Hi, Im in the markit for a diesel. Ive been comparing brands and from what iv seen and heard these Cummins seem to hold up best to mods with stock internals and have better efficiency. Perfance parts seem to be a bit cheaper to. But anyway, Im lookin for opinons from people that own them. So any info yall wanna give me would be great. Thanks.

 

What are your goals for the truck? Be it daily driver, tow rig, race truck, high horsepower. Answering that question will help everybody help you find the truck you are looking for.

I have had my truck for about a month and I love it. I like knowing that if I need to pass someone I have the power to do so and I like the fact that I am getting 16 mpg in the city which is way better then the 8 mpg I was getting with my Bronco and diesel only cost ten cents more then gas out by me. I also like knowing the i can put almost anything that me or my dad own and the cummins will pull it.

 

What are your goals for the truck? Be it daily driver, tow rig, race truck, high horsepower.... Well, ya I dont do alot of towing, it will definitely be high horsepower but not extreme. Daily driver=most likely so I dont want the thing to be a race only rig. But I still would liike it to be quick. Let me know if you need more info, diesel rigs aint cheap and I wanna know what Im lookin at before I buy one.

 

A Cummins would be my pick of the big three diesels.

Can you define "High Horsepower"? It means different things to different people. Around here what will be called a high horsepower truck has a bit more than it would take elsewhere...

Do a search on the VP-44, and the KDP
And read this page- http://www.stamey.info/Truck/Cummins53BlockFAQ.htm

 

Mine too! obviously

now if i were you i would get either a 96-98 12v or a 01-02 24v, or any of the third gens.

you can get the 12v up to ~450 hp the "cheapest". If you want about 500-550, i would go with the 24v. and if you want the creature comforts and lots of power go with the common rail engines.

This is just my opinion. Dont take it to heart, just a little advice. if anybody has any revisions to do to it, feel free

 

Id like to get as much HP as i can while still being reliable and somwhat efficient. As I said befor I dont want a race only rig, its goota be able to run down the HWY just as good as it does anything else. Now I dont know how much power you can get out of these without sacrificeing driveability, Or of course the all important efficiency. Now I know that more power takes more fuel, but I dont wanna be runnin the thing around at ten MPG.

 

and remember diesels cost more. Oil changes, fuel, all of it. if you have the money do it.

 

the best (most) REALIABLE hp will be around 400-450. and if you want realiability, get the 12v. best choice IMO. a 96, 97, or early 98 will be perfect.

 

I didn't catch if you said you were looking in the used or new market. Obviously pretty much everyone on this site is going to tell you dodge is king, which is also my opinion. But before driving the dodge that I'm driving now I had a 04 DMAX LLY. I like the cummins but the duramax is also a good motor with a very good tranny behind it. Ford's 7.3 also made a very good run but the cummins certainly has proven itself to be the most reliable and long lasting trucks out there, and because of this have a commanding share of the market. If looking in the used market there are certainly years to look for and some to avoid w/ any manufacturer, but if looking for new go find a steal on an 06 right now...

 

I agree with Brian...

Unless you tow heavy, it will be easier to tow with a 450 hp 24v than a 450 hp 12v, because you can turn the box(es) down, and have some adjustability that a valet switch in a 12v won't give you.

That said I still like the 97 the best (I had a 99) but I like the 12v, and the old dash and A/C controls. To me not having the rear doors that showed up in 98 is not a big deal...

 

how much HP and how fast are inportant questions for people to point you in the right direction, also probally the biggest question, how much are you willing to spend, after the initial cost of the truck, would be a big factor in which one you should get and how fast you can go.

do you have any numbers in youre head?? you want 400hp 500 6. you want it to run 13s 12s, 11?? that kind of thing. with specifics people can poin you in the right direction better.

 

Exactly. Most people would call a 500hp diesel "High Horsepower" But Rick and Brian's trucks are what most on here would call them "moderately BOMBed"

 

for example, when I get my pickup, I plan on going "whole hog" on it. over time of course, but the whole nine, twins, trans, injectors, head work, pumps all of it. I also have a goal in mind. id like it to run mid - high 11s, hopefully on diesel only. I think its possible, it will just take time and money. esitmated cost probally 15-20k in mods. it will be daily driven and raced often, I dont see myself really ever towing anything with it. still cant figure out whether I want a extended cab short bed or a reg cab long bed that will eventually get shortened. also in having trouble deciding between a 2G and a 3G. id probally get a 3G if i could, but there expensive, at least to me at this point.

from what ive heard, correct me if im wrong im still new to all this, running twins dosnt sacrafice any drivability and in fact makes the truck more drivable. they give you the high horsepower while still having minimal lag. also efficiency, just about whatever you do to it, the truck will always get better milage than a gas truck. in fact a lot of the mods increase milage a bit, but you gotta keep youre foot out of it to see any real gains.