Need motor I/D help

[LDobie]

Hi gang, after banging around on autotrader, I think I found my perfect used truck '04 2500 Quad, Shorty, Laramie, Graphite, CTD, NV5600 yada yada yada. Got the VIP summary report from my contacts at our local dealer, everything looks good. Build date of 11/25/03.



(Fingers crossed), is this a 305/555 or an '04. 5 3XX/600?? Aren't you guys seeing a little better economy from the pre-emmissions H/O motor?? Also, none of you had this truck and had a big issue and dumped it did you?? Its at Laurel Valley Motors in Latrobe, PA. Thanks alot.



Oh yeah, $31,995 asking price with 37K miles seems fair; now its just a matter of persuading Dad to "inherit" the Dakota from me... :-laf

 

[jwilliams3]

32 is high when you can buy a new one for 33k.

 

[MFalkinham]

I'm almost certain that the 325/600 engines weren't installed until January of 2004, so I think it has a 305/555. To me that is the prefered engine, with no catalytic converter, no extra injection events, and slightly higher fuel economy.

$32 sounds high to me as well with that mileage. I think upper $20's would be more in the ball park. Run it through kbb.com and edmunds.com for private party value, then figure out the median price between the two different results. That will give you the private sale value, then add on whatever dealer profit you think is fair.

 

[Mundgyver]

You should be able to get the build date of the motor by popping the hood and looking at the tag on the motor iself. It will have the precise data you want and it is much easier to see than the older 2nd gen were.

 

[LDobie]

Thanks guys, the retail is around $34. 5K on KBB, with private $30. 5K and trade in $27. 5K. Whats bugging me is that its essentially the same as an '05 (true, you can get them for around $33K new), BUT this truck as an '05 would have a $45K+ sticker, so with the discounts and EPP, I'd think she'd be around $37K out the door. Plus, this truck has the pre-emissions motor and the beloved NV5600. Even an '05 with an NV or even a G56 with the good options is very hard to find, maybe I'm looking in the wrong places.



I"m tempted to call the salesman and find out, hopefully he is a motorhead like Tomeygun, not a moron cutthroat salesman like so many are, and can ve me the true technical info...