Hey everybody! I don't have much experience with the cummins engines other than I know they are pretty much bulletproof and I'm looking to buy my first one and was wondering if I could get some advice/opinions from you fine people(if this kind of post isn't allowed I apologize). You seem to know all the ins and outs of these and wanna get a good idea of what I might be getting into. I am an auto technician (but most of my experience is with euro cars cuz that's what we specialize in at my shop) so doing any work necessary won't be too much of an issue but I just don't know what kind of quirks these motors might have... well enough about me the truck I'm looking at us a 98 24v 4x4 auto ext. Cab long bed SRW and 285/70r17s with 227k on it. Mods that I'm aware of are 4in turbo back exhaust to 5in stacks an edge programmer and supposedly built trans. Things I know that are wrong with it are a power steering line leak, bad pcm(no charge, gages etc. But still runs and drives) and to have the sway bar reinstalled. Frame and body are in pretty good shape for a maine truck with that amount of miles I could potentially purchase this truck for for 4k -4500 bucks... will this be a good investment for me? I'm looking to get into something that I can run for at least the next 4-5 years. Any and all advice/info(mpg,longevity etc.)/opinions will be greatly appreciated!

Many thanks,
Jack

 

Check the block for 53 markings, not a big deal but still good to know. Does the truck you are looking at have gauges. Check the fuel pressure, low fuel pressure kills IP. To find it at 227k and it being 4x4 you are probably looking at the 10k range. If it has an auto be prepared to service it once you take ownership, just for piece of mind. Also ask for paperwork on the built trans. No paperwork means it didn't happen. If you can hook up a scanner to it and see if you can pull any codes. Just because it runs doesn't mean it a good thing. But good luck continue to do research on this vehicle. And don't be scared to walk away.

 

What do the 53 markings mean? is it the low output engine? I don't believe it has gauges but will I be able to read FP with a scan tool or be able to pull codes with a bad pcm? I'm Def not scared to walk away because I got screwed over last year on a ford psd and I lost out on 4k and was never able to drive it... but I'm really tempted to buy this truck because others similar to it are selling for anywhere between 8-11k dollars and I can be into this truck potentially for 5k all said and done...

 

Some 53 blocks had a weaker casting and were prown to cracking. Not a big deal today, but if its made it this long without cracking you probably wont have to worry about it. To read the FP you will need a gauge to hook into the valve next to the VP44. Mainly just hook up and see if you can pull any codes. Write them down and google them. If the repairs look manageable 4-5k would be good. But if you do purchase make sure your first mod, even if you don't want to add power, is a FASS fuel system. The stock LP is junk. Then get gauges.