hemi_on

Hello, Hello

I need some advice, i'm going to look at a 1998 12 valve 4x4, auto, tommorow night and would like to know what I should look at before I buy it as $$$ will be in extremely limited after. so I need a reliable, dependable, truck (ya ya I know its an auto so a swap will be taking place when funds allow)

Thanks

Hemi_on

Mcmopar

Check the KDP, ball joints, tie rod ends and the track bar. Leave the automatic alone, it is great when properly prepped!!

strokerace

Check out the front end, theres lots of expensive parts $$$$ up there if it needs work. Also find out as much of the history as you can, I recommend a carfax report, you can find out alot sometimes, a friend of mine had bought his truck over a year ago and when I got mine last month I had carfax and ran his vin#, he found out the odometer had been rolled back like 80k miles!!!!!! You could probably post up here and see if anyone has it this month and might run it for you, when I had mine I ran probably 10 vin# for guys on here, maybe someone can do the same for you, common cummins owner courtesy. Good Luck

hemi_on

that was quick, how can you check if the KDP has been fixed, ( probably hasnt been because previous owner was a farmer, could be wrong, hopefully I am), you say to leave the tranny alown, are the trannies in the 1998 good, oh by the way the truck has about 150k miles (240k kilometers) dont know much about the history of the truck as the owner is died and the family is selling it, receipt are in limbo land,

Hemi_On

hemi_on

Great idea and very true about the Owners

Hemi_On

strokerace

You cant really check the kdp without removing some things, if it hasnt been fixed its just a $50 kit to do or make your own but it will take some time to get in there and fix it, search for kdp on here and read some other threads, they will teach you more than I can tell ya. In my opinion all the stock autos are junk unless you just leave the truck stock, you can build a tranny to hold it but then you get talking some serious $$$$$$$$$$$$, If you want a 5spd its gonna be a chore to swap the auto truck to a manual trans, not saying it cant be done though. If its not what you want dont get it because your the one who has to be happy with it. Good luck with the truck

hemi_on

you have a point about the swap going to be a chore, I really would perfer / want a handshaker but a handshake in a long box 4x4 ext or quad cab up here is gold and cost about that. So a auto is going to have to do for 8 - 12 months till I can afford to do a swap.

Hemi_on

96_12V

First off, these trucks are expensive to own and maintain. There's a serious reason my signature says what it does. In 6.5 years of 12 valve ownership, I can say that when it works, it's great, when something breaks, it's expensive, no way around it. Even routine manitance is considerably higher than a gas truck, as oil changes done in my own driveway run over $50 these days - 12 quarts of Rotella 15w-40 and any brand of filter except Fram--do a search to see why I say don't use fram on these rigs.

In general, when purchasing a used veichle, I try to figure in about 20 - 30% of the purchase price for first-year repairs and maintanice costs. For these trucks, 30% is a minimum. This is outside of modifications of any sort. As to the KDP, it's not expensive to get in there and rectify it. You can check the front engine cover in the gearcase cover, if the bolts look like theve never been turned (paint broken off from a wrench on them) you can pretty much rest assured it's not been taken care of. Then again, if they have been, now you have to ask, was it just for a seal replacement or the KDP? It's just a start.

Finally, parts cost - front brake rotors have sometimes been found for around $99 each by others on this site. I paid $129 each from Carquest, and have changed them twice during my ownership. Just my $.02, If you're really going to be tight for $$$ after you buy it, you may want to really consider if this unit is the one you want. If it's not, start doing nationwide searches for the unit that's really the one you do want, and often you may find it less expensive than buying the one you're looking at now just because it's there. Factor in travel costs, and it's unsually cheaper and less of a hassle in the long run. Might also think about buying a truck from a southern state to avoid the rust issues. Good luck!

hemi_on

southern states, Thats a LONG WAYS away from up here in Alberta, Canada

Hemi_on

96_12V

Oops - didn't realize it was Canada you were calling from...

I guess they would be hard to find around there...

heykw

hhhhay thhhheir Canada

hemi_on

hey There FLordia

went to look at the truck tonight and well it looks BRAND new not a scratch, not a stain on the carpet nothing, so it is now SOLD SOLD SOLD .... almost just have to wait to see if the VIN is clean for lean and what not, and I pick it up tommorow night. Also does any one have a CARFAX thing to check a VIN for me just to see what history it does have.

Hemi_on