Psychobilly

I've been lookin to buy a CTD latley and have been lookin at 98-02 24v's, I was originally looking at 12v's but I noticed that you couldn't use power a programmer on it, which is one of the few power mods I was going to do on it (4" pipe and the programmer). I finally started to browse this forum and I'm glad I did. Now that I know of the Vp-44 and the 53 block I'm not sure what to look for.

johnny5.9

I know what I'd like to find. A low mileage 96 or 97 12 valve 4x4 club cab 5 speed. If that existed!

Psychobilly

Which years have the the 53 Block anyways?

clutch1

3rd gen would the way to go. im looking into one but mileage is the only thing holding me back

BC847

You can't go wrong with a 1st gen.



"Programmers!? We don'need no stinkin programmers!"

Mountaineer

OMG,Thats Awesome!!!!

Marine

I don't think the VP is a reason NOT to look for a 2nd Gen truck. The 53 you have to look out for, but they are not too common.
You might want to look for a 5 spd compared to the auto, though.
If you go 3rd gen, get the '06 with the 6 spd.

Psychobilly

Definantly gettin a 5 speed. So is the 53 block not in all the 2nd gen? or is just some have it and some don't. 3rd gen. is out of the question. Thanks for the help guys.

Marine

53 is not in all 2nd Gens. I think 2000 and 2001 had some of them.
Check out www.craigslist.com. Search 'diesel' or 'Dodge' and there will be a few come up.

dodgeguy71

There's guys around here that could tell you how to get some crazy hp out of a 12V, but if the ease of plug and play is what your looking for then 2nd Gen or 3rd. I bought my 2nd gen knowing about the VP issues and put it into my head that I may very well end up buying one. It was good though, Dodge paid for it when it pooped out. Other than that just watch out for the "53" block as mentioned before.

Oldschooldodge

What's the "53" block? Why is it so bad?

dieselJon

A 12v you could spend nothing but the energy to look here on the computer and get a few more ponies by simply twisting a screw or 2. But plug and play you spend money but get infinite power almost between 2 selections. Your choice but I would rather get free ponies but I understand it is a pain to turn it back down on the run.

Jon

John_P

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Oldschooldodge:

You asked why the "53" blocks are so bad.

Some of the "53" blocks had bad castings from the type of steel Cummins used. They have long since corrected this problem. What happens on the bad "53" blocks, is they generally crack on the passenger side of the engine and the cracks usually develop right along a straight line even with the freeze plugs. I have seen them crack all the way down the side of the engine to the rear portion of the block behind the #6 piston.

Hope this helps you some.

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John_P

bmoeller

LOL LOL I agree. I control the power with my right foot. Infinite possibilities from idle to WOT. LOL All the way up to nearly 400RWHP.

Psychobilly

Thanks for the info guys, I won't rule out 12v's anymore.