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Opinions on 97 RCLB 12V #2427038
01/01/18 01:44 PM
01/01/18 01:44 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,032
MD
RTSE4ME Offline OP
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RTSE4ME  Offline OP
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MD
Going to take a look at this truck. I had a Gen3 dually a few years ago but sold it. Would like to use this just for towing. I like regular cab trucks. Don't know a lot about Gen2 trucks. I assume front suspension is suspect. Fuel pump issues?
97 Dodge Ram 2500,SLT Larimie Trim,12V Cummins
5 Speed,170k Miles,
New Stock Injectors
A bit of bubbling on the wheel wells. Pretty common for these trucks?
Looks like a pretty clean truck. Asking $9500

ram2500.jpgram2500-2.jpgram2500-3.jpgram2500-4.jpg
Re: Opinions on 97 RCLB 12V [Re: RTSE4ME] #2427040
01/01/18 01:45 PM
01/01/18 01:45 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,032
MD
RTSE4ME Offline OP
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RTSE4ME  Offline OP
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Rust

ram2500-5.jpg
Re: Opinions on 97 RCLB 12V [Re: RTSE4ME] #2427113
01/01/18 02:58 PM
01/01/18 02:58 PM
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 257
Alberta
4
440_Offroader Offline
enthusiast
440_Offroader  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 257
Alberta
Yes, fuel pump and front end are 2 things to go bad on these trucks. Owner may have fixed these issues already, with the miles it has.
That rust spot looks exactly how my 01 looked. I cut mine out and replaced the outer panel around the wheel well. There will be much more rust in there than you think. I had to cut out and fab up a piece for the inner panel as well. You would want to dig into it, sooner than later.
These trucks are well worth the repairs, and that one looks to be in decent shape. I'll never get rid of my 01 for a newer truck. Electrical and emission bs of the newer ones... No thanks.

Re: Opinions on 97 RCLB 12V [Re: 440_Offroader] #2427165
01/01/18 03:53 PM
01/01/18 03:53 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,840
The Swamp
S
Sixpak Offline
master
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The Swamp
Originally Posted By 440_Offroader
Yes, fuel pump and front end are 2 things to go bad on these trucks. Owner may have fixed these issues already, with the miles it has.
That rust spot looks exactly how my 01 looked. I cut mine out and replaced the outer panel around the wheel well. There will be much more rust in there than you think. I had to cut out and fab up a piece for the inner panel as well. You would want to dig into it, sooner than later.
These trucks are well worth the repairs, and that one looks to be in decent shape. I'll never get rid of my 01 for a newer truck. Electrical and emission bs of the newer ones... No thanks.

Curious as to what fuel pump issues a 12 valve motor might have. My 94 had an issue with one of the rubber fuel supply lines getting a hole from where it passed thru a metal edel clamp on the block, which caused it to suck air and the system to lose its prime. Once I fixed that I had zero issues. It was nice having a mechanical plunger on the pump to re-prime the system after changing fuel filters, instead of cycling the key some 8 - 10 times like on my 01. And the 12 valve motors, with their mechanical lift pumps have nowhere near the issues the 24 valve motors have with their electric lift pumps dying and starving the injector pump. What did suck on my 94 were the brakes, and the torque converter. The self adjusters on the rear drums would never work, causing my front discs to do all the work and subsequently wearing them out much faster. And my lock up converter was on the way out when I traded it in for my 01. The OP's truck is a stick so no issues there. The bottoms of my 94's doors were rotting out at the door skin seams as well. I made sure to pump motor oil into the seams on my new 01 to prevent that.

Re: Opinions on 97 RCLB 12V [Re: RTSE4ME] #2427210
01/01/18 04:27 PM
01/01/18 04:27 PM
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,993
Salem
Grizzly Offline
Moparts Proctologist
Grizzly  Offline
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Salem
The positive:

1. Regular Cab Long Box 2 Gen Dodge: best looking truck built......ever. (my opinion, just picked one up after searching for months).

2. 2 Gens are reasonably simple to work on, seldom break down.

3. These trucks are a hoot to drive with a 5 speed. All other 2 Gens drive wonderful as long as they are left stock.

The negative:

1. When I see air bags on a 3/4 ton my first impression is this thing has been overloaded alot and had the living day lights beat out of it. There's no need for this nonsense on a 3/4 ton. The guy could have used it in the local truck pulls, who knows?

