Im looking for some advice on this 2500 V10 Ram I looked over for sale here. I currently have a 96 1500 with a V8 and my primary tow truck is a F350 DRW Powerstroke. I wasconsidering selling the 1500 and maybe pick up this 2500 V10 to have the ability to tow my trailer when needed as the 1500 will really be worked and was never ment to do the jobI wouldbe asking of it.

I found a truck which sounded like a good deal and I could probably sell my 1500 for about the same price id pay for this 2500 Ram, so almost a trade off.

Here are the specs... 1996 Ram 2500 V10 which has been used as a work truck so by no means is it cosmetically perfect...but this is what I would use it for as well. The truck has 75k on it as it sits now. Transmission was just replaced last winter. Body is decent for the age but the bed was NEVER coated or never had a liner so it has some rusting through it. Honestly I think the bed would need to be pulled out and replaced or the floor cut out and a new one welded in. I am sure I can locate a new bed for it in time... this is not a decision maker really.

That being said when I drove the truck it did not meet my expectations of what a gas V10 should be. It felt very sluggish with little to no responsiveness and had a clear misfire or breaking up when you sit stopped and give it gas to get up to speed. When driving like 20-25 and then you floor it it just did not seem to want to move as it should. I know the V8 ram I have may be a but more peppy but this thing really seemed as if something were clearly wrong. As well it did seem to idle a but rough when in the truck itself. It started and ran well otherwise tho.

The owner said it had a very recent tune up and did not really seem to be all that shocked/suprised when I made mention to the misfire/breaking up. He not deny or confirm it as a problem tho. So maybe he is aware maybe not I can not conclude.

When reading through the net I found that a good number of V10s have problems with cracked heads, is this correct? What all could be the culprit of this type of misfire and total lack of power. I mean for 400+lbs of torque it should not have struggled under its own unloaded weight. I guess I should probably walk away from this and keep my (to date) reliable 1500 as a backup truck. But for the price and the 75K I thought it could be a good backup work truck for me. Plus I hateloading a yard of stone in the ram and watching it squat.

What do you all think? I am new to this forum as I primarily drive the F350 to pull but do love my 1500 Ram that ive been using for years and truely helped my business grow big enough to buy the dually. I am good at working on cars and trucks. I worked at a shop part time for years and build race eclipse turbo motors. I just do not want to jump into a money pit if I can avoid it. Feel free to give you thoughts even if its to avoid. I may negotiate as he's had the truck for a while...

Thanks

 

really i would stay away from the v10 and look at a cummins, extremely strong engine, it can do anytihng you want. and it doesnt ahve a hard time pullling its own weight. Diesel is more expensive but when you look at getting about 6-8mpg in a v10 vs. a possible 20-22 highway mpg in a 2wd cummins, do the math and you are saving money. i cant honesly tell you about the v10. but from what i ahve i read and my experience with the cummins i wouldnt even think about the v10.

 

Id gladly go with a cummins...hell I think its one of the best diesel motors ever produced...

However the only reason I thought about this truck as an options is because of the price and the 75k. For me to get a 2500 cummins its going to cost 2-3 times this trucks price easy.If I wanted to spendthat im going to go get a F550 dump truck or something. I just wanted a back up truck and price wise if this were running right could offer thatas anoption. Really it would servewhen needed andmaybe running out when 2 trucks are needed onjobs. I knowgas will be a killer but hell at this point diesel in theFord is costing me +$4 a gallon

I read around this forum, could the cats be bad and cause this? Something under the truck israttling andI remember when I burnt up the cat in the 1500 V8. It hadno power after that.

Thanks

 

sell the ford and get a cummins

bad cats can cause a misfire on the back cylinders, and have a rattling noise. That could be the problem. Cracked heads are common in the v10, but with a motor with low miles like that, its prolly not the culprit.Id find a way to see if the cats are bad, and make him an offer.

 

My grandpa had 3 v10's. Pulled 5th wheels behind all of them. He worked at an engine plant all his life, before purchasing the first truck he talked to one of the other guys at the plant. Who had been involved in the development of the v10 and the 5.9 cummins. That guy told him to get the v10 over the diesel. He has told me numerous stories about pulling past many diesels on somewhat steep grades. He also managed about 12 mpg in his last truck. Which was an 01 2500 v10 ext. cab long bed dually 4x4.

I'd say the truck you looked at was worked too hard and has problems. But it shouldn't scare you away from the v10. Considering the initial cost of a v10 compared to a diesel, the v10 seems like it'd be perfect for you. Just not the one you had looked at.

 

Yea I love my Powerstroke... but I am NOT going to start any debates here over diesel engine heh. If I wanted a secondary diesel truck (or should I say to spend the $ on a secondary diesel truck) it would be a 2500 cummins. I would'nt tow daily with a gasser again after the last few years with this F350 PSD. BUT I would like a backup truck that I can take to out and work but at the same time off road and plow with. I'd prefer to plow and off road with a single cab/single rear wheel truck over my crew cab, 8ft bed dually. =-p

Now that I was thinking over the whole ordeal and talked to my brother we did noticed 2 times a distinctive backfire sound from the truck. (Along with the clanks from the exhaust.) Other then disconnecting the cats and driving it I dont see how I am going to find out the cats are bad. I am sure if he plowed with it he could have heated them up and caused the damage. I agree 75k would be young to have cracked heads I just read a fair number of posts about this. Would I see compression number being lower if this is the case? Or just coolant loss? I want to really think this project over before jumping in. If the heads were to be cracked I want to know this before I make an offer. I can replace them myself, probably a few hundred a head I am guessing by the prices I found with a few quick searched. If its the cats I can cut them out and weld in new/hi flow ones. If I can spend a few weeks or months depending on work and such, clean up it and have it run right it would be a great option over my 1500.

Would you agree this could also cause the rougher idle?

Thanks all!

 

The one you looked at doesn't seem right. Therecould be a problem with #6 and #7 plug wires causinga missfireif they are routed together. It also seems like fuel pump or somthing isn't working right: maybe a plugged cat? From my experience, the V10 should run circles around the 5.2 and 5.9 and get about 10 mpg empty or loaded. Iwould be cautious about the one you are looking at: it could be a lemon or a simple problem. I would certainly check it carfully before handing any cash over.

 

If I do opt to toy with this truck its going to have to be for cheap. He would also need to provide paperwork from AAMCO with the transmission rebuild info. How much are fuel pumps and am I safe assuming the tanks got to be dropped to get to it? I dont want to see too cheap but I also want to be sure if I find problems more severe then I think now that I can part it, sell it, or fix/sell it and not take a big loss.

 

What fiveoh said. A properly running V10 will smoke about any gasser out there stock vs stock, although the GM8.1 and Hemi will give you a run for the money.

Keep looking, there are some good deals on 98-up 2500'sout there.

 

ouch. that might be the problem right there.