1st Gen or 94-98.4 12v ????

[WantaCummins]

Hi i am a Ford diesel owner (I know Shoot me!!) I want a Cummins real bad to add to my collection. I really love the tough look and overall ruggedness of the 1st gen. but from what i hear they cannot produce the same power as the 94+ 12 valves. It is going to be used as a daily driver and BOMBED for truck pulling and basically to destroy all the dweebs with PSD Superduty's. I read about changing pumps to the newer type but what does this cost?? I found a real clean 93 4x4 at CC LE Green and Gold t with under 100kfor $10,500 . A local dealer has a 974x4 SLT at CC White /Silver 148K for $13,000 . I have my heart set on a 1st gen but the are next to impossible to find clean. What do you guys think i should do? Thanks BOB

 

[dpuckett]

Personaly, I'd go for the 97- upgraded drivetraiin components to go with the torque. I have also had less than pleasant experiences with ultra low mileage vehicles. It seems they dont get driven enough to keep loosened up. My father had a 92 w350 cc with a 5 speed and 3. 54s, under 100K. I bought in August 2000 the same truck with 4. 10s and 150K. Both were stock. The one I bought was faster, smoother, and got 3-4 better mpgs. His would lay a cloud like an old 6. 2 with a clogged air filter. After I modified mine slightly, and got the injectors cleaned and reset, I could beat him by 5. Point is, make sure it is a well maintained <100K. Oil and fluids get old and break down, bushings dry rot, etc. Since it doesnt get driven real often, stuff gets "let go" longer, doing more damage than running the he!! out of it. I have decided to never go for under 100K unless it is cheap, or less than 5 years old. But then there are those who would have never bought my current W250 with 225K, so to each his own.



Daniel

 

[daveshoe]

The injection pump on the 97 is really built for bombing. I bet till you figured out your final cost per horsepower the two trucks would be closer in price.

Also ,figure in the ride quality of each truck. The local phone company has a yard truck first genner that will jar tour kidneys out. There are fixes for this stuff , but again figure the cost.

BTW I'm not as smart as some on this topic since I own an 02.

 

[ptrodock]

I had 91 and my Dad still runs his 93. Both were great trucks, and I agree with the mileage thing dpuckett brought up. My 91 had 297,000 on it when I erroneously sold it. It ran better than when I bought it. I wouldn't be concerned about miles at all, actaully if I were looking for a first gen, I'd look for something that was over 150,000. I'm in a new ballpark with my '01 now, more power out of the block, but actually doesn't drive as nice as my '91 did. Anyway you look at though, you can't go wrong with a Cummins.



Oo.

 

[JTeague]

I have owned 3 different cummins powered Dodges in the last 3 years. A 90 1 ton dually C&C, a 2000 3/4 ton reg cab 4x4, and a 97 reg cab 4x4. All of the trucks were 5 speeds. The 97 was hands down the best truck as far as fuel milage and power. I now have ordered a 03 QC 4x4 3/4 SB 6spd and hope it will live up to my expectations after owning the 97. If I could have found a 96 to early 98 extended cab resonably priced I would have bought one instead of ordering a new one. Its just hard to beat a 96 to 98. 4 5speed truck with the big pump, they are the cream of the crop in my book.