2. Black spray-bomb everywhere on this thing, only use is to hide rust issues or make a fake odometer reading look legit.

3. Scabby wiring job. That equals problems down the road.

4. This 5 speed transmission is known for issues.

5. Front-end is sitting higher than the back. From my experience this ruins how these trucks drive when people put spacers and "leveling" crap in them. So, plan on having to remove this stuff. "Kid" sound system-that always tells me alot about the owner.

6. Goon exhaust. Tells me everything about the Owner. However, I might have to give him a bye-run here because there is no hot air kit on it and it's possible that's just a chrome exhaust tip on it.

7. It's a diesel. It could cost you zero to own, or, it may need a $4000.00 injection pump, and $1500.00 lift pump.

8. If it's an Eastern truck, I have to say no. For $9500 you can get on a plane and pick one up out West



WIW? $9500 is too much. It's worth 7 grand if everything checks out.



Mo' Farts

Moderated by "tbagger".
Re: Opinions on 97 RCLB 12V [Re: RTSE4ME] #2427279
01/01/18 06:08 PM
01/01/18 06:08 PM
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,042
colorado
S
savoy64 Offline
top fuel
savoy64  Offline
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,042
colorado
that vintage is the best value out there-----the 5 speed is a better value than a 6 speed or automatic---my friends use the airbags to stop the rear from hopping down the interstate---it only needs a little pressure to achieve------it might be 1000 over value----dont think you will be able to fly somewhere out west fast enough to get it before the locals do-----on craigs the best deals are in texas and oklahoma----97-early 98 215 HP are the best ever made--there wont be anymore (late 98 is the 24 valve)good luck...

Re: Opinions on 97 RCLB 12V [Re: savoy64] #2427316
01/01/18 06:57 PM
01/01/18 06:57 PM
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,993
Salem
Grizzly Offline
Moparts Proctologist
Grizzly  Offline
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Joined: Aug 2005
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Salem
Originally Posted By savoy64
---my friends use the airbags to stop the rear from hopping down the interstate---it only needs a little pressure to achieve-.


Geez, y'know I never thought of adding EVEN MORE spring/air on my '01 and '02 Cummins to settle the back-ends down on those rough bastards. rolleyes

Your Friends are brilliant, they should propose their idea to the Big 3


Mo' Farts

Moderated by "tbagger".
Re: Opinions on 97 RCLB 12V [Re: RTSE4ME] #2427330
01/01/18 07:23 PM
01/01/18 07:23 PM
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 10,228
Colleyville
3hundred Offline
I Live Here
3hundred  Offline
I Live Here

Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 10,228
Colleyville
Nice truck, very rare combination. Two things, death wobble and cracked dash. If it's important to you, check the seat heater operation, expensive fix. You might ask about how the fifth gear problem was addressed. I can't recall ever hearing about a great fix for that. Except for swapping in a Chevy NVG 4500...

Robert


'68 Fury Convertible
'69 300 Convertible
'15 Durango 5.7 Hemi
'16 300 S Hemi
Re: Opinions on 97 RCLB 12V [Re: RTSE4ME] #2427513
01/02/18 12:46 AM
01/02/18 12:46 AM
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,042
colorado
S
savoy64 Offline
top fuel
savoy64  Offline
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S

Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,042
colorado
as far as transmission issues in those years all the transmissions have issues----it is just part of the animal-----the nv4500 is the cheapest to fix---followed by the automatic at $3000---the nv5600 is the most expensive----the truck you are looking may have already had the clutch done---if you need syncros it will run about $700 at a tranny shop---5th gear fix maybe $350 and it can be fixed on the truck------after all this talking-- that truck may already be sold.....

