I've been a diesel mechanic/welder for some time now and have yet to see the inside of any Cummins 5.9 diesel and was kinda wondering if they have sleeved cylinders or if they are parent-bored????? I always thought that Cummins is a sleeved engine but wanted to make sure.....CAT is sleeved and I love it.

Also, I am looking at a real clean 99 Dodge 2500, cummins, q-cab, long bed, 4x4, auto, 223K mi., for $10,000...Got some working truck dents and a gooseneck hitch in bed, so has towed. After ensuring that it does not have the code 53 block, I will probably go and buy it. Hopefully have it next week. Wanted to ask if anyone had any input on whether its a good deal or a good year model. Also wanted to know if the transmission should hold up to that many miles????

 

The cummins in these trucks are not sleeved unfortunately. Would be really sweet if they were.

As far as the auto, who knows. If it's been well taken care of then yeah it should last. But it's been towed with so who knows how heavy or how much abuse it's been put through. I'd be a hair leary. I'd definately drive it and beat on it a little bit to see if it's slipping and how it shifts.

 

I do plan on doing some driving to make sure it will handle some daily stress and strain, but I would rebuild the auto if needed. Good excuse to build a performance one!!! LOL! I used to be a hardcore manual fan, but with the technology and aftermarket stuff out for the autos, I have converted to the lazy side. If cummins was sleeved that would be so good icing on a really sweet cake.

I will also ask this since you have more experience with these trucks than I do and also as not to start another post, I have heard many great things about the 12V being super good engines minus the KDP (but simple fix), but liked the idea of the 24V because I can put a tuner on it and pick the power or fuel econ... Is there a way to build the 12V to get great fuel mileage yet still have as much power as the 24's? And what kind of mileage are people getting from the 12's? I had an 06 2500 and got 19mpg in it (not broken in). I want to build my truck being more mindful of dependability and economy over power, but I do want it to be as powerful as the new trucks. I want around 300hp/600tq. Is this possible with the 12V engine? If so I will buy the one my friend has for sale. It is a super clean 98 with 120K miles for $9K.

 

Well the Cummins isn't sleeved from the factory- but you can go for 2 oversizes, then bore even bigger for a repair sleeve and then go for oversizes again.
I think that this is the best of both worlds- no problems with leaking sleeve o-rings and almost indefinite rebuildability.
The 12V can be tuned to very nice power and good economy. Search for valet switch here.
The advantage the 2nd gen offers over the 3rd gen is that they are much lighter. For mileage you have to look for 3.55 axles.

HTH

AlpineRAM