Hey guys, I am looking at possibly picking up a ram and was looking for some input on it from you guys. I used to have a 99 dakota 4x4 3.9 which is what led me to being on these forums for quite some time now. I know longer have the truck but i'm back on the market looking for something cheap and ugly. Theres a guy online in my area selling a 97 ram 1500 ext cab 4x4 automatic. has 240xxx miles on it. Body is in decent shape and four wheel drive, engine, and tranny are all in good shape. he does say it over heats after about 20 min of driving and the oxygen sensor needs replaced but thats about it. I have done plenty of oxygen sensors so I am not worried about that. the overheating part he is not sure if just a water pump or an intake gasket but either do not seem to be a major deal. Asking $800 firm for it. any input on what you guys think about this is appreciated. Thank you!
Justin

 

800 bucks? Even if you have to replace the heads, I think it will still be worth more than you have invested. (I suspect a headgasket issue for the overheating....)

Try this, with the engine stone cold, start the truck up, see if the upper radiator hose gets immediately hard as a rock. If it does, heads are going to have to come off. (and you may be able to talk him down a couple hundred more, as the heads on these are notorious for cracks, and if the gasket is bad, it is highly likely the heads are bad as well.)

 

ok I'll do that. im assuming it's just the 318 since it's only a 1500 also. I'm going tomorrow morning with a buddy to look at it at 9am. he's got two other people checking it out later in the day. On these engines, how hard is it to pull he heads to do the head gasket and head replacement? also how much roughly are new heads? It's hard to pass on it for only 800. he said there isnt much gas in it but i'll def have to drive it around to check out the transmission. any other common issues to watch out for on these?

http://akroncanton.craigslist.org/cto/4923223962.html

 

You can get a pair, brand new, better castings, for about 600 bucks.

Since you will more than likely need to do the plenum on it anyway...... doing the heads while you are at it will add a couple more hours to the job, and the cost of a couple more gaskets. I would recommend doing plenum, timing chain and gears, water pump, and new heads, should they need to come off. (don't even bother having them checked if you have to yank 'em, just replace them.)

240K miles on the original trans makes me nervous though....... that is past it's usual 'blow up' point... Has it been redone? If not..... that's a rather expensive repair too..... Unless you would be able to do the labor yourself?

 

That I am not sure of. he had said he bought the truck from an auction around 6 months ago. so im assuming no paperwork or anything on it. i'd rather not get into any kind of major repairs on it. Im looking for a truck that can be ran but not babied and not care if it gets beat up or anything since it's not my daily driver. I also dont want a big paperweight sitting in my driveway lol the girlfriend wont be too happy about that

 

Yeah, probably no hope of getting any history on that one then..... But.... still, it's cheap. Check it out, see what you think, take it from there. (be sure and DRIVE it. ) If the trans shifts nice on the test drive...... I think it would be worth the shot.

 

Driver's side of the engine block, below the exhaust manifold you should be able to see either a 318 or 360 casting. That's your engine size. Best way to tell, in case it's been replaced at some point.

I 2nd it being heads.

When I got heads for my old 02 dakota they were a couple hundred bucks cheaper it seems, $600-700 fully assembled. Now they're a grand. Oh well.

Also do the hughes intake plenum kit.