great place you have here!!<br>I need help from yall, Im looking at buying a 97or98 25004x4 CTD. my questions are what to look for I read about that dowel pin, but what should I look for in things like<br>oil pressure, EGT, Boost, Im new to the Diesel world so any advise would be very appreciated<br>I found a 1997 Quad 4x4 CTD with 130K miles for 14,000<br>but stayed away cause It didnt seem right.<br> thanks again,<br> Mike

 

If you can find a model with gauges installed on it, there's a good chance it was taken care of. Otherwise, you can't monitor EGT, boost, or tranny temp directly. A carfax report on the VIN might be a decent place to start, just to see if anything might void any warranty left.

 

[quote author=WHIFF link=board=16;threadid=17190;start=0#160980 date=1058457181]<br>just to see if anything might void any warranty left.<br>[/quote]<br><br><br><br>I doubt there's any warrenty left at 130K! <br><br>That sounds decent if the truck is good shape. Body's striaght, starts/runs/drives good, and doesn't appear to have any odvious problems.<br><br>I bought my 97 Reg Cab two years ago with 122K for $10,500 and didn't even think twice. Drove the truck 3 times, 1 of which was pulling a cattle trailer. Drive it! If the owner will allow, and it has a gooseneck ball find a trailer and hook to it! That will be the real test.<br><br>Oh one more thing look at the AFC housing which if your looking at the engine from the drivers side fender is just below the air intake horn. It will look like a big &quot;hump&quot; and has a round hex head screw in the top. There should be 4 bolts holding this on, one of which should be smooth. That's the tamper proof screw and just as its name tells if its missing or has been messed with someone has &quot;tampered&quot; with the injection pump. If you find this to be true have the owner fess up to what has been done.<br><br>Good luck your looking for the right year models! ;D

 

Great ! thanks for the help, this will be the newest truck I ever owned, I want a diesel for the sheer life expectancy<br>and a 4x4 for hunting and camping, this was actully my wifes Idea, she said to get something that will last and I like.<br>I own a 87 Ramcharger 4x4 with a 360 33x1250 MTs<br>and It will go anywhere I can only Imagine what a CTD 4x4<br>will do.<br> thanks for the help<br>Im still learning the Diesel Way!

 

[quote author=360ramcharger link=board=16;threadid=17190;start=0#161033 date=1058466465]<br>Great ! thanks for the help, this will be the newest truck I ever owned, I want a diesel for the sheer life expectancy<br>and a 4x4 for hunting and camping, this was actully my wifes Idea, she said to get something that will last and I like.<br>I own a 87 Ramcharger 4x4 with a 360 33x1250 MTs<br>and It will go anywhere I can only Imagine what a CTD 4x4<br>will do.<br> thanks for the help<br>Im still learning the Diesel Way!<br>[/quote]<br><br>Yeah but keep in mind that diesel engine wieghs A LOT more than your 360! And your M/T tires only last about 1/2 as long unless your just absolutely crazy about rotations and balancing and tire pressures.

 

First If it seems to good to be true, then stay away!

Looking at the years you mentioned, the KDP is an issue, but one that would be hard to spot. I would maybe use it as a bargining tool, and tell them you would like to have them fix the KDP (you should be there to watch), or have them reduce the price and you take care of it.
Any CTD I would be looking at I would want to test drive it, oh yel never let the salesman ride along, and hook it to a load to test the clutch, or auto trans.
do the normal look around, look at the pedals for wear, do they match with the mileage? Is there a service history? check the brakes, you might have to pull the wheels, but these trucks are expensive to repair. A good brake job, is a easy better part of a grand. Look for leaks, not just what has fallen to the groud, but get under there and check it out. I would check the transfer case, rear end, trany for fluid levels, and condition, water in the axels is common in truck that have been thrashed. What I do is have everything ready at home, go take the truck for a &quot;test drive&quot;, go home and check it out. I can be sure not to miss anything, and I am not pressured by the saleman. Also if you don't feel comfortable checking it out yourself, ask arround, find a shop were you can have a mechanic check it out for you. The cost would be worth it.
Also be carefull, I have a dealer in my home town that always has nice used CTD, fairly late modles (2-3 years old), only problem is they are all dodge buy backs. May not be a issue for you, but I don't want anything dodge had to buy back cause of a lemon law.