Attention: TDR Forum Junkies 
Howdy,
I've been a lurker for a few years now... ever since I came down with diesel fever... I'd always lusted for a 2nd gen 12v 5sp truck... about a year and a half ago I settled for a 1st gen automatic. The truck served me very well... I loved it, but I always wanted a different truck. I actually sold it back to the guy I bought it from in order to buy a 2nd gen, but I missed out on one truck, a guy backed out on me on another truck, and I got frustrated and low on money, so I went back to my old ways and built another hot rod (11 sec NA Ford Fairmont)
well, this summer I was up in Colorado and every other vehicle was a CTD, and the diesel bug bit HARD... I remembered how much I loved having my old 1st gen up there, and I made a decision that I was going to be back in a CTD by February and that I was going to move to Colorado by May.
so I started selling off toys... including the drivetrain out of my hot rod (gonna put a stock motor/transmission in it to get it back on the road cheaply)
found this truck on Friday in the Truck Trader... it's a '97 2500. single cab 2wd. 370 injectors, 4k GSK, #2 plate, CON FE, BHAF, gauges, 4" exhaust into dual 5" stacks, eagle alloys, new tires, ranch hands front/rear, gooseneck plate, etc. etc. all she needs is another turbo blowing into that HX35, and it'll be all good!
oh yeah, and it's got a new (updated) timing cover (KDP fix) and he did the 5th gear fix when he installed the clutch
I'm on cloud nine right now... the owner, Blake (lurks on TDR) gave me a great deal on the truck. I know he'll regret selling it, but it was time for him to move on to other things... been there, done that.
only real issues are: needs an alignment (he rebuilt the front end, not sure if it got aligned properly afterwords), and the GEN light came on tonight on the ride home... cleaned the terminals and cables and that fixed it for a minute and then it came back on. truck made it 1hr + home w/ no problem. I'm going to give the charging system a good going over tomorrow.
the truck GETS DOWN compared to my old 1st gen!! but you can feel it begging for more turbo... I considered putting a 40 or a B1 on it, but I think I'm gonna just ADD a turbo to it! the thought of not having to worry about EGT's tickles my fancy, and I've built turbo setups for gassers before... I figure adding a turbo to this baby shouldn't be too tough
well, if you've made it this far, thanks for reading... sorry if I'm rambling, it just feels SO GOOD to be back in the saddle... tonight is like the culmination of three years of wanting, wishing, and dreaming... lemme tell ya, that diesel smoke smells SO SWEET!!!!!!
Forrest
I've been a lurker for a few years now... ever since I came down with diesel fever... I'd always lusted for a 2nd gen 12v 5sp truck... about a year and a half ago I settled for a 1st gen automatic. The truck served me very well... I loved it, but I always wanted a different truck. I actually sold it back to the guy I bought it from in order to buy a 2nd gen, but I missed out on one truck, a guy backed out on me on another truck, and I got frustrated and low on money, so I went back to my old ways and built another hot rod (11 sec NA Ford Fairmont)
well, this summer I was up in Colorado and every other vehicle was a CTD, and the diesel bug bit HARD... I remembered how much I loved having my old 1st gen up there, and I made a decision that I was going to be back in a CTD by February and that I was going to move to Colorado by May.
so I started selling off toys... including the drivetrain out of my hot rod (gonna put a stock motor/transmission in it to get it back on the road cheaply)
found this truck on Friday in the Truck Trader... it's a '97 2500. single cab 2wd. 370 injectors, 4k GSK, #2 plate, CON FE, BHAF, gauges, 4" exhaust into dual 5" stacks, eagle alloys, new tires, ranch hands front/rear, gooseneck plate, etc. etc. all she needs is another turbo blowing into that HX35, and it'll be all good!
oh yeah, and it's got a new (updated) timing cover (KDP fix) and he did the 5th gear fix when he installed the clutchI'm on cloud nine right now... the owner, Blake (lurks on TDR) gave me a great deal on the truck. I know he'll regret selling it, but it was time for him to move on to other things... been there, done that.
only real issues are: needs an alignment (he rebuilt the front end, not sure if it got aligned properly afterwords), and the GEN light came on tonight on the ride home... cleaned the terminals and cables and that fixed it for a minute and then it came back on. truck made it 1hr + home w/ no problem. I'm going to give the charging system a good going over tomorrow.
the truck GETS DOWN compared to my old 1st gen!! but you can feel it begging for more turbo... I considered putting a 40 or a B1 on it, but I think I'm gonna just ADD a turbo to it! the thought of not having to worry about EGT's tickles my fancy, and I've built turbo setups for gassers before... I figure adding a turbo to this baby shouldn't be too tough
well, if you've made it this far, thanks for reading... sorry if I'm rambling, it just feels SO GOOD to be back in the saddle... tonight is like the culmination of three years of wanting, wishing, and dreaming... lemme tell ya, that diesel smoke smells SO SWEET!!!!!!
Forrest
oh well, it's still plenty for me for now... 
