lco

hi, i'm looking into buying a 97 12v with 200k miles and was wondering if its a good idea to buy a truck with this many miles on it. i want to get it in the 500-600hp range and i know a guy that can rebuild the engine if need be. but how much money will it cost to do things like that that might need freshening up. thanks

97 D-Tec

200K is not really that high for a diesel... i know some one who didnt start modifing thier 1st gen till it already had 300K and i know theres probably people on here that have done just about the same thing

SPLnut

engine with 200k is ok but other things may need attention shortly like the tranny if auto or clutch, ball joints and other front end related items...

what are your intentions with the truck? daily driver, towing rig, or racing?

drasko

i bought mine in october w/ 20 miles short of 465K.... and im just starting to turn into a big toy!!! dont worry about it.... like some people say, the motor keeps runnin although the body falls off around it!!
Drasko

deereguy07

I bought mine with 186k on it. I slide the plate forward at 212k and started playin with it at 244k. Don't worry bout the motor it will be fine.

TxDiesel007

Worked on one once.

with 365K on it, still runnin with over 420K now...

Rick

lco

cool thanks for all your responses. i have another delima, i found a 98.5 12v "the truck" and i'm trying to deside between that one and a 97. they both have about the same mileage and both are autos. i plan to daily drive it and build it up to somewhere around 600hp maybe more in the future. so what do you guys think.

1stGen545

Go with the 98 I like the interior better. just over 300K on my 96 and ove 500K on my 92. Had the head off of the 96 last month ( blew a turbo) and it still had crosshatch marks on the cylinder walls. Go for it.

strokerace

The motors fine, I have 212k on mine and have no major issues or worries about it. One of my buddies just rolled over 350k on his 94, you will have a few little problems but hey for that many miles that aint bad. I plan on running mine for quite a few more years before I retire it to the garage to be turned into a toy and it probably will have 350k or 400k by that time. If you can get the 98 12v, thats a rare find, I looked hard for 2 months for one then found my 95', they only made so many and there aint any more so get one and hold on to it. Just my .02,
Good Luck

deereguy07

I'd go with the 98 because I also like the interior better. I went an drove a 98also today. Only it was a 5spd.