I'm in the market for a 94 to 98 12 valve, what year would you buy and what are some of the things to look for? I'm thinking a dually with a auto.

thanks for the help.

 

everyone I talk to says the early 98's are the ones you want -- Quadcab, with 12v, 215 hp. Watch for the 53 block and the "killer dowel pin" and you would have a sweet ride. The manual seems preferred over the auto, especially if you plan to increase HP and torque from stock. Happy Hunting!

I also here the newer interior is available with the 98 also, but I am not sure....

 

Here are some highlights through the years of 12v's:

- 94-97:Only 1 bed length available,long bed. So, if its a ext. cab, you get the limo. Shortbed came in 98 and up, and thats only with an ext. cab.

- 96-98 manual trucks came with 215hp, and the legondary 215hp p7100 inline injection pump. The pump all bombers want. The most reliable injection pump offered in dodge diesel land. Why is it reliable? Zero electronics. The best thing since...........okay ill stop. (note: 94-98 12v all had the good injection pump, just at lower hp levels,180,175,etc.)

- Interior change in 98.
- No quad cab untill 98
- I think the manual tranny shift pattern changed in 98 for smoother operation.

HP Levels:
94-95 auto:160hp/400tq manual:175hp/420tq
96-98 auto:180hp/420tq manual:215hp/440tq

Autos have dana 70 rears. Manuals have dana 80 rears. All 3500's have 80's

So as you can see the manual is built a little heaver with higher hp/tq.

53 block is not a issue with the 12v's
Do fix the KDP ASAP when you get your rig. Cannot stress that enough It got me 6 months after i got my truck.

Just some facts i looked at when picking out the one i wanted. Check sig. The hardest one to get. Heck yea im proud. Searched long and hard for that baby.


Feel free to ask any more questions -Jake

 

DZLPWR, thanks for the info! I sorta wanted to get the auto this time, but I do haul some pretty heavy loads sometimes. Would the dana 70 be safe hauling a 5000lb. camper? I do want the dually. is the dana 70 in the dually also? What is the tops for hp say a 98 auto? with of course a rebuilt tranny.

I see your sig says USAF. MY son is in the air force as a fireman in Germany.

thanks again

 

If you're even half-way undecided about it, go for a 5-speed transmission. The only thing to really worry about is the clutch, which at 278k I had replaced with a South Bend unit for $665 installed. The Automatics do not handle the torque well and fail on a regular basis. The 5-speed is also very nice to drive.

 

All duallys wether it's automatic or manual have Dana 80's.

Also one thing to note: '97 and up have the hydroboost brake system rather than the "old skool" vacuum brakes, the hydro is leaps and bounds much better.

 

5000lbs isnt a problem for a auto. Its just when your increasing HP, it dosent like it much. If you tow most of the time then go with the 5spd. It shifts very well for such a large tranny. With a clutch, the 5spd will handle alot of power.

The HP limit for these engines has not been reached. Last ive heard was around 850-900hp in a truck. 1000hp in a puller truck.

Congrats to your son. Im in DEP right now, leaving Oct 19 for active duty in Aircraft metals technology (maching and welding). -Jake

 

when you guys say the auto won't handle torque well are I assume you mean a stock tranny? A full DTT would handle any amount of torque even for towing right?

 

Yes, as far as i know, a full on built tranny will handle the power you throw at it as long as your under the trannys rating. Im not sure about the in's and out's of autos, but from what ive heard, if you plan on bombing go ahead with the full on "race?" tranny and youll love it. I know two guys on here that have around 600hp and there trannys are holding up for the most part. Input shafts seem to be the common thing to go. A billet input shaft is supposed to be the cure.

The auto guys on here may chime in with some better info. -Jake

 

I happen to know personally where you can find a '97 with an auto for sale

 

nevrenufhp, As long as it was a dually that would be sweet

 

I'm kinda partial to the dash of the '98's, with the better cupholders, and newer dash layout. I'm really using the heck out of the quad cab, as well.

I do wish we had the full control over the HVAC system like the '94-'97 trucks, though.. can't get air to the defroster vents without A/C, or air to the face vents and the floor vents without A/C on mine..

I've also got the heated power mirrors.. pretty nice, but they do shake, and I see a whole lotta dually fender looking in them. I don't *think* they were available before '98? Could very well be wrong on that.

 

hey i was looking at a 98 that i liked but what im wondering is this, do you guys know if they made a 98 12v with the new interior but not the quad cab? looking at this great truck but it says club cab and by the pictures it doesnt look like it has the quad cab. i know i could just call but that would be to EZ.

chris

 

Awhile ago I looked at two 98's that had the new interior and clubcab. Not all 98's are quads.

 

Bill can and does build a great transmission, but there are a few things to remember when towing. If you have 3.54 gears then if you tow at speeds that drop you below 1750 rpms or so be prepaired to drop to 3 gear lockup. Reverse is geared closer to second gear than first and tends to heat up if you use reverse for a long way.
If I never towed or very little the automatic would be fine but that is not the case. I would like to find a speed that I
wont to pull and select a gear to have around 1900 or so rpm. Not 2500, that is just me. If you find a 5 speed it needs to be a fully splined main shaft, or a 6 speed that had a 1.375 input shaft. For 100% towing ( for me a 6 speed would be hard to beat) Now the 4 speed may be what you need to spool a set of twins and tow if that is your intent. I suggest that when you add the shafts to the automatic that the price is not cheap. If you add a good clutch to a 6 speed the price may be closer to what you wont to spend. That is just a idea to consider Jim