Feedback from a Duramax owner

[John Dimartino]

I test drove one,my only question is why would he bring it back?That thing flat out flys for a stock truck. I loved my Dodge /Cummins,but even with the TST#6,i dont think it could have hung with the stock Chevy,not to mention the allison transmission. Im still looking for aclean 98-00 2500 q-cab ,Cummins,auto,swb 4x4 for 26K-ish-it can have hi miles. No luck get for mr.

 

[Mopar-muscle]

JohnD , what year is your ram ? can't imagine your tst'd ram would have kept up with that duracrax ??? to bad i'm not in the market for a new truck . . yet , i have just the ram your looking for #ad


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planet earth
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Y2K 2500,QC,4x4,SLT+,CUMMINS,Auto,TT,CS,3. 54 LSD,Driftwood,Camel LEATHER + LOADED,Line-X,silencer ring reinstalled ,ISSPRO guages on the A-pillar ... JRE 4" exhaust with race magmun and 5" tip , and other NON factory parts ... yeah BABY !!!

DC AND Cummins kiss my ...

 

[Deezal Man]

I can related in that I was one of the first people to place an order for the "then new" 24V Diesel... Without having driven one. I guess I assumed it would be better than the older 12V's. So far, I can't say that I would rather have the 24V. My "future" BIL's 97' 12V is quieter, and gets better MPG than my 24V.
As far as power, his (broke in) 12V seemed equal to my (new 98. 5') 24V. Now he has a TST kit... and there is no comparison. I feel like I left the parking brake on... after driving his.

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98. 5' 24v 2500 Auto/3. 54 4x4 SB QC 285-75-16's on Alcoa's. Everything but leather. PIAA 1200's, AMSOIL dual filter relocation system, Smittybuilt Stainless Steel Nerfs, Rhino Liner(Junk), K&N air filter(For Sale)15 year AMSOIL dealer. Time permitting, Soon to include Ultra-lite Pyro,0-50lbs boost, Trans temp in the pillar. Rancho 9000's with in cab adjustment.

 

[drawson]

I have dorve a Duramax/allison empty and it was impressive(tire frier) and another instructor at work has a Duramax/6 speed it isn't impressive. You have to use 1st and rev the motor just to get it rolling w/o killing it.

I ran an allison towing and there isn't any question that my mid bombed Cummins will run away and hide from them with any load.

I hope they sell lotts of the Duramax for two reasons...

#1 More food for my Ram #ad
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#2 The more people that own diesels hopefully will keep the EPA off our A$$es

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EAT'M UP
97 2500 Club 4X4 3. 54, Forrest Green/Driftwood, LSD 5 speed, & Psychotty Air System, TST #11, 370 HP injectors, timing at 16 deg. , 16CM2 housing, AFC spring kit, Geno's Exhaust Blanket, TST EGT gauge & 0-60 boost gauge in A Pillar, Cat-be-gone, 4" Dynomax Bullet muffler, Crome 4" turn down, Rad fan removed, AmsOil Through out, Geno's trans filter kit, AmsOil Bypass system, Lund Winter front, Leer Cab Level Shell Driftwood , 255/85R16, Dyno'd 342 HP pre injectors & turbo housing *NRA/USPSA member and proud of it*

 

[Deezal Man]

FYI:
One of the guys who works with my "future" Brother in law ordered and took delivery of a new Duramax. . Next day he took it back, wanting his 99' Cummins back. I don't know all the specifics... . But he said

"Its not what its cracked up to be".

To my knowledge his 99' was bone stock. Wonder if he lost money in the deal... since he took it back the next day?

If so, thats gotta be a suckie feeling to pay out money just to get your truck back the next day. . Has this type of situation happened to anyone?


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98. 5' 24v 2500 Auto/3. 54 4x4 SB QC 285-75-16's on Alcoa's. Everything but leather. PIAA 1200's, AMSOIL dual filter relocation system, Smittybuilt Stainless Steel Nerfs, Rhino Liner(Junk), K&N air filter(For Sale)15 year AMSOIL dealer. Time permitting, Soon to include Ultra-lite Pyro,0-50lbs boost, Trans temp in the pillar. Rancho 9000's with in cab adjustment.

