Hello. I have a 1995 1500 2wd auto 5.2l reg cab 8 foot bed. Has about 119,000 mile on it. Paint is in rough shape but no rust on the truck even though I live in North East. Its been good, hasnt costed me a whole lot of money since I bought it off my Grandfather with 38,000 miles back in 2010. Wheel bearings in front, pads, etc.



I recently did the plenum gasket two winters ago, and still have no oil in the intake so I know I am good there. Changed plugs, wires, cap and rotor. Changed the cat but have a leak where the down pipe connects to cat.



The truck is extremely under powered. Last summer I lost a ton of oil, the oil pressure sensor gave out and leaked engine oil and never noticed it until I got to where I was going. The sensor was already bad so I never noticed if I was losing oil pressure. Checked the stick and nothing was on it. I’m wondering if I have bad compression now.



Anyway, the truck needs alot of work all at once. Headlight switch burnt out, rear axle seals are bad, need a complete break job in rear. Recently about 2-3 times a week when I go to start it, it just turns over and doesnt fire. Let it sit a bit and eventually starts up. It seems to be burning rich, the fumes of gas just about choke you out. Needs a whole new exhaust. Heater core needs replacement.



I realize its all minor stuff, but it all came at once. What worries me the most is the lack of power. I hate to fix everything up and then have the engine go. Transmission so far has been good. Once in a while while trying to accelerate when its in 2nd gear it falls on its face until you let off and it almost feels like it downshifts but not to first.



What do you all think. Interior of truck is in good shape. I like the truck, it has sentimental value. Not really sure what I would replace it with. Maybe something with a back seat.



Thanks

 

More power costs more money, my V10 gets around 10 mpg towing or not. These 2nd generation trucks do seem to have a history of the engines lasting for quite a long time. Getting your moneys worth out of an old truck can be quite rewarding. One thing that would make you consider keeping your truck that still has a lot of life left in it would be to go and price a new vehicle of your choosing.and see how much it costs to insure it also.

 

How's the cat? Is it clogging up?

 

your probably into $2000 to fix it. its hard to assess you vehicle without seeing it.

you can get a old 4th gen or newer 3rd gen for $6000 to $8000 private sale and then it may need $1000 repairs.

 

Wow, where do you live? lol In my area 6-8000 would buy a pile of junk with 250k miles on it.

 

alberta Canada.
my 2007 2500 with 260000 kilometers was $1000. puts $4000 of parts into it and its like new.

 

Hmmm....when I go to sell my truck, maybe I ought to advertise it over there. If I got $4000 for my truck, I'd be happy as a clam.

To the OP, consider what a new vehicle, even a used one, will run you. Car payment, repairs (unless you buy a NEW one, there WILL be repairs) and sales taxes plus all the other addendum's a vehicle purchase entails. Hook a vacuum gauge somewhere to the intake system and assess the engine. If the engine is worn out, put a good used one in. Need an exhaust? Replace it, maybe go with a free flowing cat on it. The car companies have to make generalized machines. A truck sold here in S.W. Indiana doesn't have to meet as stringent specifications as New York state. However, it's just cheaper and easier to build to one standard for Federal vehicles. Unless you live in California, where the rules seem to change haphazardly, then you need to meet CARB rules. I put a used engine in a truck once and kept it for many years after that. When I sold it, I got what I paid for the truck and the money I spent on it in between, I considered rent for the vehicle. I would have had to drive something to work and it did the trick.

 

I am not looking to get more power out of it, I just want it to have the power or close to what it had when new. It barely gets out of its own way.

The cat is new, everything beyond the cat is original. Timing chain never replaced either.

What Im most concerned about it the smell of unburnt fuel all the time. That and running it out of oil when that sensor broke. Should I do a compression test first and see what that shows me? Maybe that is causing my lack of power? It does burn some oil. Not alot.

Other than those issues and the ones in my first post I do love the truck. It looks rough but it gets me from A to B. Unfortunately it doesnt pull our 2 horse bumper bull trailer. Not enough power. 3,000 lb trailer with 1,000 horse. Can barely hold 50 mph on interstate OD off. 3:55 rears

 

I would do a compressions test, (dry, then wet) and see what the numbers say. take it from there.

 

119K is close to time for the timing chain to be replaced. If it is worn, you will be low on power, the engine will run cooler than normal and the computer will go into "open loop" mode. I'll bet the heater is warm but not overly so. There was an updated tensioner put out by Ma Mopar that really wakes these puppies up. I had a '94 with the 3.9 and it did okay but when I replaced the timing chain, it had more power, the so so heater would run you out (I'm sure you don't really need a heater in the winter in Vermont. ) and the fuel mileage went from 17 to 25. There was a rattling noise coming from the timing cover before I pulled it apart. On the oil, does the engine rattle more now? I like the first generation Magnums as they are fairly tough. I've got one of the more dainty second generation 4.7's and it was run low on oil but when I cleaned the pickup and oil pan, it came right back and holds good oil pressure.