Man, kinda sounds like a bunch of us screwed up getting diesels. Almost makes me wonder why they even bother selling them anymore-maybe it's because they can charge so much for them. They're up to $5,555 extra now.

 

I have trouble envisioning why. The 3 valve 5.4 ford offers now is ok, it's only 45 hp behind the hemi. The 6.0 chevy, which is indeed a pretty good engine, is about the same. Even the 1/2 ton dodge has a boxed frame, front to back. I know as recently as '04, the chevy/gmc DUALLY had large sections in the middle that are not boxed. Well, that and the wonderful IFS those have in the 4wd's...

If I got a gm truck, it would have to be a gmc. The chevy front end is ugly enough to make a freight train take a dirt road. What exactly is so great about chevy/ford, or bad about the dodges? Inquiring minds want to know.

 

Back in '98, I wondered myself why the diesels were so popular, when they were so much more $$$, had mediocre mileage, not as much power as the 488 cube Dodge, and weren't always as reliable as you hoped (my nightmares with the F**ds)

The newer CTD are in a class by themselves, IMO.

I bought my '98 Ram for the V-10, bought my '05 for the Cummins - and I don't plan to ever part with either one! I'm just glad the engine wrappers have turned out to be so good.

 

Uhhhh....maybe nothing...maybe everything. I don't know.

 

we havent had any problems with oil consumption yet, mainly just tires and convertible top issues. other than that they have been good cars. motors and trans have been holding up pretty well. got any questions, just ask me. i work on nissans for a living and have been so for the past 9 years.

 

Okay, I'll speak to this a bit. I was quite uncertain at first buying a Cummins inside of a Dodge truck. Not that I "had heard" that a Dodge was a bad unit, just that all of my experance had been with Ford and Chevy trucks. However I had quite a bit of experance with a 5.9L Cummins engine.

I simply tried to be as objective as possible. I appreciated the exterior design of the 2nd-gen Dodge, and after driving both a few Ford F250 ('96) and several Dodges, I noted the Dodge rode better overall. Since then I have grown to really appreciate this truck, not just the engine. I don't have the ability to buy a new one, but i really don't need it, for a truck it's been great to drive for these past five years. The driving position is great, and much else. I would change the brakes (to rear discs) and the headlights, if I could.

 

Have a '96 V10 with 120,000 miles. Great engine in my opinion, pulls hard and has never given us an issue. I would not hesitate to have another.

 

Thanks. I'm going to look at leasing one probably or picking up a used 06 at the beginning of the year. Any issues I should look for in a used one besides being wrecked before?

Just need to find a 3500 I want so I can get rid of my 1500.

 

I agree - the two main things I wanted to change were the front lighting and the rear drums (!) Dodge-
I've got 8 lights on the front end with over 650 watts between them, but I haven't done anything about the brakes yet - those panic stops sure make ya pucker up!

 

....as did my 1996's rear wheel lockup on the first stop of the day!!

Rusty

 

Yeah, I wonder what's involved to get discs on the rear?

Anyone done this?

 

Just to agree with the others - I loved my V10, and the truck too.

If I hadn't an gone an screwed it up by adding a Paxton (NEVER do business with them) supercharger, I'd still have it today.

 

Wexman - what do you think about a Vortech 'charger?

Was it just the belt on the Paxton that caused so much trouble?

 

Yes, but not the supercharger belt - the new serpentine belt that is supplied along with new dampener pulley and spacers. Chewed em up every 100 miles, never could cure in 6 months of new pullies and spacing - and Paxton's customer service is the WORST on the planet.

At the time (2000), I believe only Paxton and another company (can't remember the name) had a 'charger for the V10. If Kenne Bell had offered one, I would have gone that route.

NEVER will I had a SC to a vehicle again. I should have left well enough alone.

 

All this V10 talk is giving me the itch.....na, na, na, if I were to get another "beater" it would be just that- an early second gen old school undervalved, underpowered, overbuilt 12 valver that I would run on straight WMO and WVO right out of the grease trap at the pizza shop!