Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) About these trucks

[Mopar Man1]

Howdy yall



I've made my way over from the first gen. forums. I'm selling my truck and I'm currently looking at a 97 3500(2wd)5spd truck. The truck seems to be in really good shape,interior and paint is all nice. 148k on the clock and the price is pretty good. I'm wanting a 2nd gen. and not really the 24v ones. Though I'm still learning about my 1st gen. I really need a 5spd truck(for heavier towing and I like a stick a lot more) and also one that I can drive anywhere and have 3 or 4 people ride a little more comfey then in my 93 I have now. Can yall give me any pointers or things to look for on this 97 I'm looking at? Things to notice or look at while at the car lot looking. Things to modify on it and what I can and can't do to it. I'm definately gonna BOMB it so I can pull my trail truck and gooseneck trailer a lot easier,possibly be having two trail trucks in tow so having the power there is a good thing to have. So any thing yall can help me with would be GREATLY appreciated and I thank you for your time.



Jimmy

 

[JJW_ND]

Great year and truck!

1997 from what I have read is the most trouble free Dodge diesel made. While it still has the KDP and the 5th gear issues, it has far fewer issues overall.



You will also have a very easy year truck to get cheap power out of with the 215hp pump.



Some things to check for are any signs tampering on the AFC (played with the pump) or any screws, safety wires being cut around pump. Even if everything looks un touched, a quick drive usually will give away any non-stock power. Nothing wrong if you find the pump was turned up but if stock, the engine is virign with those miles.



Most trucks with those miles start to have oil leaks so expect to see some oil.



A quick look at the filters (Brand) might shed some light on how much care the engine got. Make sure the intake hose right before the turbo is very clean.



Sounds like a great truck.



jjw

ND

 

[C Schomer]

Ask for maint. records and if they fixed 5th gear and the kdp yet or done power mods. I love my 97! Craig

 

[moparguy]

Jimmy, the advise I'm about to give goes against the grain. If you do most of your driving on secondary roads where 60mph is the rule, go with 4. 10 gears.



I ordered my 3500 with 3. 55's it came with 4. 10s and we accepted it. All these years I've longed for 3. 55's for the lower noise level (due to reduced rpm) and increased fuel mileage.



Well, we got my wife a 98 12v, 3500 with 5spd the other day with 3. 55's and we are not at all happy with the higher gears. 90% of our driving is on the afore mentioned secondary highways and it's dang near impossible to be in a good gear. 4th is to low and in 5th you're to low in the rpm band most of the time. Not necessary lugging the engine, but hammering the fifth gear nut off.



I really believe the secret to not loosing 5th is to keep the rpm above 2000 in 5th. My 95 is approaching 150k with no 5th gear problems and I attribute that to the 4. 10s.



On the other hand if you drive the majority of the time on expressways, then it's 3. 55s all the way.



Good luck with your search.

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

My two cents:



I am a stick guy all the way. I was not happy with the ratios in my 98 12v 5sp 3. 55s. Reverse is too fast for backing, especially with a trailer. I didn't care much for taking off in 2nd and slipping the clutch either.



I love the 6sp. Especially with the 3. 73 in my 04. Best combination yet. (unless you are towing or hauling heavy all the time - then go for a 4. 10s)



Plan on putting a NV5600 in that 97.

 

[Neibe]

I've been very happy with my 97 no 5th gear problems yet but I always shift at or near redline.

 

[QRTRHRS]

Originally posted by Ol'TrailDog

I was not happy with the ratios in my 98 12v 5sp 3. 55s. Reverse is too fast for backing, especially with a trailer. I didn't care much for taking off in 2nd and slipping the clutch either.

IMHO, reverse is too high even with the 4. 10's. That's why many owners add the front lock out switch so they can back up in low range without the normal binding.

 

[kentdiesel]

Jimmy,

My suggestion is to look closely at the front of the engine for a oil leak that the KDP could of caused. If its dry your in good shape.

Ask for maintenance records to see if you can get a idea the service history.

As you can see by my signature I have a 215hp 5speed with 3. 54 gears. I have grossed 16,500 to 17,500lb several times with no problem. 1st gear seems plenty low starting this amount of weight. I have never felt like I was close to needing 4. 10's or a 6speed.

