Hello everyone. I'm new to these forums, but there is some great info on here. I can't wait to use the knowledge here! Anyways, I'm in the market for my first Ram CTD. I'm looking for something pretty specific - QC, Longbox, Manual, 2500, 4x4, CTD. I've done a lot of searching/reading on here trying to get myself associated with problems with these trucks, and have learned lots about the VP44's, 53 blocks, front end parts, etc... so I'm pretty sure I know what to look out for. What I would like some help on is determining a fair price for a local truck for sale. It has all the features I listed above, and its a 6 speed with the 3.55 gears, 2001, 125k on the odometer, very good shape, no rust. I talked with the owner awhile, he has "bombed" it somewhat. He said its got 100hp injectors, Edge comp box, 4" exhaust, FASS system, and it blew a head gasket last year, so when the head was off he had some work done on it, plus oversized head studs put on. From what I've read this doesn't seem to be anything extreme. Also he's replaced the orignial injection pump once, then got the FASS and it's been smooth sailing since, he says.

What I'd really like to know is what is a fair price. He is asking $19k. Assuming it is in as good a shape as is described, and hasn't been beat on, what should I target? Anything else I need to look out for? Any ways to tell if its been abused? If you need more info please let me know. I am going to look at it this weekend, and will most likely make an offer if all looks good.

Also on a side note, I found another CTD for sale locally, a '96 in really good shape. I even test drove it and I'd be all over it cause I think I'd like the 12V better, except one thing, it has 4.10 final drive and I really would like to get 3.55's on it. How easy/cheap is it to put 3.55's in? The gentleman selling it said he knows a truck shop in town that would do it. What would that cost be about? Is it common for people to do this?

Sorry for all the newb questions! Take it easy on the rookie! I'll be sure to post up when I do get my new truck.

 

I'm not the Kelly blue book but the 01 seems to be priced a little high. But the truck does come with several mods. Sounds like the owner is trying to get some of the money back that he invested into it. I would at least make an offer at 16 or 17,000.

Gear swaps are very common. I don't know the price however.

The big decision you need to make is whether you want a 12v or 24v. The 12v will be much cheaper even after the gear swap.

 

KBB put it around $16k, NADA around $18k.

I'm assuming, as you mentioned, he's trying to recoup some of the cost of the mods. I certainly wasn't going to give $19k for it, I was thinking more like $17k or $17.5k.

As for the other one, it seems like a trade of between the 12V and 24V. I like the reliability and more mechanical nature of the 12V, but I'd also have to put up with a 11 year old truck. The 24V's are less reliable it seems, but I'd be getting 4 wheel disk, plus the truck is half the age of the '96.

Right now I'm leaning towards the '01 just because it already has the 3.55 gears in it, plus its just newer/cleaner. I'm probably going to keep whatever I buy for a long long time. I think I might try to find out what that gear swap would cost just to see...

 

HOLD THE PHONE!
Not to let the cat out of the bag, or screw anyone trying to sell their trucks, but any modifications other than OEM replacement parts DO NOT ADD VALUE to the truck.
Furthermore, if you look at a truck that has been modded before you bought it, think about how it was treated. I guarantee you that the injectors, twins, chips, fuel pumps, torsion bar, 5th wheel/gooseneck, ect... were not installed so he could drive miss daisy too and from church at a leisurely speed. Although I know it is a really cool thing to buy a truck that already has mods done to it, you have to be careful that:
1. they were installed right,
2. they didnt cause any harm to the truck
3. the truck's parts are still in working order (ie the tranny and rear end)
I paid $17k for my '01 with something like 73k on the odometer. If YOU would like to pay for the EXACT mods he's done, give him what he is asking. If YOU want a fair market price, negotiate more. If not, just be a little more patient and wait for the right "virgin" truck to come around and see what you can do to it.

 

Also, make sure it's an 01.5...they have rear disks. I think the guy is blowing smoke about it blowing a HG with just the mods he has but I could be wrong cause anything could happen, just seems strange. I read most threads about blown HG's and they are pushing some serious hp to do that. Sounds to me that he has detuned it "some" so that it might sell quicker...just my opinion though. Price sounds kind of high but it's your money and you will be the one living with your decision.

Oh yeah, I paid $14,600 2 years ago for mine with 135K on it and have put @ $4K back in it including gauges, built trans, complete front end etc....

 

I'm not going to pay extra for stuff I don't want. There is no motivation for it. Those mods seem pretty nice though, I'd do the same stuff, so I don't mind paying a bit more as long as it the work was done properly as you suggested. I just want to make sure the truck wasn't run really hard. I mean I don't care if he goes WOT or revs it up or accelerates fast every now and again, I just don't want something thats been used for pulls or towing most of it's life.

I guess I'll just have to see on Saturday.

BTW the guy with the 12V is asking $14k! Really high it seems! I figured I wouln't offer over $11k with the 3.55 gears....

 

Does the 24 valve have gauges? Sounds to me like A VP44 might be going I know a few guys around here that have sold there because of that. As for price they both seem really high. I think id keep looking. I bought my 97 in Amarillo in 06 for 9K and 179K miles

 

It's got the standard FP, Pyro, and Boost cluster on it. I was kinda curious about the blown HG too. I did some research on here and it seems about 60/40, most blown HG are aided by mods, others happened just because of a faulty part.

Thanks for the point about rear disks. I though all '01's had them, but obviously not!

 

One other thing he mentioned, he said it has some sort of snow plow package, like it has an extra leaf on the rear springs, and some other stuff to beef it up, said it was a factory package, although it was never used to plow or tow anything. Don't know if that adds value or not.

 

Does it have a stock turbo? Has it always had one?

Chris

 

Guy says it is and always has been stock. His explaination was that this is his wife's truck and they were gonna do some mods to it, but it ends up she has a hard time with the stick shift, so they stopped modding and got her an auto.

 

The rear leaf springs are the camper package which mine also has. I don't really think it adds anything to the value, just gives you more payload...but if you look at the GVWR it's the same as the ones without the package.

 

I just payed 12300 for my 2001 4x4 long bed ext cab slt laramie with an auto trans, look in texas well worth the trip trucks are cheaper, spray in liner, gooseneck hitch, power puck, heavy rear bumper and running boards + more

 

That's kind of discouraging right there. I'm not planning on selling anytime soon, but I think my truck is worth more than that. Granted it's only got 76k on the clock, but that can't change the value that much can it?

 

well here in yankee land they want 20k+/- for the same thing so....