Re: Opinions on 97 RCLB 12V [Re: RTSE4ME] #2427561
01/02/18 02:13 AM
01/02/18 02:13 AM
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,993
Salem
Grizzly Offline
Moparts Proctologist
Grizzly  Offline
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Joined: Aug 2005
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Salem
Just a suggestion, but, here's a truck without the diesel headaches, 2 years newer, 130,000 miles less than the one you posted, no rust, and $2500 cheaper:

40,000 miles link

You're welcome whoever snags this baby:


7g.jpg

Mo' Farts

Moderated by "tbagger".
Re: Opinions on 97 RCLB 12V [Re: Grizzly] #2427647
01/02/18 11:32 AM
01/02/18 11:32 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,032
MD
RTSE4ME Offline OP
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RTSE4ME  Offline OP
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Joined: Jan 2003
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MD
Thanks for everybody's feedback. I going to have to think about owning another diesel. The main reason I am looking is I want to get a enclosed race trailer so this would only be used on weekends.
I want to get an 97 or earlier truck since it less hassle to register. The Gen2 trucks seem easier and less expensive to work on. The 04 I had was not too bad just harder to diagnosis run ability problems. Never had anything major go wrong though.
From my research the main things that can get expensive is the lift pump failing which can take out the injection pump, trans is weak and a dowel pin that can fall out.

Re: Opinions on 97 RCLB 12V [Re: RTSE4ME] #2427727
01/02/18 02:19 PM
01/02/18 02:19 PM
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 10,228
Colleyville
3hundred Offline
I Live Here
3hundred  Offline
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 10,228
Colleyville
Originally Posted By RTSE4ME
Thanks for everybody's feedback. I going to have to think about owning another diesel. The main reason I am looking is I want to get a enclosed race trailer so this would only be used on weekends.
I want to get an 97 or earlier truck since it less hassle to register. The Gen2 trucks seem easier and less expensive to work on. The 04 I had was not too bad just harder to diagnosis run ability problems. Never had anything major go wrong though.
From my research the main things that can get expensive is the lift pump failing which can take out the injection pump, trans is weak and a dowel pin that can fall out.




The lift / injector pump problems belong to the 24 valve engines, 98.1/2 and up. If the dowel pin hasn't fallen out in 20 years or been staked already, odds are low that it will become a problem.


'68 Fury Convertible
'69 300 Convertible
'15 Durango 5.7 Hemi
'16 300 S Hemi
Re: Opinions on 97 RCLB 12V [Re: Grizzly] #2427733
01/02/18 02:32 PM
01/02/18 02:32 PM
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,600
in a cattle trailer down by th...
G
Guitar Jones Offline
Paddle faster! I hear banjo music!
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,600
in a cattle trailer down by th...
Originally Posted By Grizzly
Just a suggestion, but, here's a truck without the diesel headaches, 2 years newer, 130,000 miles less than the one you posted, no rust, and $2500 cheaper:



You're welcome whoever snags this baby:



I wouldn't want to tow an enclosed trailer with a 5.9 V8.


"Follow me the wise man said, but he walked behind"


'92 D250 Club Cab CTD, 47RH conversion, pump tweaks, injectors, rear disc and hydroboost conversion.
'74 W200 Crew Cab 360, NV4500, D44, D60 and NP205 divorced transfer case. Rear disc and hydroboost coming soon!
2019 1500 Long Horn Crew Cab 4WD, 5.7 Hemi.
Re: Opinions on 97 RCLB 12V [Re: RTSE4ME] #2427784
01/02/18 03:49 PM
01/02/18 03:49 PM
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 637
SoMd, USA
1
135sohc Offline
mopar
135sohc  Offline
mopar
1

Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 637
SoMd, USA
Originally Posted By RTSE4ME
Thanks for everybody's feedback. I going to have to think about owning another diesel. The main reason I am looking is I want to get a enclosed race trailer so this would only be used on weekends.
I want to get an 97 or earlier truck since it less hassle to register. The Gen2 trucks seem easier and less expensive to work on. The 04 I had was not too bad just harder to diagnosis run ability problems. Never had anything major go wrong though.
From my research the main things that can get expensive is the lift pump failing which can take out the injection pump, trans is weak and a dowel pin that can fall out.




For those who dont abuse the historic plates, individuals like yourself really screw the rest of us over down

Re: Opinions on 97 RCLB 12V [Re: 135sohc] #2427831
01/02/18 04:52 PM
01/02/18 04:52 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 10,115
A Red State
SNK-EYZ Offline
I Live Here
SNK-EYZ  Offline
I Live Here

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 10,115
A Red State
Originally Posted By 135sohc
Originally Posted By RTSE4ME
Thanks for everybody's feedback. I going to have to think about owning another diesel. The main reason I am looking is I want to get a enclosed race trailer so this would only be used on weekends.
I want to get an 97 or earlier truck since it less hassle to register. The Gen2 trucks seem easier and less expensive to work on. The 04 I had was not too bad just harder to diagnosis run ability problems. Never had anything major go wrong though.
From my research the main things that can get expensive is the lift pump failing which can take out the injection pump, trans is weak and a dowel pin that can fall out.




