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

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Hahaha, made you click!! OK where's that heart smiley when you need it? :-laf j/k

Y'all let's hear it from the 24-valve crowd. . . how's life with your VP-injected overvalved wonder so often scoffed by the 12V and common rail elitists? Let's hear your stories and experience about any kind of BOMBing or mods you have done recently, and if you are currently building anything. Or are you happy with how it's set up, what did it take to get there, etc. If you aren't currently doing anything but have a decently BOMBed truck please share. I see the 24V board seems to be slowly fizzling into not much more than tech and problem solving, it hasn't always been this way. Let's talk about good stuff and good times and share something about our trucks, the combo we have, any special upcoming plans for it, anything remarkable in the past year, that sort of thing. I know the economy and price of fuel has certainly put a damper on the enthusiasm but surely there's some interesting stories to be told.

Who wants to go first?

 

[jgillott]

Well, I sold my 24-Valve 5 years ago and I still liked it more than any vehicle I've owned, even more than my former '92 or the 3rd gens. I can't wait to hear some of the things that current owners are doing.

 

[AEdelheit]

I had a 98. 5 and aside from the TQ locking/unlock snapping input shafts and leaking vacuum pump it was a good truck, still miss it from time to time. If they had a decent back seat I probably wouldn't have a 3rd gen.

 

[ABennin]

I bought my '00 in march of '06, I traded off my '91. 5 W350 CTD. The truck stayed stock for 2 months. My sig covers most of it. I have a '87 D150 with a 3. 7 and a 4 spd as my work truck. I go from one extreme to the other. The slant 6 doesn't have nothing on cummins. But in it's defense it goes though snow like no other 2wd, I even pulled people out the ditch.



This past march I found a holmes tow truck bumper for sale. Modified it and put it on the cummins. The reaction I get from people is priceless and unexpected at first. I have kids in cars next to me on the highway pointing out the window, to people outside who lip sync OMG and point. It seems to be hit with the ladies also(I am single and alive, so why not), especially at Apple Bees lately. Just today I was at Gander Mountain and a guy and kid parked on the otherside of a 7. 3 powerstroke(I was checking out the 7. 3 and liked the aftermarket lock outs he had). Before they went in the store, they had get they had come get a better look.



Probably my favorite story happened a while ago. It was at a bonfire and a guy with a '99 powerstroke(completely stock) would not leave me alone about my truck. I didn't want anything to do with it, but he would leave it alone. So I finally told him "lets go for a ride. " I don't think he was expecting this. I let her rip and he couldn't believe it. He even put on seat belt once we got a little ways down the road. He hasn't said anything bad since then.

 

[Tractorat]

Bought my 02 brand new. Only problems Ive ever had were the vp at about 50k (now Im totally confused about whether I need an additive for lubricity from the 12v forum), and the tail pipe fell off this summer. (replaced with 4"exhaust system)

 

[Bob4x4]

Never owned one but have repaired and B. O. M. B. ed many still have quite a few customers enjoying them. Convicing many that in the grand scheme of things Vp-44's don't cost so much as to avoid buying the early 24vers

 

[NIsaacs]

Bought my early '01 in '03 with 34,000 miles on it, 217k now. At 36,000 I installed an Edge EZ with RV 275 injectors, it has 335 hp/852 tq on the dyno and has been trouble free. Two sets of clutch hdraulics, 1 new clutch and 3 u-joints at 210k, 2 lift pumps, 1 set of front brake pads, 1 set of shocks and 2 sets of batteries. It does not owe me a nickel and I still smile when I drive it. I also use it hard and it just keeps on a ticken



Nick

 

[VolsFan]

I love mine. Only thing I regret is not having a manual transmission, I want to convert it once I hopefully move out of godforsaken PA in the very near future. The built auto is doing great behind a smarty and mach IVs, just not as fun as jamming through gears. Not much on the unit hubs, I have a ford assembly waiting to go in with dual piston calipers and all. Replaced one VP, totally my fault, no pressure gauge and running quadzilla xzt on bone stock truck. Learned a lot since then. Just replaced fuel lines with the vulcan draw straw on top of fuel module at 200k. My biggest beef with the truck is poor brakes, hate having to press hubs out of the rotor too. Everything else has been awesome. I was getting annoyed with the poor steering until I redid all the joints with lukes links, 3rd gen track bar, borgeson box, and adjusted caster. , now the truck handles better than 2wd chevys at my work. My dads 03 with 275k has gone through front u joints going on the 3rd time. Mine are stock, as well as my drivers side ball joints and total drive line. Just redid the front bumper and grill, will post pics sometime soon. I have had the truck through hell and back and it keeps on ticking, I will never part with it.

