325/600

[HoleshotHolset]

Without looking at the truck's build date (provided that EVERY truck that is considered a 2004. 5+ has the newer engine... . )... . is there any other way to determine if it's the new or old HO? VIN?



How about the electric wastegate assy? Is that something easy to ID?



Matt

 

[100 Proof]

The new engine has a catalytic converter, old HO does not. New engine has plastic side tanks on intercooler, old engine has aluminum.



100 Proof

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Good call on the cat and IC tanks... .



Any info on whether the VIN is any different?



Matt

 

[klenger]

For what it's worth, the VIN for my '04. 5 is 3D7LU38C84G187447.



The 8th digit "C" designates the engine type. Fritz's website has not been updated for the 3rd gen VIN decoding yet, so I don't know what all the possibilities are, but it looks like the Cummins 600 is a "C" engine type.

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

If you can look at the engine you could look at the data tag on the drivers side of the engine and it would show 325 hp.

 

[JLockhart]

Originally posted by klenger

For what it's worth, the VIN for my '04. 5 is 3D7LU38C84G187447.



The 8th digit "C" designates the engine type. Fritz's website has not been updated for the 3rd gen VIN decoding yet, so I don't know what all the possibilities are, but it looks like the Cummins 600 is a "C" engine type.

My 8th digit is a "C"!!! Thanks for the info!

 

[Prairie Dog]

Steve's rite, every Cummins ever made has had it's H. P. /torque rating stamped on a small metal tag on the timing cover. It also has some other criticle numbers in case you ever want to order parts direct from Cummins.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

The data plate on my 2004 is a sticker on the driver's side of the plastic cover on top of the valve cover.

 

[catoiler]

Hey Joe,That phony one you made up to hide the real HP don't count!!



Mike

 

[DaleStevenson]

I have a '04. 5 on order and have called dealer regarding which engine will be in it. They told me it "should" be the 325/600. My order date was November 8. I do not know build date but it was well into December obviously because my ship date is to be Jan 4 (sunday?). The 8th digit in my VIN is also a "C". While reading about the new engine I noticed what looked like a tag of some sort on the top of the engine. Is that real? Does that refer to 325/600? Thanks.



Dale.

 

[Mopar_Mudder]

Well your "C" doesn't mean anything other then it is the cummin diesel high out-put



Here is the 2003 Vin Info, same "C"



#ad

 

[wyosteve]

Totally accurate what Moparmudder says. I have the invoice from an 04 HO 305/555 in my hands and the 8th digit is a 'C'.

 

[Fireman Dave]

Sounds like Matt is seriously considering buying a new rig. Get hooked after that test drive, Matt?

 

[FATCAT]

Plastic !!!

Originally posted by 100 Proof

The new engine has a catalytic converter, old HO does not. New engine has plastic side tanks on intercooler, old engine has aluminum.



100 Proof

Plastic side tanks on the intercooler!!! That definitely says something about the new trucks ... CHEAP, SHOTY,

CUTING-CORNERS.



I don't like it



Last time I had plastic tanks on the side of a radiator, it was on my old POS '88 Chevy ... always were leaking and cracking.



I bet there will be lots of Intercooler leaks in the near future for the new Cummins 600.

 

[MO'Donnell]

Re: Plastic !!!

Originally posted by FATCAT



Last time I had plastic tanks on the side of a radiator, it was on my old POS '88 Chevy ... always were leaking and cracking.



I bet there will be lots of Intercooler leaks in the near future for the new Cummins 600.

Those were the early days of plastic radiator tanks. Had a couple replacements in my '87 Chrysler and the service dep't was cursing the new radiator designs. They have come a long way since then, and longevity has improved with technology & experience. I won't even go into the problems one automaker had when they decided to be the pioneers of plastic gas tanks. Mid-production switch back to steel, then back to plastic when they figured out what they were doing. One of the main reasons for switching to plastic way-back-when was weight savings. Change is inevitable, we just have to deal with it.



Back to the topic now...

The 8th character on my '03 305/555 VIN is C. Truck shoppers after the beginning of the year gotta read the window sticker for production date, check for the cat, or the tag on the engine to make sure they get the 325/600.

 

[HoleshotHolset]

The reason I wanted the VIN information is that it's often included in many online sales sites.



If you can get the VIN in advance of traveling to see the truck - it makes the pre-sales research a lot easier. The sales staff can never be trusted to tell you whether its the 305hp or 325hp version of the HO. I've seen sales staff try to burn people before...



A quick identifying method is what I was looking for - and even better if it could be figured out by using the VIN. Just in case I was strolling through a lot with a lot of 3rd Gen CTD's... . it would be nice to be able to quickly tell which one is 'X' or 'Y'.



I'm still drooling over the 3rd Gen trucks. I can't afford a new (or used... ) one - unless I sell both the truck and the car (which isn't unreasonable at all... ). I'd still have a hefty payment even if the new truck was my only vehicle.



To be honest - I don't want the 325/600... I want to avoid it. Getting around the electronic wastegate is one more headache (amongst some of the other things mentioned in this thread... )... . Although it would be easy for the 'box' manufacturers to fool the ECM electronically. I'm not saying the 325 is bad... just that it's not for me... for the same reason that the 12-valve was (is) for me. To each his own.



Thanks again for the info!



Matt

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Look through the grille on the passenger side. You can see the plastic baffle on the 04. 5 (see photo in the article).

 

[rbattelle]

Slightly off-topic,



What were the ratings on the Cannonball express? Wasn't it 325/600?

 

[DaleStevenson]

Thanks to everybody for the info, especially Mudder. Looks like a "wait-and-see" situation. Mudder, is that VIN info available on the web someplace or just to you? Can I track my truck somehow? Thanks again.



Dale.

 

[Mopar_Mudder]

I got that info from the service manual that I have. I would imagine that the 04's, 04. 5's would be the same other then the year code.