Hey guys. I'm new. I'm 17, looking to buy my first truck. I've found a 1995 Ram 2500 for $1500 OBO off of craigslist nearby.

It's got a 360 V8 with 177k on it, new transmission (>10k on it), towing package, 4x4. He had 3500 single wheel axles put in before it left the dealership (so spacers/hubs/flares makes it a 1 ton, right?).

The body is pretty rough and will need a lot of work, and the owner has told me that the front passenger rotor will need either shaved or replaced (my dad and I are thinking it's easier to replace? Can I replace JUST the rotor on a 95?). Also, it will need tires as they are starting to rot out.

My dad is a dodge guy and we've been through tons of them, so we plan on doing most if not all of the work ourselves, especially since I'm tight on cash as it is.

It was inspected in June 09 so it has a lot of new parts:

Inner and out tie rods both sides ,ball joints ,steering stablizier
trac bar ,Radiator ,Windshield ,fuel pump ,drivers side brake lines ,new brakes front and rear ,new caliper passenger side ,exhaust work done from cat back ,o2 sensor

Anyways. It looks like a good deal to me. What do you guys think? Any specific things on this year/setup I should check out? I know the 360 doesn't have too much juice left in it.

Thanks a lot.

 

$1500 leaves a lot of space for improvements. i say go for it as long as you dont expect more than 1500 dollars worth of truck and can do the improvements/mods yourself.

 

Thats what I thought too. It KBBs for $2700 in fair condition.. I actually would enjoy fixing it up really..Just don't have enough money to do a full restoration of something lol.

If the engine needed replaced, I was thinking of buying like a wrecked one or something and taking the engine. My dad thinks a jasper or something would be a better way to go. Thoughts? How far do the 360's typically go before they hit the bed? He said it had been rebuilt previously.

 

it would prob last another 100 k

 

the engine, as logn as it has been taken care of properly, is probably one of the last things to go out. my 360 has a 193k and i got a friend whose 318 has 290k.

sounds like a good deal id go for it.

 

My 95 5.9 has 276,000 and still drives awesome. With the new transmission and all the other new stuff sounds like a pretty good deal.

 

Alright. Sweet. Thanks for the input guys. I thought it seemed like a good deal, but wanted to seek other opinions. The hardest part will be the body, until I have to worry about an engine. Hopefully can get another 100k on it . We'll see lol.

I can't look at it until Saturday morning, but I'll let you guys know and try to get some pictures.

 

Well, he wouldn't return texts or phone calls today, so I guess I'm not getting the truck. Maybe he sold it or something, who knows.

Thanks for all the input, anyway.

 

id take it in a heart beat. thats a good deal, mines a 5.9 with 192XXX and its got ***** to the wall

just be aware of the plenum issue, look around on the forums and you'll find plenty of threads on it

 

I don't know..At first it seemed like a great deal..but I think it'd need two new front fenders from the rust..and it was a work truck, and it's probably beat pretty bad..