Sorry for such a noob question, but I'm in the market, or going to be looking for a 1st Gen Ram. I was curious on what the difference between the 1st Gen and 2nd Gen 12V engine. I'm not going to be doing competition pulls or anything, but when I'm pulling my drag car with a group of friends, I want to make sure I'm not the last diesel in line, I'd like to show up some of those D-Max's and Power Strokes/6.0's.

Thanks guys.

 

Big thing is the first gens had a different pump than the 2nd gen 12vs, and the 2nd gen 24vs have the VP44.

I think the first gens are probably the easiest to turn up (mechanically) if I am correct, I think the "main" adjustment is called a fuel pin or screw??

2nd gen 12vs have the fuel plates.

2nd gen 24vs can be turned up with electronic stuff (if their VP44 hasn't exploded no hard feelings guys ).

 

Same camshafts and similar performance to the later 12V's then? I would assume the easy mods would be open the exhaust up and turn up the fuel and I'd be set?

 

The VE won't provide enough fuel to run with the 6.slows I don't think. I am almost 100 percent certain you won't come close to catching a D-max.

Same cams, heads, yada, yada, just a P7100 pump vs. the VE. You are going to have to change at least the injectors and play with the pump ( fuel plate, starwheel, etc. ) on the pump with the P7100.

The big thing is, if you choose a 1st gen, make sure it is a 91.5 or later Intercooled unit.

 

Right, I was on top of the intercooled years, thanks for the heads up. It sounds like a little bit of cash to make the older Cummins run with anything new?
You lost me on the fuel plate/starwheel. What is stock for the 1st Gen? The 2nd Gen would be the upgrade and a different fuel plate?
Thanks again.

 

400HP is easily obtained with the VE and is not too expensive to do with the usual intake and exhaust plumbing, bigger injectors and turbo.

600HP with a heavily modded VE.

No silly programmers required.

 

I have a 97 with the fuel plate... completely different truck with that alone. I will be o ringing my head and then fabbing my own twins. almost nothing is an expensive mod on my truck, i'm a college student and still get goodies every now and then. I would say you almost cant go wrong with a 2nd gen.

 

The 1st gens have a distributor pump, the 2nd gen 12vers have an inline p-pump and the 2nd gen 24s have vp pumps. For the easies cheapest horsrpower I would recommend a later model 12ver (97-98) with a manual trans (215hp pump). There is lots of hp available for cheap and FREE if you read up on it. I have no problem with any of the others but I do believe the diesel hp and speed records are held by 12vers.

 

A 1st gen 12v head will flow more air than a 2gen 12v head. A

 

Engine changes though the years here> http://dodgeram.org/tech/dsl/Facts/epa_changes.htm

 

Why, arent they the same? I have never pulled a 1st gen.

 

Thanks for the posts guys, keep 'em commin'!!

 

I see where it says head casting improvements on the 91 but thats still a first gen so I would guess they are the same or similar on the rest.

 

Thats the first time I've ever heard that, call me skeptical, but I'd like to know where you got that info.

The improvements to the 91.5 heads involved changing the injector bores from 9mm to 7mm to reduce the tendency to crack in that area. There maybe other improvements, but I am unaware of them.

 

When I was looking into parts for my project truck the guy I was talking to on DR (OregonPharmer aka OP) who has a EXCELLENT rep told me to use the following "The head is an opportunity, and I would locate a ported and polished first generation with the larger injector bosses cut in. Have that head cleaned up to get the exhaust valve guide castings out of the way of #1 and #6, and have the cast-in bolt bosses on the front that extend through to the #1 port runner furnace welded closed and then grind off the internal protrusions. The first generation head is by far the best head you can use for performance work, it is thicker and stronger, and once you clean up the ports it will outflow anything newer." Thus I went with the same head but will do above once I get home.