What to expect... 97 Ram 1500 5.9 magnum
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Joined: Nov 2010
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From: Vancouver BC
What to expect... 97 Ram 1500 5.9 magnum
I'm going to look at a 1997 Ram 1500 SLT Laramie with the 5.9L Magnum tomorrow.
I had a 2000 with the 5.2L and loved it, but im a bit scared about the milage from the 5.9. Will there be much of a difference?
And other than the trans and front end problems is there anything is should be aware of that he may be hiding from me?
I had a 2000 with the 5.2L and loved it, but im a bit scared about the milage from the 5.9. Will there be much of a difference?
And other than the trans and front end problems is there anything is should be aware of that he may be hiding from me?
Record Breaker
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,504
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From: Chesapeake, VA
make sure you get to start it when the engine is COMPLETELY COLD! any knocking or ticking on startup?
as youve already noted, test out the trans buy gettin on the go pedal and making sure it shifts nicely.
throw it into 4wd in the grass. does the 4wd light come on after a few feet of idling? try moving the front driveshaft by hand, shouldnt be able to. put it in 4 low, does it engage? throw er back into 2wd, does the light go off after a few feet of idling? does the driveshaft now spin freely? look at the knuckles under the u-joints. are there any puddles of oil?
throw it in park and get it on it up to about 3k rpm. any smoke? if so a blown plenum is likely, but bad valve seals and/or rings are also possible.
drive it for ATLEAST 20 min on the highway and interstate if possible. does the oil gauge go to 0 psi after op temp has been attained for a while?
is temp holding at 200?
after the drive nows your chance to get under it and THORUGHLY inspect for leaks. brown/black-oil; green-coolant; red- ps fluid or atf/t-case; smelly brown- diff fluid
lastly test all electrical components in the cab
as youve already noted, test out the trans buy gettin on the go pedal and making sure it shifts nicely.
throw it into 4wd in the grass. does the 4wd light come on after a few feet of idling? try moving the front driveshaft by hand, shouldnt be able to. put it in 4 low, does it engage? throw er back into 2wd, does the light go off after a few feet of idling? does the driveshaft now spin freely? look at the knuckles under the u-joints. are there any puddles of oil?
throw it in park and get it on it up to about 3k rpm. any smoke? if so a blown plenum is likely, but bad valve seals and/or rings are also possible.
drive it for ATLEAST 20 min on the highway and interstate if possible. does the oil gauge go to 0 psi after op temp has been attained for a while?
is temp holding at 200?
after the drive nows your chance to get under it and THORUGHLY inspect for leaks. brown/black-oil; green-coolant; red- ps fluid or atf/t-case; smelly brown- diff fluid
lastly test all electrical components in the cab
depending on where youre from, the bottom of the doors like to rust out. also look in the rear wheel wells for rust. check the t-case for cracks if its a 4x4. check for the notorious p/s pump and steering box leaks.