Semopar Forum

**02Steve1990** · 06-21-2012, 12:04 PM

I've been looking around my area for the past couple of years for a cummins diesel...preferrably black, 4 door, 4x4, 5.9 engine. I know these engines, like all other engines, depend highly upon maintenance. I had originally been hunting for an 06 or 07 (the last couple years they made the 5.9) but was curious about other Ram 2500 model years.

I've heard the 98.5-02 models are also good trucks to go for. I guess what I'm looking for is the positives and negatives of the 98.5-02's and 03-07's . Up here in the northeast, the 06/07's are priced really high so I'm trying to possibly open up my options toward other model years.

**repoman** · 06-21-2012, 01:17 PM

98-02 best priced options....and for 24v the last forever find one....they are hard to come by because some dumbasses double stacked chips and programmers and beat the hell out of them...there is some good ones out there but u gotta hunt for them good luck!

**02Steve1990** · 06-21-2012, 01:54 PM

yeah..i have been reading up on 24valves vs 12 valves and whatnot...i'll have to search around for the 98.5-02's as well.. i think my range will be from 98.5-07...according to this write up i've been reading, those are all 24v years.

http://www.cumminsforum.com/forum/ge...nerations.html

I guess in that write up, he says an early 98 12 valve is good, but a 98.5 24 valve is a little difficult because it's early on within its production..which makes sense.

The crown jewel? Find a 1998 12 valve extended cab. They had the new interior, the extended cab rear doors, and still retained the 12 valve engine. Later 1998.5 trucks look the same but have a more problematic early 24 valve VP44.

**repoman** · 06-21-2012, 02:02 PM

only bad things on the 12v was the lift pumps taking a shit...but its a strong motor lots of tq....i like common rail diesel motors but a old 12v could pull a building down....not to mention i think the sound better with a nice 5in system or stacks

**repoman** · 06-21-2012, 02:03 PM

fuel plate and tnt smarty....good to go!!! maybe small shot of propane....mmmm yes sir

**02Steve1990** · 06-21-2012, 02:07 PM

LOL...yeah all i really want are stacks and i'm set. but of course i will find more mods

**repoman** · 06-21-2012, 02:11 PM

if i can find it on youtube there a 12v with 8in stacks that bitch sounds mean its got a small jake brake on it.....that thing will make u pitch a tent...ill look see if i can find it

**02Steve1990** · 06-21-2012, 02:19 PM

haha alright...i have been looking up CTD videos on youtube a lot and all i do is drool

**Fla 66 cuda** · 06-21-2012, 04:55 PM

I have owned two 12 valve/auto cummins duallys a 1995 and 1998 quad currently,my 95 was bone stock bought new i used it to haul boats all over the east coast and acrossed to Califonia never was i under 23,500 lbs. loaded [check out the albums] my current truck is a 98 it has 160,600 miles on it 4 inch straight pipe turbo back,airaid intake,turned up p pump. These 12 valve engines 98 and back do not have computers all mods are mechanical type, 12 valve engines are the most popular with the guys who modify cummins [land speed record holder is a 12 valve cummins in a dakota] . As far as what repoman said about the lift pump it is a mechanical type pump mounted on the block [simular to the fuel pump on a gas engine] the only hard thing about changing it is getting to it [buried behind fuel filter hard to reach comfortably] i changed mine after she finally died,the injector pump on 12 valves is very tough and will last quite a long time [replacements run between 850-2000 rebuilt-new modified] also there is whats called a #53 block prone to cracks not very many were released in the trucks but they are out there. The fuel system is low pressure,there is only the lift pump [no electric in tank pump] generally a great engine the automatic transmissions on the earlier trucks are the weak link i would suggest a stick [i personally have not had a prob but others have]. I personally won't own a 24 valve cummins i don't like them the injector pump is very suseptable to damage any crap that gets into them has the possibility of damaging them,they are very high pressure fuel system,mods are easeier [chips and such],the newer trannys are better. Go to geno's garage they only deal with cummins and have a lot of info on all of them.

**02Steve1990** · 06-21-2012, 05:06 PM

Thanks for your input...i'll take what you've said into consideration. I will also look up geno's garage