Just bought this 97 Dodge Ram 1500 5.9L v8 Magnum.



120k Miles.

Paid $2700.00 for it. Got it from a used car dealership. First time I've used a dealership as well.
The original price he had on this was $3499.00. I found it on craig's list for 2999 then talked him down with $2700.00 cash in hand.

Things I intend on doing first:
-> Oil change & Filter
-> Change Air Filter
-> Have the brake fluid changed & brake pads.
-> Have the transmission fluid changed out.
Added: Spark plugs
Added: Replacing Belts

Is there anything on that list you guys think I shouldn't do, or I should add to that list for the beginning of my routine maintenance on this truck?

Also I was considering putting synthetic oil when I do an oil change, would that be a bad idea?

This post was edited by Phat Phil on Mar 18 2014 01:44pm

oooo nice
good deal imo, only thing i wish it was ext cab

I got a 99 with the 5.9
loves the hell out of gasoline, yours wont be as bad as mine cause i got bigger tires, lift and different gearing
i guess i get around 8-9 mpg, im at 1/4 tank after like 130 miles if im driving like a dickhead

if its burning oil I can guarantee you its the intake plenum gasket, had to change mine (bought it was over 130k miles and it was like that)
these trucks are VERY VERY common for that it seems
aside from that the truck hasn't given me no problems



me and my dads truck, he has a 99 2500 with the V10





This post was edited by R0B3RT on Mar 18 2014 02:30pm

looks pretty good man.

If i can add anything, its please get rid of those 'old man like step side thingys' . IMO driving around with those you need to be 60+

the big v8 too




This post was edited by IB0T on Mar 18 2014 09:18pm

nice truck buddy

thx man. ya in person the side steps kinda have grown on me. but if i can change them over for the chrome looking ones i just might have to.

im not very savvy on any vehicles past 92. all my cars have had spark plugs.
just learned from a buddy of mine fuel injection doesnt use spark plugs.

haven't looked to see if it is or not. think i need to find a download for the manual for this truck read up on it abit.

it drives like a champ. loving it.

did you read what i said about that gasket?
google something like "dodge ram plenum gasket" or "dodge ram burning oil"
something along those lines, a lot of people have that problem
easy fix if you know what youre doing
expensive to pay someone to do it though or a bitch if you dont know how, or if you even could learn lol

This post was edited by R0B3RT on Mar 18 2014 11:56pm

ya i got ya man.

ill check it out if i notice it start to burn oil. only had it a day and haven't noticed it burning oil yet.

i'll keep an eye on it.

& thx

When i bought mine i didnt notice it either, the truck didnt smoke AT ALL, not even a little.
Didn't leak a drop. But I was going through 1 quart of oil every 100 miles.
I fixed that gasket (which was totally fucked) and it don't burn a drop now.

Thats what the gasket will look like with that plate still bolted on. (will be blowed out the side causing oil to get sucked into the intake)






This post was edited by R0B3RT on Mar 19 2014 12:17am

I just changed the oil & oil filter, doesn't seem to leak any oil.

I changed it to synthetic also.

also think its fuel injec so no spark plugs.
and belt looks good.

maybe next paycheck ill go get the transmission fluid flushed.

i guarantee the tranny craps out within 10k miles

edit: srry i dont mean to discourage u its just the older dodge trucks have notorious tranny problems around that mileage. this is prolly why the previous owner sold it so cheap

This post was edited by snizzletinks on Apr 4 2014 04:00pm