i am looking at a high mileage 96 5.9 cummins it has a little over 300,000 miles. he is selling it for 3500 what should i look as for inspecting it. also any help on if i could still use it pulling and racing with aftermarket parts

 

my son just bought a 96 with 305k on it. he has 325 on it now. my buddy brian has always done the maint. on the truck. those motors will rack up a bunch of miles if maintained. weeping head gasket would be something to check for.

 

When you go look at the truck start it and take the oil fill plug out and see if it smokes. Oh and my 96 has right around 239xxx miles on her and runs like a champ.

 

Take it for a good drive then inspect it again. I used to drive a company truck with about 300K that had a crack in the head. It didn't leak until the coolant was up to pressure but then it was hot enugh to just steam off so there was never any evidence (puddles under the truck) until it ran low enugh to overheat if not checked regularly.

 

Oh man, I seen my first cracks on a 1st gen, it wasn't perty, but that sucker wasnt leakin any fluids, the dude never even noticed them. It looked scary. That was my first experience with the cracks on a 1st gen.

 

what are cheap mods that would give the best horsepower

 

mine has 297 and runs great but i got fed dont look at trucks at night because that recipt for the brand new tranny aint for the 97 you just bought its for the 94 the kid is driving 2200 dollares later my tranny is brand new

 

i would look at the tranny and front wheel bearings if its a 4x4 and and the t case just go over it real good

 

mine just rolled over 549k... and still trucking. Go with what these other guys have said and you should be golden. Any diesel for that money is probably gonna need some cash dumped into it, but as long as its not the core stuff then id say u got a steal at least around where im from.

 

i personally would keep looking around theres better deals out there than that