2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission New TDR Mag.

[SMorneau]

03

I'll enjoy reading about all of the issues. Seems like we have most of them worked out for my 96.



I could buy an 03 but I don't want to be on a first name basis with my DC service advisor, or have to wonder "if it's only my truck" thats having a problem, or be the first to find a bad oil plug torque spec, or having a common transmission failure before almost anyone else even knows there is a problem, or waiting for aftermarket service parts to become available, or waiting for warranty to run out, or putting the first scratch/dent in it, or having to dump a lot of money into keeping up with the guy who bought my 12V



Later, I gotta go get ready for my 6-speed conversion

 

[Whiskey]

Hey I just fiqure we got better trucks with no problems. :--)



right?? Oo.



whiskey

 

[Mtngoat]

Whew! And I thot it was just me!



Robin

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

This comes up in one form or another when every issue of the magazine comes out. Every time I say the same thing too. Robert prints just about everything he receives. If you guys want to see more 2nd gen and 24v stuff then you need to send it in! Many of the things you see in the magazine are user submitted articles. The "official" writing staff can only do so many things to our trucks - eventually you run out of stuff to write about. It is inevitable that as a truck gets proven and has been out for a while that you'll see less about it - because the problems have been fixed, all the aftermarket goodies have been written about already, and manufacturers are starting to concentrate on newer models. It's the march of time.



So - write up something and submit it. I can almost guarantee it'll be printed. Robert's always looking for more content for the magazine - for the proof look at the issues you have and look at the page count, it goes up nearly every time!

 

[Pit Bull]

Thanks Steve, sounds like a good news bad news story. The 2nd Generation 24 valve truck most be in the sweet spot of its life cycle The first Generations have a lot of restoration stories :{ The 2nd generation 12 valve have Joe and the 3rd generation is new. I'd write something but it has been years since I had an original thought. Plus I'm one of the lucky ones and have the Internet web site for all of the information. I would think if nothing else Robert would pick out some of the better threads and print them for the members that don't no what the Internet is

 

[Sregorb]

Sorry

as one of the writers for both the magazine and that column specifically, I'll be first to say "I'm sorry. " I wrote two long articles for other areas (do those count for 24v stuff?) and submitted several items for the column but alot of it gets lost in the editing process it seems (removal of my stupid comments condenses them I'm sure ). Looks like Dave carried the column this mag. But there still are 24-v stuff dispersed thru the magazine (like my bumper article).



Anyway, I'll be putting more stuff together soon because I actually got a week off to play with installs! So everyone that can, send in your stuff and I'll contribute info on at least one of my installs in the works (air compressor/horns/connects, kill switch, strobes). Soon will be ???, depends on the paychecks and the overwhelming desire to avoid the doghouse (even if it is warming up some... . )

Wanna know the definition of irony? Asking the newbie to write technical articles for a magazine as prestigious and thoroughly examined as the TDR!





Brian Rogers

 

[Hohn]

Yeah the 24V section may have been a little lean, but who cares? It's not worth:{ about.



In some ways, with the 2nd gen stuff, the TDR may be a victim of it's own success. What HASN'T been covered in the TDR? Do we want to see more articles on bigger injectors, fueling boxes, exhaust, KDP, Lift pumps, etc???



Truth is, a LOT of topics that COULD appear in the 2nd gen section are like beating a dead horse. After a while, articles like "Installed Powermax 3, shredded tires and clutch" get old to a lot of readers (if not to me)



The reality of the situation is that the 3rd gen trucks will dominate the new mags, as they ought. The 3rd gen trucks are a new world waiting to be explored. There is a whole new batch of unique problems on the truck with equally unique and creative solutions. That means there are also new ways to hop it up. To be relevant, the TDR mag MUST be to the 3rd gen trucks NOW what it was for the 2nd gen trucks 2-3 yrs ago.



More and more, we 2nd gen owners will become like the 1st gen owners, and become a "legacy"-- something from the past that is still supported by the aftermarket. This WON'T happen to the extend that it did for the 1st gen trucks because there are a LOT more 2nd gens on the road, and the aftermarket for them is huge.



I bought my truck AFTER lurking on the TDR (it sealed the deal on my pre-existing CTD lust). I went out of my way to get a 2nd gen INSTEAD of a 3rd Gen (wife actually let me decide what I wanted). I wanted something that was established, something where the pros and cons were already well known. I LIKE that it's loud and unrefined. So am I. I figure that by 2002, they got all the bugs out of the 24V. As a result, I don't have a 53 block, don't have a gimpy VP44, have the latest steering box, the newer alternator, the better brakes, etc. etc. That's and knowing I got the "last of the breed" on the loud clattering diesels brings me a certain sense of satisfaction. I fear that soon the the trucks will have the EPA on the butts so much, that BOMBing will be a long lost pasttime.



I hopefully will never part with my 2nd gen, even though it could be gone in an instant (accidents happen). I love it, but realize it's only metal, rubber, and plastic-- and nothing lasts forever.