For those who dont abuse the historic plates, individuals like yourself really screw the rest of us over down


Where did he say anything about Historic Plates?

He said it was less hassle to register, which older vehicles usually are even without any special plates like Historic.

As far as the original poster,

I've got a pretty clean 99 Ram 2500 V-10 truck that I use to pull my 28 foot enclosed trailer.
Since I only use it as a tow vehicle, I can live with the 8-10 mpg that it gets on trips like going to the Mopar Nats.

It's got power similar to a diesel that's stock in those years.
It's smooth and quiet and it runs great, but it just gets what I consider bad gas mileage.

You can usually find clean V-10 trucks relatively cheap for that reason, no one wants a truck that gets less than 10 mpg for a daily driver.


Kayse can't keep up at all now. lol
Re: Opinions on 97 RCLB 12V [Re: RTSE4ME] #2427832
01/02/18 04:52 PM
01/02/18 04:52 PM
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 21,318
Manitoba, Canada
DaytonaTurbo Offline
Too Many Posts
DaytonaTurbo  Offline
Too Many Posts

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Manitoba, Canada
I wouldn't pay that much. I love the 5 speeds and the long box, but resale wise, the regular cab hurts.

If it hasn't had the 5th gear upgrade done, do it. These transmissions are prone to losing 5th gear. Three or so years ago my buddy had that happen on his 97.

The 12v's are reliable, except when they aren't. If you have injector pump trouble, the cheapest remans out there are about 1k and you probably don't want the cheapest one out there. I like driving them but for me there's too many expensive components on them. I can rebuild a complete magnum engine for what an injector pump costs on a 12v, not to mention turbo, injector cups, intercooler, before you've even opened the engine up. I agree the gas engines are not a lot of fun to tow with but if you can find one with a stick shift so it's not shifting all over the place like the god awful automatics they put in these trucks then they are livable.

Re: Opinions on 97 RCLB 12V [Re: 135sohc] #2427853
01/02/18 05:28 PM
01/02/18 05:28 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,032
MD
RTSE4ME Offline OP
top fuel
RTSE4ME  Offline OP
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Posts: 2,032
MD
Originally Posted By 135sohc


For those who dont abuse the historic plates, individuals like yourself really screw the rest of us over down

I think you are a bit confused. How I would I be abusing? I have 2 vehicles tagged historic now and 2 tagged normally. The people that caused the law to change in 2016 were the ones daily driving their historic tagged vehicles not the ones driving their 20 year old vehicles on the weekends.

Re: Opinions on 97 RCLB 12V [Re: Grizzly] #2428289
01/03/18 02:27 PM
01/03/18 02:27 PM
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,993
Salem
Grizzly Offline
Moparts Proctologist
Grizzly  Offline
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,993
Salem
Originally Posted By Grizzly
Just a suggestion, but, here's a truck without the diesel headaches, 2 years newer, 130,000 miles less than the one you posted, no rust, and $2500 cheaper:

40,000 miles link

You're welcome whoever snags this baby:







You snooze, you lose! laugh2

gon.jpg

Mo' Farts

Moderated by "tbagger".
Re: Opinions on 97 RCLB 12V [Re: RTSE4ME] #2428479
01/03/18 09:09 PM
01/03/18 09:09 PM
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 969
manitoba canada
B
BleedDodge Offline
super stock
BleedDodge  Offline
super stock
B

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Posts: 969
manitoba canada
Someone got a nice truck.

Re: Opinions on 97 RCLB 12V [Re: RTSE4ME] #2428670
01/04/18 01:55 AM
01/04/18 01:55 AM
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,993
Salem
Grizzly Offline
Moparts Proctologist
Grizzly  Offline
Moparts Proctologist

Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,993
Salem
Yeah BleedDodge, if I didn't already have 5 of these things I would have bought it.

A couple months ago FINALLY got my 3-pedal 4x4 reg cab long box (on the trailer)!!!! boogie

Who says you can't tow with a 360 gas? 13,700 lbs Gross Combined and I've done it plenty of times with Blue:


DSCN1674.JPG

Mo' Farts

Moderated by "tbagger".






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