Need input ASAP

[KPancake]

I am seriously considering buying a 1995 Dodge Ram 2500 4x4, Auto, Regular Cab, with 146000 miles on it. I have already looked at it and drove it and it is a pretty clean truck. No dents or major scratches on the exterior, fairly clean interior except for the carpet is a little stained with dirt and stuff. (could probably be shampood to almost new. It had coil spring spacer for a leveling kit. Chrome nerf bars, P&H Cushion Bumper, learance lights. cloth interior, and the regular stuff with the SLT package.

My question is: What price do you guys think the truck is worth? He wants 12,500 for it and i have him talked down to 11,500. He will also put whatever price i want on the title. He said the only problem he has had is that several thousand miles ago, it would spit and spudder and try to die. He took it to a diesel mechanic and he replaced one of the injectors and cleaned the other five. It also has straight-piped exhaust. This truck is identical except for color of the truck i had before the one in my sig. I drove it and my only complaint was that the transmission shifted awful hard in all the gears. I know that the auto isn't the best transmission in the world, but i was going to have DTT work it over. What kind of price are we talking about to have them beef up the transmission? To hold say... . around 400hp?

My next question is: I live in Ohio and i'm not sure who i would have install the DTT stuff if i get it. Do you guys do it yourself or have a shop do it? Sorry for the long post. Just looking for some answers. I have to tell the guy yes or no by Thursday morning. Thanks.



Chris

 

[Steve Roseman]

Chris, The price sounds about right if not one or two thousand high. I guess it all depends on the truck and what you think of it. I can't tell you anything on the DTT.

 

[Joe G.]

Chris,



For DTT info about installers or whatever get hold of them at: http://www.dieseltrans.com/DTTech/index.sht

 

[Forrest]

Hey Chris, check the steering! It sounds like a similar lift kit that a friend had & it ate a steering box. You might check to see if the steering box has been replaced, if possible, or has a lot of play in it.





Oh, Kelly Blue Book web site:



http://www.kbb.com

 

[Deezul1]

Price sounds high for a regular cab with those miles. A while back a TDR member was trying to sell a truck kinda like that and real clean and had trouble getting around $8000. 00 if I remember right. That price should get you a extended cab at least, regular cabs are a lot harder to sell.

Good Luck

 

[Hummin Cummins]

Just to give you something to go by, I just bought mine (signature) paid 10,500 at a dealer with no trade. Mine needed a lower control arm (bent), and a track bar. Cosmetics were good, but the bed floor seems like its loose from the x-members, prev. owner had a 5th wheel plate there. Also tailpipe was rotted out so replaced it and removed muffler (when its broke fix it better ). The motor looked like it was never tinkered with and it had beez nests under bumper and dash... think it sat alot. It just turned 100,000. You could probably do better if this is a private seller. I'm happy though, couldnt find an extended cab same year at dealers for less than 16,500. Sold my blazer and only financed 5500. 00... nice little payment.

 

[Cooker]

Sorry, but I am going to disagree with the others as far as price is concerned (FWIW - I think the resale value varier a little bit by where you are at in the country). If the truck is nice, like it seems to be, and wasn't an abused work truck, I think 11,500 sounds reasonable. Granted it may not be a steal of a deal but I think it is a fair price non the less.



Personally I prefer to buy a vehicle form a private party vs. a dealer. I think it is a little easier to gauge the care of the vehicle when talking to the owner vs. the salesman at the dealer (unless the owner is a real smooth BS'er )



Seeing how the transmission is causing you concern, you might try to use this to get him down a little more. If you plan on DTT'in the transmission I don't think I'd be too concerned about it's shifting performance. You'll want to rebuild it before the DTT parts anyway.



FWIW - I have looked at a few 95 around my area recently(in the last three months). One was an abused work truck at the stealer with 196k on it, SLT trim, and bald tires and they were asking $9000. Other was at a Chevy dealer, SLT, gooseneck in bed, decent exterior (no huge dents, but several noticable ones), 125k, and they were asking $11,500. The third was a plane jane with 150k on it and a good exterior and they were asking $10,500. Granted I don't know what all these trucks brought, but this gives you an somewhat of an idea of what they are selling close to around here.



If you like the truck and feel comfortable about it mechanically, I say go for it.



JMHO - I hope this helps,

Ryan

 

[MDW]

I bought mine on E-Bay for $9800. 00 + tax.

 

[Case500D]

We paid $12,000 for my wifes truck (see signature) and felt like we did alright. It is very clean and had nothing wrong with it. It does need 2 rear tires. The bank told me the wholesale value on the truck was 11K. I hope this gives you an idea of what the '94 is worth.



Jeremy

 

[bowhunter]

One thing to keep in mind is that the 146K of miles is not a big deal as long as it was taken care of. Ask what kind of oil the owner used, how often it was changed. Also check the oil and air filter. The owner may say the changed oil filters-air filter regularly, but if the oil is low and black as the ace of spades, and the air filter looks like the inside of a vacuum cleaner bag, then maybe he's not being honest. Look for oil leaks around the power steering pump and vacuum pump. Check the AFC housing as see if the breakoff screw is still there--(not tampered with). Take a look at the rear brake drums--look for damp spots---Oil spots may mean the rear axle seals are bad--touchy brakes--pulling rear brakes are signs of leaky axle seals. Check all u-joints--front axle, driveshaft etc. Also check the trackbar balljoint for play.



All of these are things to check. I bought my 97 with 69,000 miles two years ago---it now has 141K--I paid 19,500--It was well worth it. 12 valvers are getting harder to find in my area--If it is clean and as nice as you say, then snatch it up.



The only other thing is you could wait to find a 5 spd. Even harder to find--I waited for two years until I found a solid one.



Good luck



Kurt



PS--Forrest, I'm putting in the #10 you gave tomorrow night, I'll let you know how I like it. thanks

 

[Forrest]

#10+

 

[Hammer]

I do not think the price is out of line,seeing what they bring out in our neck of the woods,,SLT package and the added options are worth something,,Look it over well underneath for fliuds leaking,pull the trans dipstick and check for color and smell,pull oil stick and look it over,,The rest is minor stuff that you can make the way you want it,,Your choice though,I'd say its in the ballpark for price,,One last thing,a dude from Ohio,and your looking for someone to work on this animal???,,MMMM, One would only have to wonder(since I did not look it up)how long it would take him to get to Thornville,the home of some of the meanest and nastiest Dodge's around,,Guarenteed they would make her fly... ...

 

[TradedV-10foraCummins]

As for getting work done on the truck, if you are in Ohio, there is only one choice. Take it to Dave Mitchell, www.enterpriseengine.com . He can fix you up.