I am looking at a 1997 Dodge Ram 2500 4x4 with a 5.9. It has 3" body lift and 3" suspension lift...and an obvious exhaust leak. I looked under the hood and noticed the pass side had a fresh exhaust manifold gasket but was missing the rear 2 bolts. Think they both would have broke or are they known to "wiggle" out?

it will be my daily driver and I will be trading my 96 eclipse gsx for it and $200

 

If the only issue is the exhaust, I'd say go for it!
Easily fixable, and depending where you live, might not be that big of a deal.

 

well it depends.
do you really want to trade your 25 mpg for 12?
how reliable is your car ? this truck may need some repairs and will certainly suck you into a bunch of other things. read through some of the posts here, especially transmission problems.

the thing you really need to guard against, is putting all your money in this truck, and then having transmission failure, a dead truck, and a $2000 repair bill.

i don't know how much your eclipse is worth, but the truck is probably only worth about $3000-3500, assuming average condition and a good transmission.

 

the guy claims that the trans was just rebuilt, currently the 4x4 doesn't work because the ujoints on the front axle locked up and tore the front of the transfer case off, so he had it all rebuilt and the axle removed because he doesn't 4x4 anyways. I was concerned that if 2 bolts are broken off in the head and no one ever removed them they may be increasingly difficult / impossible to get out. the truck has 37" tires, plow hookup, salter hookup, and the worse maco paint job I've ever seen. another thing that makes me very leary is the steering wheel is off by 90 degrees he says due to him just replacing the tie rod ends and needing an alignment, also the drivers side sway bar bushing that holds it to the frame is gone with the bracket just bent back.

my car is worth about $2500 has 138,500 mi so I think the trade is more than fair, I just don't want to be stranded without a car...oh and the mileage I do care about but I am a BIG guy and that little mitsu is tearing up my back. I just got an offer for a 95 suburban with 60,000 on the motor, can't go mudding but might look into it. thanks for all the advice so I can keep my decision level headed.

 

steering wheel and the tierod ends should have nothing to do with each other....i would also be leary of the 4x4, i mean why rebuild it but not hook it back up?

 

I assume by he removed the axle , you mean front driveshaft. If I was you I'd have him put it back in and make sure it works. Other than that, I think by your description the truck has had the crap beat out of it and sounds like a POS to me. I wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole.

 

**** on it

 

RUN FORREST RUN!!!!

 

Thanks guys, as fun as it looks I think I'll stay away from it. already have offers for a 99 explorer, 95 suburban, and a 87 camaro Z28.

 

well, on the camaro, i would do a thorough check for body work and run if its a ttop