hex0rz

After I got my lift pump situation figured out, I started driving the truck to work more since my road was in the middle of mud season. Upon driving it more regularly, I noticed something that concerned me, ALLOT. The condition is created mostly when I go around corners. When I apply the brakes, I notice something strange also, but not sure if the two are related. Upon rounding a curve, if I go a little fast, enough to feel it in the seat of my pants, so to speak, it feels like all the sudden I hit ice. It's a warm sunny day, no ice. But all of the sudden it's like I lose some steering as if I hit ice. I end up correcting about 1/8th to 1/4 turn to stay on course. Scares the crap out of me. I do not get this condition if I'm going slow. I haven't tested low speed sharp turns either. I do get road wander. Steering wheel has about 1/8th turn slop. I have replaced the front steering components with moog. Upon braking, the truck will want to pull one direction or the other. Enough that sometimes when I let off the brake, I've overcorrected too much. Ive dumped quite a bit into the truck to keep it in road worthy condition. But something new has developed and I have refused to let anyone else drive it. Enough to the point ive taken it off the road until I fix the problem. Upon these findings, I have considered that it was my ball joints. They're still OEM and ive never been able to get grease to them. The zeros were seized up and the ball joints hardened with old grease. As we speak, the truck sits in the driveway in process of ball joint replacements with new moogs. Before I started tear down, I forgot to check things using the tires. I'll do that after reassembly though. Other findings show that the steering components look tight with no slop using the steering wheel shimmy method. Something that I did note is that at the pitman arm shaft on the steering box. It looks like it may be leaking. It also looked like the shaft in the steering box had some slop in it. Would there be a way to fix this or do I have to replace the box? In summary, I know the ball joints need done. But im not 100 percent sure my symptoms match just the ball joints or if I have a synergistic problem with them and possibly the steering box? Or is everything pointing to the box and this is not symptomatic of bad ball joints? ... sure hate chasing my tail!

I have not. I tried to work on it this weekend but the pump was working. So I drove it for 20 min to the fuel station. Filled up and the pump would not prime after the turn of the key. I said well, gotta get home, just take it slow. Then about a mile down the road the gauge needle jumps up to 30psi. Today it did the same thing on the way to work after doing a dump run. How can I troubleshoot it when it's intermittent?

Im cursed. The pump is messed up or something. Occasionally only works. Going to hot wire the pump and eliminate that. Otherwise it's something else. Frustrating...

He listed it on a beekeepers page catering to that. He said allot of people were asking questions. Which then led him to think that its worth what he was asking. Been seeing allot of trucks listed lately that I would consider buying. Some are even much newer and seems decently priced. A more recent listing I have across is this one: I'm getting more info on it tomorrow, but it seems very promising. Well, except for convincing the wife! ?

Yea, it's a tough one. We cummins owners are proud... He said he's pretty much firm. Sucks it's not a quad cab. He's a 6 hour drive from me so it's hard to know if it's in good mechanical condition.

What would you say is fair? Has 3/4 plywood for decking.

Whatcha guys know about these 97 12v? Eyeing this one but dunno anything about the 12v.

Alright, so I went to work on the truck. Like all things in my life, I try before I pry. Lo and behold, I turn the key and the lift pump primed. Well, at least I don't have to deal with fixing the lift pump! Im not sure what happened. Only thing I can speculate is that the fuel gelled up. I haven't been driving it much lately since I got myself a tdi passat for a commuter.

Thanks guys, I'll troubleshoot it and get back. I thought maybe it was what you said, Mike, but the fuse was not blown. This is like my 4th or 5th pump, so that's what I was expecting too.

Where test? My wait to start light illuminates. The grid heaters cycled when I warmed the truck up.

With the recent snow storm I was pummeled with, I had to utilize the truck today to get to work. Unfortunately, the lift pump wasn't giving me a pre start prime. Even cranked over and running, the lift pump is still not giving pressure. I checked the fuse, it's good. I swapped the relay out with a different one. Nothing. I checked voltage at fuse and got nothing. Any ideas? Pump dead? Some other electrical issue?

Hmmm, 3 things gone bad, I'm slippin, lol. I'll report back.

Last night I was doing some stuff and had the door open. Got back in, shut the door and the interior cab lights wouldn't turn off. Also didn't hear the dinger either. Ive read up some on the topic but not much resolve. Any ideas? Yes, i checked the rotary dial for gauges, etc. I have been having trouble with my wipers returning to the home position for a while now for over a year. Hoping this doesn't point to a CTM.

Yea, hmm, guess it was too good to be true.

Here's another that just came up: https://spokane.craigslist.org/cto/d/2000-dodge-3500-quad-cab-4wd/6554331790.html Seems like it should be more for it.. a bit suspicious of it so I'm asking for the door sticker to run the vin and asking about mileage. Maybe it's just me and 2003 is an old vehicle now lol.

Well, the last truck i posted about, the guy wouldn't take a cashiers check. Its gone... So back to the search function... https://pullman.craigslist.org/cto/d/97-dodge-12-valve-diesel-3500/6551204378.html ^Was gonna offer 8k. https://spokane.craigslist.org/cto/d/96-dodge-cummins-12-valve-5/6513614320.html https://spokane.craigslist.org/cto/d/2000-dodge-3500-quad-cab-4wd/6554331790.html ^ offered 4k.

