Trusty Steed

I am looking at a 12 valve 98 worktruck auto with 4x4, no air or any other options. It has 52,000 miles on it. Owner says it just had many front end parts replaced, which I thought seemed kind of early. He also said he got 30 mpg on a couple hundred mile trip with aprox. 1000 lb's in the bed. Seems kind of crazy to me.
He wants 15,500, and does not seem inclined to go much lower.

How does this price sound?
What should I look for when checking out the truck?
I have heard that the 12 valve may have been the best of the cummins bunch from reading this site. Would this late model 12 valve been the cream of the crop?

Any concerns with this model year, transmission, brakes, anything that will be higher then normal maintenance? Any info on hp and torque ratings would be great also.

Thanks a bunch for your help.

Jay

Srigs

15k sound to steep for a stripped down model. 12k would be better.

Maintenance records are gold.
1. Check for front end parts and current state by a test drive.
2. Tranny mainenance records.
3. Diff mainenance records.

What kind of "work" was done with it?

I hope this helps. Srigs

SmokinDodge12V

Look for any KDP damage such as a lot of oil, grease on the front of the motor, you can do a search on here for more info on the KDP and the motor ratings on a 98 12v is 215 hp and im not exactly sure about the tourqe but other than that it sounds like a pretty fair price oh yah is it quad cab, club cab or reg. cab.

BBWD

Jay: I would walk on a deal with the above claim. 20 to 23 MPG maybe, but 30 sounds like a lot of fluff. If you can't believe that, what else is he puffin??? JMHO

John (DH)

Trusty Steed

You guys are awsome, talk about a quick response!

The truck is a regular cab, looks to be in great shape. Owner says both exterior, and interior are good. It has a plow carriage on it, but no blade. Said it was only plowed with once, was a back up truck for his cousin? Is having a buch of front end work consistant with this type of truck with that kind of mileage? Sure seems more likely that it saw more then one plow session!

John

I did not believe the mileage a posibility, but was hopeing that the kid was ignorant rather then being deceptive. Perhaps it is foolish to trust him. I bought a 6.9 F350 several years ago. Kid said he was a mechanic, and just did the brakes. First trailer pull told me something was up with the breaks. Pads were toast, rotors warped and cracked in the front. I can not believe I could not tell driving it during the test drive.

I read somewhere that brakes on a truck near this model year was very expensive. Is that true? I really can not see why they would be any more then any other truck.

Srigs.
Not sure what it was formerly used for. He purchased it 3 years ago for 21, and it had 23k miles. He sounds like he is into construction, but does has had a job change where he is just working around town, and does not need this kind of truck. I know what you mean about it seeming on the high side price wise. I see alot of 97-98 ext cab 4x4's, some duallys with 110-140 thousand miles for 12-17 thousand with some options. I don't know how much the trade off is for options against some lower miles. If it gets 400,000 miles or more, 60,000 miles is fairly insignificant.

It is pretty hard to trust anyone these days.

You guys are great, thanks!
Jay

Smokindodge
Is the KDP that dowl pin deal? I read something about that being a concern when buying an older cummins.

Trusty Steed

Just found another potential to call on.

1998 3500 dually Quad Cab Laramin SLT 4x4 with 116,000. They want 16,900 but I have bought a truck from them before and can likely get them down 1,000-1,500.

How does this sound?
Not sure, but I assume this is a post 1998.5 and has the 24 valve. What are your fellas thought on the difference between the late 12 valves compared to the early 24 valves?

Thanks again
Jay

SmokinDodge12V

The eairly 24v is nowhere near the reliabilty of the late 12v and yes the KDP is the dowel pin, if you definatly want a 98 than you want to get a 12v.

Dieseldude4x4

Personally, I believe he is way out of line with the first one. The low mileage is a plus but no options takes all that away in my opinion. 30 mpg, yeah, right.
Too much front end work for a truck with that low a miles on it. My 89 had 142000 and I never touched the front end in ten years.

As far as reliability, I have put almost 400000 miles on three of these trucks and never had the first engine problem other than a rear crank seal on the 89.

The 98 is a little closer in the range than the first one. I just paid $10k for a 94 reg cab dually 4x4 for my son. It is a real cream puff too. Has probably $7000 worth of after market add ons already.

https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...hen=&whenterm=

psdctd

Just for comparison sakes and whatever it's worth.....I bought a 1998 12v Dually Quad Cab 4x4 w/143k about 2 months ago for $12,500. I felt like I got a decent deal based on everything I saw for sale around here in NE Ohio.

Trusty Steed

Wow, great info guys!

I got to get me a 12v cummins just so I can hang out with you fellas and get my questions asked so quickly!

psdctd
Sounds like you got a great deal, I would love to get a quad cab 4x4. Do you have a Powerstroke also? If so, what year and how does it compare to your cummins? I have a 95 psd, and an 89 6.9 I would like to retire, or put out of it's misery...or mine as it may be.

DieselDude 4x4
Sounds like you have had great success with your trucks, that is great! Did you have to put alot of money into your trucks in other areas... injectors, trans, anything else, or was the truck as reliable as the engine? I would love to think I could get 400,000 quality miles out of a diesel. I am afraid more PSD is going to send me to the poor house. I fear I am not far away from 2,000 plus dollars for injectors soon. I hope the cummins ijectors are cheaper and or more reliable? At least there are only 6.

I may low ball the guy and see if he will bite, I will not pay 15,500 for the truck. I am thankful that you confirmed what I already felt.

Jay

bulthisl

If it were a stick it would be a 215 motor

But being it is an auto it is rated 180 from factory.
And the rear will not be a dana 80 Hybrid it will be a Dana 70

Still 12 valves rule !!

Some of them thar overvalvers may not agree though.

But that is another issue.


: Eddie :

Dieseldude4x4

The only major work I did on the 89 in ten years was a rear crankshaft seal, front brake pads once, front wheel bearings twice (because some goof ball drove it through James River water), one rear u-joint (was not lubed right at the factory), and three batteries. The valves were adjusted once, the transmission bands twice, and that was it. Never laid a wrench on the engine except for valve adjustment.
The 95 never had anything but two batteries replaced and front brake pads at 25000 miles.
My current truck is five years old this month with 142000 miles. Still running the original brakes all around, working on the second set of batteries, the second set of tires (got 75000 out of the first set), replaced the oil pressure sending unit last year, one belt, and one head light switch. I can't complain at all for the weight I pull. I'm going to Forest City Diesel in March for a new clutch, a new steering box, and maybe a KDP fix. I am very pleased with this truck as well as with the last two. You can get a lemon in anything but I haven't got one yet as far as this truck combo goes.

Good luck.

SmokinDodge12V

Thanks Bulthis I forgot to think that it was an automatic, I just bought my 98 about a month ago with 108,000 mi for 16,400. not many options except the ones that count most to me.

Srigs

The 1998.5 24V sound a lot better but if you can find a 1998 12V that is the best! We like being perfectly valved and not over valved.

Keep looking and you will know when you find it. Srigs

Trusty Steed

Thanks Srigs

I went to Kelly Blue Book, and they valued the truck at $12,500 with the options on that truck. A far cry from $15,500. He had $16,000 in the add. I don't know how accurate Kelly is when it comes to diesels, but I doubt it is far off. I really would be best off with a 3500 dually quad cab. I will be hauling a 7,000 lb enclosed trailer all day everyday with it, plus some weight in the bed. I just saw low mileage cummins 4x4, and the wheels started turning!

Thanks again fellas.
Jay