I'm looking at a 1999 Dakota Sport Club Cab. I like the looks of the truck alot but am concerned about an engine noise.

The engine seems to be making a ticking noise. It only has 73,000 miles on it. It's a 1 owner car and from what i can tell has been well maintaned.

I've done some reading and it sounds like it mught be a lifter problem. Is this common on the 3.9 V6's? What do you think it would cost to repair?

The truck has been sitting for 2 months and is due for an oil change. The owner says it didn't make the noise before it sat. I can buy it for less that 6,000 with a nice fiberglass cap.

Good deal or stay away?

ya ur right on what the noise is - not that big of a deal- see lifters sometimes just get sticky an then unstick themselves - but if u change the oil - an throw some quailty injector cleaner like Champion it should eventually go away - an $6k for a 1999 is pretty good an its got 73k miles on it thats bout the typical yearly milage - a lil under - should be more towards 80k miles which is good means the person didnt drive the shit outa it.
sounds like u got a good deal aslong as the body is in great shape if there is cosmetic problems try an get it for a lil less...
Good Luck !
Hope that helped you out,,
Matt