dave78

hello all out there.. would just like to hear some opinions about switchin' from an '04.5 2500 QC 4x4/6-spd. to a 94-98 12 valve/5-spd. I know im in a slightly biased area for this question.. I'm used to havin' older vehicles and working on them and i kinda miss it!! my 04.5 is my first cummins (bought new), but after readin' about modifying the 12V for a while, it started getting me thinking not quite sure if it would pay off to sell my truck and buy a 12V though with what my truck is worth. anyhow, throw out some ideas.. especially if anyone here has done what i'm thinkin' of doing..

JKM

I'll give you an even trade for my 95

P.J

Tough call. It's not just a question of the differences in motor, you have to think about the overall age of every single part on the the truck. I would like to have a 12V too, but do I want "older" everything else with more miles that goes along with it? No.

doomgaze

I faced a similar issues a couple of weeks ago.

I traded in a 2005 Ram 3500 for an 01. The 05 had 29,000 miles and this one has 65,000. It was a tough decision, but in the end I am much happier. This 01 is my dream truck.

dave78

i hear what you're sayin' about the "rest of the truck" and if that part is worth trading my new truck for. i almost bought an '01 H.O./6-spd. right before i bought my 04.5, and i wished now that i would have bought the '01. Just seemed a lot nicer to drive for what i do with the truck (seemed to shift easier.. liked the 3.55's also). i like your '95 btw JKM.. you must be a car dealer wantin' an even trade for mine

P.J

In this case (and any for me) Condition rules. Guys that have decent looking trucks are 9 times out of ten the same guys that are **** about maintenance. Likewise, a fellow with a dinged up dingy truck with coffee spilled over the interior might not be the most attentive to his trucks needs.

I'm not one that has to have the "latest and greatest", so I can see where you are comming from. My dream truck is not a NEW one either it's actaully a 01.5 or 02 STANDARD CAB.

dave78

i hear ya.. and i'm one of those "**** about maintainance guys" which is a reason i might stick with the truck that i bought brand new

P.J

Roger that, I bought mine with 30K on, to me that was "new"! The sad part is the people that don't plan on maintaining them could care less how much time and money you have into yours when it's time to trade or sell it. (most people anyway)
Seems like most of the guys here can pick up on when someone has taken care of rig, in the real world,... not so much.

Sticking with whatcha got is a safe play.

DodgeDawg2500

I agree with P.J. You gotta "go with what brung ya"........ Keep your new truck.... Thats my opinion anyway

robert chilton

Man I am **** about maintanence and my truck has a few dings and coffee stains on the dash Then again I am planning a frame off redo in 4 years.

JKM

If i had some money I'd offer to gave that to ya too as part of the trade but to be honest, i don't have any.

I am kind of **** about maintenance too , i am planning to pull the box off of my truck , and get in there and clean the frame all up , and paint it with POR , or rust bullet. I get under it and grease it every 2 weeks , or more often if it is in much water (once in a while around the farm i have to cross a stream) I just put in 191DV's today , and wow , for the hour or so they took to put in, they sure bumped up the HP...

I am very happy with my truck , but i have never owned a new vehicle , and i want to some day , and i keep finding myself looking at 06's, i almost bought a left over 05 before i bought my 95...

CoastalDav

The really good thing about an older truck is, it has senority. Besides, if a guy wanted a jump start, you could take the battery out of your truck to start his while yours keeps running like the battery was still in there, and if that did not work he could borrow your alternator and yours would still make it to his place. Can't do that with a 24v of any kind.

In other words, thats a true diesel engine in them older trucks.

You gotta love that.

I was impressed with my 96.

Dave