Hey guys,

Like I said in the title I'm new to online forums so I apologize if I'm in the wrong section. I just bought a '94 ram 1500 5.2 with a regular cab and long bed. I'm pretty sure I got it for a steal or I would have looked at it more closely. I paid $1600 and it runs great, interior is good, and the exterior has some bare metal and surface rust but no dents or holes.

The truck has 213k miles so I'm a little worried about things that are likely to break soon. What are some things that I should be keeping an eye on with a truck with this many miles? A mechanic friend of mine said these engines have plastic timing chain gears and it's likely to slip a tooth with that many miles. Is that true?

I'm not looking to modify it since I don't care about power or speed. I just want a good truck that will run for another 30 years with good care and maintenance. I'm looking for mods or replacement parts that will eliminate common problems and increase its longevity and reliability.

Any help or advice is much appreciated since I've never owned a truck before. Thanks in advance.

 

Yep, you got a good deal, and yes, you are in the right place.

It wouldn't hurt to change the timing set with that many miles. There is no plastic gears, but, the morse style chain does tend to stretch..... Go with a good double roller timing set. That was one of the best mods I did on my 96.... really made a difference in how the engine ran. Gotta pull the water pump to get to the gears, so, might just as well throw a new one on there.

Also, pull the air filter housing, crack the throttle wide open, and have a look down there. (engine NOT running.....) if you see oil, time to pull the intake, and address the gasket on the bottom.... A new gasket and shorter bolts are all you really need.... a lot of folks go with the aluminum plate on the bottom, and that works too, but, isn't absolutely necessary Some additional insurance.

Maintenance the crap out of it. If you don't have something documented, figure it hasn't been done, and you should do it.

 

4X2 i would assume?

 

Hey thanks for the advice. That plenum gasket was a hell of a rabbit hole. I found a really good replacement video series on YouTube from the Hughes website. Might be good to put on the sticky.
I'll check the plenum when I get home on Sunday. Between the timing chain and the plenum I'll have everything but the block apart. Anything else good to either check or look at while I've got it torn down? I was thinking about doing the distributor but I haven't wrenched on anything in 15 years and I can't remember how to service one.

It's a regular cab long bed 4x2 slt. The body looks clean with only minor surface rust. I still need to get it on a lift and check the undercarriage. Are there any common areas to check for rust eating through the frame or suspension? The steering is kind of a suggestion so i need to figure out if that's bushings, tie rods, or ball joints.

 

Might wanna look at the freeze plugs. They are steel from the factory, and if the cooling system wasn't properly maintained, (which they rarely are....) they rust out... and leak. There are a couple that are behind the engine mounts, and those like to collect crap, and rust out.... If you go after them, get some good brass ones.

Don't think ya need to worry much about the distributor itself. They seldom fail... Probably wouldn't hurt to change the cap and rotor though, and while you have them off, give the shaft a wiggle, see how much it moves, if it all..

The brake line going to the rear brakes like to rust and break.... But, it likes to break where it runs thru the frame, next to the gas tank. Really hard to see it in there.....

Steering... Inspect EVERYTHING. Bear in mind, the steering boxes themselves in these trucks suck when new. You *might* be able to improve it some simply by adjusting it, but, don't expect miracles.