wild4stangs

Greetings gents...

I am looking at purchasing a 2ng gen QC,4x4 LB with a manual transmission. I pull a 5iver with a 2500# pin and weighs 15k.

I am looking at a 98 12v and 1 99 24v, both with 5spd. Any advice on 12v vs 24v and should I be looking for a 24v with a 6spd ?

Will I need helper springs or air bags ?

I was pulling this rig with an 03 QC dually 4x4, which was recently totaled.

John_P

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wild4stangs:

Sorry to hear you totalled your 03'.

If I were you, I would buy the 1998 Dodge CTD 12 valve truck. I still own a 1996 Dodge CTD 12 valve and it is BY FAR the best truck that I have owned out of the five Dodge CTD Trucks I have had. I also owned a 2002 Dodge CTD 24 valve and it was the WORST one I owned! In my opinion, the VP-44 fuel pumps on the 1998.5-2002 Dodge CTD Trucks are JUNK! I had to put THREE (3) VP-44 pumps on that truck and two lift pumps. The 1994-1998 Dodge CTD 12 valve trucks have a proven fuel pump with the mechanical P-7100 pumps. They are cooled by both fuel and oil and are a solid TOUGH design. They are also easy to modify if you want more power.

On your towing needs, I would say that air bags will probably do the job for you. I had a set of "Air Lift" Bags on my 96' but took them off after I made it into a daily driver "drag race truck." I now have the air bags on my 2006 Dodge CTD CR.

Hope this helps you some.

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John_P

wild4stangs

Yup, got rear ended by an 18 wheeler, lucky to be here... I am actually leaning towards the 12v, mostly due to the simplicity and reliability. I understand that the VP44's are an issue, but that it should be mitigated my a proper lift pump...

Just wish the 12v's had better brakes (rear disks)...

Trouble is finding a good 12v.

They are still bringing good money in good shape and under 300k...

BILTIT

You can always upgrade to disc brakes on the 12v.

wild4stangs

Any issues towing heavy with the 5 spd's ?

BILTIT

I wouldn't pull with anything else, but that's my opinion.

The nv4500 which i think is in that truck has the common problem of the 5th gear nut loosening off on the mainshaft and loosing 5th gear. There are fixes out there, the best one being a new updated mainshaft and nut.

Diesel Dave2

Guys have also p-pumped their 24V...

wild4stangs

Since I have been a 3rd gen guy, I know little about the mods for the 12 & 24v trucks. If anything I would be looking for mods that would extend the life of or correct known problems. Since I tow, Power upgrades are possible, but would be mild at best.

I would immediately install a set of gauges (boost, EGT, Oil pressure, and fuel pressure on a 24v) and an intake, along with an exhaust when replacement is needed.

With regards to the 5th gear nut problem, is this something that should be corrected straight away, or just wait till it fails, and have it rebuilt ?

John_P

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If it was me, I would take care of that 5th gear nut problem right away. It is not that big of a deal and most any aftermarket diesel shop and some Dodge dealers are aware of what needs to be done and can fix it for you.

John_P

One other item you need to watch on the Dodge CTD 12 valve engines is what we refer to as the "KDP" or killer dowel pin. This is basically an alignment pin that is behind the front cover of the engine, but near the top.
You can do a search here to read more about it. Many aftermarket diesel companies such as TST Products (www.tstproducts.com) offer a kit to fix this problem. The pins can sometimes fall out of their hole and get into the various timing and injection pump gears and do damage. I have found that most older used Dodge CTD 12 valve trucks have already had this modification done, but some have not. It is very easy to fix with the kit.

wild4stangs

Thanks for all the information... I am still undecided on 24 vs. 12v... I have read quite a bit on the VP44 issues, and would quickly upgrade to a Fass fuel system, as I did on my 03. I will be looking at some trucks this weekend.

John_P

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wild4stangs:

The aftermarket fuel pumps (FASS, Air Dog, Walboros, Holleys etc.) are not always a guarantee that the VP-44 pumps will live. I had installed them on my 2002 after the first VP-44 failed on mine and I STILL had two (2) more fail after I was using the aftermarket pusher fuel pumps.

The P-7100 pumps have never had that problem.

Good luck on your truck search.

wild4stangs

Wow, that's not good... So I assume it's just a crap shoot on these pumps, no real way to extend the life of the pump ?

wild4stangs

OK... Whats the P-pump ?

BILTIT

It is the best stock injection pump that was offered on the 12V. Proper name is the P7100 pump.