GlennRMK

Planning on buying a 99-02 Cummins here in the next few months.

I want a Short Box Quad Cab 4x4, prefably with a 5 speed. Would take a 6 speed, but I like the 5 speed a little better, from my driving experience. Do not want to get anywere near an auto. Would prefer 3.54 rear end(posi of course).

I've been doing a lot of research. But still need some opinions.

Should I be crawling under every truck to make sure it doesn't have a 53 series block? My buddy has a 99 that had the block crack @ 220k(almost all of which with a EDGE EZ). And with heavy towing. Is the block going to crack, guaranteed or ???

Any real issues with the NV4500HD? Are the Master/slave cylinder known to go out? Any major issues to look for?

In 01.5 they upgraded to disc brakes in the back. Are the discs a big improvement?

Also, on the VP44s, does your reliablity really go down hill once you tap the pump wire(like on the Comp Box)? It seems like these things go out a lot in some trucks and last forever in others? What does a VP44 run? $1200 or so? Is there a good aftermarket upgrade pump that cures the failure problem? What do lift pumps run? I heard they are less then $100? For that price it sounds like you want to carry a spare?

As far as mods, I definitely want to do something. I have read a lot of good things about the Van Aaken box. Was thinking one of these with Mach 1.5 or 2 injectors. Along with a South Bend clutch. BD short shifter. And obviously gauges(Fuel Pressure, EGT and Boost). Fuel Pressue looks like a necessity with the lift pumps always going out, and the possibility of VP44 failure.

Not doing any heavy towing. Currently tow a 2500lb trailer often. May pick up a large trailer eventually and tow around 7000lb.

Any other suggestions on additional mods or suggestions on what to look for?

GlennRMK

Also, was planning on getting a leveling kit in the front with 315/75R16 tires on a set of American Racing wheels.

Do 35s really kill mileage over, say a 33(285s)? It seems like with the amount of low end torque, mileage(highway anyways) shouldn't decrease much.

The wheel wells are huge on these trucks. 285s still look small. 265s or smaller just look stupid.

The truck seems to really need 35s to fill out the wheel wells and make the truck look good.

phox_mulder

I can answer the tire part.
I went though this last year.

If you go with 35" tires on after market wheels (4.5" backspacing) and a 2inch leveling kit
you will rub the inside rear of the front fender while turning.

DT has slightly longer control arms that will most likely correct this,
putting the wheel more in the center of the well.

If you use the factory wheels (6.5" backspacing) you will rub the control arms at steering lock with 35" tires.

The other stuff is just hit and miss.
2001.5 and 2002 won't have the 53 block.
2001 most likely won't, any older you run the risk.
Most have cracked under hard pulling conditions, fueling box or no fueling box.

I think rear discs is a very good thing.

I replaced my VP44 (1300 plus labor) at 4,000 miles,
covered under warranty.
No fueling box, no lift pump problems, no codes, it just died.
There are many, many high mileage trucks still on the original, some with fueling boxes.
There are a smaller number that lost their VP44's shortly after adding the box.
Same number who have lost them with no modifications.

Lift pumps are about $150(?) from Cummins, a lot more from Dodge.
Many do in fact carry a spare, usually those who have had them die on them.
Us who haven't experienced lift pump failure don't know any better.

You sound like you know what you are looking for, and planned improvements.

Others will chime in with their 2 cents as well.
Welcome to the site by the way.

phox

GlennRMK

Thanks for the reply.

Much appreciated.

So, what did you do about the rubbing? Take out the dremel and trim the fender?

I also forgot to mention exhaust would be added for sure. Was thinking of having a local shop do dual 4" outlet. Exhaust from turbo back. Probably a muffler of some kind.

Is it better to run a exhaust system from a well known company, like DPP, Magnaflow, etc?

Yes, I know duals are just for looks, but I like the looks of duals.

EDIT:

Great looking truck by the way!

Also, I was thinking a Scotty II air intake too.

farmer dave

Sorry to bud in but I have a 01 with a hyb 80 in the rear and was wondering if this is a limited slip or not.

