How many miles should a 12V be good for

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Currently I have a Ford 7. 3L IDI, that I have been playing with for the last 3 years. I think I want to move on to a Cummins. The trucks I have found that are near my price range with the features I want all have about 100-130,000 miles on them (model years 95-98) I know diesels are good for longevity, and that Dodge brochures say typical mileage is ~400,000 before rebuild but what have you guys experienced?
Thanks!
Jerry Miller

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My Dad has a 1995 2500 Club Cab blue over gray 2wd, and she's straight piped! I drive a Ford Diesel. What can I say I like 'em both!

 

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If a vehicle has been well cared for, 100K, especially for a diesel, is low mileage. 250K is considered low mileage for a semi. I have a friend who had 411K on his '76 Dodge 318 V8 gasser before the engine "blew up" as he put it, while driving on the freeway. He now as a '87 Chevy p/u with a 350 V8 gasser and he has 267K on it, still running strong. He bought both trucks new and takes good care of it. What I wonder more about is, where is he driving to put all those miles in Hawaii?

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1996 3500 Clubcab SLT, auto, 4. 10 limited-slip, TST #5, 370s, AFC spring kit, Psycotty, Dunrite converter, Trans-Go, Straight pipe, DiPricol EGT, boost & trans temp. gauges, 9 ft. aluminum flatbed and tool boxes with Venco dump. Custom front bumper, Hadley air horn.

 

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Thanks Koa Man,
When I got my Ford it had 135,000 on it. I now have 198,500 on it, but she's on the second engine. The first owner was a complete maintanence idiot and had managed to kill it in 135K! Needless to say, I got a good deal on it, and swapped in a remanned.

I just don't want to trade my truck for one that is gonna cost more a boat load down the road.
Thanks for the info,
Jerry

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My Dad has a 1995 2500 Club Cab blue over gray 2wd, and she's straight piped! I drive a Ford Diesel. What can I say I like 'em both!

 

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<font color=red>It really does depend on the upkeep and PM of the vehicle. There was an article in the issue #28 it think that was about a 94 Dodge with almost a million miles on it. Mine has almost 140,000 and still very strong. I'm counting on at leat 300,000 miles since it will be a few yeras before I can get a new one.

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"Big Red" 1994 Ram 2500 Laramie SLT, 12 valve, 2WD, Auto. 139,000 miles. I am my own warranty station Ranch Hand steel brush guard, Scotty Air, silencer ring put back in(wifey said so), Flowmaster muffler, chrome turn down pipe out the side, Velvet ride shackles. My Truck Site

 

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Hey Jerry,
Did you finally give up the idea of buying a crewcab and swapping all your stuff over? I used to have the red/white crewcab you wanted. Didn't you want the crewcab for family reasons? If so, why a dodge all the sudden? I bought a '94 cummins and am having a blast. I bought the truck with 150,000 miles and now have 165 or so. It probably burns two quarts in 3000 miles. The power is unbelievable though. I'm probably around 350-370 hp right now and that is without the propane on. My engine shows no signs of wearing out. If you can squeeze everyone in the club cab, I promise you'll love the change.

-Chris

 

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I've got an older version of the 6BT but had the compression tested about 6 months ago and all were in the 360 and up range. I think this ol' girl has alot of life left to offer (touch wood). It's been a really good truck for the year it was made.

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Jason's Lil' Mack - 89 D250LE 2WD 5 Spd 3. 54 Reg Cab. K&N,"tweaked pump", BD Injectors, Banks Pyro/Boost, 3. 5" Exst tail section straight. 23 Psi boost.
E&M Custom seats. Bosch H4, PIAA 80W/80W HdLites. 100W Drv,55W Fogs.
232,500 miles (372,000 Kms) 7700 Hrs.
The Original Turbo Diesel

 

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Strick-9,
Yeah, I gave up on the crewcab issue. Just too much to swap around, and not enough time. As for space, I believe the Ram has plenty of back seat space for anyone I may need to haul now or in the future. They have more usuable space than my Ford SC I have now. I don't know what I'll do for sure, my fiancee is getting tired of me putting money into the '88, so I thought maybe I could swing getting a 95-98 Club Cab. I still wish I would have called you before whoever bought your CrewCab, I would have made the trip to Texas for that!
Jerry

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My Dad has a 1995 2500 Club Cab blue over gray 2wd, and she's straight piped! I drive a Ford Diesel. What can I say I like 'em both!

 

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Jerry, I have a '94 with 145,000 miles and no sign of wear. The truck and engine are still tight. The engine uses no oil ( maybe 1/3 quart out the vent tube ) in a 5,000 mile oil change. I am Still not over how clean the oil looks in a Cummins after 5,000 miles!!
My "new" truck is a '96 I just purchased that I consider broken in at 67,000 miles. I let the first owner get all the bugs out and I will just enjoy driving it.

