1993 Ram 350, 27,000 miles!!! long-term questions

[WPflepsen]

Hi Everyone,

I'm a new member to the TDR forum, having recently purchased a 1993 Dodge Ram 350 Cummins dually with 27,190 original miles. That's right, a 93 with that mileage. It's a 2wd with the rare standard cab, and it came with a bed cap and complete bed carpet set. I picked it up from the second owner in AZ and drove it back to the East Coast (close to 3000 miles in 2. 5 days) with no problems. He had recently purchased it from the original owner in dry Southern Utah. Evidently an elderly man had originally bought the truck and driven it sparsely, he died, and it sat for six or so years. The second owner, a Cummins fan in Phoenix, secured the vehicle from the widow's estate because of its low mileage but decided to sell just a few months later, finding an extended cab he preferred available. The truck has never been used for 5th wheel towing, and has been in the dry desert all its life. Paint is going bad, but other than that is rock-solid and virtually like new. The first time I was cleaning it out, a task that appeared to have been neglected for some time, I even found a walking can under the bench seat!

Aside from changing the oil twice (Rotella T-SAE 15W-40) and having a Sprayliner bedliner put down, I have done nothing to the vehicle and it is running fine close to 35,000 miles.

I have very basic mechanical skills (oil and filter changes are about the extent), but what issues should I be mindful of, using this vehicle as a daily driver and wanting to keep it in tip-top running shape for many years to come? Any tips are much appreciated.



Thanks,

Jake

 

[1stgen4evr]

If you now have 35k miles and no problems, you can reasonably expect that you are past any problems that might have occured from having set unused for six years. Aside from normal service/maintenance, you have to change the fuel filter which is about the only thing different from a gasser.



Unless you keep these trucks inside all the time, the paint will get to the point you will have to repaint.



Everything that can ever go wrong has been discussed in the forums here. If something does present a problem, someone will be able to explain the fix.



Fill in the signature line with the data on your truck so we know if it is manual or Automatic. Manual, be sure to add the extra quart of oil to the transmission. Automatic, read up on the OD hunting problem and TPS repair. Your ABS light may (will at some point) come on and you will have to decide what to do about that.



Read the frequently asked questions and get a service manual for the diesel Dodge truck.



James

 

[Greenleaf]

I'd be happy to help you out... .....



A truck like that, one that has sat for a good number of yrears AND with that low of miles is sure to give you some serious problems. For starters, it ain't broken in yet! You'd have to drive it very slow and NO BOMBing untill 100,000 miles... ... . or more.



I'd be happy to drive my 1990 reg cab auto, well broken in and READY for mods @ 307,000 miles, to YOUR HOUSE and take that potentiously troublesome rig off your hands.



I know it's a gamble (on my part) but I'm one heck of a nice guy.



Scott

 

[Philip]

All right Scott step back he has more rear tires than you need. :-laf :-laf





Get the factory service manual. Then do all the items listed in your owners manual for the 36K service. Trans service, rear end service, Front wheel bearing repack and brake inspection and so on.



Then enjoy the ride you got lucky enough to find.

 

[JLEONARD]

Fill in the signature line with the data on your truck so we know

Where you live. . and don't forget to leave the keys IN the truck overnight... . :-laf :-laf

Congrats on the find Oo.

 

[LEggers]

I think there was a recall on the fuel injection pump at one time for the 93. You may want to see if it has the proper tag on it. Not 100% sure. .

 

[B.G. Smith]

I would replace the fuel hoses,supply and return and look at the coolant and the radiator and heater hoses, reapack the front wheel bearings if it's 2wd. bg

 

[Mundgyver]

You might consider one of these for keeping your oil in good shape to do extended oil drains. It will remove the soot from the oil which is a wear ccomponent.



https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?t=133882

 

[WPflepsen]

1993 Diesel follow-up

My 1993 Diesel is an automatic, and I'm considering adding the Banks Power Pack. Like I said, so far only changed the oil and replaced the oil and air filters with MOPAR parts. The big truck is doing great aside from the paint. The car is all white and with the cap I think it looks like a giant refrigerator so when I get it repainted I'll probably go white with the grey "band" around the midsection with red pinstripes, which I believe was a stock option. I appreciate all maintenence advice and am so glad I found this resource. Sorry, not looking to trade



Thanks again,

Jake

 

[WPflepsen]

follow up addendum

Might be a stupid question, but how do you make a signature line? On an unrelated note, I have the complete owners manual set and have purchased a MOPAR shop manual, as well as the original 1993 Dodge truck brochures off eBay so I've got full literature on my new baby. Its virtually 100% stock right now with the AM/FM seek/scan cassette and no engine mods. Stainless steel running boards and the cap are the only additions previous owners have made.



Thanks again,

Jake

 

[Philip]

To do a sig line. Go to the top of the page. Click on discussion forums. Then scroll down to user control panel. Left side of the page. Edit signature option.



Don't waste your money on the Banks power pak. Anything you want to do to turn the engine up. There are people here that can help you get the same power for a lot less money.

 

[RailroadJim]

check valve lash

I bought my 93' 350 after it had sat in a barn for 5 or so years other than a brake job i had my cummins guy give it the once over, he got out his feeler gauges and adjusted the valves, took all of 10 minutes but what a difference in the idle! I think you're supposed to do it every 24 thousand, i didn't know it idled rough until the lash was set, now i do it myself and i'm a doofus so there you go, give it a check.

 

[DBF]

Hi Everyone,

I'm a new member to the TDR forum, having recently purchased a 1993 Dodge Ram 350 Cummins dually with 27,190 original miles. That's right, a 93 with that mileage.

I have very basic mechanical skills (oil and filter changes are about the extent), but what issues should I be mindful of, using this vehicle as a daily driver and wanting to keep it in tip-top running shape for many years to come? Any tips are much appreciated.



Thanks,

Jake

I should send you some money and have you buy lottery tickets with it. Wow.



Oil, air, and fuel filter changes at reasonable intervals (I use 6,000 miles and premium Fleetguard filters) will do all that's needed for the engine for now.



The transmission can be a bit picky. If you don't tow anything and don't keep your foot on the floor, the A518 auto will do just fine with normal fluid changes. If you start loading it, look back here for auxiliary trans fluid coolers. Heat kills transmissions - keep the fluid cool.



To watch what the truck is doing, do this now so you have a baseline to work from - install gages that show rpm, transmission temp, exhaust temp and boost (see the recommendations at the top of the first-gen forum).



If you then want to have better performance, the first thing you should do is work on the transmission. You can turn a lot of hp/torque into that automatic and have it only generate heat, as it struggles to put the power to the road. The remedy for this is a better torque converter, like Suncoast or DTT and some valve body adjustments to hold it in gear.



Then you can tweak the pump (also in the recommendations) and wind up with a little beast that will put a couple hundred horses to the road instead of the hundred and thirty you now do. You'll be amazed at the difference.



Unfortunately, you'll then have the bug and will want to do even more.



Have fun, best wishes, DBF

 

[Moab4x4]

If truck gets homesick...

Now how did I miss that one???? If the truck shows symptoms of homesickness, I would be willing to help out as I live in southeastern Utah!

 

[LEggers]

+1 Just a set of good injectors would just about do what the Banks kit does.

Don't waste your money on the Banks power pak. Anything you want to do to turn the engine up. There are people here that can help you get the same power for a lot less money.