Phords and Shivrolays
i've been looking for a thread to try to start something-- this looks like one where i won't offend someone who is seriously trying to get heavy info... . been driving my new ram about 2 mo. . . 5000 miles worth. i started looking at diesels about 3 mo ago. after swearing, and making my wife promise me that she would help me remember to never, ever, ever, ever again drive a Phord after my last piece of junk made in Canada but wearing the blue oval, i was still lured by the superduty. thank God, after a cold shower and a couple of test drives and the difference the dealer wanted to take my '98 dakota with low miles off my hands, i got the cure again. the flowerpoke just ain't got it for me. my experience with v8 diesels isn't vast, probably half vast, but they weren't that great. i also know that the size of the crewcab superduty is an appeal to some, but that MOTHER IS BIG.
then there was the shivvy. the luralax is certainly tempting. i really liked the allison transmission, and have had good experience with MD3060s in two successive motorhomes. FORTUNATELY, after a cold shower and some deep thought--v8, aluminum heads,first year, first year for the transmission, etc. i got rid of that notion. i don't know why i'm so darned slow some times. this ram is my 5th 4X4 dodge. a'76, a'79, a '98 dakota and still have an '89 dakota convertible 4X4 project truck in the shop. i've loved every one of them!! the '76 was a 350 with the 360 gasser and i couldn't wear it out. i'm sure it is still running around somewhere in the midwest. i used to overload it mercilessly with an auto transmission and it just kept on keeping on. rebuilt the engine at about 170k, lost the speedo and ran it another 5 years before i sold it. probably in excess of 250k when sold. the LEAST maintenance and TOUGHEST truck i've ever had.
any way, every day i thank God that the local DC dealer appreciated my tricked out '98 dakota and found me the ram i needed and DC had the 0. 9 financing. every day i just love the truck more and more. i have been pushing my fl70 motorhome around now for several years with the c8. 3 and love it. i finally remembered that after a bunch of diesels (not in pickups) the cummins had been the most trouble free, and i should remember that.
anyway, after reading some of the threads on the luravax websites, and some of the troubles they are having, i'm glad again that i couldn't get one. my SO much preferred the shivvy to the dodge, but she's now come around.
so, with interest i read of some of the troubles others are having, and guess that a truck built on monday ain't always bad-- my build date was mon, 5/7/01. 5k and not a blip. switch on the passenger lumbar support was bad from the gitgo, replaced promptly by the dealer. the leather heated seats are by far the most comfortable seats i've had in any vehicle, including the SO's infiniti Q45. so far the engine and transmission are behaving flawlessly.
i've added an auxilliary external transmission filter and temp gauge, nerf bars,an are LoPro lid, k'n n filter, 10 disc changer, and some of the stock parts are starting to fall off--air snorkel and silencer ring most recently. the muffler and resonator are looking real fragile and loose. i'm pretty sure they aren't going to make it through the weekend. i'll start with a piece of straight pipe, then decide whether i want to stay straight piped with a 4" or 5" system, or go with a muffler. gauges are next. i plan on an auxilliary pusher pump back by the tank to push fuel to the lift pump. i'll probably install westach dual gauges on the pillar--egt/boost, oil temp X2 for the engine and the transmission, and dual fuel pressure--pre and post filter. some where along the line i suspect that an EZ fueler will find its way in.
i will probably up grade the tc and valve body but that is definitely an all weekend project. have to save the deniro, also.
considered not submitting this poor quality novel, but what the heck--take yer best shot!!!
definitely more than $. 02 worth!!
Attention: TDR Forum Junkies 
Wish you could have got a picture, oh well...