HOHN

 

[Pit Bull]

Hohn, everything you say is true. But if they don't keep all sections and generations covered and give value to getting the magazine it will hurt us all in the long run. For the members that are on the Internet and use this web site the magazine is a nice addition and often a review of what we have already discussed on the net. If you are a member that only gets the magazine then you might get disillusioned with minimal content about your 2nd generation 24 valve truck and cancel. This will hurt all of us, because if Robert is not making money I doubt he will continue this enterprise. JMO



I was contacted by one member that was not renewing his membership because the magazine was not providing the value he wanted, for the reasons discussed here and he could post on the DTR for free and read the posts on the TDR for free so if the magazine was not worth the additional $32 per year then he was going to save his $$. Now I still think the TDR and Magazine are a bargain at $32 but I want the owners and staff of the TDR to stay on their toes and not lose $$$, so this magazine and web site will continue. I call this constructive criticism . I just hope it is helpful.

 

[wlowe]

And I'm still campaigning for a CD containing a snapshot of the TDR web site threads and archives to be made available. Will it ever happen?

It would also be nice if we had the option of getting the TDR Magazine on CD, (in Acrobat Reader, PDF format). Would save a lot of money on printing and shipping, not to mention being convenient.

 

[pwr2tow]

:-laf :-laf Maybe we could write a story on the transmission war threads :-laf :-laf



Relax guys, take the knot out of your panties it's only a joke!!



Ron

 

[pwr2tow]

Now that I have that out of my system.



I think Pit bull is right, in fact I was about to quit the TDR for the very reason of lack of information. The transmission guys persuaded me to stay.



Ron

 

[Hohn]

Originally posted by Pit Bull

Hohn, everything you say is true. But if they don't keep all sections and generations covered and give value to getting the magazine it will hurt us all in the long run. For the members that are on the Internet and use this web site the magazine is a nice addition and often a review of what we have already discussed on the net. If you are a member that only gets the magazine then you might get disillusioned with minimal content about your 2nd generation 24 valve truck and cancel. This will hurt all of us, because if Robert is not making money I doubt he will continue this enterprise. JMO



I was contacted by one member that was not renewing his membership because the magazine was not providing the value he wanted, for the reasons discussed here and he could post on the DTR for free and read the posts on the TDR for free so if the magazine was not worth the additional $32 per year then he was going to save his $$. Now I still think the TDR and Magazine are a bargain at $32 but I want the owners and staff of the TDR to stay on their toes and not lose $$$, so this magazine and web site will continue. I call this constructive criticism . I just hope it is helpful.

Agreed, PB. You are correct that it is in the magazines interest to continue the 2nd gen coverage. I guess what I meant to say is that, as the 3rd gen comes on board, the magazine's content should grow as well. There's now more to cover, true? No need to rob one for the other. The way I see it, the magazine has a tough bill to fill, covering ALL the different ways people use ALL their different CTDs. I mean towing, RVing, sled pulling, off-roading, drag racing, work truck, you name it... . Maybe there needs to be a little narrowing of the scope?



PB, you are right on the (losing) money.



HOHN

 

[BillGotthelf]

What would you like them to put in the TDR about the 12v/24v CTD's? Look at the website today and go back 6 months-same stufff different day. I do get tired of hearing about the KDP (for my 96) and the lift pump/vp44 (my 99). 50 % of the posts are people's opinions about something they done to their truck and how it now works. I enjoy imparting some of my limited knowledge about things I have learned on my trucks and like everyone else I know the least about my 2003.

 

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by BillGotthelf



I do get tired of hearing about the KDP (for my 96) and the lift pump/vp44 (my 99).

I have learned on my trucks and like everyone else I know the least about my 2003.

96,99,03. You must be a happy man :-laf The only way they could leave out information for you is not send a magazine.

 

[HOCummins04]

In some ways, with the 2nd gen stuff, the TDR may be a victim of it's own success. W

As a newbie, here is another factor. Before purchasing this truck, my first diesel, I did enough research to verify that my "lust" for a diesel was not unjustified. After joining the TDR, I tried to purchase all the back issues that covered the time just before my model year truck was built until present. Several of those issues were unavailable. Ultimately, I bought them from another member through the classified section. Here is my point - it may have been covered before, but if I was not a member then and can not buy the back issues now, what to do? The publication is a lot easier to take out to the truck to check things out or to work on verses the computer.



There are also topics that will be always be useful to newbies like myself - gauge installations, etc...



I am glad to be a member. I have photocopied the membership flier and have 30 copies in my truck and 30 more in my car. Every Dodge CTD that I find parked anywhere, I stick one under the wiper. I have found this to be a tremendous resource and want to spread the word. I would like to have a local chapter here in central West Virginia. Maybe some day . . .



I have already found that as I re-read articles now that I read 6 months ago, I pick up on things I did not understand then that make more sense now.



Just my 2 cents.