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New to me 87!
Hey everyone, just bought an 87 Ram 50! its 4wd with the 2.6. The truck needs a headgasket which i will be getting to shortly. It has a rebuilt 5 speed and new clutch. It has been sitting for a few years so im going to go over it all! Any suggestions to things i should check? Thanks!Attachment 12986Attachment 12987
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Hows the head gasket doing?
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damn, thats not too far from me - I could use a 4wd...
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there was some issues with the title work that were still trying to figure out so I haven't gotten to the headgasket yet.. hopefully within the next few weeks I will have her
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Welcome to the forum. The body looks to be in decent shape, what's the mileage on the truck?
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there's a plate on the firewall on the passenger side of the engine. It has the VIN # and engine code on it.
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ragragtimetime: I'm not switching vins. mostly because that's illegal.
Andy, the mileage is around 90k I believe. could be a little lower. still haven't gotten the truck yet.. I probably will not be able to get it until mid summer
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Title problems just take time and persistence to get it fixed. Just keep at it.
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illegal is a sick bird:)...maybe unlawful.
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Assuming that the bad head gasket has not left coolant sitting in the cylinders, the things I would do are as follows. (I'm sure there's a lot I'm going to miss here) I would inspect the tires for cracks, broken belts, and tread wear. Inspect the wheel bearings and seals if its been sitting for a few years. If they looked good, I'd clean them up and pack with new grease. Clean up the brake calipers with a wire brush and check the seals around the pistons. Inspect the clips, sliders and pads. Inspect the flexible brake lines that join the rigid lines to the calipers for cracks. Pull the rear drums and clean all the crap out of the rear brakes. Make sure the adjusters are working properly. Inspect the wheel cylinders (I'd probably just replace them as its easy and they don't cost much). Inspect the drums and shoes to make sure there is plenty of meat left. Inspect the parking brake cables and adjust as necessary. All the brake lines and fuel lines that hug the frame need to be looked at for any really rusty spots. The last thing I'd want is to blow a brake line on the freeway. Change the brake fluid. All the steering components should be checked over and greased. Pretty much anything that could cause an accident if it were to fail would be my first priority. Second priority would be things that could leave me stranded like bad coolant hoses and worn out belts etc. I'd replace them all when doing the head gasket. Replace the thermostat. Drain the fuel and pressure test the gas tank. If the gas in it smells really old I'd keep it for starting campfires and start with fresh gas. Change the fuel filter. I'd pull the caps off the battery and check the electrolyte level, topping up if required then charge it and take it for a load test. If the truck has been sitting for a few years with the battery in it, the battery could have frozen and may be bad. Change the power steering fluid. Change the differential oil. Inspect the hanger bearing and grease the universal joints. Lastly I would install a new set of wipers because wipers just don't last as long as its been sitting. That would keep me busy for a few weeks.
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Wow Andy, if you owned a garage I would definitely bring my vehicles to you for servicing. Well, that also would depend on your price listing for that service. Though, safety is worth paying for! :thumbup:
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Yes it is, along with peace of mind.
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ragragtimetime: yes that makes it sound better! haha got the title issues kind of worked out so I will hopefully be getting it done shortly
Andy: thank you for all that info! this is my summer project so I plan on spacing it out till around the end of August or September because it's going to be my winter vehicle. once the title work is done and I get it to my garage I will snap some more pictures and keep everyone updated on it with plenty of pictures
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That's lots of time. It should be a lot of fun. Happy wrenching.
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yes I'm in no rush with it, I'm going over it all and making sure it's right. I got a really good deal on it so I have extra cash to spend on it and make it right
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also forgot to mention that the truck cranked over but wouldn't start without ether and wouldn't stay running. I don't think it was getting gas, either a rotted fuel line or no gas in the tank
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Could be filter also. They get hard and crystalized and clogged too.
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hmm yes I will definitely check that out too.. hoping to hear back from the guy today or tomorrow about the title!
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Just remember if you get the truck and you use it for a summer project...you won't be going to the beach checking out the little hotties as much before. Though the truck can maybe get the hotties after it's done, :P
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hahaha! I love this forum already! after only ever using subaru forums, it's like night and day. so many people on those that don't want to help and just want to be sarcastic jerks, you guys are already being helpful and I don't even have the truck yet!
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Unlike most forums, we want to see these trucks running and working. This fourm is a fraternity of crazy people with a sick obsession with these hunks of iron - and I ought to know, I have owned Geronimo since new, closing in on 35 years!
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No one else deserves our trucks more then the owners. If I go out in this world I hope it's in the truck instead of eating pizza and watching southpark on TV, lol
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Can you use a truck as a casket? lol
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you guys are definitely awesome! I appreciate all the advice I've been given already
pennyman, nice to see there's another one in PA that's close to me! only know of mine and one in a junkyard