trans, and axles. Oh, and my ball joints are stock. 224k and counting.

 

So this is what I noticed :

No tailgate
No radio
Door panels weak
Cracked dash
CEL
ABS Light
coolant(?) light


He said CEL is because they swapped the ECU cause the last driver took the ECU and a bunch of fuses and auch and they had to put em back in

 

Would be interesting to read the codes, and see what it is whining about.

If the PCM doesn't have the correct VIN, ABS and Airbag lights will be on, and neither system will function.

Given the issues, and the price he is asking for it, I think I would pass......

 

Run away!!!!!!!!!!!