New engine, old truck, lifetime warranty.

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Gale G

Junior Member
Joined
Nov 18, 2019
Posts
11
Reaction score
3
Location
Elburn, IL
Ram Year
2009
Engine
Hemi 5.7
I have a 2009 1500 with 262,000 on it. I purchased the lifetime bumper to bumper warranty with the truck in '09 and it has paid for itself many time over. In fact, due to the "Hemi - Tick" they replaced the engine last summer. So now I have an 09, lifetime warranty, new engine, rust -bucket. As much as I want a new one, It is hard to go from no payments, no maintenance fees (except the normal brakes etc) to the exact opposite. Especially since I have a new motor. My question is, do I look for a newer truck with a ton of miles, no rust, and swap engines? Is that doable and worthwhile? I would really like to do a frame-off restoration, but cannot find a body guy who will do it. Let me know your thoughts.
 

jejb

Military
Joined
Apr 7, 2020
Posts
1,569
Reaction score
1,439
Location
NW Arkansas
Ram Year
2022
Engine
6.7 Cummins
I have 2 buddies that own body shops. Both have told me that once a vehicle rusts through a body panel, you will always have trouble there. Cutting it out and welding in new sheets will only last a little while. Maybe if you replaced entire quarter panels, door skins and pickup boxes, it'd be better. But you'd be better off buying a newer truck at that point, most likely.
 
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