1998 Dodge 2500 4x4 w/cummins?????

[K85 Octane]

Ok, there's this Dodge that has been sitting for a few years cause the owner has come up in age. One owner 120k miles. The transmission guy I deal with often has it, it's his father's truck. I haven't yet asked cause I'm not sure about buying it yet, though the son feels his father would sell it only to a good home. It looks great, is under a cover and garaged it's whole life and stored that way too.

1998 Dodge ext cab, cummins w/banks kit, auto trans with minor upgrades, 4x4,cloth interior, green/tan two tone paint, completely stock except the trans and engine.

What say thee? This would more than likely replace my falling apart 2001 s10 or at least become a tow/work rig.

 

[ryoken]

that's basically what I shopped for all last winter, other than the auto....

 

[dhcomp]

Thats a great rig. No reason not to look into it.

 

[K85 Octane]

What seems to be a good price? Also, what should I look out for? Trouble areas and such. I'll start looking at local ads.

 

[rdn2blazer]

Thats a great rig. No reason not to look into it.

Agreed. Check it out.

 

[K85 Octane]

It's a 12 valve btw

 

[ryoken]

What seems to be a good price? Also, what should I look out for? Trouble areas and such. I'll start looking at local ads.

if it's as clean as it sounds, with that mileage, anything under 6 g's would be grand theft imo... I was consistently seeing rigs like that for 7 to 9 g's, if not more...

 

[K85 Octane]

I just wish it was manual, but the guy will work with me on some sort of trans warranty. The family is good people and they take care of their sh1t.

 

[Smokinthehippies]

It's a 12 valve btw

that is what is considered the "holy Grail" truck. 12 valve engine, with the updated interior and quad cab rear doors of the newer style. i would expect the price on that knowing cal's market to be atleast 10k. wouldnt be surprised to see 15k knowing the mileage and one owner.

 

[ryoken]

ya consistently see rigs of that caliber on eghey for 15...

heck, just check this guys rigs, they're always in the 15 range..

http://usedcumminstrucks.com/

used to drool over some of the rigs he had...

 

[natemc]

Is the cab a quad cab or just an extra cab?

If a quad cab= buy it sight unseen. You'll never be stuck with it and a manual conversion is doable when the tranny dumps.

If just an extra cab no doors. Look into it still but get a fair price. Still an excellent truck.

 

[rjfguitar]

I just wish it was manual, but the guy will work with me on some sort of trans warranty. The family is good people and they take care of their sh1t.

Why do you want a manual? I've had 4 different Dodge Cummins, and hands down the automatic is for me. I've worked mine harder than 95% of them out there, hauling trailers on a consistent basis that weigh 5K to 25K and the autos seem to work just fine. Quicker from 0-65mph, less smoke, and better driver comfort. The ONLY thing I've seen a 6 spd be better at, is going down hill with an exhaust brake on, pretty tough to beat a manual trans at that game. For the rest of real world towing/ driving, autos have always worked better for me in these trucks.

The 12v is a great motor, but I actually prefer the 24v motor. You have total control of your smoke and HP levels at your finger tips with with a 24v. Sure, some 24v trucks have VP44 issues, but a lot of them don't. I'm still on my original pump with 204K.

Most guys will say "you want a 12v and a manual trans" and yes I don't agree with that. It's just from the experience I've gathered of what has worked for me and what I have come to prefer in using these trucks in a severe/commercial use on a daily basis, along with daily driving duties also.

 

[jt512]

Ok, there's this Dodge that has been sitting for a few years cause the owner has come up in age. One owner 120k miles. The transmission guy I deal with often has it, it's his father's truck. I haven't yet asked cause I'm not sure about buying it yet, though the son feels his father would sell it only to a good home. It looks great, is under a cover and garaged it's whole life and stored that way too.

1998 Dodge ext cab, cummins w/banks kit, auto trans with minor upgrades, 4x4,cloth interior, green/tan two tone paint, completely stock except the trans and engine.

What say thee? This would more than likely replace my falling apart 2001 s10 or at least become a tow/work rig.

I would definitely look into it

The "Banks kit" on a 12 valve is most likely just exhaust, air intake and maybe an intake elbow, and I think some of the kits had a different exhaust housing for the turbo. Add is a 3k governor spring kit and maybe a different fuel plate (keep it mild) and that truck should last forever

Like already said, a 98 12 valve is considered a holy Grail truck because of the updated interior and should have the rear opening doors, so resale would never be a problem.

In this area, that rig (mileage, mods, assuming rust free in great condition) could easily be listed in the upper teens if not near 20, I'm not saying it would sell at 20 but 15+ is realistic , around here.

If you could get it for anywhere close to 10 I would jump on it!!

 

[DEMON44]

What they call holy grail is only if its a "quad cab" '98 12v. The club cab is not.

 

[jt512]

What they call holy grail is only if its a "quad cab" '98 12v. The club cab is not.

As in, opening rear doors verses non opening rear doors ....... correct?

 

[rjfguitar]

As in, opening rear doors verses non opening rear doors ....... correct?

Correct, and there is a big difference between the two. Those suicide doors make it so easy to get things in and out of the back seat.

 

[jt512]

Correct, and there is a big difference between the two. Those suicide doors make it so easy to get things in and out of the back seat.

Oh, I know I spent over a 1/4 million miles in my old 00 quad cab (sold with 343k) and just because you mentioned the VP44's "bad rep" , mine lasted 267k before I replaced it.

 

[K85 Octane]

I agree with the 4 door thing (which throws me for a loop because "quad/crew cab has always meant the same to me) My S10 has one rear suicide door and it gets used a lot.

12v / 24v, if I heard him wrong and it's actually a 24v, is it still something to look at? I hear yeah rjfguitar, just still wondering. This would probably become my DD. I'm not sure how much longer the S10 will be around. What kind of mileage could I expect? (I hate those kind of questions, especially on a full size rig, sorry) I would leave it complete stock, no lift or abuse whatsoever. It would be a road queen and see mild towing duties.

 

[jt512]

My old truck was a 00 24v, auto, 4wd quad cab. Leveling kit, 285/75's, Edge EZ tuner, 4" exhaust, AFE air box and a sun coast trans and converter. I constantly averaged 20-22mpgs highway unloaded running at 70mph, towing 8-10k highway running 65 would drop me to 16mpgs.
I bought the truck with right around 100k and sold it less then a year ago with almost 350k on it. I had the injection pump fail at 267k, I replaced the stock lift pump with a FASS 95gph when I first bought it and other then the trans and basic maintenance that was it.
I would honestly still be driving it if it weren't for fact that my family has grown and my new rig (2011 crew cab Cummins) is paid for in part by the business

Would I recommend this era truck.........heck ya

 

[Smokinthehippies]

There's nothing wrong with getting a vp truck. My 02 with just injectors, comp box, fuel pump and a clutch put down 435hp to the wheels. I beat it for a 100k with no issues.