 

[jeepit]

I bougth my truck new. Have over 100,000 miles on it now.
It is a pleaure to drive. Never let me down down. 1 VP to date. It is just so fun to drive i wouldn't think of driving anything else.
Mine has been stored winters other than plowing my driveway and behind the barn so the body looks new. In fact,when I tell people it's an 02 they can't belive it.
All original brakes and front end. Had some troubles with 1/4 tank issue but I believe I have that fixed... finally!

 

[JMetzger]

Bought truck new in 02 & install a Banks Stinger about two weeks after purchase & the only problem I have had was lost a VP 44 at around 25,000 miles because of a failed lift pump. Replaced 4 or 5 lift pumps before installing a FASS HPFP 95. Truck has right at 100,000 & about 95% of those miles have been with our 10,000 pd RV. Love the truck, does everything I want it to do.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

10 replies already, nice! ABennin I have definitely not seen a bumper like that on a truck before, I like it, has a definite "don't mess with me" look to it.

Bob4x4 I think the scare tactics are overrated and overall VPs are quite reliable, as we know it's mostly a weakness with the lift pump which is fairly easily remedied. I have 120,000 miles of 24-valve driving and not so much as a hiccup so far.

NIsaacs I think you have probably the most common 24-valve upgrade recipe known to man, the classic RV275s and EZ box. Yes no doubt your '01 gets its share of workouts

I am pretty happy with the '98. 5 I got late spring, it's the second early 24-valve I've owned. It had a couple minor issues but running like a champ now, really like it. I've been throwing parts at it like a equal length header and ball bearing turbo and it feels like it breathes good. It took a long time to find a decent 2nd Gen but then I was looking for something very rare, 2wd Club Cab. I found '98 24V CC's are about as rare as '99s.

I've owned a couple 12-valves but I'm definitely more of a 24V guy. Had a 3rd gen once too which I really liked and liked the powertrain but I definitely like the 2nd Gen body better. It's a classic look that will never go out of style.

Photobucket album wih pics of the '98 http://s113.beta.photobucket.com/user/VMac822/library/My Trucks/98 24V Club Cab

 

[ioli]

Hi All, I purchased my 2001 24valve HO 6sp 2500QC 4x4 new July 2001. I have 130,000 miles on it. I still have orginal VP44 no troubles. Driving in moutains I average 15 to 18MPG. On freeways driving average 19 to 21MPG doing 65MPH, 23 to 25MPG if I keep it at 55MPH, which is not easy to do. Have changed out front pads, original carter lift pump replaced with DDRP from Geno's, upgraded alternator & starter from Geno's, installed 4" exhaust turbo back, and hydraulic clutch assembly from South Bend. It is my daily driver and work truck to the Geysers in northern California. I love this truck, never let me down. It is pretty much bone stock. I have dreams of improving front end as mentioned above. Would like to install manual hubs, but still have kids at home so no extra $ for that upgrade. On off days I have hauled gravel, road base, sand in my 6'X12' big tex dumptrailer. This truck has major ability to pull. One time only but not again I pulled a load up to Cobb for a client that weighed in at 25,126lbs. Yes just a little overloaded, but this truck took it up from 1,200' elevation to 4,608' elevation with ambient temperatures around 89 degrees, no over heating issues etc. just kept rpm at 2,100 she just kept going. What is interesting my wife's 2005 QC 3500 DRW with 48re AT 4X4 5. 9 HPCR gets better mileage than mine. Both trucks run great and I love them both. No troubles.

 

[NIsaacs]

Nice to see a load of little squares stacked properly. You don't see too many going down the road any more, but some look really scary, the way they're piled on. When I was in high school, I worked for a feed and implement dealer. We had a three axle gooseneck that we hauled something in the neighborhood of 200 bales on, probably every six weeks, or so. My boss was really particular - the loads had better be straight and square!



Bud

Thanks Bud, yup 200 bales on that load, 5 tiers @ 40 per. When I went to pay the rancher for the hay, he was amazed that I had that many bales. I really like stacking hay and am anal about how it looks



I forgot to mention that I also have a BD brake (love it) and an update to the rear brake cylinders (1 1/8") it will stop a load.



Nick

 

[Just_George]

I'll play. Long story short - I previously owned a '98 3500, followed by a 2000 3500, both diesels of course. When Big Brother and the onerous regulations got to be more than I wanted to deal with, I made an ill-advised (and short lived!) foray into the world of Ford gasser trucks. As luck would have it, without really looking I stumbled onto a VERY clean 2001 2500 Quad Cab! Great truck, and I'm thrilled to be once again driving a Cummins.

I know it's sacrilege here, but I'm not into power mods, or "dressing up" the exterior. Most of the things I do, or want to do, tend toward functional improvements or things that I think/hope will make the truck last longer. So far, it's all been pretty much catching up on the basic maintenance: Had the trans inspected/adjusted and fluid/filter changed, as well as the differential. Had a Rhino liner added to the box - really, really like those! Have also added the Painless Wiring Kit for future additions. One other thing I did is add the rear fender liners - simple, relatively cheap, and helps a bunch when ya live on a dirt road!