Loaded I shift at about 2500 to 2700rpms and it drops back to 1600 to 1700 rpms then pulls right back to whatever rpm I want.



In a 215hp 12valve, a #10 plate will make mole hills out of mountains, just be sure you supply enough air with the fuel.



Hope this helps,

Kent

 

[Mopar Man1]

Thanks for all yalls help. Now I'm still new to diesels in general but am learning with my 93 W350. I just need something a little newer and bigger(cab space) to haul a few more people and gear. I like my flatbed on my 93 but I haul a lot of little things and that makes it rather annoying having to strap every little thing down. I know about the KDP,I'll look at that on this truck when I get to go look,is it more of a people on these trucks than the 1st gens? When yall say the 5th gear nut coming off,what do you mean by this,what can it do and how can you fix it if its a big problem? I'm not wanting to make this truck a smoke bellowing son of a gun,cause I still got to drive it daily,I was thinking if I'm able to get it,straight pipe in place of the muffler and a open element air filter or maybe a K&N intake kit for it and thats about it. I figured it would pull the trailer and truck just fine. Thanks again for yalls help



Jimmy

 

[Deezul1]

I got my 97 with 130,000 on it and its at 199. 500 and I have had no problems at all with it that I didnt cause. Its a great truck .

 

[Mopar Man1]

Well fellers I haven't seen the truck in person yet,I called and asked about it,its on a car lot. I didn't talk to the feller that traded for it but a lady,she said it was a quad cab truck,which would make it a 98 correct? That being said it could possibly be a 24v truck couldn't it? I'm still hoping to go look at it,have some people really interested in my 93. I have heard some people say on the 1st gen forums says bad things about a 24v truck. Would that be just to be picking at people or do they have some bad things against them? If so what would they be. From looking at the pictures I don't see the crack for the rear doors to be able to open so the lady could be wrong but just checking my opitions if she is right. Thanks again for the help



Jimmy

 

[Bseg]

The only thing I've seen with my 97 that seems inadequate are the front brakes. If you get a manual trans you will probably be okay.



Two other minor issues I've dealt with on mine.



Side view mirrors loosen up in the mount and tend to wiggle at freeway speed, I pulled them apart and shimmed the stem inside but it still comes loose after a few months.



The vacuum solenoid for the vent control went out because the check valve at the vacuum pump wasn't working correctly allowing oil to run up the line.

 

[moparguy]

Have the lot give you the VIN, on a 98, if the 8th digit is a D, it's a 12V, if it's a 6, then 24V.

 

[Kernel]

The biggest problem with 24v come with the lift pumps going bad frequently. The next is with the early 24v (98. 5-99 I think) having the "53" block which has been known to crack due to bad castings. I have heard about turbos going bad as well. A buddy of mine has a 99 auto, not sure if it's a "53" or not but has gone through some lift pumps and a turbo with the replacement starting to leak oil and coating the turbine like the first did before it's bearing went bad.



I like my 97, other than some crappy DC designs, the engine is a favorite to me. Good luck and hope all works out for you.



Scott

 

[EBottema]

Stole my 1996 with 170k on ebay for 9k. You can expect much from the paint since the paint sucks. You will find chips on everything you find. If you dont, i would be worried that it might have been repainted b/c of an accident. go with a 1996-1997. Look on ebay, dont be super pickey since these trucks are getting hard to find with the exact combo you want for the right price... took me 8 months!



Erik

 

[kentdiesel]

Jimmy,

The answer your NV4500 5th gear question is that from the factory 5th gear is only partially supported by splines on the mainshaft. Sometimes 5th gear wobbles lose and pushes the 5th gear retaining nut off the threaded part of the mainshaft. When this happens you no longer have a 5th gear, just a 4 speed with two neutrals.



There is a upgraded nut available but the problem is not really fixed until you install a aftermarket fully splined mainshaft.

A fully splined mainshaft, new 5th gear and upgraded nut will cost about $300. 00 for the parts.



Some trucks have this problem early on and some go for years and never have this problem.



I was lucky and never had 5th gear come lose but I went ahead and installed a fully splined mainshaft when I replaced the clutch.



Kent