I don't have any experience with the pre VP motors but my 99.5 is a strong running truck and I think if I hadn't done the idiotic running on a plugged fuel filter I'd still be running the original pump on my truck.
I don't know what kind of abuse or bad luck is causing VP-44 to get such a bad rap..
NOW the tranny...different subject. The STOCK auto was never meant for low speed rock crushing torque and mine lasted about 50k before it crapped out. I've heard from people with manuals that if you still have the nice quiet spiral cut gears you probably already have a cracked case.
I also replaced the lift pump with a FASS when it died early on but it was kind of dumb to mount a pump an a hot vibrating survace like the engine.

For me I would say the biggest drawback of virtually every year Dodge I've seen is the plastic. Dashboards must be made out of saltines, the headlights fog and yellow in the first couple of years, the overhead console clips are living on borrowed time straight from the factory and the worst I've found is the insulation on the wiring. Three times now I've had electrical gremlins that I've traced back to wires rotting out because the insulation was faulty and lett in moisture. The fog lights were the worst, I ended up replacing the entire harness because every break I found caused another.

 

-----------------------------------------
RAMRODD,...I am well aware that you don't have to use your clutch. But you still have to move that shifter of yours and while you are doing that my highly modified auto is very quickly shifting from gear to gear. And based on the MANY drag races I have had in my diesel pickup for the last 10-15 years (with many against Dodge Diesel Manuals NV-4500, NV-5600, G-56's) I am saying I don't think you can do it faster than my auto can shift!

But to make this interesting, I would LOVE to drag race your truck at any of the upcoming ODS (Outlaw Diesel Series Drag Races) or NHRDA Drag Series
coming this spring and summer. The first one I will be at is on Saturday April 24, 2015 in N.C. Bring your truck out Sir, and lets line em up!

-------------
Respectfully,

John_P

 

John we have never gotten along on this site I'm thinking we wouldn't get along in person either.
You probably have 300 hp more then my truck you win!!
But good luck in your race

 

I was gonna advise an administrator about how this thread was deteriorating, then I checked the posters and figured I'd better let it slide!

 

-------------------------------------
No problem Mike,......just a little "banter" going on between two guys "who don't get along" and have very different opinions about manual vs automatic transmissions on our trucks.

 

-------------------------------------------
RAMRODD,... you are right about you said in saying "you and I have never gotten along on this site." My issue with you is the way you give advice and word things to other members here all the while "slamming" the choices that other members make. On this thread, everyone can see you DON'T like automatic transmissions. That's fine, but why not just leave it that?
In my opinion, all the rest of your comments beyond that are really not needed.

 

You mean you don't like to tug on Superman's cape?

Eh, it's all good, Lary would have had quite the laugh......