crawled out of my 12v cave and bought a CR!

[Forrest Nearing]

bought an 03 stripper model yesterday... pretty much a zero option truck... I literally think the only option on it is carpet! (ever seen an ST with carpet?) 193k miles, clean carfax. I ran the VIN at the dodge house and it only had a few very minor things done under warranty. (NOT a 1st year problem child!) It's got the APPS at the pedal (late 03?)



never had a gooseneck ball, runs/drives great (slow!), no blowby, only leak I could see was one of the rubber lines where it meets the power steering cooler the spring clamp isn't quite doing its job. just barely seeping right there.



I got it for $7000



it looks like a tailpipe got in a little fight w/ the rear quarter or something, but for the price I can totally deal with it, and it gives me an excuse to look for a short bed "honey, I've looked everywhere for a replacement bed... all I could find was a shortbed" LOL



Mike at HotRodDiesel is going to build me a manual valve body automatic, and he was kind enough to loan me a Smarty Jr so that it won't be downright PAINFULLY slow on the 3hr ride home! (he was sold out of the regular Smarty... thanks Mike!)



and now for a few pics of the new hot rod:



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[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Looks like a nice little project truck. Think of the plain white wrapper as an empty canvas ready for your next masterpiece

The '03s had a mix of APPS under the battery and in the typical location on the engine. Check the 6-digit MDH number on the door sticker to find out just when it rolled off the assembly line

Vaughn

 

[NoSeeUm]

LOL



Take a good stiff drink before you go face to face with all them "electronics".



Jim

 

[Dieselnut59]

I love my '03 and have been very happy with it. I have actually come to love it better than the old 12 valve. They are not as "complex" as people make them out to be. If you want to see "complex", raise the hood of a '08!! Want to see DISASTER, raise the hood of a ford or chev diesel!!! Yes, somewhere under all that plastic cladding, sea of hoses, pipes and wires is an engine!

Advantage to the '03: No catalytic converter.

 

[Forrest Nearing]

LOL



Take a good stiff drink before you go face to face with all them "electronics".



Jim

I borrowed a Smarty Jr for the drive home and loaded up the 100 horse program. No drink required!



Bought a regular Smarty a few minutes ago and will load it up when I get home.



honestly, the underhood is much less cluttered than a 12v!

 

[Forrest Nearing]

Advantage to the '03: No catalytic converter.

YES! I was looking for an 03-04. 4 because of this... TX is VERY lax on diesel emissions/inspections, but it's only going to get worse as time goes by

 

[Forrest Nearing]

loaded the new Smarty on #9



it wants to break traction in 3rd and the clutch is holding all the power in 4th and 5th!



this is too fun

 

[WDixon27]

seven grand?! they got any more?

 

[Forrest Nearing]

this is the 3rd sub-$10k 3rd gen I've seen to date... this was the least expensive and best optioned (5sp for the 11. 5" rear, gray interior, etc. ) of those three



this isn't the norm, but affordable 3rd gens are coming!

 

[MCummings]

Where'd you take those pics at?



Merrick

 

[Forrest Nearing]

those were the seller's pics



last night I crawled out of my CR after hitting a couple trees and a telephone pole... looks like this thing is on hold for a minute!

 

[WDixon27]

ya ok? and how bad?!

 

[05mxdiesel]

last night I crawled out of my CR after hitting a couple trees and a telephone pole... looks like this thing is on hold for a minute!

Sucks, must have been the smarty's fault and the clutch holding the power. Damn 12 valve guys.

 

[MCummings]

I always knew you 12v guys couldn't handle a CR.



Anyway, you ok? Any stories?



Merrick

 

[Bob Wagner]

I hope everything is ok. Bob

 

[Forrest Nearing]

Sucks, must have been the smarty's fault and the clutch holding the power. Damn 12 valve guys.

LOL! I assure you my 12v makes a lot more power/torque than this thing (did)



it's just a very different driving truck, and the rear end stepped out on me on a wet road, and I drove it like I was driving my 98... the shorter wheelbase, less weight over the axle, and quicker steering response were the nails in the coffin



only thing hurt is my pride, but over the years and multiple injuries, my pride has become more calloused and the injuries heal much quicker



Mike at HotRodDiesels offered to give me a week or two grace period before he started making fun of me. I told him there were no injuries and the truck is insured... so by law it's open season... . by the end of lunch, I'd already gotten an earful

 

[05mxdiesel]

I believe you, I was just ripping on you a little since your a well known 12valve guy on here that just stepped into a cr. Hopefully you get it fixed.

 

[MA2LA]

I never have liked the way the 3rd gen 2500 2wd handled. I had a hemi powered one that rode about 3/4 inch off the bump stops in the front and could be a handful at times.

 

[MCummings]

Glad you are ok.



Any more pics?



Merrick

 

[gitchesum]

Should have been taking lessons when you rode around in my truck.

Sucks you wrecked, but I'll wait til I see you next to give you a hard time, mostly because I can't type what I'll be telling you here.