[texwing]

I just bought a 1998 Ram 24 valve, 227 thousand miles, dead stock as far as i can tell, untampered with except some kind of high flow loud muffler from what i can tell. Runs and shifts very well, no complaints. I have changed all fluids, Brake fluid was awful, power steering fluid even worse but all still working.

From what I have read and observed, there seem to be not a wrench mark on the engine that I can see, but who knows. Seems to be the original style fuel lift pump, and so on. I would appreciate thoughts on what i should do right now to preserve this beast. Install new lift pump? transmission temp gauge? fuel pressure gauge? Any "if you just got it, do this" advice appreciated. Love the truck, coming home pulling a trailer at 50mph at 1300 rpm or so was a new experience, and i like it! thanks in advance.

On the dreaded lift pump going out, is there any warning before the injector pump is killed? I could not get a good read on that..

 

[Junkman]

Fuel system, gauges, other repairs then whatever you want

 

[Off-road]

FASS lift pump and fuel pressure gauge asap. Then what ever needs attention

 

[gh0stman]

FASS lift pump and fuel pressure gauge asap. Then what ever needs attention

+1 on the FASS. Depending on where you want to go with the truck performance wise put money into the trans. TC VB. Worst case save till it goes boom then build to you liking. But this is only if its an auto.

 

[Backtobasics]

+2, on quality lift pump, plus a trio of gauges... Fuel pressure, EGT, and Trans Temp.

Next up, at a minimum, fluid change in transmission and valve body / shift kit in transmission, and perhaps a deep pan with extra cooler. This buys you as much time as possible on the transmission, and depending on how the truck is used, could last a long time.
The gauges let you monitor the fuel pressure to protect the VP pump, EGT to protect the turbo, Trans temp to protect the transmission, and the valve body / fluid / deep pan further serve to protect the transmission. Anyone else see a theme here?

 

[thumper 549]

All the above -
IMO use a very high Q oil filter - Napa gold or Fleet .In the 2 gen they use plastic cooling jets. ( not sure about others )They can get plugged from crap, at one time oil filters were blamed.
But they end up on the floor of the oil pan. Not a good thing. ask me how i know...lol
When your head lts quit working replace the switch.
Unless its been replaced you are do for a track bar and tie rod ends.

 

[texwing]

Wow! thanks guys lots of good info.

What is EGT, exhaust gas temp?

*You all scaring me on trannys, it is an automatic. It seems overdrive is really an overdrive, not just a 4th gear like other stuff I have, but not sure. How do I know when it locks up? I am unclear on that.

*Anyone selling that fuel pressure gauge as a kit for these Diesels? or a package of two or three gauges?

* Front end seems great, has lots of grease zerks (did stock?) so i think maybe it has been replaced.

*Is it not ok just to monitor fuel pressure, and replace pump when it starts dropping?

thanks in advance.

 

[thumper 549]

You got it !EGT
Fuel pressure , as long as you have it ( a VP 44 will run with out the lift pump but leads to a quick demise )

 

[gh0stman]

*You all scaring me on trannys, it is an automatic. It seems overdrive is really an overdrive, not just a 4th gear like other stuff I have, but not sure. How do I know when it locks up? I am unclear on that.

As long as you don't go "stupid" driving your trans will last, not forever but it will last. Once you start cranking up the power then its best to assume that your trans life will be limited. But if you take it easy either way you head you will get better life out of your trans.

 

[texwing]

You got it !EGT
Fuel pressure , as long as you have it ( a VP 44 will run with out the lift pump but leads to a quick demise )

Thanks, I am still curious, if the lift pump goes do you get any warning? low power, bucking, or does the engine run fine right up to the point the VP44 dies?

 

[texwing]

As long as you don't go "stupid" driving your trans will last, not forever but it will last. Once you start cranking up the power then its best to assume that your trans life will be limited. But if you take it easy either way you head you will get better life out of your trans.

So when you say "cranking up the power" do you mean just a heavy foot, or do you mean chips and all that stuff? I really have not explored any performance mods, and at 227K miles I am not sure I should!

 

[thumper 549]

Thanks, I am still curious, if the lift pump goes do you get any warning? low power, bucking, or does the engine run fine right up to the point the VP44 dies?

The VP has the pwr to suck fuel required. It does not have the power to do much more. Therefor it over heats the electronic components in the computer and dies a slow death with out you ever knowing it.
( google VP 44 repair)

 

[thumper 549]

So when you say "cranking up the power" do you mean just a heavy foot, or do you mean chips and all that stuff? I really have not explored any performance mods, and at 227K miles I am not sure I should!

I am sure he means engine mods that add more pwr.

 

[Off-road]

227 is barely broke I on a cummins. For gauges/chip combo I have edge juice with attitude, and the color touch screen. Love it. Not a fan of the big a pillar you get with the pillar mounted gauges. As for overdrive, it should lock in anytime over 35 mph on flat ground, you should notice 2-400 rpm drop when it locks the torque converter.

Also as a side note, monitoring egt does not protect the turbo, the turbo will live just fine, it protects the Pistons from melting down. Google engine tear down for high egt's.... The Pistons start looking really cool....

 

[gh0stman]

So when you say "cranking up the power" do you mean just a heavy foot, or do you mean chips and all that stuff? I really have not explored any performance mods, and at 227K miles I am not sure I should!

By cranking up the power I mean adding tuning. When I bought mine it had 227K on the clock. I have since added everything in my sig. It runs better now than it did when I bought it. 227k on a diesel isn't bad its more broken in than wore out.

 

[texwing]

Ok thanks for the replies. It seems like job no. 1 will be to change the fuel filter, and get a read on the fuel pressure since it has the stock and not well regarded lift pump on it. I can't tell if it has ever been changed, do some of the oem lift pumps last this long?

I know the fuel filter housing has some kind of connections or ports built into the top of it-is this how most guys are connecting up a fuel pressure gauge? Is that gauge anything special or would an oil pressure gauge work short term? or don't recall fuel pressure gauges hanging around at auto zone...

For what is worth, this truck was used by a little old rancher lady (i am not kidding) as the farm truck, and to sometimes pull a stock trailer. I doubt if it was ever pushed hard. The maintenance was very good according to the records, which stopped at 90,000 miles. After that its a guess.

 

[gh0stman]

Stock lift pump=junk. Bank on upgrading it in the future. As for gauges you will either have to order them offline or find a specialty shop that sells them. at a minimum look at getting a fuel pressure gauge. If you plan on running stock you wont need to get into the boost or pyro gauges anytime soon as the truck can fend for itself in stock mode with no aftermarket power adders. I would also throw in a trans temp gauge.