GlennRMK,
You are smart to ask these questions before getting thetruck. As far as the 53, there are problems like phox_mulder said but you have to consider that there are many of these blocks out there. It could happen, but it might not. I am just glad that I don't have a 53 block. As far as the fueling boxs, I don't really think that they make a vp go bad, the may speed it up a little if it is going to go bad. Mine has 91,000 on it and as far as I know it hasn't been changed, knock on wood. I don't know about the tire, but I have 265s and agree that they lokk pretty small yet. Does going to 285 hurt milage that much?
dave

phox_mulder

I trimmed down the piece of fender that was cutting the tires, to buy me some time.
You'd have to remove a lot of metal to stop the rub though, most likely right up to the doors.

I solved it by going and getting and got a 4.5" Skyjacker lift.
I still have a slight rub if I turn and compress at the same time.
I think my coils are taller than most Skyjacker kits for some reason,
so my tires ride further back in the well, hence the occasional rub.
Probably going to get longer control arms someday, so I can fit 37"s

Having a local shop fab your exxhaust is doable,
but might end up being more expensive with the trial and error factor.
The established companys have precut, ready to install systems for pretty cheap, relatively speaking.


phox

phox_mulder

Only way to tell if you have the LS is burn rubber and see if you leave 2 black marks.

There should be a sticker in the glove box, if not maybe a tag on the rear differential?
Mine doesn't, and I didn't know any better, I thought 4x4 meant 4x4, and LS came standard.
Lockers in my future.

285 shouldn't hurt much, tall and skinny tire might actually improve mileage,
Tall and fat creates more resistance, so you might lose 1-2 mpg.
Depends on the 285's.
Fer instance, my 315's are a little taller and fatter than the 3rd gen 315's, due to the rim size,
and theirs being 315/70R17 , mine are 315/75R16.


phox

GlennRMK

Yep, lay down a strip.

Or, if you have both rear tires off the ground and the truck in neutral, spin one tire by hand. With the limited slip, the other tire should start spinning eventually. I've never tried this method myself, but I heard it works.

Or, give your VIN to the dealer and they should be able to tell you if you have a limited slip from the build sheet on your truck.

Jim Shulmister

With the limited slip, rear end jacked up,truck in neutral, turn one wheel and the other will turn the same direction. Without the limited slip it will turn in the opposite direction.
-Jim-

GlennRMK

Any other suggestions on the truck or mods?

Borush

The 4-wheel disc brakes on the '01.5-'02 are definitely worth while. I love the way my '02 stops.

The NV4500 tranny is a good choice. They had a few problems (5th gear nut/mainshaft), but there are good aftermarket parts available that are fairly inexpensive if a problem ever does happen. The stock clutches hold better than the 6 speed ones also.

Sounds like you've done your homework. Time to find a truck.


Good luck.

Boyd.

fireram

I purchased a 99 4x4 quad slt with 230,000 Kms last march. The guy i got it from just had the dealer replace all the front end work, and allignment, and the lift pump. He used the truck to haual a heavy gooseneck delivering his Shredders, that will eat austen minny's, to customers.

I test drove it and it had a bad third gear synchro, so you had to finess it into and out of third.

The day I made the offer the fuel/water filter developed a leak where the wires go through the top for the heater. I made the deal on that he would have the leak fixed before I picked it up.

Turns out the dealer could not fix the leak and the entire filter/heater unit had to be replaced at $500 Cdn. So he nocked 500 buck off the price and I drove home with a leaky fuel filter.

After talking to several dealers and aftermarket parts places, I went directly to Cummins. They were great, they looked up the Raycor filter unit on my truck and compared it to the specs on the 2001. They were the same, and as a bonus I can replace the filter without spilling fuel all over the place. And it saved me $350. Keep that in mind if you get a 99.

After six months the clutch gave out and I dropped the truck of at a local tranny shop. $1800 later I had a new clutch, bearing, seals, third gear, syncro pack, and main shaft installed, Works like a charm now..

I noticed a cluck comming from the front, After putting her on a hoist, if you slowly rotated the tire for and aft, the rotor was sloppy. Not sideways but if you turned the tire forward, the rotor would start turning a couple of inches later, then if you turned the tire backwards, the rotor would not moove untill the tire turned back a couple of inches. I have no idea why, The tire was on tight, the bearing was solid, and the rotor had very little wear. So I put new ones on, all is good now, But man are they hard to get off.

Other than that, the $22,000 purchase has been well worth it. The leather seats are cold as heck, but new seat covers solved that. This fall I would like to put on a set of 315 BFGs or Goodyear wranglers, cant decide.

Best of luck, Hope this helps, Sorry its so long.