Things I'm going to do, or want to do? First of all is adding the fuel pressure gauge - actually have it, but haven't had a chance to do the install yet. Want to add a seat heater from Genos since it can be cold here in the Great White North! Would love to do the sport headlight conversion when funds allow, but probably need to replace shocks first...

Thanks to all for the great knowledge shared here and in the TDR magazine - still working thru all the back issues I bought!

 

[ABennin]

Thank you Vaughn MacKenzie for the comment. My main reason for putting that thing on was for hitting deer. I hit one deer when I had nothing but the stock bumper on. I was lucky I seen it and had time to slow down, it didn't do alot of damage.

The header looks mean under the hood of your CC truck. I think I can count on 1 hand how many CC 24 valves I have seen in my area. Alot of people around here have already upgraded to newer trucks. 10 years ago you couldn't swing a stick without hitting a 7. 3PS(it seems to be ford country here). Now I see one here and there. Rust is killing them off slowly, 24 valves included. I park my cummins in the winter to keep it from rusting. One last thing, I am still running the original VP that came with truck. The original owner had never replaced it. The truck has 176K.

 

[JR]

I am currently on my 2nd vp powered cummins. First was a 00 I picked up for 1800 bucks. The guy thought the vp was shot. I got it home and after close inspection noticed a small hairline crack on the small cover on the back of the vp with the 2 tamper proof torx screws. I removed the cover, ground the crack out, tig welded it up and put it back together. Cracked the injector lines and the truck fired up right away and ran smooth as could be. I ran it for a few years the body was getting rough the front end needed work so i sold it locally to a guy who uses it in the oil fields. Last time I saw him the truck had 370k on it and still going strong. My 2nd and current ride is a 98. 5. I bought it from an 87 yr old man and let me tell you this truck was babied. Completely rust free, and at 67k pampered miles it felt like a new truck still. it is a stock truck with the exception of a smarty and aside from putting in a larger set of injectors over the winter i plan on leaving it alone. I had a built trans in my 2000 and when i bought my 98 i swapped the trannies before i sold the 00. Ive replaced the lift pump with a raptor, put a blue chip vp on (it had the original vp on and i honestly didnt trust it as i do several long distance trips every year), egt, boost, trans temp, and fuel pressure gauges, and a set of bushwackers to protect my fenders from mud and stone. Other than that, I drive it! And love every mile! Ive got at least 175k between my 2 trucks and theyve never left me stranded.

 

[AWeiman]

bought my 01 about 7 years ago. currently it has over 175000 on the original vp. the body is starting to get pretty rough due to gravel roads and of course road salt in the winter. my truck is a farm truck so it is not babied at all. All the bombs in my sig have been worth the money. the injectors are certainly my favorite bomb. the front end is still original except for the driver side wheel bearing and the brakes. just had the 2nd water pump put in a few weeks back. other than that truck has been pretty much trouble free.

 

[AWeiman]

also i thought i would share a practical mode that i did to my truck recently. picked up some 5/8 inch heater house to extend the blow by tube. it was very easy and now my fan and radiator will stay cleaner.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

diesel4life hang onto that truck, you don't hardly ever find 2nd Gens that clean and pampered anymore! By the looks of the pics it is being taken care of.

AWeiman I have always wondered why Cummins set up the blowby tube that way. I think they started that in '99 or 2000, my 24V has the blowby tube coming out of the back end of the tappet cover which is the same place as on a 12-valve.

 

[twheat]

It started for me back in 02 when my buddies dad bought his 02 CTD H. O. 6 speed. I loved the way it looked and sounded. Every time I was over at their house I wanted to look at it. I told myself I'd buy one once I could afford one. Finally 3 years ago I bought the exact same truck as my buddies dad's. I did a lot of research and installed a good lift pump first as well as gauges. Next came exhaust and an edge comp. Now with a 160,000 on the rig the front suspension is shot I'm not sure if its all original but so far I've replaced the track bar and put a steering box brace both from Solid Steel Industries. 4 Bilsteins went on next and after that I installed 4th gen ram steering which made a huge improvement. Next week it gets new ball joints and hopefully a steering box. I really do enjoy this truck like I always have. My dad recently bought a 35' 5er that weighs 13500 dry. We put the hitch in the bed so he can use my truck to tow it to and from the property. The first time he towed with it he had a grin on his face he was so happy with how the truck towed. I know there's nicer rigs out there, the chrysler product around the cummins is something to be desired, but its the motor that drives the truck so oh well! I'll drive this one till she's dead and I think and buy another..... that may be a while though!