Possible donor truck, would you chance it?

[Paul Herioux]

I have the chance to pick this up at an upcoming auction the boss can bid at. Its a 96 dually, 5 speed, 4x4. The plan is to us the entire drivetrain in my 73 crew cab. Axles would be installed with a custom 4 link front and rear.

The boss isn't sure if the engine could have survived. The truck is 800 miles away so it is going to be hard to get it inspected. In the picture I have of the interior of the cab the boots around the shifters appear to be intact but nothing else is left.

Any and all comments appreciated.

Paul

 

[britannic]

The problem with fire damage is the amount of heat components were subjected to. It doesn't take much to detrimentally alter the metalurgical structure of major parts, so that they're either written off or will fail very early in your '73.

 

[Philip]

If it was just a cab fire I woud say to grab it. But that fire took out the engine carpment also. If you look close in the pic you posted. The inner wheel well is gone. The air cleaner assy is gone. That fire took everything out of the engine compartment. I would not plan on saving the engine.



If you can not look at it in person. Do not bid on this one.

 

[DKarvwnaris]

Fire damage is about the only thing I will not touch. That and submersion in water.

I would avoid that entire truck unless you are planning to use the parts for core charge return. There is no telling what happened to the truck or how long it was burning.

I have seen trucks with just minor electrical fires be salvaged, but that thing was engulfed in flames from the look of the plastic around the body trim and fender wells. The headlights are completely melted, that takes quite a bit to liquify them alone, there was definitely a high temp fuel sourced fire under the hood.

Bad thing aout trucks like this are salvage yards will strip this thing and remove any visually damaged parts from the engine so you won't know the history of it. This is not bargain, it is a pitfall you will get bit on.

Who knows, you might find it on Ebay or a junkyard in three months from now and still get stuck with a bad engine. There should be a law requiring all fire and water damaged vehicles to be crushed entirely, no exceptions.

 

[jlast]

wow 7 nevers already, only 2 under $1000.



trans, transfer, front and rear axle are worth the money anywhere from $2000 or so if in good shape.



IMO people that voted never did not read the Poll, if offered it would be purchase for anything under $1000 every second of every day by someone. 6 tires and wheels in decent shape can bring at least $500.



I say run down a parts list of items that should not been affected. price them out and figure what you can get for them and decide on a price to offer. Make sure your time is considered also.



visually by this pic, i would say the engine compartment was only burn about half way, appears the be inner fender black left in the pic, and the bumber plastic top is still there. block height down would be unaffected. Also remains on wheels and tires which i assume is org. BOOTS and shifters, mean no heat to trans or transfer.



engine injection pump would need rebuild, any heat and it will leak, valve cover gaskets, vacum hoses, and other rubber stuff,

turbo toasted (core maybe, doubtful), Front cover as i believe it is alum engine rebuild if its gone, wiring toasted. Engine pic of any sort? probably end up with a engine core/ or short block. Still a core has value.



IMO you be better off with 1st gen axles or chevy 60/14 axles then these, front unit bearings, and vacum 4x4 4 link yuck. like the second gen engine and nv4500, you could sell the axles.

 

[DJW]

Of Parts being worth $xxx this and that, only if one is trying to buy them. If one is in the business that is their price, in other words their motto is, "you want it, you pay my price, what you have to sell me is Junk. " as the sign reads, 'I buy Junk and Sell Antiques'. The saying, "I have more Time than Money" a person with those thoughts, Dooms themselves to a life of Povety. Depending on how one values their labor, if one can not afford a new vehicle, one can certainly not afford a used one, unless if knowing the history of said vehicle. Notice if going to buy a new vehicle, very often you are shown a used one, reason, you can only sell a new vehicle one time, where as, a used one can be resold numerous times, plus used vehicles are more profitable to sell than new. So I've been told.

 

[CFast]

I would buy it. You'll need all new rubber and plastic pieces but the engine itself should be fine. The running gear might need new seals on the front axle, so what? A guy at work bought a 92 4x4 CTD that a guy drove into a river and got stuck. I saw the interal of the engine, it was rusty but cleaned right up. For 800 bucks he's got a new engine. That's bearings, rings gaskets. Just depends how much you like to clean.

 

[britannic]

IMHO, a completely burnt out engine is somewhat different to a dip in the river - of course YMMV - just my 2c.

 

[DKarvwnaris]

I would chanc this much more than the burnt up pile of headaches at the top: price is right too.



http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33615&item=2464191977

 

[CFast]

The dip in the river rusted out the whole engine. What would the fire do? Melt the plastic and rubber gaskets? Either way you're looking at an O/H.

 

[Scot]

If the engine is not stuck, I would buy it. I doubt the fire got hot enough to really damage the big parts of the engine.



Used to build VW bugs back in my mis-spent youth. One of the best (out of ~100) engines we ever had came out of a microbus that burned to the ground. The carb melted and ran down into the valve pockets. Slapped rings on the stuck cylinder, honed, and rebuilt heads and drove it a hard 100K miles.



That being said, I rebuilt a couple of burns. It is nasty undertaking.

 

[1stgen4evr]

in a heart beat

The choice of in a heart beat didn't state a price. At SOME price it is a moneymaker. There are lots of good parts and plenty to sell. Not too sure that you can get a whole setup for the conversion however. No doubt, the pump is either trash or near so. The block and crank will be good. The head is probably good but anything aluminum will be distorted and is not reuseable.



I have slavaged several thing with really bad burn damage. At the right price, there is money to be made. Since the hood is still covering everything, you can probably take everything apart. Depending on how much fire and water there was, the bolts may be frozen. Wet everything down with diesel and keep it soaking for several days before you try to dissassemble anything.



So, I don't know if it is what you want but at something between the 1k and 5k (closer to 1) it will be worth the effort.



All in all, the picture is not quite enough. Get more pics.



My two cents worth.



1stgen4evr

James

 

[Scot]

The fact that the tires are still there tells me it did not burn too hard. I still like it.

 

[Philip]

Scott I used to work in a injection molding company. Any plastic used under the hood of that truck has a minimum melt point of 350 degrees. Some of the higher density plastics used melt at 500 degrees and above. The reason I say pass on it is. At the 500 degree melting points you are going to get major problems with anything aluminum under that hood. The turbo intake housing is aluminum. The timing cover is aluminum. The P7100 pump is aluminum. The valve covers are aluminum.



I would view that engine as a re builder only. Now most likely the trans and drive train is not hurt. But I would not plan on that engine without a lot of parts replacement / rebuild.



I have had experience with burnt vehicles before. I ran a junkyard for 3 years.

 

[Paul Herioux]

Thanks for all the replies guys. At this point the auction house still has not set a date on this one yet. I also found a 98 2500 that rolled over and is being auctioned this Thursday. My bid is already in, so we will see if I get it.

Thanks again guys, you are all a great resource.

Paul

 

[Philip]

I hope you get the 98. It would make a better donor. IMHO

 

[Paul Herioux]

Unfortunately somebody else wanted the 98 a whole lot more than I did. It went for about 3K more than I was willing to spend.

I guess the search continues.

Thanks again for the comments guys,

Paul

 

[ceaman]

my dad rebuilt a burnt truck (in a garage fire) a 98 Ram 1500 with a salvave title. he loves it and it has only 16,000mi on it. he said it was the only way he could aford to drive a new dodge... . he has had it for about 5 years now.