Hemi Convert!

[Guzzi]

Just done what I should have DONE a couple of years ago!! Bought a new 03 CTD HO SWB QC Auto, 2WD, 3. 73, etc. Love this truck! Drove V10's for several years; Loved them too!! But, traded my 2000 V10 on a new 03 HEMI last Sept. BIG MISTAKE! Truck was great, but simply could NOT stand the gas mileage!!! Hemi, SWB QC, Auto, 2WD, 4. 10; ran like gangbusters except past gas stations. 15700 miles avg was 12. 1 OA; towing my 16' closed trailer at 70-75, gas mileage always dropped like a stone to 8. 1 OA!!! Figured it was time to get rid of that beast, and buy a CTD!! Oh well, we all learn eventually! Reading with interest all the info at TDR, and love it!

500 miles on the new CTD, and installed a new AFE Magnum air intake yesterday. Immediate improvement! Hope it proves to be worth the $. Most of my driving is in town/short interstate hauls, occasional towing a 4000lb boat & trailer, and occasional 16' closed trailer, up to 6000 lbs. Any recommendations on operation and maintenance welcomed. Have service scheduled every 3500 miles here in SUNNY FLORIDA.

GUZZI

 

[dremelts]

You had me worried there for a minute - I thought you converted TO a hemi.

 

[DJb]

I know the feeling. I finally bought a CTD about a year ago and wondered what took me so long lol.

 

[parcher]

When I first started looking at the BR (2nd gen) truck , I wanted a v-10 5-speed bad, A friend made sure I got seat time in a ETH/DEE (HO, 6-spd) first and boy am I grateful.

 

[berg]

i went to buy a hemi on 12-26-02 ended up with a 02 ctd ho 6 speed. 4x2 354 gears after driving the ctd i was hooked and the price on there last 02 was pretty good too. anyway i love this truck and have wondered why i waited so longgggggggggg my self!!

 

[Sticks]

Originally posted by Guzzi

Any recommendations on operation and maintenance welcomed. Have service scheduled every 3500 miles here in SUNNY FLORIDA.

GUZZI

Guzzi - Congratulations on your new toy, and welcome to the light. Keep on reading the forums, and you will learn all you need to about the operation of the vehicle.



My only recommendation is do the maintenance yourself. put the money in the bank for more BOMBs down the road. For what you are paying the stea... dealer against what it would cost you to do it yourself, we could be talking $300 every 3500 miles. If it was a service contract tied in with buying the truck I think you just got took for a HUGE ride.

 

[TomGolden]

I was also worried that you went FROM a Cummins to a gas pig... Whew!



Many TDR members will argue that you should do most or all of the regular maintenance work yourself. Most will say the reason is to save $$. Yes, that is a huge reason to DIY, also a good reason I reload my own shooting ammunition However, there is one other, equally important reason why doing your own work on your truck *can* save you a ton of $$ and a lot of heartache.



Suppose a person takes their vehicle into JiffyLube or a dealer or someone else for say an oil change 3 times a year. The technician tells them "You have something leaking pretty bad down there. How long has that been going on?" You have no idea... . a day, a week, a month... ??? Who knows.



If you are always crawling all over the beast, like I am you notice every little new thing right away. You get it taken care of, whether you do the work or take it in somewhere, the work is done in a timely manner, and you avoid a possible future breakdown on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere at 3:00 AM in a snow storm... going uphill... barefoot...



Tom

 

[johnrv4]

One of my co-workers has had three Dodge diesels, the last one being a '98. Well, he decided he was sick of the diesel exhaust smell in his garage, so he bought a '03 with a hemi. He's had it about 5 months, and told me the other day that he was sorry he didn't get another Cummins. He said he was real disappointed with the fuel mileage commuting to work. I don't think he'll have this truck very long