I'm looking at a 2000 ram quad cab with a short box & I got under the truck to check the block number... On the side of the engine it had a 55 on it.. My question is is a 55 Block a good number to have or is it prone to problems like the 53.. I posted this under here because the guy needs to know ASAP if im still intrested in the truck.. Also when I test drove the truck, it wouldn't shift out of 2nd gear, and when I got back they put it on the computer & said the solinoids in the tranny went bad.. Could this cause it not to shift.. The only time I could get it to shift was mess around w/ the throttle a little bit... Then once it shifted it shifted great through the rest of the gears...

 

the 55 block is MUCH better than the 53....cant help you with the tranny though - always a stick for me.

A word of caution....why does the guys need to know "right away"....it has transmission problems. He might be trying to unload it quick on you before you find any more problems. Buyer Beware. I usually pass on "deals" like that

 

i know this dealership pretty well, and I just have to let him know by monday evening when I test drive it to see if i'm still intrested... No matter what hes going to hold it until monday night for me... Also how can you easily & quickly check fp when I test drive it monday night...

 

If it's a dealer, tell him you will buy it on the condition that the transmission works perfectly, and the fuel pressure is proven good. If the LP is dead, sometimes you can feel a miss at high rpm, sometimes not.

 

you need the proper setup/guage to check fp.....checking it a idle is just about useless (dont fall for the dealerships Volume test either - doesnt give a good indication of pump health. DC came up with the volume test so they didnt have to replace so many lift pumps). You need to be at Wide Open Throttle to see how far the VP-44 pulls the guage down.

 

I agree. If your interested... Tell him you want to see the truck working 100% before you can make your decision.

I definitely wouldn't be signing a check until I knew that tranny was good.

 

If everything checks out other than the tranny, have him knock three or four thousand off and go get a built tranny. That way once you start bombing the truck you won't have to worry about the tranny.

 

now theres an idea...you can rebuild it with a DTT valve body and T/C and maybe a shift kit - that way itll be much better than stock.

 

just called the guy today & he said they will be rebuilding the tranny because the 2gear band is bad or out of adjustment & I have a FP gauge tester coming from Rip... I figure this won't be the only time I use it...lol Plus it was a pretty good price & should have it by wednesday..

 

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I've had Rips gauge for long time works great for a trip on the road to see it underload. You also need a FP gauge installed permitly. Rips is a good tool to make sure your gauge still works.