• Welcome to For Trucks Only !

    We are a community of American Brand Pickup Truck and SUV owners. Join now! Its Free!

Might buy a 1992 RAM 150: Advice, please

D

Dogsluvtrucks

Active Member
Joined
Aug 8, 2011
Messages
48
Reaction score
16
Location
Apex, NC
I'm looking at buying a RAM 150. 1992 model with a V-6, auto. Body looks to be real solid.78,000 miles. paint,interior in very good condition.A few scratches and small dents.
Any advice or thoughts from you folks? I don't know much about the V-6 of that year. The asking price is $2700. I think that's a little high. Haven't driven it yet or looked under the hood.What do ya' think?
 
I been keeping an eye out for a first gen Ram as well. That price is high if its a 2wd for a 4x4 its in the ball park. The only thing I hate about first gen rams is people hang on to them. You either find them and they are beat to hell and high mileage or someone took care of and they want a lot for it. Around here you can get a 2nd gen for cheaper for a comparable truck most of the time. Not sure how the v-6's were in those years.
 
I don't know how prices range in NC for truck's but here in Mass that would be to high for a V6 two wheel drive unless it was mint and even then I would have to really want it if I were to even concider buying it . If you did buy it then what are you looking to do with it ? In other word's are you looking for something to tow with , haul stuff like motors and such , or just gunna be a driver ? If I were to buy a V6 truck from this generation then I would allso have in the back of my head on what it would take to put an 8 in it . Every one in this area now's me from what I do with Dodge truck's and the few people that I've come across that have these truck's with V6's allways have the same complaint's . #1 There not getting the fuel milage that they thought they would from a 6 . #2 Hate the computer set up . #3 Sever lack of power for a truck . So if you are concidering going to look at this truck then keep these thing's in the back of your head and take it out for a real good test drive first and give it a real good look over . But that's just my two cents
 
Totally if your looking at a v6's thinking it will save you gas mileage think again. Your not really gaining anything because the engine is going to work harder to do the same work. But than again its all what your going to use the truck for as well. If you just need something nice and reliable to for the weekends to do home improvements or whatever your probably not worried about the mileage anyways. Considering your looking at a truck priced on the higher side for what it is, I would guess your looking for something to be more of a driver?
 
Thanks for the insight and replies. Mainly the truck would be used for trips to the home improvement store or hauling large but, not very heavy items. No towing planned. I'm not really looking at gas mileage (short trips). Bear's No. 2 and 3 complaints concern me. Mostly the computer. Wasn't sure about the V-6 output. I was thinking a shortened 318 would still perform o.k....sounds like that's not the case.
 
Personaly I think you would probably be happier with an 8 in a full size truck weather it was a short bed or a long . But again thats just my two cents .
 
Dogsluvtrucks said:
Thanks for the insight and replies. Mainly the truck would be used for trips to the home improvement store or hauling large but, not very heavy items. No towing planned. I'm not really looking at gas mileage (short trips). Bear's No. 2 and 3 complaints concern me. Mostly the computer. Wasn't sure about the V-6 output. I was thinking a shortened 318 would still perform o.k....sounds like that's not the case.
Click to expand...

I think #3 what he was referring more to the towing and hauling capability of a v6. Which both are things you said you didn't need but lets flip that around. If you had a v8 now you have that capability and makes the truck more useful in the long run. Just something to think about.

As for his #2, I think he is more old school in thinking. I am 35 so I am more new school in thinking, computers don't scare me. If I take all of the vehicles I have ever owned half were newer with computers and the other half wasn't. There is good and bads to both. I remember when I was a teen and computers were first showing up in vehicles and everyone said no one will ever be able to work on there own shit again. Now 20 years later nothing has changed people still wrench on there vehicles.
 
Last edited:
Yes "Mopardude" I am more old school but computers don't scare me . If they did then I would'nt be allso doing up my 97 Sport as well as any of the other newer truck's that I've worked on .
 
No problem "Mopardude" , It's all good !
 
Did a little research on the engine. www.allpar.com has some information. the 3.9 truck engine is a 90 deg. , staggered crank pin v-6 with the same bore and stroke as the 318. '92 had multi-port fuel injection. Roller rockers.The truck i"m looking at , like I mentioned has a straight, rust free body,low mileage. Nice paint. I'm not crazy about the computer controls. This adds complexity and makes performance modifications problematic. I want headers and remove the catalytic converter (still required to be installed for Safety Inspection in my county), emission controls,EGR, etc. So maybe an earlier truck say a 1980 would be more what I want. And I think that if even I decided to buy it, it's worth to me about
$1600-1800, which is $1000 less than asking price. I don't think he would come down that much. I'm pretty much old school. I prefer a carburetor, headers, glass packs , etc. Check out my D100 on the pre-1981 forum here. I plan on selling that truck , thats why I'm looking at this RAM truck.Oh, yes like mopardude mentioned, a V8 would make a truck more versatile.
 
Sounds about right now that you say that. It would be the same v6 that is in the dakotas. They are good reliable engines put out decent power in a Dakota but your also talking a truck that is what about 1000 lbs lighter I am guessing. Plus a Dakota will have at least a 3.55 gear and be running a smaller tire compared to a ram so it has a lot more going for it running that engine.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top