Dodge Cummins

[hotshoe36]

I have lusted after one of these trucks since they first changed the body style in '94. I always figured that when the used '94's got under $20K for a good one, I'd start looking.

Well, a bit late, but I've been looking. Yesterday I got me a '99 3500 dually for less than $10K, rear-wheel-drive, lovely truck. 24-valve 5.9L Comealong, automatic transmission. Way more pickup than I need: The '90 Toyota I traded for it was almost enough truck, but this one is as clean a unit as I've seen, after looking a while. There was this '95 I saw with a 5-speed, but Evelyn - my lovely wife - will be able to comfortably drive this one (we haven't forgotten what she did to the clutch of an old Escort some years back), and - since a super-cab was in the cards - I kinda like the suicide doors for the rear seating. Even got a fifth wheel, in case I ever need it.

So I guess now I have to learn to leave my driving lights on all the time, bull my way down the freeway and tailgate a lot, right?
Y'know, like a real man?Heh, heh ... not bloody likely! Too bloody old to develop disgusting new habits now. And this truck is just old enough that most folks won't mistake me for a yuppie. Gotta tell ya, though, I love that exhaust tone. Hmmmm.

Anyone else got one of these, and put some miles on it? I'd like to hear your take. I've got some early impressions - knocked off 300 km this last evening - but it's soon yet to have credible opinions. Do you idle to warm it up? How long? Loud sum***** at low idle, ain't it?

[Pipeman]

Is it chipped ????

[hotshoe36]

If so, then not much: We pulled the Smasher part of the Coquihalla at full throttle with the O/D defeated, 'round 3,000 rpm and 120 km/hr. No visible smoke (I was watching).

[Marmaduke]

After you chip it, you can oversize the exhaust and put on a better intake so it can breathe like a dragon. Congrats on the sweet ride.

[Pipeman]

If so, then not much: We pulled the Smasher part of the Coquihalla at full throttle with the O/D defeated, 'round 3,000 rpm and 120 km/hr. No visible smoke (I was watching).I had an '03 Laramie and sold it for about $30,000. with only 47,000 kms. on it.

I think I have a pic...... sold it 2 years ago.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v16/Pipeman/DODGEWESTPORT001-1.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v16/Pipeman/DODGEWESTPORT006-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v16/Pipeman/DODGEWESTPORT004-1.jpg

[hotshoe36]

That's a gorgeous truck, Pipeman. I personally like the slimmer, lower look of the '94 - '02 trucks, but that unit would surely do, except for the money. Here are the first pics of mine:

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk293/hotshoe36/Dodge006.jpg

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk293/hotshoe36/Dodge001.jpg

Tax deductions are all very well, but I just couldn't see spending the kind of money you did, Pipeman, except on something I'd build for myself, such as this unit, right here (which might eventually get out close to $30K. Don't tell my wife)

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk293/hotshoe36/Our%20trucks/Epiccamper1030.jpg

This '51 Chevy Tonner is in the process of getting a 250 six-hole engine with a few breathing mods. I've already replaced/upgraded most everything else on it, including the camper: It is now a vintage Alaskan pop-top. Something in me wants to shoehorn a Cummins 5.9 in there with an NV4500, but I haven't run a Cummins enough to know them well enough for that level of commitment. Also, I don't know (yet) if I'd want a 12-valver or a 24.

Whatever, That's for later. First I am gonna run this particular Dodge for a time. Marmaduke, thanks for the compliment. But at this point, I can't see a reason to do anything but drive the hoor.

Light trucks that smoke (is that what the chip is for?) just fracture me. Same's the heavies: Those days of black smoke are long gone, and rightly. Even when I ran a hot 3408 I watched my stacks and made a point of not letting it smoke. That, in those days, was the mark of a professional. Today, a truck that smokes - big or small - is the mark of an idiot who needs to be legislated/enforced out of existence. I just - do - not - get - it. Sorry, man. Nothing personal, but enough power is enough power. Diesels are happiest when they run clean, just like gassers.

I think this one has plenty of power for my requirements. Next weekend I'll be moving a relative from Kelowna to Surrey with this and a 6 x 12 tandem U-Haul, and I expect not to have to drop below the 110 km/hr limit.

We'll see. Pix on the way.

[hotshoe36]

Here's a happy note: With the drive wheels singled out I did a short economy run, and there is some reason to believe that this Dodge can be made to get fuel economy in the same range as my wife's '08 VW Rabbit! Yes, the Rabbit is a fuel hog, but still ...

We moved Grandma over the Coq this weekend, and the truck barely noticed the load: I shifted down from o/d about three times when the speedometer twitched, and she stayed at the speed limit, with a 2-axle trailer loaded so that all the tires were running plenty warm.

I am well pleased, but I'll have to get a bigger load to make this unit actually work! I guess it is better to have more truck than I need, than less truck.

[lostNfound]

I had a '00 2500 auto quad cab long box that I worked hard for three years... regularly hauling trailers between 12,000 and 19,000 lbs. The only time it ever let me down was after I had it serviced at the dealer. They re-used a hose clamp on the transmission cooler and it blew off on the first hill I pulled. Other than that, I didn't have any of the problems associated with that generation. I had planned to chip it and do the transmission upgrades, but never got around to it and I don't think I ever really suffered for it either. I wasn't paying for the fuel so I didn't care what the mileage was. The only upgrades I did were airbags and a class-V hitch.

[Forza]

we have a 99 sitting at our yard, she has 290000kms, engine is still good, but the tranny likes to slip and kick, the truck has only gotten one oil change every year since purchasing brand new in 99, just about every year she needs an alignment done. Other then the above she is a great truck for what she is doing sitting in the yard lol.

with The lack of maintenece and the high price of diesel, no one wants to drive our 3500 duelly and the owners are not willing to part with her for less then 12k

Dont bother idiling unless its winter, just make sure the glow plug light goes off before starting her every single time.

On a side note i dispise this truck and engine, we have a cummins engine in one of our milling machines(which needed to be rebuilt), and the sounds of her ticking drives me up the wall.

[Pipeman]

That's a nice looking chariot you got yourself!!

[hotshoe36]

no one wants to drive our 3500 duelly and the owners are not willing to part with her for less then 12k ...

... the sounds of her ticking drives me up the wall.

Well, it's a loud engine, Forza, no mistake. I get it out of my neighbourhood as soon as I can after startup. But my 23 year-old daughter thinks it sounds "so hot!" On the other hand, she's used to me driving "old junk".
I like to leave the right wing window open on this Dodge, too, to hear the exhaust pipe as it winds up. But I do the same with my '51 and my road tractor from time to time. Everyone says I'm strange ...