Hey there,

New to the forum but I need some advice. The engine on my girlfriend's 1996 Dodge Ram 1500 V8 5.2L is no longer functioning and we live out in Puerto Rico. I've called all of the junker stations that have numbers listed on the island but no one seems to have an engine that I could swap out.

What are my options here?

Is it a better option to pay my mechanic to see if he can fix the issue with our current engine (which he thinks stems from an oil pump issue that went from bad to worse).
Is there a reputable dealer where I could buy a used or new engine and get it shipped here? Sell the truck for parts? It sucks she just redid the transmission so she's already invested in the truck and doesn't really want to part with it.

 

Are you saying the engine was running with low or no oil pressure?

 

Change the oil pump out yourself, it’s not a big job. I did mine flat on my back on a gravel driveway in about 2 1/2 hours. YouTube search 1996 Dodge Ram 5.2 oil pump replacement.
YouTube is a back yard mechanic’s best friend!

 

Need more info on why it's not functioning. If it ran out of oil pressure and seized up a oil pump is not going to fix it.