97 Dodge automatic $5000

cummins724

cummins724

BREAKING $HIT
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Apr 16, 2007
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My friend is gonna buy a new truck & wants to sell his 97. It is a single cab long bed & when I say clean, I mean clean. He is a granny gear kinda guy & has owned it since new with all maintenance done by a mechanic with great experience. The truck is mint, 100k miles, but has one downfall...automatic. I was thinking of building a puller & the price is right. I think? Hows $5000 sound? I know I would be looking at getting away from the automatic & swapping in a NV4500 or 5600. Anyone interested in trades if I do buy it? My auto for your manual. My main reason for posting is opinions on this truck. What do you guys think? Worth the money? I know I'd need studs, orings, tranny, slipper clutch etc. I'm just not sure how much money it would cost to get about 500-600hp out of a 97 12v. Any help is appreciated.
 
heck yeah I'd be all over that for 5K, and wouldn't be scared of the auto either.
 
cummins724 said:
My friend is gonna buy a new truck & wants to sell his 97. It is a single cab long bed & when I say clean, I mean clean. He is a granny gear kinda guy & has owned it since new with all maintenance done by a mechanic with great experience. The truck is mint, 100k miles, but has one downfall...automatic. I was thinking of building a puller & the price is right. I think? Hows $5000 sound? I know I would be looking at getting away from the automatic & swapping in a NV4500 or 5600. Anyone interested in trades if I do buy it? My auto for your manual. My main reason for posting is opinions on this truck. What do you guys think? Worth the money? I know I'd need studs, orings, tranny, slipper clutch etc. I'm just not sure how much money it would cost to get about 500-600hp out of a 97 12v. Any help is appreciated.
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If it's a 4WD I'll buy it. Gary
 
wrongway said:
If it's a 4WD I'll buy it. Gary
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I wouldn't buy anything but a 4wd. I know the price is right, but I'm wondering what I'll have invested to build a solid puller. Nothing big, just local events. I'm tired of beating my DD.
 
Of course $5000 is my price boys. I've done alot of work for this man from building his house to concrete his driveway, building his garage etc. This is more like a Thank you than anything else. The truck does have decals down the side of it which I'd have to strip, but it is a really nice truck.
 
It wouldn't be to bad to get to 500... Shouldn't have to do bench work or anything. Timing, 4k RPM, big sticks, some DVs, headwork and studs and a 66/71 class turbo should be more than enough to be competitive. And with a reg cab you should be able to hang weight.
 
displacedtexan said:
It wouldn't be to bad to get to 500... Shouldn't have to do bench work or anything. Timing, 4k RPM, big sticks, some DVs, headwork and studs and a 66/71 class turbo should be more than enough to be competitive. And with a reg cab you should be able to hang weight.
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I haven't messed with mechanical pumps, but I'm sure I could figure them out with some reading. How much $$$ would it cost to get some timing, rpm, DV's & also what do 12v sticks cost these days?
 
Timing- $150 if you pay (not that hard to do, so I've heard)
RPM- $225
DV- $300
II Dragon Flows- $1200
 
I'm good to go on everything else, just the 12v tuning is what I'm after. I'm weighing my options instead of diving in head first & making a wrong decision. I figure it is gonna cost around 8-10k in mods to make a good puller. I was leaning toward alot of used parts to keep the cost down though.
 
Also 60lb valve springs $130ish
12mm ARP's $425ish
Milling Rockers for studs $50-$100
Mack Rack Plug $20ish
 
5-600hp will struggle in the 2.6 class. I figure it will take 700 to be a top truck in the 2.6. Used parts will keep the cost down. If your just wanting a truck to hook at the local brush pulls it will be ok. Don't expect 8-10K to get you a top performing 2.8 truck. Quick list for a top performing 2.8

$5k 13mm pump, injectors, supply pump(not necessary for the 2.6, but won't hurt)
$2k D80 with locker and good axles(gonna need it about 600HP)
$6k Tranny with good internals
$1k in driveshafts(i twisted a front and a rear, and exploded a CV on another)
$1K in turbo
$1k in cam
$1k in the head(oringing, and springs retainers)

There are things I left out, like head porting, roller lifters, electric fans, fluid dampner, better intercooler gages/data logger, but it gives you an idea.
 
dzlfarmboy said:
Also 60lb valve springs $130ish
12mm ARP's $425ish
Milling Rockers for studs $50-$100
Mack Rack Plug $20ish
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Garret sells the 4k springs with the 60# valve springs for $225...

I forget about the rack plug on the baby pumps:D
 
Also, some of yall seem to be building him to compete with the big boys. He's wanting to compete in the local pulls, not gonna take as much to be competitive... I'm looking at it as what would it take for J to have fun, not take first at TS...
 
Well to have fun is easy, but breaking parts is not fun.
 
Jump on it for $5000. If you don't want it, let me know and I'll give you a 10% finders fee and I'll take it.
 
He isn't gonna sell it until mid May. I have a month to make up my mind & by the sounds of things, I have alot of thinking to do. I understand that money will have to be spent to make it a puller. I am glad that I posted this thread, lots of little things that I haven't thought of are being brought to my attention.

I am leaning toward buying it for resale honestly. That $15k+ for the 97/mods can do alot of repairs on my 99. The pulls that I enter are mostly just fairs, but there has been some good competition. Nothing like TS ofcourse, but I've pulled against some trailer queens & held my ground. I honestly don't care, win or lose, I just love the game. What would you guys do? Just keep pulling the 99?
 
I figure you have too much time/effort in your current truck. No sense in starting over...

(feel free to PM me your friend's phone number):poke:
 
zstroken said:
5-600hp will struggle in the 2.6 class. I figure it will take 700 to be a top truck in the 2.6. Used parts will keep the cost down. If your just wanting a truck to hook at the local brush pulls it will be ok. Don't expect 8-10K to get you a top performing 2.8 truck. Quick list for a top performing 2.8

$5k 13mm pump, injectors, supply pump(not necessary for the 2.6, but won't hurt)
$2k D80 with locker and good axles(gonna need it about 600HP)
$6k Tranny with good internals
$1k in driveshafts(i twisted a front and a rear, and exploded a CV on another)
$1K in turbo
$1k in cam
$1k in the head(oringing, and springs retainers)

There are things I left out, like head porting, roller lifters, electric fans, fluid dampner, better intercooler gages/data logger, but it gives you an idea.
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WOW!!! Who do you pull against tanks? :hehe:I don't think it would take all that to be competitive out here. Most guys this way have around 400-500hp, a few 600hp trucks at most. You are way outta my league, I am a rookie puller compared to guys like you, BBD & Sledpuller. My 99 doesn't have lockers, blocks, bars, bags or cam etc. & I've been competitive out here. 2 years ago, I got 3rd place at a local fair & my only mods were 100hp injectors, holley blue, Luk single disc & a Edge comp. :hehe:
 
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