looking for a 1st gen, what's the best year

[jwernert]

I need some help to know what I'm looking for. I'd like to buy a 1st gen and don't really know which years to look for or avoid. Thanks for all of your help.

 

[Hutchew]

91.5 to 93.......

had intercoolers and cross-flow radiators. They were rated higher in HP and torque in these years, too, but I'm not sure how much. If not mistaken, 89 to 91. 5 had 727 non-OD trannies, while 91. 5 to 93 had the 518 OD (46RH) (Correct me if I'm wrong, guys). For standard transmissions, they all had the fairly troublesome Getrag 5 speed. Some have had good luck with these trannies, but a lot of people have swapped them for NV4500 or NV5600's. If you are looking for a 4x4, they were all equipped with NP205 gear drive transfer cases (Good Case!) Good luck on the hunt.

 

[Lil' Dog]

93 of course!!!

Well thats what I decided anyway. .



The 93's have the 18 cm2 exhaust housing and most of the bugs worked out of the electrical system... The 91. 5 to 92. 5 had the 21 cm2 housing and were somewhat of a dog. (Did I say that??) Anyway the earlier truck years 89 - 91. 5 were a little more sesitive to temperature without the intercooler so, for towing, not such a good choice.



I've been happy with mine.



J-eh

 

[BushWakr - RIP]

93 is the one to go for if you can find it. The earlier one's also had 9mm injectors too, this made the head a candidate for cracking between the injector hole and the valve closest to it due to high heat conditions if you "uprated" it.

In later years they changed to 7mm injectors and the cracking was no longer an issue like the early ones.

You want an inter-cooled truck too.

As Lil' Dog mentioned the 92. 5-93 came with the 18. 5 cm turbo housing which spools quicker than the 21cm, but hey, you're going to change that pretty quick anyway so no biggie. .



Bob.

 

[dshockley]

My recommendation is to find a good clean truck and then be ready to weigh your choice using good information. In my case I wound up with an early 1991. The truck had 49000 miles and was super clean. The price was good so I took the few negative features of this truck in stride. I have added an intercooler to avoid that short coming. The major draw back that I am left with is the non-od auto transmission, but 75mph is fast enough for me anyway. Good luck in your search and they are all good for the right price, but the 1993's have the most stock merit.



Dan

 

[JFitzgerald]

I agree you would probably end up the happiest with a late '91 -93. I love my '93 and feel the only possibly weak point is the Getrag. So far, so good at 137,000 miles. With an extra quart of oil and no abuse, they can live a long time as many folks here can tell you. My preference is a manual over an auto, even if the manual is the Getrag.

 

[jwernert]

Hey guys, thanks for all of the input. Now the search begins.

 

[farmall]

I noticed you are from Corydon, me too. I live up off Tee Rd. I keep seeing all these Northwest guys that know each other and I have not saw anyone close to me around here. Anyways get in touch with me and maybe we can meet up and you can look my truck over and see what you are wanting to get into. I did know where one 92 dually was for sale on 62, but they wanted way too much for what it was. Anyways if you see a blue D-350 dually w/ a toolbox in the bed, and the TDR sticker proudly displayed on the back window around town flag me down. I also have a decal on the back that says "Dodge makes it Cummins shakes it". Oh, by the way, you should be able to hear me coming also. And I appologize if any of your firends or family have ever got smoked at one of our 50 traffic lights, I seem to have a problem with a heavy foot. Bill

 

[Deezul Fumes]

What truck to buy or not to buy.

I just bought a 92, 5 speed, 4x4, LE extended cab. I'm really happy with. It is inter cooled and a stock truck so I can do the mod's I want. Watch for steering trouble before you buy. That was the one problem I had to over come. I have had that repaired and now the truck is great. I paid to much, but these trucks are hard to come by in this neck of the woods.

Rick