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'88 Power Ram 50 #1051976 09/26/12 03:33 PM
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 307
S
socal1200r Offline OP
Mudrunner
Hey all - just wanted to get some opinions on something.

I've got a line on a 1988 Dodge Power Ram 50, 2.6L, automatic, extended cab, 15" steel wheels, utility shell with rack, etc. It's pretty much unmolested, even has the factory radio. The interior is in great shape, no rips, tears, or stains on the seats, carpet, dash, or headliner. The only thing I noticed was the grilles for the rear speakers were missing. The seller keeps it in storage, and from what I can tell on my short test drive around the storage facility, the 4wd works, no funny noises when turned lock to lock, sway bar bushings need to be replaced, brakes are just a tad loud, has the Weber conversion, head's been replaced, no fluid leaks, no rust, only dent is a small one in the front bumper, no big scrapes, etc. The Weber has a manual choke, and he put the choke lever inside by the steering column. He also did something odd with the water temp gauge. Seems that when they replaced the head, they couldn't get the factory water temp gauge in the dash to work, so they hooked up an aftermarket gauge (which works), and it's mounted on the steering column right above the manual choke (can be easily relocated).

I think he's the second owner, truck has 116K miles, and he's asking $900. I'm thinking it's a smokin' deal, I could always use a small truck, and this thing would be a great blank canvas. I'd probably do some maintenance things like change the plugs, oil/filter, check the timing, maybe new shocks, tires, brakes, bushings, etc.

Whaddaya think?



1989 Monty SWB, 2.6L w/MT, 15" alloys, 265/75 Dunlop Radial rovers, rear air shocks, Weber 32/36, SQ oil cooler, (SOLD Oct 2012)
Southeast VA, USA
Re: '88 Power Ram 50 [Re: socal1200r] #1051977 09/26/12 05:36 PM
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 16,227
off-roader Offline
Web Wheeler
*****
Quote
Hey all - just wanted to get some opinions on something.

I've got a line on a 1988 Dodge Power Ram 50, 2.6L, automatic, extended cab, 15" steel wheels, utility shell with rack, etc. It's pretty much unmolested, even has the factory radio. The interior is in great shape, no rips, tears, or stains on the seats, carpet, dash, or headliner. The only thing I noticed was the grilles for the rear speakers were missing. The seller keeps it in storage, and from what I can tell on my short test drive around the storage facility, the 4wd works, no funny noises when turned lock to lock, sway bar bushings need to be replaced, brakes are just a tad loud, has the Weber conversion, head's been replaced, no fluid leaks, no rust, only dent is a small one in the front bumper, no big scrapes, etc. The Weber has a manual choke, and he put the choke lever inside by the steering column. He also did something odd with the water temp gauge. Seems that when they replaced the head, they couldn't get the factory water temp gauge in the dash to work, so they hooked up an aftermarket gauge (which works), and it's mounted on the steering column right above the manual choke (can be easily relocated).

I think he's the second owner, truck has 116K miles, and he's asking $900. I'm thinking it's a smokin' deal, I could always use a small truck, and this thing would be a great blank canvas. I'd probably do some maintenance things like change the plugs, oil/filter, check the timing, maybe new shocks, tires, brakes, bushings, etc.

Whaddaya think?


Phfffft, you don't own it yet? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/zombie.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Re: '88 Power Ram 50 [Re: off-roader] #1051978 09/26/12 06:26 PM
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 749
M
MI_Mitsu Offline
Rock Warrior
***
I bought my 90 Max with a 2.4 manual 2 years ago... I havent driven it more than 200 miles since.

It ran like crap, so I torn into found a bad head gasket, which lead to cleaning bad injectors, cleaning the head found a crack so a new head from Clearwater, new gaskets new sensors, new tires, new shocks ('90 w 229k still had original Mitsu shocks!), new tie rods which were shot as well as bushings....on and on... still runs rich and like crap.. Found leaky capacitors in ECU - great another $200. I must have close to $1500 on top of my original $500 purchase price.

Not to mention the $500 new seats I got from Scat (via Jegs) and $500 Alpine system I refuse to install until the damn thing runs right. Maybe the ECU repair will be the final bit to get it going.

May you have better luck than I did, but with age and mileage come the repairs that others have neglected over the years.

Unless he can prove some of the std stuff like brakes, shocks, tires were replaced recently, start talking him down.

$900 is good, not great. I thought $500 was great look where it got me.

Re: '88 Power Ram 50 [Re: MI_Mitsu] #1051979 09/26/12 10:59 PM
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 218
METALMOVER Offline
Wheeler
Id buy it,Im getting $400 for non running metal right now. I always figure you can get $1000 bucks for a running 4x4. Good luck METALMOVER


1987 Raider,2.6,mt,78"Meyer snow plow,100lb. Doberman alarm,weber carb, lockouts from here- 1989 V-6,SWB, A.T. 4x4, 31'S
Re: '88 Power Ram 50 [Re: METALMOVER] #1051980 09/27/12 12:28 AM
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 427
boostin Offline
Mudrunner
totally buy it, u cant go wrong just dont overheat it and should run for years no problem... plus it has rhe weber all ready, I love my truck!!


1989 Mighty Max 4WD 2.6 Turbo,Auto EFI...megasquirt! 4.62 Rear LSD!
1989 Mighty Max 2WD 2.6 5 speed slammed
1993 Eagle Talon TSI







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