Txbigfoot

Found a guy that I dont know that has a used 2005 CTD 24 valve motor tht he had in a truck that he said got wrecked, The motor is supposed to have 115k on it and Ihave seena video of it working and it sounds good. He says he upgraded to a high hp injector and he will install for $4k total.

My 05 has a bad head and a hole in one of the cylinders fomm a dropped valve in #4 cylinder. I might have a bad trubo but not sure. Got a bade head.
The guy said that he will drop his motor in and I dont need to buy a new turbo.
My question to the board is what can I do with the motor out of the truck to check how well it works and maybe any ohter advice. The price seems so tempting.

I have found a rebuilt long block for $3500 and I would have to buy injectors and poss a turbo and pay for install'
Advice please
Dan

rockcrawler304

That's a tough one since you don't know the guy. Is he at a shop or just a guy working from his house or something similar? I'd be pretty tempted to go for it if you can make sure the guy is 100% on the up and up. Maybe ask for references? Ask questions about other things he has worked on?

Txbigfoot

I said that once installed we would take it to dodge and have them check it out. If all is good I said I will do it

Spooler

If you don't know anything about it I would walk. It's too much money just to throw away. What would worry me is the injector change/upgrade he did. Did he change them because he had issues or what? Injectors are the most common reason for engine related meltdowns.

Txbigfoot

He is a diesel machanic near Sam Antonio. I will have to see why he upgraded the injectors. He seems knowledgeable. I just don't have the cash for a rebuilt motor but can pay 100 % for this one.

Are there any things I can check before it goes in ?

DragonSlayer

To me, it's about the same chance as buying a used vehicle.....some you win, and some....well.... Check his reference and ask what type of warranty he will give you. I like the the take it to the dealer post. If it is at a shop, I'd be more at ease.

Grit Dog

Well if it is running good in the wrecked truck and has new injectors, $4k seems like a steal for an installed 100k mile motor IF he'll give you some sort of short term warranty on it 30 days or something like that.
If it has a fresh oil change I'd be wary of it though.
An oil sample would be good piece of mind prior to purchase.

Txbigfoot

I was also told that I will need a better lift pump. I have the stock in the rank pump and it hasn't been changed since I bought the truck. He has an airdog 150 o. The broken truck. How much is a used airdog worth? The injectors are 200hp he says. Do I need a new lift pump or will the stocker work for now?

Grit Dog

An air dog is a nice add on and if you can get him to drop the tank to do theAD install as part of the labor price that's a good deal. 1/2 of new price or something.
But fundamentally the lift pump doesn't have crap to do with upgraded injectors. The OE lp is designed to give enough fuel to a stock Inj pump. The bigger injectors only give you the ability to inject more fuel if you re program for it.

Note, the bigger injectors will make it smoke like a train if everything else is stock and you don't have supporting mods to get more air to it.

IMO big injectors are a detractor from the deal unless you plan to bomb it to make use of them. That said nothing wrong with them besides Rollin coal even when you're not trying to!

Spooler

Whew.... 200hp injectors are big. Your gonna need to downgrade them.

Txbigfoot

He has disappeared so I guess it was best not to do business with him

rockcrawler304

true!!

Spooler

I think you just got lucky. Buy a lotto ticket or two. LOL

03 Melt Down

I would have passed on that deal! For 4000 you could rebuild your motor and know what you have. You might even have enough left for a couple goodies. More than likely your turbo is fine. Mine was and I dropped a valve and seat melted a piston and kept on running! Or maybe I was just lucky.