I am looking at a 1997 or 98 not sure but it has 180K mile on it and he said it has a bad turbo i haven't been to look at it yet but i want to know what i need to look at i don't know much about the 2nd gen trucks. also what size turbo do i need and when i replace mine of the 04 can i put the old stock turbo on the 2nd gen? also what else goes bad on these trucks?

Thanks,
Eric

 

97 and 98 there's a big difference! 97 and early 98s is a 12 valve engine. 98.5 is when they started with the 24 valvers which are in the majority for that year. I'm not savvy with all the turbo stuff so i can't answer your question there.

 

the turbo off of a 3rd gen is not a simple bolt up part. both ex and colpipe conections are diff especially on a 12vlv

 

thanks for the info and i think it is a 24V. but i will have to find our more about it.

 

I'll put it this way, some people will kill for a 98 12 valve. They are rare, and people consider them to be the holy grail of cummins engines.
If it's like all 24 valves. Buy a fuel pressure gauge and don't let it fall below 7 psi.