 

[BCFAST]

I cant imagine anyone buying something before testing it! Heck, I equate getting married to buying a car... you aint gonna buy it before a test drive!!LOL

 

[Bart Timothy]

The stock Duramax's are dynoing out at 235 to 245 rear wheel horse power with torque in the low 400s. A stock ETH doesn't quite have that much horse power but is much higher in torque. Even just a mildly BOMBd Cummins will give the Duramax a good run, and a stock ETH will probably out pull it.

 

[Hyper]

I dont care for isuzu deisels or what you folks are calling the duramax. Chevy still cant build a deisel... they have to go to isuzu to get one. And it is a **** v-8. . I hate dc now as they are going to mercedies deisel's and I know dodge is going under... . help lee I... ... .

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1993 Dodge Prostock Daytona 7:70@172, 1987 Grand National 11:77@115, 1996 Dodge Ram 3500 Dually. Stock with a 5 speed, Home page http://www.home.earthlink.net/~whra3

 

[CUMINNTSTRKN]

not to argue with you hyper but dodge can't build a diesel either. but at least they went with a tried and true motor to stick in our trucks, and not a bunch of recyled cans #ad


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2001 eth ez box and more on the way

 

[Deezal Man]

#2 The more people that own diesels hopefully will keep the EPA off our A$$es

Whew... . I hope you don't believe that.
The complete opposite happens. As more people buy Diesel's, EPA will tighten its grip. EPA focuses on Gasoline motors because they make up the majority. . Think what will happen when Diesel are no longer in the low minority!!

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98. 5' 24v 2500 Auto/3. 54 4x4 SB QC 285-75-16's on Alcoa's. Everything but leather. PIAA 1200's, AMSOIL dual filter relocation system, Smittybuilt Stainless Steel Nerfs, Rhino Liner(Junk), K&N air filter(For Sale)15 year AMSOIL dealer. Time permitting, Soon to include Ultra-lite Pyro,0-50lbs boost, Trans temp in the pillar. Rancho 9000's with in cab adjustment.

 

[jsimpson]

OK; I agree it's stupid to buy before you drive. I agree that for the sake of our country's economy and our brother's a sister's jobs, it's imperative to buy American. I agree Dodge doesn't make their own diesels. But I've been driving my son's 2000 for almost a year now while he's in Korea, and I HONESTLY still prefer my 89! It steers easier, performs better, doesn't have the huge a-pillars blocking my vision. The parts are cheaper, the metal is tougher, and it doesn't tire me as much on long drives. I can't think of ANYTHING I like better about the 2nd gen truck except the quad cab. And the quad cab isn't big enough for me to sleep in the back seat (too narrow, and I'm skinny!) while my wife drives! I guess that's why my brother and I just ordered a new crew cab Duramax for him; we're just getting too old to make the Dodge into what we want it to be! By the way, now that DC is owned by Germans, is "buy American" still a good reason to buy a Dodge???

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http://coffeewithJesus. homestead.com/web1.html 89 1-ton, Amsoil System 3000 5-30,K&N air filter, cleaned-up exhaust, Dynomax straight-thru, rebuilt pump, thermostatically controlled twin 14" Permacool electric fans, intercooler), modified 518 OD transmission, Gear vendors OD controler, R-134 refrigernt, louvered front fenders, 93 aftermarket smoothie grille, new Dupont Chromacolor black, black-and-red rubber rubstrip, black headlights, powdercoated bumpers; 78 35'Avion, 93 Lance 900 slide in with generator and power jacks. To see my truck, Click on: <A HREF="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1169022&a=10097213

Jesus" TARGET=_blank>http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1169022&a=10097213

Jesus</A> saves!

