Have been reading about the 12V and how it is highly sought after. I think I have just found one today, what a great test ride (first time in a Cummins).
Seller had no clue about the truck except that it runs great. A VIN search revealed the eigth digit to be a "D". The truck has 335000km and I might get it for around 7000 Cdn. There is wispy white smoke coming out of oil dipstick.
Still don't know about the block (hope it isn't the dreaded "53").

Cross my fingers hehehe

 

whats the 8th didget being a "D" have to do with anything. what does it tell you

 

It means it's a 12 valve, not the dreaded 24.

 

'D' in the 8th digit is a 12V.

 

ah thats why it means so much man D is a good letter

D = DIESEL and/or 12V what more could a guy want

 

Here is a handy table...
http://www.dodgeram.org/tech/specs/VIN_decode.htm

 

That handy table was much appreciated.

My thanks goes out to "rbuchada" for confirming my future truck is a 12V life is good hehehhe.
Anyone have any idea why white smoke would be wisping out of oil dipstick,

merci beacoup a tous

 

That is blow by. Take a look at the blow by tube gowing down by the stater see if is plugged. And if it is not you must be pulling the stick with the engine running. All diesels blow by. The price is right check the overflow bottle on the rad if it is clean you should be good to go. It will double the klics that are on it easily.

 

Time to express my newfound joy in being a new "cummins" owner of a gently used 98 12 valve. I performed a carfax on the VIN and it came back squeaky clean. Thanks to "rbuchada" I decoded the VIN and the motor is from Mexico, couldn't see "53" anywhere. The owner mentionned that he had purchased it from a private auction dealer at 290000km, it was pearl blue and he had it painted black which was evident under the hood, you could still see blue. There is some chrome around wheel wells and the front grill looks very good. Never thought I would be thinking of shining chrome one day hehehehe. Even though the vehicle is a 98 it wasn't plated until 99 (till 03 where it sat somewhere until late 04). The owner plated it in January '05 and again this year.
Pulled the truck over a clean drop sheet, and let the truck idle while I took pictures (unfortunately in my haste I have only a shot of the engine), I learnt the hard way that you can't take pictures in edit mode. The drop sheet was spotless except for a clear damp spot the size of a loonie. The owner had some bearing work done front and back, and brakes (which worked better than on my car which I have just done a month ago). Truck idles nice and clean along with starting up very clean, noticed some wisp of white smoke coming from oil dipstick area and thanks to some great people out there I found out it was only blow back.
The test ride was out of this world, everything felt tight (like new), the brake pedal had very little wear (which I think indicates lots of highway), never plowed or towed. As we pulled into the strip mall where I was going to meet up with my wife, she was coming out of the dollar store and heard a truck coming, looked up and saw me beaming behind the wheel (later on mentionned that she liked the sound, my kind of gal).
Our maintenance manager in Quebec City is a devoted cummins owner and mentionned that if it doesn't smoke at all some work has been done to it. I check the acceleration from 100km/h to 130km/hr and the RPM rose gradually with increase in speed so tranny looks good. No sway at all and I grew up learning to drive Ford F-100 where the steering wheel had a natural sway all to it self heheh. Will have our contract maintenance mechanic for our forklifts have a look at the truck tomorrow.
Have agreed on $7500Cdn, and wil conclude the transtion tomorrow night if alls goes as planned, its like I am experiencing Christmas as a kid again will have trouble sleeping.
Will post pics tomorrow night, for now here is the engine!!!!!!

Here goes an attempt to post my only picture [img][/img], maybe I can't post a pic at the moment (it could also be an ID 10 T problem heheheh)

Bonne Nuit

Serge

 

I think the 53 blocks were from 99 to 2001
I am no expert but I was told at one time and from memory this is what I remember.
also...I heard that the 53 blocks were OK as long as you left it stock.
BTW...I had a 2001 24V sold it,and bought a 97 12v
It was a step down body wise,but engine wise...I absolutely LOVE the 12V.
I had 3 12Vs in the past went to the 24v,hated the fuel mileage,and went back to this 12v.
I will never go back.

 

What I meant, 53 or not, is that in my opinion any 24 valve is dreaded.
Who wants a diesel engine that isn't reliable?

 

I am not much of a diesel mechanic but as my wife said 12 valves has less moving parts than a 24 valve engine, less valves to wear or act funny.
Can`t wait till 6:30P M tonight will be able to give my new girl a big hug (grinning from ear to ear)

One happy frenchman!!!!!!

 

I thought it was block 99. 12 valves are easier and cheaper to build anyways, mechanical pump might have something to do with it?

 

It is now official my black beauty is parked under my carport (had to pull the wife's Maxima out). Will get a temporary tomorrow which will give me 10 days to get it safetied and e-tested.
Will then drive in to work and see if I can get by unnoticed hehehehe.

This is the end of my introduction to "the Wonderful World of Cummins"
Diesel 101 begins tonight under its own thread.

Thanks to all who helped me snag this rare pearl.

Merci Beaucoup tous les mondes Serge

 

Bon jour Serge:

Congratulations on your new find. Beaucoup du chance (sp). Now dig into this site and find out all you can about your truck. Go through all fluids and filters and you will gain some great knowledge and get some good wrench skills. Then if the bug bites, you can start with some simple improvements. Search on the KDP (Killer Dowel Pin) and start there. This site has some great info and great folks, so ask away and welcome.

Paul