Diesel Naivety: How bad before encountering TDR or Cummins TD?

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Reading the "TDR Old Timer Post" reminded me of something that I look back on with much humor.

I know some may be in the same boat as I was, but before I "hit" the old Cummins Diesel Website (pre-TDR) I have to admit I was abysmally naive when it came to diesel power, particularly the Cummins TD. This resulted partly from the bad influence of riding around in Oldsmobile diesels in the early '80s #ad


2-3 years ago, I thought:

The Dodge Cummins trucks were pretty cool, but at 180hp they would not be particularly quick or fast or fun to drive. Hopping stuff up was in my blood but a diesel wasn't the ticket.

I assumed there wasn't much, if any, aftermarket HP add-ons for diesels. I thought that it would be cool to modify a Cummins diesel and, possibly, with all the right parts and careful matching and massaging, and spending a boatload of cash, one could crank a Cummins to an unimaginable 300hp #ad
With my gasser mentality I figured aftermarket pistons and rods as well as proper crankshaft prep would be a MUST before hopping up the HP to any levels approaching 300hp. I figured it would require extensive head porting.

I'll never forget the day I had some free time and went surfing the web and hit CDW for the first time. I was blown away. Guys were cranking out over 300hp with a simple cam plate and injector swap. . . my jaw hit the floor. But this diesel BOMBing stuff has come a long way since logging on to CDW for the first time in June '99, with power levels going to unimaginable levels. That is what is so fun about these trucks, blowing away those old diesel myths that so many have #ad


I doubt I'm the only TDR member that used to be Cummins diesel naive. . . humble yourself and tell us about it #ad


Vaughn

 

[KatDiesel]

<font color=blue>I knew I wanted a diesel, and I knew they could be "turned up" but wasn't sure of the specifics of it in regards to the Lil Cummins.

• Graduated Highschool 1995
• December 1996 enrolled Denver Automotive and Diesel College
• June 1997 to June 1998 worked for Wagner Equipment
• Left Wagner to work for Union Pacific June 1998

So I wasn't as "naieve" as most first time diesel owners, I knew why I wanted it and why I was buying it when I did.

 

[Pete Peterson]

Its funny ya'll talking about the bombs Detroit put out in the 70's, and where these trucks are now. I know I worked on Diesels for 20 years in the Corps and never thought I'd have one in a truck. Even when Dodge came out with the Cummins I knew the Cummins from working on them and knew they were awsome but slow as slugs in the garden but when the new body style came out and I took that drive in 93 I had to have one!!! Three trucks later its still a passenate love affair with with both the truck and the motor!! Pete

 

[HEMI®Dart]

In the late 80's someone told the the a Dodge truck with a Cummins would leave your trailer behind if you mashed the throttle too much. It was a torque monster. I drove F*** & G* diesels at work daily from '86 -98', so I had a decent working knowledge of Diesel. They were non-running most of the time. #ad
Early on, what I thought was a Diesel engine was really crap compared to the Cummins.

 

[QRTRHRS]

Dodge did have their stint with the wrong diesel engine in the first gen. Wrong in the sense that it was painfully too small. I don't remember the year(s) but I recall the engine being a four cylinder Nisson or something similar. When the Cummins engine became available, I did not pay much attention because I did not care for the first gen's harsh ride. I did go check out the 94' model but did not like the leg room with the regular cab. Once circumstances compelled me to buy a truck, I pretty much knew what I wanted though. I was aware of the TDR magazine through a friend then found the website as well as the Ford site. Reading both, knowing my friends troubles with his 7. 3, I went shopping. I knew I wanted an extended cab and was happy to find the leg room much better. Although I had read about the mods, my 97' with just a plate blew my mind the first time I drove it. Keep on truckin'.

 

[joesoot]

Naivety #1: Ford owns Cummins.
Naivety #2: Diesels are slow
Naivety #3: Pickup Truck diesels sound like crap(the only ones I heard were Chevy)
here's the big one #4: Poped the hood on a friend's father's 6. 2... where's the Carb?Seriously embarrassing.

