| Author | Message | ||
     Limitedx1 |
any diesel guys in here? im purchasing a gem!! 98 cummins ram 2500 with a 12v, heres the kicker it only has 59k miles on it! has some goodies like a fuel plate and a banks power pack, exhaust, gauges, 6" lift and 35's! just wondered if anyone had comments or knowledge on the 12 valves | ||
| Ratbuell |
Try to kill it. I dare you. The 12v aren't as powerful or torquey as the 24v (we have an '05 24v in a Ram quad cab), but they will easily outlast the truck, its frame, the tranny, and any frame you decide to put the engine in after the truck rots away. And I don't want that to come across as "the truck is gonna rot away fast" - it won't, especially if you take care of it (tip: once a year, pull the taillights out and hose off the inside of the quarter panel, at the top of the rear wheel opening. They like to rust there, getting the debris and crap out slows that process). Hopefully gauges include at least boost and EGT; ours is an auto trans, so I have those two and trans temp. Some guys - especially with a fuel plate - run a fuel pressure gauge as well. I do in my 2.2 gas turbocars, but at 36psi in a gasser I want to make sure I know about a hiccup in the fuel system BEFORE I hole a piston. Again. lol Good score though. I'd love to find a nice 12v for a work truck... | ||
| Buellinachinashop |
Gonna run the redneck exhaust? Stacks in the bed? | ||
| Limitedx1 |
ya boost and egt, and its a 5 speed, so all i gotta do is watch the egt gauge and make sure the clutch isnt slipping lol. i believe there is a fuel pressure gauge under the hood.  i dont think this one is gonna rot anytime soon! its been custom painted inside and out correctly and it has only been driven 500 miles in the last two years. it is literally spotless! i am going to undercoat it, anybody have any recomendations for what type to use or get? | ||
| Hughlysses |
A while back, I found this webpage for a dealership out west that specializes in diesel pickups. They have an early Dodge Ram w/Cummins that has over 800,000 miles on it! http://www.handpickedtrucks.com/ (Message edited by Hughlysses on November 10, 2009) | ||
| Odie |
Watch out! A diesel will suck your bank account dry faster than a Buell will; trust me. Looks like a nice truck. | ||
| Odie |
I'm a SuperDuty guy so I don't have any indepth knowledge on the Cummins 12v. I know they are great engines though. | ||
| Limitedx1 |
how come everyone that owns a diesel truck says they love them and they are the best things ever. and anyone that doesnt have one talks shit and says they are expensive.....let alone the fact you get twice the power and twice the mileage compared to gas... i think its like the harley thing, the only people that talk shit are the ones who cant afford it.... | ||
| Odie |
Are you referring to my posts??? | ||
| Limitedx1 |
No because you own one, i just hear that statement and usually its related to people who dont have them. | ||
| Etennuly |
I had a new '98 Dodge 3500 Dually Diesel 5spd ext cab long bed for hauling a fifth wheel camper. I met and talked with the Banks Engineering folks a few times about their turbo systems. They made some great stuff to make some really good power. The trick is the trade off of power for longevity. I didn't do their upgrades because I was concerned the increased power would use up the engine sooner. Logically I was correct, but if the damn thing will last 500,000 miles stock, and doubling the power made it only go 250,000 miles.....well, when I sold that truck it only had 40,000 on it. Duh! The 5 spd transmission seemed to be the only weak link in those drivetrains. My brother bought his first one at the same time I did. An exact twin to mine. At 60,000 the dealer put in a new transmission, he had to do it again at 110,000. He traded it at 185,000 for another one. At 200,000 he traded for another new one. Now at nearly 100,000 on this one, he said that he kind of likes them. That is a great looking truck there. On a 3/4 chassis, I doubt there is a way to use up that engine under normal conditions. | ||
| Limitedx1 |
ya i guess its a full option truck because it has a dana 80 out back, as well as leather and power and stuff of that nature, even has the rear wheel well plastic shields | ||
| Fast1075 |
The absolute BADDEST mud truck I know of is a Dodge with a Cummins...at least yours only has 35" tires...so the powertrain has a chance to survive... Lose the single point rear axle link and put on some proper ladder bars. | ||
| Court |
I just am not sure I need it and confess that each time I see that extra $10-12K and realize I never haul anything but a bike I don't need the power and would have to drive a couple hundred thousand miles (which I'm sure they'll do) to make the fuel savings pay off. We did buy, in the construction business, a number of the early diesel pickups and the new ones are light years better. I'm looking at a new Crew Cab now and will likely stick with the F-150 and the 5.4L gas. | ||
| Odie |