I'll give the guy a call. In going to offer 5k for it. If its decent shape. Its beat up looking and will need some extra love. But it's only going to be my bee truck in the end and i need it for a job. Its already got a nice flatbed which looks like a 10 footer also. Im still going to scrutinize it as money is money. I know about all the things to look for in a 24v style truck, but didn't know what differences there were when it came to this truck and what other types of potential fatal flaws they may possess. Although, a Google search essentially came up with the same things a 24v would have: 1. 53 block 2. KDP It also appears that gaining HP is allot easier to do without buying much of anything. More modifying than anything else. Its got a low enough price range that i could even consider doing a manual conversion. I have ALLOT of good diesel places near me that i can use for resources. Diesel power products, alligator performance, some older reputable general diesel shops and possibly dynamic. Anywho, ill check back in with y'all and let you know what becomes of all this.

https://spokane.craigslist.org/cto/d/1997-dodge-cummins/6543405433.html Anyone know much about the 12v? What do i need to know about these years?

If a truck is well maintained, really what is the issue? There ate a couple others I've been looking at as well: https://kpr.craigslist.org/cto/d/1999-dodge-ram-3500-diesel-4x4/6540155526.html https://spokane.craigslist.org/ctd/d/2003-dodgex4-6-speed-cummins/6516128404.html https://spokane.craigslist.org/cto/d/1997-dodgex4-12-valve-cummins/6505523644.html

Its got 312k on it. He sounded like an anal guy on the phone. Maybe not A type personality but particular.

Hey guys, may have found another potential truck. For you facebook users: https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1674444989267906 I kbb'ed it and median appraisal was 7.5k with a high of 9k. I told him this and he said he appraised it and high was 10.5k. I offered 9k. He said at the moment he wouldn't take less than 10k. Truck is fully stock except a pesky kn air filter, flatbed and a lift pump. He said he's never hailed anything heavy with it. 312k miles, 2nd owner since about 75k miles. Meticulous upkeep with all paperwork. Original transmission never rebuilt... baby's it. Said he will turn the od off if he ever did pull anything which he said was a double horse trailer or some hay bales or lumber. Front end rebuilt, 4wd works fine, fluids maintained constantly. He said he had to replace the vp44 i dunno how many miles ago. He went through 3 or 4 oem lift pumps and then eventually got a fass lift pump. But he said his pressures will go down to 7psi WOT, so i don't get that part... Doesn't burn oil, doesn't smoke, doesn't leak, starts right up first crank in the cold. Plugged in every day its below freezing, parked under a car port. Said tires have about 5-7k miles left on them. Fairly new batteries. Interior is meticulously clean and bucket seat and bench seat re-upholstered. No dash crack. Only has a fuel pressure gauge since its stock. It's a 1998.5 because it's a 24v and new dash style. Asked about the KDP and he didn't know what i meant. I dunno if i need to worry about it being a 53 block? All in all sounds like a decent truck. It's a 4 hr drive for me so i want to make any informed decision. I know it being stock there will be things i have to address. So is it worth it? What says you guys?

Shop interior is 60x40. Peak ceiling height is about 30 feet. All open with no fan for circulation. Insulated with hard foam insulation. Insulation looks to be about 1/2" thick. Ceiling insulated with glass bat. Windows insulated and doors also. Really good shop. Just no heater! I have long term ideas in mind but short term, don't know how to proceed. Obviously, heat rises. So it would take quite some time before i may even feel the heat on certain heating devices. Unless its directional or radiant, etc. Which In this case, that may be the only alternative i have at the moment. I need to get to painting my bee equipment. But even in March old man winter is holding on tight. Miss mud season wants old man winter to kick the bucket, but they can't hear each other. So one evening, the neighbor set out an old kerosene heater free for the taking. I snatched that up! Works really well, especially free! I just put dyed diesel in it. But the btu output is left to be desired. I put it right under my work area one evening as i was working. I could tell that after some time i need to separate myself for a while from the heater due to its combustion byproducts. But, now i want to entertain something that i can use and have more heat output and be a little further from. I've been eyeing torpedo heaters. I have diesel in a drum now and use it for the skid steer. So the idea of multi application is appealing. But i also have 2 100 lb propane tanks. So i thought about either torpedo heater with propane or the radiant style on the tank type heaters. But that is a bit self defeating. Getting a wood stove or propane furnace in the shop is the goal eventually. Putting in ducting in to circulate the air better is also a goal as well. But for now, i just need a stop gap. Anyone have firsthand experiences they would care to share?

I don't use drop lights anymore. Go straight to a headlamp...

I've looked into the npr trucks. They're outrageously expensive for a flat bed. Orchards are hit and miss. Can be muddy and rutty to the extreme. Nonetheless, if i could get one i would. They're neat.

I popped that question to the guy i know, but He hasn't gotten back to me yet. I don't understand it either! When he moves his hives they are not honey laden. He harvests the supers and transports them separately. I was going to go the gooseneck route, but if i did that im limited in towing capacity. 14k is all i would want to pull. My loader is 5300lbs and a gooseneck is variable. But by the time i figure on hive weight, i can only haul 48 at best. The other issue is i would be very long and some places are too difficult to get into with being that long... This will end up being my DD for a while and the wife will drive the current one until things change and funds become available for a car. This is my stop gap for the bees and another commuter until later.. On the flip side... I talked to guy a little more and he said he has too many trucks, lol! He's willing to negotiate on price some. The previous owner hauled a boat from west washington to the basin. He said he went to get the transmission serviced and his guy found debris in it. So he did a rebuild. I really wanted a manual transmission, but i guess if i need to beef up this thing, so be it.. i might do a manual conversion down the road instead. https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/153133462052318 Here is another..