westport

Since we sent our oldest son off to college this year I sold my 2000 F250 I had and have been looking for an older dodge diesel for a few months. Yesterday I called about a 1996 2500 2wd extended cab. It's got 257K miles but the guy said he is the original owner. Had the trans rebuilt 17K miles ago, new tires and brakes. No rust and the paint is great. I'm going to look at it Sunday afternoon. If it's as nice as he says I'll be bringing back home with me. I'm pretty pumped up about it as I had 1995 just like it a few years back and loved that truck.
Wish me luck.

larrybartlett

good luck, let us know how you get laong and pics please!!

westport

Looked at the truck yesterday. It wasn't nearly as nice as the guy had described over the phone. The paint was still shiny and no rust that I could see but the bed was covered in deep scratches. I've listed the other things I saw that weren't perfect. If you could help with the cost to fix each item it might help me decide if I want ot make this guy an offer:

A/C didn't work
Steering was stiff
Steering pulled to the right
passenger side carpet was wet, he said it leaked during hard rains
1/3 of the drivers seat cushion was gone
front seat consol was falling off
carpet would need replaced
fuel gage hadn't worked for a long time
an odd swishing sound coming from the heater core area, sound was worse at higher rpm

I know some of this was cosmetic and I'm not to worried about the paint, but the mechincal things I need to know how and how much it would cost to fix.

thanks alot

77machomopar

sounds like the heater core leaks and has a low coolant level. hence the wet carpet also. Or the block is cracked and has a low coolant cuase it leaks. thats what my truck did

littlebuddie

What is he asking for the truck? How much money and time do you have to throw at a 'project' truck? Any truck that age is going to need things by now the question is, do you want to deal with the repairs to get it the way that is satisfactory to you or do you want a perfectly sound truck from the get go. If the latter, I'd say keep looking.

westport

He's asking $4500 for it. He says that price is firm for a week. I think I could do most of the repairs. I'd just be some replacement carpet and get some seats out of a salvage yard. I could live with the scratched paint for a while. I was thinking if I could get it for $3500 then I'd be satisfied.

DodgeRamdiese01

if you have a junk yard with parts trucks in it (i dont in my area) I would say 3500-4000 seems fair as long as he has a receipt for the trans work

Be aware the heater core replacement is a PITA and involves removing/lifting the dash up quite a bit to access it, I would do an evaporator at the same time because it is in the same area and they have been know t leak often, (if you want AC)