Hi all
I just bought a 1991 dodge 250 diesel. It was a total impulse buy. I don't know anything about the dodge trucks. This truck was parked in a driveway with a for sale sign on it. It looked like new so I stopped to have a look at it. The owner was about 80 years old and was selling it because he couldn't climb in and out of the truck any more.

The truck:
The old boy bought it new in 1992 in Seattle...he was an engineer for boeing
20,822 miles on the truck
Never worked or used for towing
Cummins diesel 5.9
Automatic
Blue standard cab, long box with matching blue canopy.
Box looks like nothing has ever been put in the back
Bench seat was covered with a thick wool seat cover put on when the truck was new, so seat looks new
price was $6500 can or about $5300 usd

The wife:
What the H3ll did you do. You just spent $6500 on a smelly 14 year old truck

Was this an ok deal? I guess it is too late to do anything about it now.
I normaly research all of my purchases, but I just bought this truck right there, as it looked like new. Now reading your website I see that automatic transmisions aren't any good and I got the truck without the Intercooler....whatever that is. Now I am worried that I did the wrong thing.
Help...I need something good to tell my wife.

 

That was a great deal!! Are you sure only 20K miles?

Just realized your truck didn't have an intercooler. Which is OK you just didn't get a tranny with an over drive.

If it really only has 20K miles than the tranny should be in really good shape so to make it last a long time just get a good low stall torque converter and a shift kit in the valve body and you'll be set for many trouble free miles. Also might get a big tranny cooler and maybe a deep aluminum pan.

But if its that clean thats a great price!!! any one of us would have given our right arm to get a deal that good.

 

It sounds like a wonderfull truck.
could you post some pictures?
I have the same truck with just over 200,000 miles.
I would like to see what it looks like without a primer finish.
I am researching the transmission, as mine is starting to slip.
the 727 is strong and easy to rebuild (we will se about that)
200,000 miles isn't so bad for a transmission that has been towing for over 15 years.
you could get an aftermarket intercooler, but there are less expensive power upgrades the will give you more hp's.
and this is the perfect forum for that task!

 

bikeboy1713,
Congratulations on a very nice buy. You should have no concerns about the way it is equipped. Perhaps, since it must have been sitting around a lot, you might want to change all the fluids. But that is not some drop-everything, can't drive until it's done, kind of thing. Just a precaution to remove any unwanted condensation. Drive it and enjoy it. It will be very durable, economical, and reliable.

 

I can tell. You guys are going to talk me in to spending more money on the truck.

Yes, only 20,822 miles on the truck. The guy drove it an average of 1,487 miles a year.
He was old and had a van and a car that were easer for him to get in and out of.

I'm glad you guys think that this is a good deal. Now I just have to convince the wife. She just sees the old style truck look. I've been telling her that it will get 20 miles to the gallon. I hope it does...

 

I see about 18mpg with my 3 speed.
but I go 75 when the truck will let me.

 

Cool, sounds like a good deal to me. Heck I paid almost 2 grand more than taht and my truck had 177k on it when I got it, geeze only 20k the rings probably havent even seated yet,lol.

 

We must have pics! It's like a time capsule!

 

That was an awesome buy!

As has been said, the 727 is a tough trans, Dodge didn't start having trans problems until the later models with overdrive and a lockup converter.

No intercooler is no big deal unless you plan to tow real heavy - or we goad you into turning it way up.

Put some gauges on that thing and start cranking the fuel screw!

 

There is a tach and a gauge for exhast temp. What is a fuel screw???

I will try to post some pics someplace...got to borrow a digital cam.

 

Directing another unsuspecting newbie down the road to rui... I mean fun!

Pump tweaking directions

The EGT gauge is the important one.

 

awesome deal! i paid over 3k more than that for a truck with 9x the miles! people sell low mileage CTD's on ebay for outrageous sums over 10k. you made out like a bandit!

not to hijack the thread, but since we're on the subject, how adverse are the affects on fuel consumption when turning the screw to increase power?

 

It's just getting enuff mileage to be able to switch to synthetic. Sounds like a mint truck. I might think about some fuel additive and a long hard drive just to cover the bases and clean off the valves and injectors because of the ultra-low mileage. May not need it, but wont hurt. Definitely get some synthetic in the rear end!

 

I completely disagree about switching this motor to synthetic. While the rings and bearings would certainly be happy, the gaskets would most definitely start leaking like a sieve. 15w40 is the recomended oil for that motor, why not stay with it?

 

congrats on the new truck.and welcome to the top of the slippery slope.by the way, do you downhill ski or snowboard or any kind of down hill sport like that.the experience could come in handy real soon.