How Exciting-New Member Here.

[CRSmith]

Just joined today after reading the forums for about 2 years. I joined because I'm looking for a 1st Gen truck to go w/ the current Dodge, and $35 is money well spent for the opportunity to ask questions and avoid pitfalls when shopping.



I'm looking for an '89 to '93 4x4, extended cab. (Getting rid of the wife's deathtrap camaro and giving her the '01) I know this is very general, but what are the advantages/disadvantages of the 5 model years?



Also, do the earlier automatic transmissions suffer from the same weaknesses as the '94 and beyond? If I got a 5spd, (not nv4500), is this as good as the current standard trannys? I've heard of the input shaft wearing out the bearing.



Any other suggestions while shopping would be appreciated.



edit:

Just did a search, seems like the 727's are good, 518's are ok, and the r47's are junk. Is this true? What years are all these available in?

 

[McGivern]

trans

The info I offer is from personal experience only. I have a 92 with a Getrag. I had to have the trans rebuilt at 122K because, like a dumbass, I towed the truck without shifting the transfer case into neutral. The truck now has 163K on it. It doesn’t shift as well as it did before the rebuild, but it works OK. I have always run synthetic ATF (Dyson supershift) in it since I bought it with 32K. I tow 7K trailer on a regular basis. My understanding from a trans guy is the 5th gear in the Getrag is every bit as good as the NV. I think the thing to remember is that if you bomb the truck ( I have somewhat), then you need to, as diesel people say, “apply the load” and not stain the heck out of the drivetrain. When the Getrag fails again (if it does), I plan to go the NV5600. I have a buddy that put one in a first gen and loves it. Hope this helps, welcome aboard.



Mark

 

[BushWakr - RIP]

For what it's worth the A518 auto is a 727 with OD. Basically a good transmission, which, like anything else will do the job if it has been maintained regularly.

The 2nd Gen auto's saw the introduction of lock-up convertors which is were all the controversy resides.

The primary issue, as I see it, is the inefficient TC's that are in most auto's. The basic convertor has a general efficiency of around 70 -73%. At least that is my understanding.

This is one of the main causes of heat, and loss of power transfer.

Generally though the trans used in the 1st Gen's are good transmission's. The only problem with the first ones (727's) is they do not have OD in them.



JMO.



Bob.

 

[McGivern]

trans

oh ***** I was talking about manuals and you have an auto.

Sorry I'm brain-dead today.



My uncle has a 727 with a gear vendor in his 91 D250. He added a HUGE aux trans cooler with a fan. He has about 125K on the truck and pulls a 2 horse trailer with a cabover. He likes it.



Mark

 

[CRSmith]

Well,

I was talking about both. I know nothing about either of the earlier transmissions, so I'll take whatever info I can get.

 

[BushWakr - RIP]

Hey, Great !!



I'm not the only one who has 'seniors moments' then. :-laf :-laf



Bob.

 

[JFitzgerald]

reduaram, I'd look for a '92 or '93. My opinion is that these had the best combo of equipment of the first gens. Intercooler, better radiator, club cab. If you get a 5 spd (Getrag), I recommend you change the oil, replace with 5W30 synthetic (this is the oil the manual specifies), and overfill by one quart through the shifter opening. The extra quart seems to be a big factor in making the upper bearings last. I believe the club cabs started in '92, but maybe it was '91. (senior moment?)



Have you looked in the classifieds here? Ebay usually has some first gens too.



Good luck in your search, John

 

[McGivern]

92-93

I agree with John,



The 92-93 are good relaibe trucks and you can make them run pretty well with just a few relatively inexpensive mods:

exhaust, intake, turbo housing and pump tweak- which you can do all of for not much over $500.



Club cabs did start in 92. (feeling much better today )



Mark

 

[JFitzgerald]

What McGivern said...

and don't forget gauges (pyro & boost) if you start turning pump screws.