[This message has been edited by jsimpson (edited 02-02-2001). ]

 

[RobG]

Bart:

My 01. 5 ETH dynoed a pathetic 195 hp and 395 lbs-ft at the wheels (with 200 miles on it), so stock-for-stock it is no threat to a Duramax in terms of numbers at least.

I'd like to dyno it again soon (I'm at 4800 now) to see if that's improved any. My EZ box does help, but still. Mine seemed awfully weak.

Rob
(I want injectors soon)



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2001. 5 RAM 3500 QC 4x4 ETH/DEE Silver/Agate 4. 10 USGear OD, Rickson 19. 5 Wheels, Edge EZ, SPA Guages, Firestone Airbags, Hellwig Rear Swaybar, Torklift Superhitch & Camper Tiedowns, much more.

 

[danandamy]

Um, excuse me but 4800? I wouldn't bother until you get it boke in. If you're gonna break it in you are gonna have to put some miles on it and hook it up to something and make it hump a little bit. When I bought my '95 it had 57,000 miles on it and some guy had driven it around nice and easy. Honest to goodness, it still wasn't broke in and ran like crap. I started hooking trailers to it and earing it down hauling and the engine started coming to life. My advice (pretending it was asked for) would be to not worry about dyno numbers etc and get out there instead and drive that sucker! Make it pull and work it like you're trying to break it. If after all that it's still pathetic, start some serious bombing or trade it in for a 12 valver #ad
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95 2500 SLT Laramie 3. 54, automatic,Herculiner bed liner, JVC cd out of factory infinity system, southwest grill gaurd (a favorite amongst the deer population), K&N chunked, AFC adjusted, dual straight exhaust out of "gutless" cat, Geno's dual EGT/boost gauge, TST #6 plate slid all the way forward, AFC housing slid all the way forward, silencer ring removed
"Don't be scared V8's, it's only a 6 cylinder"

 

[Old Account - 243]

I drove a Duramax a few hours ago... almost ran into curb when I hit the brakes the first time. I'm conditioned to start correcting for the brake pull and by God, it didn't have any.

Regular cab, long bed automatic 4x2. Sorry, but it isn't a bad truck and I certainly hope those that buy them are happy and don't get screwed like I have with the brakes and steering on my Ram.

As soon as I drove it hard, I new that my 5spd Ram would not hang with a stock Duramax/Allison even with my dynoed 282hp/595ft-lbs. Several 0-60's were in the 8. 5-9. 0 range and it pulled good.

I wouldn't be surprised it it turns out to be a decent truck.

243

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99 QC 2500 ST 4X4 SB 24V/5speed 3. 54/LSD Driftwood/Agate
Walker 21468, VDO, Bridgestone 285/75/16 MT's, RS9000's, Hella 500's

http://www.0hassleisp.com/dwilk/243'sRamPage.html

-- email address removed --

 

[Deezal Man]

You guys are too funny #ad
LOL!

DC is one of the largest manufacturers of Diesel engines in world. Only we don't see many of them because they are all exported.
Hard to believe isn't it.

Secondly, Mercedes Diesels are proven units. . They didn't start building em last night. Is it as good as the Cummins? I honestly believe they are. .

BUT I would still choose the Cummins because its made in the US. AND I'd be willing to pay extra for it.

Unlike most who buy the cheap import stuff at Walmart... then complain about everything being make in HOJO,ASIA.

You want cheap import stuff... thats what you'll get. Only way to make a real stand for US made stuff is with your pocketbook.

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98. 5' 24v 2500 Auto/3. 54 4x4 SB QC 285-75-16's on Alcoa's. Everything but leather. PIAA 1200's, AMSOIL dual filter relocation system, Smittybuilt Stainless Steel Nerfs, Rhino Liner(Junk), K&N air filter(For Sale)15 year AMSOIL dealer. Time permitting, Soon to include Ultra-lite Pyro,0-50lbs boost, Trans temp in the pillar. Rancho 9000's with in cab adjustment.

[This message has been edited by Deezal Man (edited 02-02-2001). ]