I really have enjoyed looking at many of the posts, but now I need some advice.

I am looking at a 91 reg cab 2wd Cummins Dually with 3.54 rears, and auto trans. I may be going to buy it in the morn. It has 66,000 miles on it, and I can likely get it for $6,000. It has air, but is a pretty plain truck other then that.
Is it a 10,000 gvw?
What is the GCVW of that year and rear end?

I have heard things to make me concerned about the trannies in the dodges, but perhaps they are unfounded.

I will likely be towing about a 6,000 to 8,000 lb trailer all day everyday with a mix of city and highway. I will likely be putting 35,000 miles per year. I don't need to win any races, but do want to be safe. I have always appreciated the cummins, and my father-in-law has a 93 that is a real beut. To pretty to work like I plan to do to mine.

Anyway, would a truck as described above be a suitable vehicle for this application, or am I asking more from the old girl then I should be. I know it will pull the weight, I just don't want to ruin trannies, and rearends left and right.

Also, does anyone know what a rebuild on an auto of that year would run. I don't know much about the previous ownership, so want to be prepared to put a tranny in if neccesary.

Any thoughts on what to look for when looking at this truck in the morn?

Thanks so much for your time.

Jay

 

I had to replace the tranny in my 92 last Nov. I bought the truck from my wifes uncle, he used it to haul his fifth wheel back and forth to the lake. The big gear on the input shaft just gave up the ghost, they said they haven't seen this one before, so maybe a fluke, but they showed me the clutches and only 1 or 2 looked like they had any damage, the shop even asked me if they wanted me to reuse the clutches they thought to be good, H NO, replace it all. I think the total cost was only about $11-1200.00. Mine has the same rear end, limited slip and is fine. IMHO it'll pull the gates of of haidies if the chain don't brake, just get trailer brakes

 

I believe most duallys in that year model were 10,000 GVW. If you open the drivers door there should be a sticker in the door jam with GVW, tire size and lots of other info.
The truck has very low milage. The engine will be good for years.
The transmission is not my specialty. I believe that year transmission is pretty good. I would just make sure you have a good trans cooler and keep the fluid changed in it.
I also believe that it would be better if the truck had a little lower ratio in the rear end. The 3.54 will work OK but for that kind of pulling 3.73 or 4.10 would be better.
As far as I know Dodge never put 3.73 gears in their CTD trucks till 2003. I put an aftermarket set of 3.73 gears in mine and love how it runs.
If you have ever owned a truck with a gas engine, then you will really appreciate that Dodge Cummins. Much better pulling power and fuel milage.
Frosty

 

My 89 had 142000 miles on it when I traded it and a lawn care business across the river bought it. It is still in service now and I have a dump bed insert on it so you know it gets used. It was an auto 4x4 and I never had a problem with it in the ten years I owned it but I realized the trans was the weak link in that truck and drove it as such. I did pull trailers, pulled stumps, pulled people out of ditchess, and stuff like that. The only thing I did in the ten years was adjust the bands twice on the trans.

 

Does yours have overdrive? I've been told here all 1st gen autos have 3:07. You might check it again. The only thing the axles give you trouble with are the rear brake adjusters, and antilock sensor, but you can take care of that. With that low mileage, get the truck. You should easily be able to get your money back if you don't like it, but you'll probably keep it unless you decide to get a 4x4.

 

Thanks for your great replies fellas, I appreciate it.

The thing that scares me is that is has been for sale, and advertized in a truck paper for around a month now and has not sold yet. Seems like with the miles and stuff, it should have been long gone unless something is up with the truck.

It was formerly owned by a municipality who kept it for 10 years, I hope maintenance was good.

I am used to diesels, My current trucks are a F350 6.9 and a F250 95 PSD. I really like the way the PSD pulls, but I am concerned that the wear and tear will soon catch up to it. The 6.9 has been fine, low on power but fine, the rest of the truck seems to always have something wrong.

Interesting frostie, that you had a dump insert, cus I am thinking of doing the same thing. I am a bit concerned about payload seeing how the insert likely weighs 1,000 or so pounds, and the truck likely will weigh in the neighborhood of 7,000.

On the rear end, the kid who owns it called and said he looked in his book and it said it was a 3.54. I told him to look at the door to see if it would say, or give him an axle code to cross refference, but he told my wife that he could not find anything on the door. I wonder what book he has that would tell him the rear end size, the ones I have seen are general for that model year, but who knows.

Thanks so much, and I will gladly receive any other input.

Jay

 

Redleg

Not sure if it has overdrive or not, and not sure if the fella is right about the rear. My father in law's has the 3.08 in a 93 ext cab, but I thought he said it was a special order thing. I have no clue though.

Also, are these early beasts pretty easy to work on? I would assume since they are mechanical in nature trouble shooting and repairs should not be that bad compared to the newer trucks.

How about parts, are they real expensive compared to auto's? My 95 is terrible expensive for parts, the old 86 6.9 is pretty cheap, really not much different then the gas trucks I have had in the past. Just currious.

Again thank you
Jay

 

Jay, half way through 91, they put inner-coolers on the trucks and overdrive transmissions. These have the newer style grill.

Keep in mind the manufacturers are offering 0 perc financing and rebates right now. This kills used car sales. Take it for a test drive and come back if you notice any quirks. A lot of simple stuff can seem like big problems. Check the oil and cooling system. Pull the rubber intake boot off the turbo. See if the fins look clean, and spin freely without a lot of play.

 

Thanks Redleg

Can you help me identify if this one would have the intercooler? What does it look like, and or what was the build date when they first appeared? If it has overdrive, by default does it mean that it is intercooled?

Can you tell me what the benifits would have been for an early model intercooler as opposed to a non intercooled engine?

Thanks for your advice
Jay

 

Non inner cooled has the horn that crosses the top of the engine from the turbo. Inner cooled intake runs toward the radiator. The first indicator from just looking at the front of the truck is the newer chrome grill that covers the entire front, instead of the thin insert they used since the '80's. They introduced o/d and innercooled together.

You won't really need to worry about an I/C until you do some serious mods, or heavy pulling. I have my pump turned up and don't really need one yet.

 

You guys have been a great help, I appreaciate it.

I have been foiled none the less. A guy got there this morning and bought it. It was funny, I was speaking to the kid this morning, and he said a guy was going to be there in 10 minutes, so I said let me know when he leaves so I don't make a long trip for nothing. Anyway I start asking questions, and had one more to go before he got a call. He put me on hold, and we lost the connection. I thought oh well, I will just wait and talk to him after the guy leaves. My question was, will you take a 6,000 cashiers check if I came up.

So I talk to the kid and he says it is sold, and I ask him how much he got for it...he said $5,500! He was asking 6,800. Makes me think there were some things wrong with the truck that he was aware of, and maybe the other fella was aware of, and he took what he could get. I shall like to think that I missed out on a potential headache, or at least that is my sour grapes approach. The looking will continue much to my wife's dismay.

Thanks so much guys.
Jay

 

No, Frostie didn't have the insert, I did.
DOH...........
That thing was really handy for sure. I bought it at Truck Craft up in Chambersburg Pa.

 

dieseldude

Sorry bro, I guess my cold is blureing my vision, or perhaps it is just a touch of retardation.

Yeah, the Truckcraft look real nice, especially that aluminum job. I really like the looks of the Maxi-dumps with two pistons. Really to use it to it's fullest, you would crush the truck.

My Father-inlaw is selling his with less then 80,000 on it, ext cab, no rust excellant paint and air bags to boot. He wants 12,000 for it, if it was 4wd I would be in, but it is not. Would be a great truck though.

Take care
Jay