Hey everyone. I found a local 1996 Ram 2500 long bed (2 door but seats behind front) 8.0l v10 truck for around $5000 w/ approx. 123,000 mi. It has a few after market things... chrome wheels, 37" tires, 4" lift.

I checked it out and it looked surprisingly nice with only a few minor physical things that could easily be fixed. However, I took it for a test drive and I hear a weird pressure sound as if air being sucked in. He told me it was an after-market air filter but I wanted to verify that could be plausible.

The thing that worried me, however, was anytime I put my foot into it, I heard a clicking/ticking... it didn't do it idling, but I did hear it on start up. It gets louder the more you accelerate but stops when you let off. I'm wondering if this could be in need of a valve job. It was definitely coming from the engine... Does anyone know if this could be the case and how much it would cost to fix it? Is this truck even worth my time / money?

Thanks a ton!

PIC of truck: http://www.ksl.com/emedia/its/slc/10...5/10613550.jpg

 

im pretty sure the sucking noise is a cold air intake, as far as the clicking it could be bad or dirty injectors, i have the 5.9l and mine does the same thing but i have junk injectors

 

Hmm I'll definitely look into it more and take it to a mechanic before purchasing it, but if it is the injectors, do you by any chance know how much that would cost to fix?

Also, the steering wheel leans to the left while it drives straight.. this is probably a bad alignment job right? Hopefully an easy fix.

One last thing. I noticed there is like a "buffer zone" when you turn the wheel... what I mean is I can turn the wheel left and right several degrees and the wheels won't turn at all, but as soon as I turn past that zone of a few degrees, the steering's fine. Is this something that is common to other RAMs or is that a problem with this truck?

Thanks again!

 

could be bad tie rod or tie rod end that causes the play but mine has play in it aswell so i wouldnt be super concerned and the leaning steering wheel is like you said probably an alignment issue

 

for the oem injectors they run about $50 a piece at an auto parts store, but you can pick up a set of performance injectors online for like $300 but i would start with the mechanic like you were thinkin about and a bottle of injector cleaner, as for the steering play you gotta remember it does have 37's on it, most big trucks with over sized tires have a lot of play unless they have different steering linkage for the bigger tires and what not.

 

I have a K&N cold air kit on my truck, and it makes an audible sucking noise. As far as the pinging, could it be the timing chain?

 

ticking noise could be exhaust leak, my ex gf's car made that noise and it was a leaky exhaust

 

If you take it for a test drive again, or drive it to a mechanic, take some video while you are driving and post it up here. Should give everyone a better idea of exactly what you are talking about.

 

I'll definitely record the noise next time I take it out....

@townsley4: The noise was definitely coming from the front of the truck, so I'm pretty sure it was an engine problem.

Thanks

 

Welcome to dodgeforum! That's a nice looking truck

a bad pcv valve will make a very annoying ticking sound when on the gas.... cheap $5 fix if it is that.... And I wouldn't worry toooo much about the sloppy steering, its a well known issue with these trucks...

skip to about 4:25 in this vid... is it like that? that's how much sawing I have to do on the wheel, most of us are the same way
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDeGXDtMryA