2003 with a 5 speed transmission?

[Lordsman]

Soon to be looking at(possibly to buy) a 2003 with a 5 speed manual transmission according to owner.

Are these 2 generation carryover transmissions to the 1st year of 3rd generation production?

Need to buy another work truck as my '99 was totaled in an accident.

I Need a little input; like is this a truck to stay away from or are they ok?



Also they changed the injectors recently as one or two were bad and they did a whole new set.

I don't know what kind were installed, as I haven't viewed the truck or paperwork yet.

Is this a red flag issue?

 

[cerberusiam]

Yes, they are a carry over along with the lower HP engine and usaully a lighter duty rear diff.

Is it a bad combo, not really. As long as you understand the weaknesses of the NV4500 and use it accordingly its not anymore of an issue than it was in the 2nd gens.

The engine is basically the 24V with an HPCR fuel injection system. As long as you are careful with upgrades its a good combo.

If you can verify the injectors were NEW and not remans then its a positive depending on the miles. If it has 50k and the injectors are already done I would dig a little deeper, 150-200k would be normal usage. If the injectors were remans approach with care.

 

[Lordsman]

Hopefully not a lighter rear end than the 3. 73. Be checking it out soon hopefully.
Injectors done at 113k, that is current truck mileage.

 

[cerberusiam]

Lighter as in an AAM 10. 5 instead of the AAM 11. 5 in all the later trucks.

Mileage is low for injectors on that engine, but, fuel probbaly played a large part.

 

[AH64ID]

The rear end may be a 10. 5", and it may be a 11. 5". Either should be fine unless you planning big power upgrades and heavy towing.

I agree with cerberusiam on the injectors, probably fuel related. 113K isn't a lot of miles for an 03, so fuel filter changes were possibly neglected, and that truck spent the first few years of it's life with a 10um OEM filter, when it need 5um.

 

[Lordsman]

Ok, I drove the truck and got the receipt for the new injectors. They were changed at 105,456 miles
The Motor is a 250hp SO and ran fine during the test drive, no smoke...
Part# RD 0986-435-503, Are these Remans?
That R in the part# scares me
They charged the guy $2751. 53 and that includes a new $19. 00 fuel filter.
I could not tell what rear end is in it it.

 

[Bob4x4]

That is not a Chrysler part #
With the last 8 of the vim I can tell you what rear end it has

 

[Lordsman]

Part # is Bosch I believe.
VIN# 3D3KU28673G716418

 

[Bob4x4]

Part # is Bosch I believe.

VIN# 3D3KU28673G716418

Good news it does have the 11. 5 rear diff 4. 10 gears anti spin,it also has 3 recalls due

 

[Lordsman]

11. 5 & antispin is good; I was hoping for 3. 73 gears to get a bit better fuel mileage.
Carfax shows 1 open recall for steering linkage. What are the other 2?
On test drive the clutch engages very high up on pedal release. Probably time for a new one?
Thanks for the info!

 

[Bob4x4]

B28 tighten fan and c02 ecm flash

 

[Lordsman]

Looks like those 2 were done the dealer when brand new. Thank you. .

 

[Bob4x4]

Looks like those 2 were done the dealer when brand new. Thank you. .

Chrysler doesn't show they have been completed although the b28 is a moot point after as many miles with no problem

In california you would have to get the reflash to get the truck registered

 

[Lordsman]

Well I just bought this truck (2500, 250hp, 5 speed manual, 4. 10, QC longbed, Laramie)

I would like to run some engine software to get a little more out of the 250hp motor. Any suggestions? I'll only tow once in a while pulling a 16' trailer loaded with HVAC rooftop equipment. I'm always loaded with ladder rack, ladders, side rail tool boxes, and related gear. It'll be my work truck.

My understanding is this motor is quite ordinary in the stock form.

I will also be installing a 2 micron fuel filter between the stock filter and CP3. It got new bosch injectors recently and I want to keep them happy. I also use Amalgamated fuel additive.

I am thinking of changing to the 3. 73 since I don't tow real heavy or all the time. I'd also like to get the fuel mileage benefit out of this motor. I've never had a truck with the 4. 10 rear so I want to see how we get along first.

Gauges to come. Do I need to install a fuel pressure guage also? Had one in my '99 to protect the VP44.

I've been reading and learning about the 3rd gens, so feel free to keep pointing me in the right direction.

Thanks to all those who responded and helped me out earlier.

Mike

 

[AH64ID]

I would look at a Smarty Jr.

Boost/EGT are the 2 big ones. Low Pressure fuel is not required like on a VP, but I like mine.

You would have to drive a LOT of miles to pay off the gear swap.

 

[rscurtis]

If you're going to change the ratios, make it worthwhile and go for the 3. 42's. Do the mods I've done to mine and you'll have a mileage champ. 3. 42's would have been perfect for my truck the way I use it.

 

[Lordsman]

rscurtis: What rear end gears did u have before u changed to the 3. 42's? You must have the 305 motor, and no programming box? 3. 42's might not give me the towing capacity I'd like when needed. I'd like to find middle ground.
I haven't put this truck into service yet as I need Line-x bedliner done before I install rack & tool boxes. So far the mileage on the lie-o-meter is only showing 16. 8 or so, but I haven't even gone through a tank yet to do a hand calculation.
I am seriously looking at the Smarty jr. also as previously recommended.

 

[rscurtis]

It's has the 3. 73 ratio. The 3. 42 was not available in 2003. Note I said "would have been perfect". I have no black boxes on this truck, only the Rokktech crank sensor which is a stock sensor that's modified so it can be offset in the bracket. It advances the timing about 2*.

 

[Lordsman]

Rokkteck... never heard of such a thing, lol. As you can tell I'm just getting started. The throttle on this truck seems very sensitive or responsive. And with these gears the rpm get high, especially on the highway. I'd like to be around 2000-2200 rpm instead of 2800 at 75 mph. I hear 2000 rpm is the 'sweet spot'. How is your truck performing?

 

[rscurtis]

Truck runs great, it always has. The mods have just made it better. I particularly like the 800+ mile highway cruising range.



My truck runs 1850 RPM at 65 MPH. With the smaller compounding ratio of the NV4500 compared to the auto, I wouldn't think twice about going to 3. 42 gears. Also, regardless of the ratio, 75 MPH is not going to give you great fuel economy. Do the fuel tank vent modification and you can gain another 4 or so gallon capacity and the tank will fill more easily.