Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) 24-Valve Love

[drag racer]

I could write a novel about my truck and I, but suffice it to say, I love my '99! . I bought it new, long paid for, it has insanely low miles, so it still feels like a new truck every time I drive it. Have pretty much constantly been BOMBing it since Day 1. Only outright failure was lift pump at 20k, which I replaced with a frame mounted setup before it took out the VP44 thanks to fuel pressure gauges. Not enough miles on it yet for anything else to fail . Still dealing with the intermittent TC lock/unlock. I will keep this truck as long as I can keep it running and get parts for it. With all the emissions crap on the new ones plus the cost, I love the truck more each day.

 

[SnoKing]

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I extended mine down many years ago. Nothing much behind that is going to rust!

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[JR]

 

[Ken Roberts]

98.5 update

I bought my 98. 5 new in 99. So far I have gone through 4 lift pumps, 4 sets of front brake pads, one set of rotors, 3 serpentine belts, one serpentine belt tensioner, 4 sets of tires, 3 A/C services, one dashboard, one exhaust system, 6 windshields, 2 driver door window motors, one DD window switch, one turbo wastegate bellows, one set of intercooler boots ( they kept blowing off!). All the seat motors don't work, the A/C needs replacing again, front brakes too. 217K right now, 175K or so towing. The blowby hose in in the front of the motor and has oiled the underside of the truck. Normal FP is about 9-10 psi, EGT is about 7-9 hundred, boost varies greatly.



I wouldn't trade this truck for the world!

 

[Ken Roberts]

More pix

Pix from the road.

 

[drag racer]

Pix from the road.

Sweeeeet

 

[SnoKing]

Ken! Those are not 4:10 gears!!!

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Snoking

 

[JR]

 

[NIsaacs]

I think he was talking about his pcv hose

Nick

 

[SnoKing]

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I was talking about 2K RPM and 72 MPH. Never seen that with my 4:10 gears!!!! #ad

 

[NIsaacs]

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I was talking about 2K RPM and 72 MPH. Never seen that with my 4:10 gears!!!! #ad

That was diesel4life's second, the first one was about your pcv I think:-laf

Nick

 

[JR]

Thanks Nisaacs I guess Im just a little slow :-laf yes that does answer my first question!

As for the 4:10 gears comment I at first thought you were correcting him and it had me confused because I never saw where Ken had posted his gears. But now Im seeing that it was more of an observation, not a correction.

Ok, Im more than just a little slow!

Hey snoking, I like your m&m buddies theyre pretty sweet!

 

[SnoKing]

Well, I would tell you I looked like this last summer... ... .....

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But there may be blondes around.....

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[JR]

:-laf :-laf:-laf

At least your not the one showing up to the party naked!

 

[Ken Roberts]

I think my Dodge has 3. 54 gears or something like that.

Ken R

 

[Fireman Dave]

Just turned over 100,000 miles a couple of weeks ago. Ordered in February, '00 and bought new 5/18/2000, but it's a 2001. Injection pump replaced at 68,800 miles. A/C evaporator had to be replaced two summers ago. Driver's heated seat went out last winter, but thanks to the TDR, I found and fixed the problem. Replaced alternator back in April. Other than normal maintenance, truck has been fine. Picture taken this last summer. View attachment 83666

Looks great Mike! You reminded me that I'm on my 3rd evaporator. I think I paid for the second one, and that one went out only a year later. But the dealer covered it under parts warranty and didn't charge me a dime for the 3rd one - that was nice.



Nascar and I ordered ours at the same time. Back then we got to know each other through the Edmunds message board as we researched our soon to be ordered diesel trucks. Those were some fun times.

 

[ChrisOlson]

24 Valve Love. If any one should not be loving my 24 valve it would be me today 14 days ago I lost the VP44 first time in 12 years the truck ever failed to start. It was painful. this truck with 140000 miles has taken me from the Oil firlds of prudohe bay to Key west FLA countless times into Montana cross country once and back. MY DW and I have some of the Best times of our Marrige while Camping with the Camper or towing the Toyhauler. on feb 4th i was scheduled to start my vacation and once again go on a cross country trip to FLA with my toy hauler and barney (the name of my 99 dodge) but when barney died on the road it was almost like losing a loved one. but my DW said to me I do not care what it costs barney is like family and kept us safe thru severe winters driving thru the wilds of remote Canada or Montana or Alaska. fix him and take your much deserved road trip to FLA. SO 24 valve Love, I love my dodge I bought the best pump the $2400 blue chip. I made the choice to go with a smarty. and hopefully the diesel repair shop will have My barney ready to go on our next adventure across country and down into Key west. I cant wait to hear my Mighty Cummins 6 purring under the hood again.

 

[jgillott]

24 Valve Love. If any one should not be loving my 24 valve it would be me today 14 days ago I lost the VP44 first time in 12 years the truck ever failed to start. It was painful. this truck with 140000 miles has taken me from the Oil firlds of prudohe bay to Key west FLA countless times into Montana cross country once and back. MY DW and I have some of the Best times of our Marrige while Camping with the Camper or towing the Toyhauler. on feb 4th i was scheduled to start my vacation and once again go on a cross country trip to FLA with my toy hauler and barney (the name of my 99 dodge) but when barney died on the road it was almost like losing a loved one. but my DW said to me I do not care what it costs barney is like family and kept us safe thru severe winters driving thru the wilds of remote Canada or Montana or Alaska. fix him and take your much deserved road trip to FLA. SO 24 valve Love, I love my dodge I bought the best pump the $2400 blue chip. I made the choice to go with a smarty. and hopefully the diesel repair shop will have My barney ready to go on our next adventure across country and down into Key west. I cant wait to hear my Mighty Cummins 6 purring under the hood again.

Are you going to run the Smarty stacked with the Edge Comp listed in your signature, or are you going to leave the Comp off at this point? The only reason I ask is, I used to run one of the original CaTcher ECM's stacked with a drag Comp on my former '01. It was an amazing combo.

 

[JR]

Awesome story Chris you cant go wrong with the blue chip pump. I replaced mine with one before my vp went out (it was giving tell tale signs) and it was very obvious the first ride I took after I installed it that it was a superior pump compared to the original. Be careful with the upper Catcher numbers with the Smarty, if youve got a stock torque converter it will voice its displeasure when you put the skinny pedal down

 

[ChrisOlson]

No I will not be stacking And I am looking to keep the HP to about 290 or so I was very happy with my edge comp set up. But i see that lots of people are really liking their Smartys I hope i like mine Any advice on the smarty???

thanks