Okay,
I am not crazy (subject to debate), but while at the dealer today, a 3rd gen 2500 pulled into the service lane and where the Cummins "C" or Hemi badge should be it had a badge that looked as if Daimler Chrysler made it and it said "V10 Magnum". I had to look 3 times to make sure I saw it correctly. I thought the latest the V10 was used was in the '02 2500/3500's (2nd gens).
I know you can get a V10 in a 3rd gen, but that would make it the SRT-10 (Viper V10 engine) and it would be a 1500.
Was somebody playing with badges or are there a few rare V10's in the 3rd gens out there?

~??Rob??

 

There are a few V10 powered 3rd Gens running around... they are early 03's. There was an article about when the 3rd Gen was introduced.

 

The early '03s was available with a V10 and very short lived. I have only seen two so far, not counting SRT-10s.

MikeyB

 

I saw one a few weeks ago, and did a serious double take.

 

the hemi was introduced half-way through the 03 model year, so the v10 was the gas option for half a year

 

Here's a few. We have one running around here. It does make you look twice.

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/search...lor=&x=58&y=13

 

There is one running around here on base too ... I thought it was someone getting creative with the badging .

So is the V-10 Hemi a different monster than the SRT-10 motor ?

PISTOL

 

The v-10 isn't a Hemi, it's the old one from the 2nd Gen trucks. I think. A case of DC using the leftovers.

 

Yes, it's a V-10 Magnum and not a hemi head design. Just left overs they stuck in a few 03's to get them out of the way. No doubt they will be a collector one day. Odd combos in small numbers have a way of coming back from the dead for some reason.

 

the magnum v10 is a 8.0l the new viper v10 is 8.3l

 

This is true

when i was in montana two summers ago, In White Sulphur springs the forest service fleet truck was red, quad cab, short box, v10 with manual everything...

Far as i know it was also the same engine in the 02 V10's..

Rick

 

A guy down the road from me has one too, from the looks of it, it seems to be loaded. Its a nice looking truck but everytime i see it i look twice.

 

I wish I could find the article I referenced earlier... I think the 500 is the number I remember for the amount they were going to make. I thought to myself that it would almost be an investment to buy one just because of the limited production. I've often wondered what the reasoning was for dumping that engine option. There are still folks out there who swear by the gasoline engine and the Hemi isn't available in all of the HD Dodge trucks...

 

Yes, early 03s had the same 310 hp/450 ft lb engine as the 2nd Gens. I had one in my 97 - great engine.

Very few 03s made and sold - this is a future collectable for sure.

Poor sales, unfortunately. Since Dodge had the Cummins, most bought that. The V10 got awful mileage - but would outrun a stock 215hp/440 lb ft Cummins.

Even in 97, when I bought mine, the dealer looked at me like I had three heads. There was VERY little dealer support for them, nor did Dodge advertise them much.

 

A v-10 2nd gen pulled in at spring fling. He thought it was a truck show with all the dodges there. I explained it was a dyno event and that he should compete since he had 10 cylinders to our measly 6 I didn't work, he just oogled a while and left =\