Is It Worth It?

[KMahnke]

Hello All. I have a chance to pick up a 1989 W350 1st gen Cummins ram with a fresh rebuilt auto transmission. The truck has been hit from the rear and the axle is bent. Appx 160K miles on the clock and the owner said it just stopped running and he got rearended before he could get it off the road. Insurance company totalled it and he's selling it for salvage. The engine is full of oil, it is black like it's supposed to be and the coolant level and condition are reasonable. The transmission fluid is red and per the owner had a recent overhaul. The drivetrain is intact and the motor turns over with the starter. Sems to be a fuel--or lack of--issue but I havn't had much of a chance to check too deeply into it. After doing some research on the forum it seems there might be some issues with the fuel solenoid or harness/connections on these early trucks. Ihave a 1989 GMC half ton that needs a motor and I was wondering if $600 was a reasonable price for this wreck. All comments and opinions are welcome.



Thanks

Kirk

 

[Philip]

Jump all over it. It is well worth that price.



Now putting that into a 1/2 is another rproblem. I dought if the 1/2 ton

(any brand) front suspension will handle that much weight on it.



If you back out PM me the guy's phone number.

 

[Forrest Nearing]

it's probably the a fuel solenoid issue... $600 is a killer deal for that thing!!!!!! I'd get a rear end and build a buggy w/ the drivetrain.

 

[KMahnke]

Thanks guys. I'll be picking it up tomorrow. Oo. I'm building the truck for my 16 year old daughter to drive to school. Cool kid huh? I'm sure i'll have plenty of questions along the way. I will part out the doner truck in the classifides for anyone in the South Florida area.



Thanks again

Kirk

 

[KMahnke]

Well. Forrest nailed it. No continuity at the fuel shutoff solenoid. Removed it, pulled the plunger and spring out, reinstalled it, replaced the two year old stagnant fuel with some fresh #2 and holy moly! she fired right up. A little rough at first but once up to operating temp and with fresh fuel in all the injectors it idled smoother than my Duramax :-laf and is quieter than my sons '01 24 valver . transmission runs through the gears ok but feels a bit mushy. Hard to really wring it out with no rear brakes and the thing crab walks pretty bad with the bent axle. It will however light up the right rear dually with old dry rotted tires and the motor puts out a nice gray/black haze of smoke as it pulls through the gears. I have to say I'm completely and totally impressed. Smooth, powerful and elegantly simple. A truly wonderful piece of machinery.



Napa had the solenoid on the shelf and I walked outta there for less than a hundred bucks with it and a new fuel and oil filter(napa gold). Its a shame I cant put this truck back on the road but the title has "salvage--unrebuildable" stamped all over it. It's an "LE" with ac, power mirrors, electric windows and not a whole lot of rust for a Florida truck. Would make a great stake body.

Any how I need some advice on what to do maintanance wise on the engine while it's out of the truck before the swap. KDP an issue? Loose bolts behind the timing cover? Seals? etc. (doesn't appear to be leaking from anywhere so far).



It's hard to beat the collective wisdom on the TDR. Best money I ever spent (other than the the 6 bills for the old truck)



Kirk

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Kirk said: "I'm building the truck for my 16 year old daughter to drive to school. Cool kid huh?"



Yeah, she does sound like a cool kid. Does she have an older sister?

More than anything - she has a very cool dad that's willing to hook her up with a Cummins powered truck to cruise around in!



Matt