My work truck

[WFarm]

My work truck used mainly for our Search and Rescue activities is a 1997 Ram 3500 with the Cummins diesel and 5-speed manual tranny. One of the few vehicles I have ever bought new it has been a fantastic truck, super reliable. With the exception of a few alternators and batteries the only time it failed was when the fuel shut-off solenoid failed. Even then I was able to tie it open with a string and it fired right up. I drove it for a week like that, tie it up to start, untie it to stop! Right now it is 376,000 miles young.

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[mshawn]

These are awesome trucks! Transmission go out all the time but if they are build by a great trans builder he will fix all the problems with the trans that was wrong with it

 

[Grit dog]

^Not the NV4500. Bulletproof except for 5th gear nut on some of them.

 

[squaredeal91]

These trucks are pretty good, had a couple of them myself. the 12 valve is like the small block chevy of diesels lol, I love them. I am curious if you have checked the dowel pin status?

 

[WFarm]

These trucks are pretty good, had a couple of them myself. the 12 valve is like the small block chevy of diesels lol, I love them. I am curious if you have checked the dowel pin status?

Had not heard of this until I researched your response! Since I have no plans to part with the truck I’ll need to have this checked and modified to secure that pin. Thanks for the info!

 

[squaredeal91]

Your welcome. It's nick named the killer Dowell pin lol

 

[WFarm]

Your welcome. It's nick named the killer Dowell pin lol

Spoke to my diesel mechanic. Taking it in Monday. Thanks again!

 

[WFarm]

Out of the blue this story pops up in my news feed. They consider the Cummins 12-valve paired with the HD manual transmission to be a “Holy Grail” of trucks. Pushing 400k with mine so certainly can’t argue with them.

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[TotalyHucked]

Yeah those were some awesome trucks. There's a reason 2nd gen Cummins prices are so high. I'd love to have one like my buddy's uncle's truck he had in HS. His was a 24V but still, it was an '02 quad cab 4x4 dually with the Cummins/6-speed, white with charcoal leather interior. That was the most badass truck around back then

 

[squaredeal91]

I'm very impressed with mine. And i know the generations dont go like this but To me I it's like this. 1st gen 12 valve ve-pump up to 93. Then 2nd gen is 12 valve P-pump 94 to first half 98. Then 3rd gen is 24 valve 98-1/2 up till 02 when body changed. But I guess the generations are designated by body style, not engine variation.

 

[WFarm]

Yeah those were some awesome trucks. There's a reason 2nd gen Cummins prices are so high. I'd love to have one like my buddy's uncle's truck he had in HS. His was a 24V but still, it was an '02 quad cab 4x4 dually with the Cummins/6-speed, white with charcoal leather interior. That was the most badass truck around back then

That was another point in the story: I paid around $27-28K for mine new from the dealer. 26 years and 400k miles later I could sell it for that price or pretty close.

26 years.......now I feel old.

 

[HotWheelsBurban]

Had not heard of this until I researched your response! Since I have no plans to part with the truck I’ll need to have this checked and modified to secure that pin. Thanks for the info!

Yup that dowel pin is the Cummins Achilles heel.