Big John


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'94 2500 Diesel Reg. Cab
Auto 3. 54 4X4 TST 230hp
"If you can't Dodge it, Ram it!
'96 2500 diesel clubcab 4x4 5speed

 

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Barring abuse (dirty air, dirty oil, lack of water, corrosion, etc), your engine should be good for at least 500,000 miles. I have seen many with over 300,000 some over 400K and a few over 600K. If you don't do dumb things to it, it will easily go longer than you wanna drive that truck.

 

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Jerry, there was a Ram in a recent TDR issue with over 900,000 miles on it, no engine repairs. But my favorite is someone I'm acquainted with (I've posted this several times in the past) recently sold his '91 Ram with over 1,240,000 miles on it, no engine repairs (internally). That is almost unfathomable--240,000 is pretty decent, doing it AFTER you've already gone a million miles is very impressive! Check this out:
https://www.turbodieselregister.com/ubb//Forum1/HTML/002567.html

Vaughn

 

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Thanks guys for the info. Now, if I find the "right truck" I'll be doing good. My fiancee that suggested that we sell her Cherokee and she could drive the Ford and I could get a Cummins! That might just be what I do, if I can afford the higher payment (my truck would bring more money than the Jeep)
I guess I'll see what happens.
Thanks again!
Jerry

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My Dad has a 1995 2500 Club Cab blue over gray 2wd, and she's straight piped! I drive a Ford Diesel. What can I say I like 'em both!

 

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I have to tell you my recent experience. I wanted to buy a slidein camper. So after posting I got alot of response saying my truck was not big eneough. I really wanted a larger camper as my family is about to grow in 11 weeks. So I entertained the idea of buying a 3500. I found a truck on our sites classifieds last wensday night. I talked with the seller on thursday. Friday morning I purchased a ticket to fly from Philly to Minneapolis. Arrived Saturday morning and the truck was as described. A 98 12v 3500 4x4 with 3. 54 manual with get this 249,000 miles. My truck is 5 years new this month, w/133,000. It runs stronger now than when i got it. The seller has 3 3500's, 98, 99, 2001 3500 allused in his hauling cattle. The trucks interior was new condition if you could believe that. I would not have unless I saw it. The truck was garage keep. I purchased the truck for 16,000. Now I have my baby for sale. I can't believe how this all came together so quick. I love my 2500. I thought I would have it for along time. I just put new gauges in it last month. So as you can see my decision is a an awkward one. I believe I am upgrading and downgrading at the same time. Speaking with some well known TDR tuners agree with the deal I am doing. They have seen trucks with over 900,000 in thier shop. Only big deal is this is not what the average public is use to seeing with their family cars. I would love to know the average age of the average family car.

As you can see I have huge confidence in making this decision. If I did not believe that these cummins motors could go that long I would never even consider this choice. As it stands now I fly out next saturday and drive my new 3500 home. I also have my baby for sale. I hope this helps you out in your decision.

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96 2500HD, lost my cat,K&N-Re-0880,Rancho RS 9000's, ext. cab, LWB, 4x4 w/western 8. 5 pro plow-finally paid for, 4. 10, tek style by design tonuea cover w/thule bike rack over the bed and cover, aftermarket front bumper with the foglights under the headlights,like the new style, red bumper and grill with billet aluminium inserts, mopar black powdercoted nerf bars, under the rail bedliner, wood grain dash, cab lights and dual trumpet horns,Marvel Mystery Oil and some Rotella, All SNAP ON, eclipse cd player w/extant amp on steroids, 130,000 going strong

80 Porsche 911 SC Turbo Look Track car

[This message has been edited by Griff996 (edited 09-17-2000). ]

 

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With over 700,000 on my 96 check back when i hit another 400k
Remember oil and filters are cheap if you want miles. I run the miles and change between 7-8oook,
If you just go back and forth to work 50 miles or less kick it down to 3000mi.

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96-3500 SLT EXT. CAB AM/FM/CD-RINO LINER. D-CELERATOR EXH. BRK-RED LINE VAC. OVER HYD BRK CONTROL- AIR BAGS W/HVY DUTY AIR COMP. PUTCO S/STEEL DEEPBOARDS FRONT TO REAR. REESE 20K 5TH WHEEL & GOOSE -REESE 20K HITCH BELOW W/17K RECEVER. CLEAR COATED & SOUND DEADINGING &UNDER COATED 5 SPD/W 4:10 MCHLN'S 235/16'S UNIDEN PC76/WEATHER-WILSON 1000 MAG MOUNT ANT. 4 WHL ANTI LOC BRK SYS.

 

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The way my truck is going, the motor will way outlast the truck. Mine has its own stall at the local dealer. As a matter of fact, its there as I write this reply.
Fuel sender #8
Deadly right brake pull since 22,000 miles
THEY STILL CAN'T SEEM TO FIX IT!!!

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98 Quad Cab 4X4 Cummins Automatic Totally loaded Minus fuel sender plus right brake pull, no extra charge!