chariotdriver

My 98 is very similiar to the one you are looking at; pretty close to what I paid as well. It is far from stock; the guy dumped a bunch of money into the engine/clutch/tranny. It gets driven harder than the other two mainly because it's fun to drive. It also has a 53 block with no issues to date. I've heard the cracking problem is referred to as the Afghanistan crack; all the hard mountainous driving over there in crap-hole-a-stan took a toll on the equipment and got a nickname for the damage. If you don't plan on hard mountainous towing you shouldn't have any problems. cd

Deezil

Well, I will tow a travel trailer once in a while, its a truck, it should be able to do some work I hope.

307Kenworth

If that was a long bed it would be the Holy Grail!

Deezil

To me this is the holy grail, I dont like the looks and truck lengths of longbeds.

307Kenworth

To each their own. I like to have a toolbox in the truck and still room for a my 4 wheeler and to be able to shut my tailgate. I do wish it was shorter when ever have to park it in a city.

Deezil

I throw a tool kit under the rear seat and put my quad in the bed..

Here is an easy way to load one..
and
I made this to haul two, without a trailer..

307Kenworth

That's a slick set up I like it. Nothing beats loading a dead snowmachine or quad with a Volvo L70 though! Does the rear rack just go in to the receiver hitch or does it have a few other attatchment points? I would think that just the receiver hitch would wiggle a good deal?

Deezil

For some reason my duramax had 3 hitches, so I used the center one for the strength, and one of the outside ones for stability. Ill have to figure something else out on this rig when I get it.

DZLPWR

Hodge, if you find a truck just like that here in VA for $10k ill give you $500 for finding it

csa

some interesting topics.. im told the 53 block on 24v crack by the intake were they were machined differantly than 12v thats why the 12v 53 blocks dont have that issue..the block is stamped 53 by the power stering pump yes easy enough to see.http://www.dieselpowermag.com/tech/d...dex.html..also yes i hear the 98 12v quad cab long bed is the holy grail..i bought mine brand new in 98 for 35k 98 12v quad long 4x4 leather.. around here they go for 8k-12k mint (not holy grails) they are more..looks like a nice truck though..you said it has 133k mine has 155k just had tranny rebuilt and aside from timming being off no problems (and no cab heat but i think ive found that problem)

Deezil

Well, guys wife wont sign the title off, so he is telling me he cant sell it to me now.. ugh, guess Im looking into 24v now

Thanks all for the info, I appreciate the help.