2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission best 24v year

[maint.man]

I'm thinkin' of updating to the overvalved crowd. Just curious as to what year of truck seems to be the best. Still not sure on the auto , stick thing yet. (I say stick , wife says auto) Any input would be helpful, or

 

[DarrellB]

Go with a 99

My 99 has been great.



It's still on the factory lift pump.



Darrell

 

[Rob Thomas]

Not sure on which year is the best, but deffinatly get a stick, it's a man's truck, and real men shift they're own gears.





Later, Rob

 

[CUMINNTSTRKN]

the 2002 has the best block(storm block) some of the early 24v blocks have had a cracking issue by the turbo.



jim

 

[WadePatton]

I love my Y2K.

But the rear discs came in 00. 5 or 01. --But then my drums were flawless at 50k. Mom has a late 99 auto. I have an early 00. I like the fuel filter on the 00 better than the 99. I also hate the parking brake on the 99--it doesn't stay down when actuated. And I think 00 is the first year that comes with schraeder valves for checking the LP with a Briar Hopper test unit. They're useful for checking before you get a permanent gauge and great for plumbing in said gauge.



5-speed is perfectly functional, but 6 is one better.



Let the wife have the 96 so she'll have an auto! Nothing like a pair of Cummins in the driveway. When I go to Mom's there's THREE, unless the neighbors visit, then there can be FOUR or MORE!

 

[Rob Thomas]

Yes, block crackin' was an issuse, but by mid '99 was not a problem, according to Cummins'.



The rear disc's were out in '01. 5.





later, Rob

 

[StakeMan]

Originally posted by Rob Thomas

Not sure on which year is the best, but deffinatly get a stick, it's a man's truck, and real men shift they're own gears.





Later, Rob

Don't go there Rob!:-{} :-laf

 

[TomGolden]

Well, I have to echo Rob's statement: if God hadn't meant for man to shift his own gears, why did He give us a left leg and foot???



another benefit of a manual transmission... if your wife/significant other can't, or doesn't like to drive a stick shift, that much less chance she will want to drive the truck



Tom

 

[Bigramguy]

Originally posted by TomGolden

Well, I have to echo Rob's statement: if God hadn't meant for man to shift his own gears, why did He give us a left leg and foot??? Tom

..... so we won't fall over !!

 

[Tom G]

Best Truck

I can not, will not, don't dare, will never, get involved in the manual vs auto thingy



From sig. you can tell my 3500 is a 2001. 5 with the disk brakes and the stucker really stops the truck and 5th wheel. Been up at 14,400 feet and never had a problem with brake fad or failure coming down the hills. No exhaust brake but would think that would be really nice thing to have someday. There are a few individuals here on the TDR that have had ABS/Disk problems but not me.



BUT, if your going to buy a 2000/2001/2002 why not spend another $5-$10,000 grand and get a high output 2003. 300 smoking horses right out of the stable. I mean what's the difference between $450 and $550 a month. Who said it Clint Eastwood I think 'just a few dollars more'



Just think of all the money you can save on fueling boxes, exhaust systems, torque converters, valve bodies, bigger turbo's and all the other fun stuff to make her pull and go.



And about the transmission differences - not going to go there,.



Tom G.

 

[Pit Bull]

I would say 2000. It was a limited production run, makes them rare and exotic. Plus you won't hear as many complaints about 2000's since they made fewer. How is that for BSing? I don't think you can go wrong with any of them, it all depends on the individual truck. I would concentrate on the truck not the year.

 

[BV]

If it where me

I would go for the HO/6sp/rear disk/thicker engine block/ model with all the goodies they took off after 99 like the fender liners/hood insulation/cup holders.



Okay so lets see - This would be a 99-2000-2001-2002 all put together.



Seriously - I would try to stay away from the 53 blocks that could crack.

 

[BRUTUS]

Been up at 14,400 feet and never had a problem with brake fad or failure coming down the hills.



Tom

Just curious

Where were you at that altitude?



The 2001. 5 - 2002s the best model.

Fewer parts missing

You can still almost reach the #6 injector

The middle front seat passenger does not have his feet on the cup holders

You can find 16" tires on sale

The front (grille) is more respectable

 

[Cummins Cowboy]

What is a STORM engine block?? One thing i have to say is VIVA the rear brakes. The disks on my truck are awesome, finally i have a truck with some real brakes on it. IF i where buying i would spend the extra money just to make sure i would get disks on the back. Improper working drums can cause all sorts of probs if the adjusters are not working right poor stopping as well as possibly being more prone to warp your front rotors, disks are very trouble free. And i don't care what anyone says my 6 speed shifts just about as good as my wife's honda civic, although reverse is still sometimes hard to find. And the added benefit is the wife is scared of the 6 speed so she never wants to drive the truck

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

On recommending a '03...



"Just think of all the money you can save on fueling boxes, exhaust systems, torque converters, valve bodies, bigger turbo's and all the other fun stuff to make her pull and go. "





HA HAH HA!



Yer just KIDDING, right?



Either that, or a newcomer here, or rankly naive... .

 

[wtrenholm]

Put me on the list for going with the rear disc brakes and a 6 sp. The brake pedal feel is good and it stops great with or without a trailer. Personal preference is a stick and I like the RPM spilts of the 6 sp, easy to keep the Cummmins in the big power range. My 01 has rear cup holder and hood ins pad, for what that's worth.



Wayne

 

[Tom G]

14,400 and climbing

BRUTUS and Gary KJ6Q



First for Gary - stealth power is good - now you see it - now you don't



BRUTUS:



We were traveling through Colorado and if my memory is correct which SOME of the time it is, the Continental Divide was 14,xxx something feet at the top. I of course was having fun listening to my turbo sing it's song and somewhat busy monitoring EGT's which were running 1250-1300 degrees. Couldn't go very fast because of all the construction going on as I remember. I can look up the altitude on the map if it's really important. Was pulling our 25 foot 5th wheel. On the downgrades I just took her out of overdrive and tapped the brake pedal from time to time. A couple of times I dropped down a gear for a little more engine braking if you can call it that. An exhaust brake would have been nice but certainly not necessary.



Tom G.

 

[JTMcCracken]

Well my new truck is a 2002 so that HAS to be the best ever made, huh. But seriously, I love the 4 wheel disc brakes, I really didn't think you could stop a loaded 1 ton that fast. As for the 2003's, I think mine looks better, and I don't want a quiet engine, it's just plain wrong. As for the missing rear cup holders, my 11 month old daughter rides in the center seat and can't be trusted with a cup anyway. As for the hood insulation, that would tend to make the truck quieter and that's still just plain wrong. As for the lighted vanity mirror, my wife is a natural beauty and doesn't need such a thing. So, for me, I have the perfect truck. JTMcC.

 

[KKaiser]

I say rear discs are the deciding factor. My truck just plain STOPS. I feel by 2001 most of the trouble items have been resolved. I really miss the passenger side grab handle though. DC, at last check had over 300 on back order nationwide, mine since May. I wonder if that tells them anything!!



Kent

 

[stownsend]

I think you'll find that we all LOVE OUR TRUCKS, so it's hard to desifer from us which year is better! My 2001 has been great.



I'll take a stab at the transmission issue. If you're going to be towing a lot (~every week), get a manual. If your truck is going to be used mostly for commuting, get the auto.



Good luck!