2013 5.7 questions

[rod7515]

I cant give a lot of specifics but I am looking at a 2013 ram trk on the internet. Its a few hundred miles away so I need information before I even consider a purchase. Its a 5.7 thats been sitting with what he said is a cam/lifter, rocker arm or piston issue. He states that it driveable but misfiring and loses compression when at higher highway speeds. He tells me that his mechanic given him this information but nothings been torn down.
Im a retired shop owner so I could probably do this work myself. However a few questions,
Has Dodge had any issues that are common like this?
If its a piston issue theres a good chance of cylinder damage which mean the engine would have to come out and go to machine shop?
If its cam do they have any history of lobe issues?
Do they have any valve train issue in the rockers? I would imagine it to be a roller cam and lifters?
How about any actual valve issues?
Does the misfire and looses compression make any sense together when at higher RPM's?
Im just trying to get an idea if this is a worth while buy. I need a new trk as my 98 Ram has 184k even tho it runs great and has no rust yet.
How much money should be taken off the KBB value for a problem like this. To me this is a motor replacement possibility.

Thanks Rod

 

[willis123]

I cant give a lot of specifics but I am looking at a 2013 ram trk on the internet. Its a few hundred miles away so I need information before I even consider a purchase. Its a 5.7 thats been sitting with what he said is a cam/lifter, rocker arm or piston issue. He states that it driveable but misfiring and loses compression when at higher highway speeds. He tells me that his mechanic given him this information but nothings been torn down.
Im a retired shop owner so I could probably do this work myself. However a few questions,
Has Dodge had any issues that are common like this?
If its a piston issue theres a good chance of cylinder damage which mean the engine would have to come out and go to machine shop?
If its cam do they have any history of lobe issues?
Do they have any valve train issue in the rockers? I would imagine it to be a roller cam and lifters?
How about any actual valve issues?
Does the misfire and looses compression make any sense together when at higher RPM's?
Im just trying to get an idea if this is a worth while buy. I need a new trk as my 98 Ram has 184k even tho it runs great and has no rust yet.
How much money should be taken off the KBB value for a problem like this. To me this is a motor replacement possibility.

Thanks Rod

How much are they asking for it and how many miles on it?

Normally around 100-130k or so these trucks need a cam and lifters. a lifter will go bad and kill the cam after market ones are much better and last 10x longer.

Its not to bad of a job took me 2 days to do mine cost total bout $700 cause i changed the timing chain/guides and oil pump while i was in there.

 

[rod7515]

asking 16k with 92k on it. Its a laramie thats loaded. I dont have enough information yet. The owner can not afford to repair it and must sell. Book value is around 18k-21k.
Rod

 

[willis123]

asking 16k with 92k on it. Its a laramie thats loaded. I dont have enough information yet. The owner can not afford to repair it and must sell. Book value is around 18k-21k.
Rod

Yea 16k is WAAAAAy to much if it has motor issues for that kind of money id pass in my opinion lmaoo i paid $6k for mine its a 2012 and fixed the cam/lifters i have higher miles but still. Your better off getting one with 0 issues for 16k...

 

[HammerHead]

asking 16k with 92k on it. Its a laramie thats loaded. I dont have enough information yet. The owner can not afford to repair it and must sell. Book value is around 18k-21k.
Rod

16k???????? I would be insulted is someone asked me that for an engine with a Known problem and Unknown damage. Much better vehicles on the market for 16k.

Seen a lot of lifter failures wiping out the cams on this forum over the years, first indication is always a misfire code. This truck might seem appealing to a skilled mechanic that can do the work but you still have that Big unknown damage to consider.

 

[Kap1]

16k for a broken truck that doesn't drive? And you assume all the risk whatever hidden issues it may have? That's a horrible deal unless you're the mechanic that tore it down and know exactly what's wrong.

Your best case is that cam and lifters reolament is needed, approx $4-5k job at an independent shop depending on your location. Problem is that cam lobes could have got wiped and metal shavings are all throughout the engine, in which case you'll have a major engine failure within a few months.

Safest estimate would be a long block, maybe around $10-12k installed?

Honestly, if that person isn't ethical, he can find the cheapest shop that will replace cam and lifters at around $3k and sell truck for kbb full price, but depending on how bad cam was wiped, and how many metal shavings inside the engine, it'll probably break again in a couple months. Good luck

 

[savage_46]

For $16k, the seller better know EXACTLY what's wrong with the engine, not just a ballpark guesstimate

 

[Jrod]

If I was a mechanic willing to take on the work, I’d low ball private sale value, plus the cost to replace the engine, plus the cost to transport back. If they accept the offer I’d still walk away because the problem could actually be bigger than being let on.. just my 2 cents lol.

Regardless, best of luck with this one.

 

[averageguy]

I would make an offer based on the cost of a low mileage replacement engine from a salvage yard, the time it would take me to change it, and assuming the headache the seller doesn't have the means to deal with. $10,000.00 tops if the rest of the truck is perfect and you can't live without it IMO. I wouldn't go that high personally, but I have a Laramie already that has 20,000 miles on it and runs perfect so I'm not real motivated to get one.

 

[512RAM]

Walk away from this deal. Not with the hunting and headaches involved. Keep searching.