Just curious, but why not? Just overall quality of truck? Dodge's screw up of a good thing (cummins, VP44 fuel system)? Dash crack, poor customer service, overall fitand finish of the interior? lol

I'd say if a cummins ended up in another vehicle I would look elsewhere, but until then I'll take the cummins in the dodge...

 

How about some locations to purchase the parts and maybe some numbers? I would like to find a dealer and get some pricing together.

 

I stand corrected: My dash was a problem.....other then that, as good or better fit/finish as any I've owned. I've had Fords and Chevy's that were much worse.

With the Cummins, it was the VP44, with the Chevy 6.5 it was the I-pump, and injectors with the Dmax. The Ford 7.3 didn't have a lot of problems, but we know about the 6.0 and 6.4.
My BIL is a die hard Ford 7.3 fan, but he traded theirs off because their '02 almost lost a front wheel when a bearing went out on the interstate, and it was starting to have tranny problems, leaking seals and a few other things go wrong. My lance camper and a 27 TT was the heaviest loads it ever had to handle. They bought a new Chrysler 300 (and love it).

My point...there's good and bad in ALL of them, and sometime, you just get a bad one....and you condem every one ever made.

Forgot to add........I've had GOOD and POOR customer service from all three.

 

What he said...
I got my truck from my brother. I was the first to drive the truck off the lot on the test drive. I was there the day the papers were signed and we moved the tool box from his 94 into the 01, so, I'm attached to my truck. That being said, my brother had a lot of issues with the truck, all of which were taken care of under warranty. To name a few that I know of: Windishield installed incorrectly and cracked, headlight switch was getting hot, LP failure 2x's, IP failure 2x's u-joints, ball joints, antennea quit working, and the ever present, auto trans problems. After Dodge attempted to fix the trans problem, they finally agreed to have it upgraded by an outside shop and paid for it. Since then, the only thing done to this truck was changing a thermostat and cleaned the steering wheel mounted radio controls. I can't say that I would feel the same about my truck had I had to deal with the things my brother did. I bought the truck knowing the issues and did so anyway since it was under warranty. Now that my warranty is out, I want to do as much as possible to protect all systems on this thing.

 

My perfect truck:

2003 Ford SD with a 2002 ISB (Yes...i do like this VP-44 engine!) Cummins and NV-4500 Tranny. Dyna Trac Updgraded Fnt end and about 4"-6" of lift with 35-37" tires.......

Dont get me wrong...My Dodge has been great.....BUT there is a reason my orignal screen name was "Mudinford"! O yeah...the '86 will have an 4BTA or ISB4 in it some day.........

 

Why NV-45 instead of 56?

 

One...i don't tow heavy. 2. I dont like the way it shifts. 3. I like less gears and weight to work with. 4. Cheaper and easier to find!! 5. I will regear the axles if i have to to get rid of that 30 MPH Dead spot with the 4500 and 35" tires..........

O yeah.....6. I like a normal reverse!

 

BrIan, all of the above that you listed. Poor customer service, poor finish, low quality materials, etc. I love my truck but it's just nickel and diming me right now. I dunno. Maybe I'm just getting to the point where I'm tired of wrenching on stuff and I just want it to work without me having to diddle with it.

 

Being new to diesel but not to wrenching, I have found that any mod seems to have an equal negative or broken part. Maybe when you get to the point that you have identified all the weak pieces related to you power upgrades, you will catch a break.

 

Don’t get offended.....but your truck is only as good as you treat it or what you install on it. You start adding big tires, lift and tons of power and heavy bumpers....you are going to ware stuff out. (AND DONT lie! we know you use your power a lot! haha....) Just part of the game. 2nd gen Dodge chassis and suspensions are weak to begin with (But funciton very well...i love coil sprung fnt ends!!!).....this is why i have stayed away from any more lift than 2"......I don’t mind it as much my self because i lived my last 8 years as a mechanic...that stuff just don’t bother me (Other than the financial sting of parts)....and i have a bit more training to diagnose problems...which would be a lot more frustrating to someone that doesn’t do wrenching for a living......Beauty (Or issues in the sense) is in the eye of the beholder i guess.......I will keep saying this though.....I drive a Cummins!

 

Actually, I don't use the power I have very often at all. Usually when I'm playing around I'll leave the TST off or on level 1. I only turn it up when I'm in a big race. Not to mention a lot of the stuff having worn out on my truck was before I went crazy with the power mods or lift or bumpers. Come to think of it, stuff stopped wearing out when I went crazy with the power. Hmmm. Maybe that's a sign. With that being said it's time to replace the u-joints. Can't complain about that though. 129k on the originals. One more year and hopefully I can put the truck on weekend duty and drive a nice, simple, car.

 

#1 says it all.... I towed approx 15k with a buddys truck with the 5spd... PITA!!! Always overrevving or lugging in town!! of course it wasn't modified heavily which kept the power band limited... If not towing then I guess the 45 would be a good choice..


Will agree it shifts like a truck and some persuasion to get into Rev... Have my yota with the 5spd for a car like shift feel!

 

I don't think I mentioned it, but I was impressed with your speed shifting when we were playing with H20/Meth Sedalia! Got the whip-lash to prove it.
Definately been practicing for the drag strip....Huh?

RJ

 

As far as wear and tear items, I haven't replaced anything I can think of other than LPs... Give me a sec maybe something will come to mind. No suspension parts, bearings, u-joints, etc... Dash was cracked, two click lights don't work, but I broke those.... uhhhh

and... anything suspension that I do wear out I attribute to my suspension altering leveling kit or larger than stock tires... towing much heavier than recommended, and the added 250HP

 

Did some research on mine and found they were very predictably about needing changing at 100,000 - 125,000 miles. Dan and I did mine at 100,000 when my carrier bearing started squeeking and we had the drive shaft out anyway!
Thought straight shafted, short beds lasted longer... but 129,000 is probably a long life for the Big Blue CTD?

RJ