I looked at a truck today. 1998 1500, 4x4 318 5 speed. Only 82000 miles. Manual locks/windows, stock radio. No hitch unfortunately though, I'll have to get one put on or something if I get it :\.

It is white, and runs really good. Underneath looks good and not really that rusty, but the body is pretty rusted in some spots. Mechanically it sounds/looks/runs great. He says there is an oil leak, and coolant leak, neither of which are huge. He also is saying in the last 1-2k miles a power steering line started leaking a tiny bit.

Anyway. I will put my photobucket up, there are a bunch of pictures of the truck. He had white duck tape (his wife made him do it because she was ashamed of it sitting there all rusty lmao) on most of the rust, so some of the pictures were taken before i took it all off.

He wants $2600. I think it's worth that to fix up, but my dad isn't so sure. What do you guys think?

-Bodywork (~$300 in panels, maybe a bit more)
-Replacement front bumper (junkyard?)
-Fix a few leaks

http://s159.photobucket.com/albums/t152/Rideordie1113/1998%20Ram/

 

coolant and oil? doesnt have a bad head does it?

 

The coolant leak wasn't very big. Wouldn't a cracked head be a pretty big leak? Plus wouldn't it have low compression and misfire and etc? It ran real good.

The PS leak appears to be just a bad line, it is somewhere right in the front.

 

If you tow alot not having an OEM hitch really sucks. Mine did not have the tow package and now every time there is a trailer on the turn signals flash very quickly. Also the trucks did not come with t-case skid plates.

I can't see the pics but if it is really rusty it isn't a deal at $2600.

 

I would reallly want to know the cooln leak before I bought.... 15 dollar fix to a 500 fix

 

Where did you get the hitch installed? I wouldn't use it that much to tow but I do haul around a small trailer to landscape sometimes (1000lbs?)

It is fairly rusty on the rockers/cab corner and the one wheel well, but it only has 80,000 miles..To me that makes it probably worth fixing up.

I agree. Kind of hard to diagnose though. I just wanted to see what everyone else thinks. From what he tells me I think it is probably a line or something since it isn't much of a leak.

The oil leak could be the plenum possibly?

The truck passed inspection as is, but to be inspected next time around some of the rust will probably need fixed.

 

[quote=rideordie;1981160]Where did you get the hitch installed? I wouldn't use it that much to tow but I do haul around a small trailer to landscape sometimes (1000lbs?)

It is fairly rusty on the rockers/cab corner and the one wheel well, but it only has 80,000 miles..To me that makes it probably worth fixing up.

I installed the hitch myself (truck has only been to the shop once since I bought it). It is really easy to do. Its not the weight thats a problem its just that the truck isn't equipped to handle extra lights. Just expect a very fast turn signal.

 

Can't see the pics wothout a password.

 

Ohh. My bad guys. Try this.

http://s159.photobucket.com/albums/t...13/1998%20Ram/

 

well, its defiantly a 2nd gen ram. Blown out seat cushion, busted *** cup holder and etc. all the trademarks im sure the dash is full of cracks.