A freshman in high school when I first noticed the 1st Gen. trucks. Met an old man up fishin the Grand Mesa with family... the old guy had a huge #ad
camper on the back of his CTD 4x4... my dad started asking the guy questions about his truck... the old guy said it had way more torque than a BBC 454... my ears perked up... woo hoo! I want one!

 

[Bad340fish]

Dodge put the first diesel in a pickup truck. It was in the late 70s not sure which year though. It was a Mitsubishi 4 cylinder and only had 105HP lol. I don't think it lasted long and the next diesel was the cummins in 88 or 89? I read that in an offroad mag a year or so ago. Had a cool article on how Black smokers worked... to bad they had a pic of a GN truck doing a burnout. Must have been in a soapy puddle or something lol

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Clark
1999 2500 QC SB 5spd Flowmaster 3 chamber, K&N Re-0880
1968 Barracuda Formula S Viper Blue 11. 98@112

NHRA member for life

 

[Sled Puller]

The Scouts had I-6 Nissans in them. Wonderful little engine, but at 110hp, a little sleepy! 1976 to 1980. Turbo with Bosch fuel system.

I had no idea the Cummins could make safe, fuel efficient power like it does.
But I always knew it ROCKED.
Funny thing, I read my first BOMBing article in PA snowmobiler magazine. Bruce Mallinson wrote it.
He asks the question,"What do you do with all that power?"
Answer:
"HAMMER THE POWERSTROKES ON THE MOUNTAINS! And give them that big Cummins power smile on the way by!" #ad

Gene

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1997 Cummins Dodge 4x4 Bombed & Amsoiled. Amsoil Premiere Direct Jobber, Member of: NRA Business Alliance, GLTDR, WANTED: Wrecked Dodges.
www.awdist.com

 

[Whitmore]

I have been a cummins man from day one,I have run the 290 300 and the 600 cummins,loved them all but my 5. 9 is the most enjoyable so far,I do want the 3. 9-4cly in an suv,I think that would be a real hoot #ad

Kevin

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2001 eth dee,qc,lwb,3. 55,camper and tow pkg,driftwood,cummins e-brake,jardine 4" exhaust,dz alum checker run boards,bed rail,tailgate protector,better built alum checker toolbox with home made fuel tank under box,"CUMN" licence plates and captain vol fire dept plate too

 

[Bob Beauchaine]

I remember the Mitsubishi - I believe it was an in line 6 cyl and much to small and low on power. I always said that when Dodge put a serious diesel in their pick-ups I would by one. I did have to wait a few years but it was well worth it.
My son-inlaw wanted to know about the spark plugs in my Cummins. My daughter couldn't convince him that diesels don't use spark plugs. I had to explain compression ignition to him - oh by the way he is 50 years old.
Happy Trails

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1993 250 4X2 - Banks Power Pack, BD Power Injectors, K&N Air Filter, 6 gauges and tweaked pump. 27lbs boost unloaded.
Horton fan & NV4500 5 speed.

 

[Brandon]

well It took 12 years to get one. I always got sweet talked into something else. Well I get one and its now the wife's, she will not trade it for anything except a brand new mercedes, looks like I will have to wait a while longer to get my hands on her truck, other than washing and fixing stuff up, lotsa accesories
B

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END THE OPPRESSION FREE HVAC NOW
Danelle's Dodge

 

[TREEMAN]

When the 2nd gen trucks came out in 94 i knew i had to get one, but knew nothing about the cummins untill a friend bought one of the ist ones on the lot,& got to experience one ist hand. 96 I bought one & kept it for 4 yrs,when i discovered the tdr which really was a great research tool & helped me pick out my 2001 & also got me on the slippery bombing slope,well thats another story! Still in the honeymoon phase with my 01 & now own my friends 94,where does it end!

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2001,2500 q-cab,auto 4x4,4. 10 anti-slip rearend. All options except leather seats. Line-x bed & tool box. Slide-in -removable rack,BFG 295,s ,Fender flares. Westin nerf bars,billet grill & fog inserts. Rancho,9000,s,Isspro gauges,
1994 2500,4X4,12 valve,bone stock for now