This truck has been in the family for nearly 30 years. My stepfather bought it near new, in NJ, moved with it to FL 25 years ago, where it lived most of it's life in a garage, with minimal use. He gave it to me when he stopped driving back in 2018. At the time, it had a whopping 47K miles on it. Six years later, it's at 57K miles. We use it for dump runs, hauling hay, mulch, rock, have helped move friends and family. Has a few dents and scrapes, mostly good paint. Cab interior is in great shape, except the top of the dash, which is disintegrating, as these are prone to do. Almost no rust. 5.9L Magnum, auto, 2WD, long bed. Just had a bunch of front end work, as the steering linkage and ball joints were shot. The engine computer had to be replaced due to a lightning strike in 2021.
The truck's best quality is outstanding ride quality. It's a really comfortable truck to ride in. Braking is pretty poor. The 5.9 is a gutless pig. That may partly be because the transmission has some issues. I don't think the torque converter is working as it should, because the truck will bog when asked to pull a heavy load (like a 5000lb. trailer up a boat ramp). This got worse with the swapped engine computer, so that may be related. And the 2WD with the long bed is practically a "kick me" sign for getting stuck on any kind of slippery surface. The motor has also overheated several times due to a coolant leak, and burns a little bit of oil, although not dramatic.
I've always thought I would eventually sell it and get something with 4wd. But the more I think about it, the more I realize this truck might be a good candidate for a mini-restore project. The mechanical stuff would be my first priority:
1) Engine and tranny rebuild or swap for reman.
2) Reprogram the ECM to properly match the new/restored powertrain's ability.
3) Limited slip differential, to improve the truck's ability to get out of it's own way on bad surfaces.
4) Upgrade the brakes.
And then perhaps replace the dash top with an aftermarket unit, and lose the OEM radio/tape deck in favor of a modern sound system. Maybe some cosmetic work for the exterior.
Would welcome any comments regarding this particular make/model/powertrain, or any thoughts about whether this is worth it. In the end, after $ tally for the above list, I could probably find a beater 4WD truck that will outperform this truck in tough working circumstances. I could also keep the truck going in its current form, with just fixes for minor stuff like the coolant leak. It still does nearly everything I need it to do. The long bed is great for hauling. Doesn't look as cool as a short bed, but I've come to really appreciate it.
The truck's best quality is outstanding ride quality. It's a really comfortable truck to ride in. Braking is pretty poor. The 5.9 is a gutless pig. That may partly be because the transmission has some issues. I don't think the torque converter is working as it should, because the truck will bog when asked to pull a heavy load (like a 5000lb. trailer up a boat ramp). This got worse with the swapped engine computer, so that may be related. And the 2WD with the long bed is practically a "kick me" sign for getting stuck on any kind of slippery surface. The motor has also overheated several times due to a coolant leak, and burns a little bit of oil, although not dramatic.
I've always thought I would eventually sell it and get something with 4wd. But the more I think about it, the more I realize this truck might be a good candidate for a mini-restore project. The mechanical stuff would be my first priority:
1) Engine and tranny rebuild or swap for reman.
2) Reprogram the ECM to properly match the new/restored powertrain's ability.
3) Limited slip differential, to improve the truck's ability to get out of it's own way on bad surfaces.
4) Upgrade the brakes.
And then perhaps replace the dash top with an aftermarket unit, and lose the OEM radio/tape deck in favor of a modern sound system. Maybe some cosmetic work for the exterior.
Would welcome any comments regarding this particular make/model/powertrain, or any thoughts about whether this is worth it. In the end, after $ tally for the above list, I could probably find a beater 4WD truck that will outperform this truck in tough working circumstances. I could also keep the truck going in its current form, with just fixes for minor stuff like the coolant leak. It still does nearly everything I need it to do. The long bed is great for hauling. Doesn't look as cool as a short bed, but I've come to really appreciate it.