OK. The point I'm making is not about fuel prices it's about the amount of cash you can sink into them modifying things. It is addicting; just like the Buell. I have spent way more on the Ford than the Buell in half the time span. I wouldn't be without a diesel having owned one for a few years now. The hp/tq is amazing. You average about 30% better mileage than a gas burner. I suggest you find a good diesel forum for Dodges and learn all you can (assuming this is your first diesel). I belong to Superdutydiesel.com and it is a wealth of knowledge. Have fun!! | ||
| Yooper71 |
I really miss dodge/cummins. Best truck I ever owned. Lots of good info at www.turbodieselregister.com and like Odie said they can suck your bank account dry fast!! | ||
| Limitedx1 |
hey fast, what it needs is a full set of lift springs. whats wrong with the single point bars? ive seen the fab tech style with the shackle in them, the only thing i could see wrong with a single point is the rear axle can only travel up and down there will be no arc hence flexing the spring more than swinging the spring hanger shackle | ||
| Fast1075 |
Axle torque puts the single point bar in compression and it will bend. Look at it this way...the bar "holds" the bottom of the axle in position...torque twists the springs...top of axle rotates backwards...bottom rotates forward...I know it does not seem possible for the springs to twist and flex like that, but the forces are enormous...and they do flex...a lot. You may not need any of that...depends on a lot of things... Here are some killer truck action shots...I personally know several of the trucks and owners....www.trucksgonewild.com Almost makes me want to build a new truck...nope...costs WAY too much...Have fun. (Message edited by fast1075 on November 10, 2009) | ||
| Boltrider |
Dual traction bars like in that pic work fine for a friend of mine. He has a 2000 2500 Ram diesel hopped up with more boost, a programmer, and propane injection. He has dual bars and they work well. He's had them on for 8 years. I guess if you pump the motor up to quadruple digit torque numbers, then yeah ladder bars would be a good idea. In that case, a bunch of safety add-ons would be needed. (Message edited by boltrider on November 10, 2009) | ||
| Fast1075 |
"they may not be needed" On a street truck with little baby 35's even the single links may not be needed.... Put on some serious LEAF SPRING lift and a good set of bars are needed...A good running Cummins with boost mods can break u-joints and twist up a driveshaft like it was a twig... | ||
| Cowboy |
I owned and drove a dodge cummins for yrs. I pulled big goose neck trailors with big tractors on board (100 HP) and 32 foot stock trailors all were loaded heavy the only problem I ever has was I did twist a lot of U jts. But at $15.00 apiece and about 20 min. to change I was very happy with it. | ||
| Buellinachinashop |
a matching colored box on that thing would be kickass. | ||
| Bikertrash05 |
Sweet truck! You gotta put some big chrome stacks on it! | ||
| Chadhargis |
I'm a diesel head. I can't justify a full sized diesel truck, but I've owned a 4cyl turbodiesel Jeep Liberty and I now own a V6 turbodiesel Grand Cherokee. I can tow 7500lbs, I get 27mpg on the highway when not towing, and with the performance tune it will move out quite well. Diesel technology is so good now, that I can't see any advantages of a gas engine. I love my diesel. Love that 443ft/lbs of torque at 1600rpm.  | ||
| Doughnut |
I miss my rig when I did otr. I think it was "only" a 12.7 inline 6. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Diesels rock. There are some neat diesel swaps on this forum: http://www.4btswaps.com/forum/index.php These guys use Cummins 4BT engines, which are basically a 4 cylinder version of the Dodge Ram Cummins 6. A lot of bread trucks and delivery vans were equipped with them so they are easy to find used. These engines are easily rodded to 200 HP and 400+ ft-lbs of torque with external modifications. Still get 30 MPG or so in a full-size truck.  | ||
| Strokizator |
Since we routinely get 200,000 miles out of our Ford V10 work trucks, the extra cost of the diesel just doesn't pencil out. I'm not saying diesels don't "rock" it's just that, like most things in life, you have to pay to play. 30 MPG?!? I thought all the Cummins guys were lying about when the said they got 20 mpg when I could only muster 15 mpg out of my old Powerstroke, now you're telling me you can add 200 hp + 400 ft-lbs of torque and get 50% better mileage? My 8.9 Cummins(400 hp/1200 ft-lbs)in the RV gets only about 8. | ||
| Doughnut |
I am by NO means an expert but when I was doing rig it would get 6.5 to 7 average with 40,000 behind it. | ||
| Blake |
Recently ditched the little '86 Nissan for an '02 Ford SD. What is the need for EGT gauge? Concerned about burning up the valves if the turbo runs wild? Odie, what mods? The one I have is bone stock and is great. I can't believe the thing gets 20+ mpg. Very nice. | ||
| Jramsey |
The early style Cummins 5.9 12 valve tugboat motor is virtually bullet proof. My '90 D2500 automatic will get 16 mpg pulling a 28' Pace Shadow, 23+ mpg empty at 70+ miles per hour. |
