I just bought a really nice, very low mile '97 ext. cab, 4wd, Cummins, auto with 3.54 rear. Ya'll might think I'm crazy, but I'm kicking the idea around of selling it and getting a 1st gen instead. I've never driven one of the 250's or 350's. How do they compare with the 2nd gens? I love the looks of them, but I don't want to have to wear a kidney belt when I drive it. What do you think? I might still be able to get my hands on a club cab W350 auto.

Thanks

 

Well anvilt..... (insert some spitting, snarfing and hitching up the pants....) real men drive the 1st Gens.... the woosies and girlies drive the cadillac suspension 2nd gen and arghhhh..... 3rd gen trucks.... SNARF...


Pastor Bob...what's a pastor gotta do to get a drink around here....

 

THis is true. I will never get rid of my 1st gen truck. Sure it rides a little rough. All real trucks do. If I want a smooth ride, I take the wives toy highlander for a spin. You can smooth out our trucks a little and it does feel much better, but still, straight axle trucks will ride rougher then spring loaded trucks. I'd get the 1st gen if I were you. They are just a nicer truck to own.

 

I agree us REAL MEN dont worry about no stink'n kindney belts or cushy cadilac rides. The only thing we care about are trucks and you can't go wrong with a first gen. I think they are by far the best looking truck dodge ever put out. They may have their little quarks but that makes every truck just a little different than the next and it also makes it yours. As for finding a good W2-350 the only thing I can say is good luck, they are out there but you just gotta find em.

Paws

 

well ya know, thats the same situation im in, selling my 02 for a 92 in imaculate condition. so do yall think im crazy??

 

now come on guys ....... atleast us 2nd gen guys ( except for 98.5 and up ) are still running a properly valved engine. that has to count for something ......... later, scott

 

Buy my 92. I'll give you a kidney belt with the purchase, but you wont need it. They dont ride bad, They're a bad ride!
-Jim-

 

If it's too harsh, there's always air ride.

 

I bet my "properly" valved 2nd gen truck rides worse than all of your first gen's.

It rides as harsh as my first truck, a 1974 F250 Highboy.

Skyjacker = Kidneyjacker.


phox

 

My first gen. don't ride to bad out on the high way. Around town or on some country roads it can get kinda rough, not nothing to bad. I think some new shocks might help that a bit. As for the first to the second gen., theres just something about the first gen. that makes it more enjoyable to drive.

 

You guys certainly seem to love your 1st Gens. A couple other issues I'd like to know about are wind noise and turning radius. How do they compare to the 2nd Gen trucks?
I saw someone mention crossover steering to vastly improve the steering on the older models. How involved is that conversion and how much $$??

 

u meant improperly valved 2nd gen phox........ i have a properly valved 2nd gen scott

 

ive got 92 4x4 with auto ill trade you straight across. this thing runs good.

 

I have over 200,000 miles and still put less each month into it than the payments on my last truck (no money into the engine yet). Not to mention the insurance difference. Down time has not been more than the other vehicle with 50,000 less miles. Mostly due to my own mistakes during repair. I'll take the harsher ride. Karen talked me out of trading for a newer one a while back, and I'm glad she did. She even said if I did get another I can't get rid of it until the engine comes apart. I guess I didn't realize my own power when I sold her on it. Plus it has retrieved lots of hay for her horses. If she saw how hard I was driving it when plowing out the cabin for the first time last week, she'd take my keys away. Luckily, the trannys, axles, and driveshafts tend to reach their breaking points before the engine gets there. I'll be looking for a new cab this summer, and will make it nice and cozy when the time comes.......ok, I'm boring myself now.....

 

Take it FWIW. I drive my '93 every day, My '02 stays in the garage and gets drove maybe twice a month (sunday go to meetin truck). As far as wind noise goes, The guy I bought it from had just replaced all of the weatherstripping before he sold it to me and it is just as airtight as my '02. As for the turning radius, When you turn right it turns on a dime but left turns take a country mile I think the pitman arm might need to be turned a little bit if its possible? so I think that they turn about the same as the 2nd gens. Both are awesome trucks.