Need information help on 2nd generation.

[barracudabad64]

I'm interested in purchasing a 1998 thru 2002 2500 4x4 quad cab short bed manual transmission. I would like to know is there any way of telling if the truck has had any power chips added to it ? Also is there a way to tell if it had one and then taken off for selling. I really want a good stock truck and not a hot rod. I may just try finding a 1st generation truck but wife likes the quad cab with opening doors. I'm old school so that why this question may sound strange but I have no experience with the computer controlled fuel systems. Thanks for the help. George

 

[Grizzly]

I'm interested in purchasing a 1998 thru 2002 2500 4x4 quad cab short bed manual transmission. I would like to know is there any way of telling if the truck has had any power chips added to it ? Also is there a way to tell if it had one and then taken off for selling. I really want a good stock truck and not a hot rod. I may just try finding a 1st generation truck but wife likes the quad cab with opening doors. I'm old school so that why this question may sound strange but I have no experience with the computer controlled fuel systems. Thanks for the help. George

George, I would think that if you took it to Cummins Dealer, at your expense, they could tell. They would also tell you what condition the engine is in. Beware of the infamous engine block 53. I don't know what's bad about them, but much has been said on here. Do a search on that engine. I believe it was on the 98.



george

 

[barracudabad64]

Grizzly, was the 53 engine when they switched to the computer engine or what? I'm not very knowledgeable about the different engine models. I just know the 190 thru 1997 were mechanical fuel systems and then the 1998 thru 2002 were what is referred to as the second generation I think. What was the problem with the 53 model engine do you know?
Thanks for the heads up and the reply I'm going to keep digging before I jump out and buy one.

George

 

[jgillott]

The "53" was a block casting which would tend to crack on the passenger side. The 53 casting number may be found on the front bottom of the block under the injection pump. Do a search on 53 block or cracked block for lots of reading on the subject.



I personally owned a 2001 with a 53 block from 2000 until 2007. The truck was heavily modified and the block did not crack during the time I owned it and from what I understand is still good with the new owner. Not all 53 blocks will fail, but many have including some members here.

 

[jgillott]

Oh, and 53 blocks appeared from '98 through the 2001 model year.

 

[barracudabad64]

jgillott, So does the problem seem to be with just when the engine has been modified and worked hard or is it just a hit and miss thing regardless of mods and use. I'll do a search here on the 53 blocks.

Thanks for the reply.

 

[jgillott]

Hit and miss. I've seen them go in perfectly stock trucks and under all conditions.

 

[Bob V]

As far as finding one that hasn't been modified is REALLY going to hard on a 13-20 year old truck. Best bet if you can find one that still belongs to the original owner. The Smartys downloaders for those years are undetectable. Some of the "boxes" mount by Velcro to the fuse box next to the drivers battery. Look for the remains of the glue or Velcro. Also look for the exhaust manifold taped for a EGT probe. The stock manifold should have no pipe plugs in it. Now, I would recommend look at how it was taken care of over if it was modified. All my trucks have been modified but NEVER hot rodded. A lot of mods are done for MPG and drivability. A injector upgrade on the 24 valves netted more HP and better MPG. The biggest problem with the 98-02 was the lift pump and it taking out the injector pump. Hope you can find one that is private party that way you can talk to the owner and get a feel for how it was taken care of.

BTW 1st gen where 1989-1993 2nd gens are 1994-2002. There are some 1998 12 valve quad cab short beds out there, but they are RARE. Look here for the best info

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/magazines/buyersguide.phtml

 

[barracudabad64]

Bob, Thanks for all the information. I kind of thought that it was going to be hard to detect if any down loads had been done but you give me some information to help detect the possibility of one being removed. I relies a lot of folks have added upgrades and don't hot rod the trucks. Also isn't the a kit for putting a pressure switch in the fitting on the lift pump so a light comes on if the supply pressure to the injector pump gets below a certain point to keep from damaging the injector pump? Also thanks for setting me straight on what is 1st and 2nd generation always confused me. I hope to find a 2nd generation 12 valve short bed quad cab 4x4 with manual transmission which I'm finding out is real scarce but if I find a 24 valve one that is a 1 owner I'll take a hard look at it.

Thanks again for taking the time to educate me.
George

 

[Grizzly]

George, you said that you want a manual transmission. Consider an early 3rd gen from 03 to early 05 with an NV5600 6 speed. About mid year 05 Dodge switch the manual transmission to a G56, which is a 6 speed, but it has a dual mass flywheel. That DMF has caused a lot of trouble for many. The 3rd gen came with many improvements such as, larger rear seat room, much better tow mirrors, much more HP and torque and many more upgrades.



george

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

One of the more "risky" power additions used a scotch lock on one of the injection pump wires that goes from the little "hat" containing computer type driver unit down to the back side where the fuel valve is. So. look for that scotch lock or munch marks on the wire. Some people have used those power boxes for years with no trouble, but others experienced premature Bosch VP44 injection pump failures. Here again, do a search and read the TDR Buyer's Guide. You can also look at the compressor housing of the turbocharger. They were clear coated at the factory, and the coating burns brown whe the discharge air is too hot, from working the engine hard, especially with power adders.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Oh, and as Grizzly posted, consider an early Third Gen, 2003-4. The costs are similar because the ages are similar, but they have a much better reputation than VP44 trucks. The 03-04 was another "pinnacle" Turbo Diesel, with the first "extra desirable" one being the 1997-8 12 valve with the 215 HP engine and the hydroboost brakes. If you want a 2004 with a lot of mods but well done and one that has never seen high egt, I am selling mine because I have the "new Ram disease" for which the only cure is to spend about $50,000. For it and others, check the TDR classifieds. At the very top of the page, put the mouse pointer on "Site Features" and then click on the classifieds.

 

[JR]

IMO the VP equipped trucks got a bad rap in the early days, and probably rightfully so. From what I see all the issues have been rectified and as long as proper lift pump pressure is maintained they last many years and many many miles. Not to mention the injectors are much more tolerable than the common rails to bad/dirty fuel and in the event of a failure they are a fraction of the price of the common rail injectors.

I don't dispute the fact they are more comfortable than the 2nd gens, the crew cab is a big advantage over the quad cab (for those that need the space). I am going to be in the market shortly for a crew cab but I will never part with my 2nd gen.



"Til Death Do Us Part"