I may be leaving the first gen world and going to the third gen world. I am looking at an 03 dodge ram with the 5.9 common rail i believe. The truck is a 6sp manual. I love it but in order for me to get it i have to sell my 89 right after i get the new truck. should i look for anything on the third gen truck?

 

if you buy it and say plan on putting a edge juice with attitude monitor in, i'd recommend a turbo upgrade. i can never remember what turbo is on the 3rd gen trucks but i know it only has a 9cm turbine housing on it. and with the edge set to race mode (#5) you'll be pushing 40psi before you know it. i know this from seeing it on my grandpa's new '03 with the 6-speed in it. shifted into 3rd gear and gave it maybe 3/4 throttle and the little alarm went off alerting him when it reached 40psi. it would do it through the rest of the gears too. or just keep the setting below #5

 

Kinda the wrong section but look for the death wobble.

Accelerate at highway speeds then let out of the throttle, might go all over the road.

do you know if anything is done to the truck?

Nothing will ever beat the simplicity and reliability of your 89, i'm telling you that now. and your 89 will be a tough sell with 500,000 miles on it. I'd keep driving it till the wheels fall off

 

One huge problem to look for in a 3rd gen is all the electronics. If you see an OBD port or lots a clutter in the engine compartment...RUN AWAY!!! LOL, I'm just kidding man. Good luck. Don't forget your fist gen roots though! haha.

 

I'm sure you'll miss your 1st gen man!!! but newer trucks are always nice too! my uncle had an 03 6 speed and he didn't really like it. he had anEZ EDGE chip on it and he said he had the death wobble and he had the whole front end rebuilt twice. He had about 100,000 miles on it when he got rid of and bought an 08 6.7, and he said the engine was goin funny, and it would die all the time, So I'd look for an 05 or 06 if i was you.

 

my dad's 05 is in the shop right now.

runs rough when you start it and spools so ungodly slow.

comp. needs a reflash.

 

dont buy an edge box buy the smarty and get the gauges. the edge runs hot. also i love my 03 and at times i wish id bought a manual. the only thing is they have 4.10 gears and dont get the best fuel mileage but the 03's and 4s get the best fuel mileage.

 

Thanks for all the comments and stuff to look for. I will miss my 89 but you have to do what you have to do. I am deffinetly going to get guages for this truck.

 

not all 6 speed trucks have 4.10's....

 

my grandpa's '03 6-speed has 3.73's

 

well i can tell you from my experiance. i like my 04 i got with the 6 speed (yes it has 3.73's in it) but i really miss my 90. i loved the simplicity of it and how it sounded. nothing beats an old 12 valve straight piped and i have noticed that the 1st gen guys are really helpful and supportive of everyone else. the 3rd gen guys seem like they aren't as helpful and if you disagree with them about certain programmers or power add ons they start blasting you. and they seem to be about how much better their truck is than yours. just my .02 but can tell you i miss my 90 terribly. any info i need about my 3rd gen i call a friend since i have had some rude dealings with people on the 3rd gen area lol

 

As far as the death wobble goes I was told it only happens to the 4 wd and not the 2 wd. This info was from a very reliable source. I am eventually going to replace my crew cab with an 06 Mega cab if I can ever find one with a 6 spd. Good luck!!....Augie

 

dads 05 did this got the front end realighned fixed it.

 

You will be pleased with the 03, mine has 85k on it and runs stronger everyday I drive it, plus its gets 22 mpg, thats what i love the most about it,

 

I been trying to leave but i cant sell my 1st gen. I am only going to a 24valve so i wont be totally lost with electronics.