Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) The Holy Grail- '98 QC 12V, how rare?

[Breed]

I ordered and bought my 98 Quad-Cab 12V, SLT, with every option, on 11-21-97 for $34136. 37 out the door, in Vacaville, CA. The truck now has 80,000, mostly towing miles on it, and I'm keeping it, till it dies. It's been across the US three times with a heavy 5th wheel and has been pretty trouble free. When I ordered the truck, the Q-Cabs just came out and were very hard to get but, Chrysler delivered it three days early. It was built in Fenton, Missouri. It's been a excellent Vehicle. I did replace the starter even with Larry B's contacts and the EGR crossover tube (California requirement). I joined Turbo Diessel Register just after buying the truck. I'll keep the 12V, great truck, no payments and I still love it.

 

[thekidfan]

I ordered and bought my 98 Quad-Cab 12V, SLT, with every option, on 11-21-97 for $34136. 37 out the door, in Vacaville, CA. The truck now has 80,000, mostly towing miles on it, and I'm keeping it, till it dies. It's been across the US three times with a heavy 5th wheel and has been pretty trouble free. When I ordered the truck, the Q-Cabs just came out and were very hard to get but, Chrysler delivered it three days early. It was built in Fenton, Missouri. It's been a excellent Vehicle. I did replace the starter even with Larry B's contacts and the EGR crossover tube (California requirement). I joined Turbo Diessel Register just after buying the truck. I'll keep the 12V, great truck, no payments and I still love it.

Breed, I've got 2 98 12 VLV's (1 thanks to a crazy Texan named Forrest) and I work in Vacaville, hope to see ya sometime!! Jeff

 

[EMD-Run8]

Ugghhhhh! Y'all can keep the 5spd. That gap between 3rd and 4th is about 800 rpms. The 5600 had you rowing another gear but at least you could skip shift if you needed to. The 4500 would be great if it wasn't for that.

 

[Forrest Nearing]

4k GSK fixes all of that!



skipping a shift is a MUCH larger gap than 800rpm. the 6sp is too much shifting and too slow shifting on top of that! for towing, great, for anything else, not as great

 

[Swamp Donkey]

I am very fond of my 98 12v. I bought it new in 98 and after almost 300,000 km's it has never given me any engine problems. Nothing. Nada. Zippo. As for the rest of the truck... ... ..... It has had just about every quirk out there known to second gens! LOL My 04. 5 has givin me nothing but greif for the last year. I will spare the details, but I feel my 98 12v is about 100 times more reliable then my 04. 5 But the 04. 5 is so quiet, more room for kids, better brakes, better handling and just more comfortable to drive.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

2wd CC shorty baby!

I actually test drove either a 99 or 2000 club cab 24V dodge. It was a stripped model, manual windows, rubber floor, etc.

The 1999 Club Cab is the ultimate rare Dodge Cummins. The Club Cab was dropped early in the '99 model year. I have only seen one, at Massdiesel's old shop in 2001.



I love my '98 12-valve, 53 block and all. It was build Nov. '97. I purposely bought a shortbed 4x2 with the Club Cab. After owning two QC trucks I was done with sqeaky flexy cabs. It was NOT easy finding a well optioned Club Cab 4x2, but it was well worth it! At 153,000 miles this truck is much tighter than my '01 SB QC 2wd was at 50k



Vaughn

 

[DEZLPWR]

Do all 98s have the 53 block? If not, how can you tell?

No, mine does not... . It is stamped on the driver's side of the block towards the front of engine.

 

[ndurbin]

I read somewhere (don't remember now where and not sure how accurrate it was) that the body switch was done over the 97 summer vacation break and then the engine switch was done over 97 christmas break at one of the plants.

 

[TGroves]

took me 8 months to find the one i have . . i've owned a 02 ford 2wd an 02 ford 4wd and a 03 dodge 4wd (thats when i got smart )i now a 98 12v and just got the wife a new 06 dodge ,but by far the 12v is my baby ... found it with 80,000 miles paint was ok but thats all takin care of working on the int. stuff just your normal wear stuff ie seats ect . . very happy with my 12v

 

[Bobcat698]

If someone is looking for one, there is one for sale here

 

[MikeW.]

Do all 98s have the 53 block? If not, how can you tell?

Mine doesn't have a 53 block. Just a quad cab with rear opening doors and a short bed with 4. 10 gears.

 

[surfbeetle]

I wanted a 98 12 valve quad longbed until California's smog cut off was 98. Now I'll keep my 95 and look for a 12v quad cab that's a 95-97. Anything to avoid that damn smog bureaucracy.

 

[Bob4x4]

I wanted a 98 12 valve quad longbed until California's smog cut off was 98. Now I'll keep my 95 and look for a 12v quad cab that's a 95-97. Anything to avoid that damn smog bureaucracy.

Quad cabs started in 98

 

[surfbeetle]

Quad cabs started in 98

Late night typo... meant to say CC club cab... the point was now what's important to me is to say smog exempt.

 

[Bob4x4]

Late night typo... meant to say CC club cab... the point was now what's important to me is to say smog exempt.

Same reason I love my 94

 

[MikeW.]

I wanted a 98 12 valve quad longbed until California's smog cut off was 98. Now I'll keep my 95 and look for a 12v quad cab that's a 95-97. Anything to avoid that damn smog bureaucracy.

I understand that completely as I fought the Az. smog system that was modeled after that of Ca. but sadly left the cutoff date to '66 for decades, I eventually gave up and moved back home to Fla. and no smog. Oo. The only advantage of the 98 over a 96-97 is the dash if that matters and the rear opening doors.

 

[toms73novass]

I also have a quad cab, short bed, 12V, but mine is a built auto. I looked for quite some time several years back for the short bed and had to drive 10 hrs to pick mine up. (Didn't want a rusted out one from around me in the rust belt ) I wanted a QC so my daughter could more easily get in and out and I wanted a 12v so that only left me one option.

 

[Cuda620]

Lol! The guy I bought mine from has tried to buy it back repeatedly. My QCSB 12 valve is Rust free, under 200k miles,loaded with options,including automatic. It's ok,had a hp rebuild on it. Wish it was a 5 speed though. I'd like to find the grill and bumpers to make it a
Sport. Would I sell it? Maybe,but it wouldn't be cheap...

 

[Killer223]

they are all over the place here in AZ, search CL for them.
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/cto/5793030401.html
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/cto/5783501737.html
http://lasvegas.craigslist.org/cto/5809975700.html
http://flagstaff.craigslist.org/cto/5780260429.html

 

[surfbeetle]

Wow, talk about resurrecting an old thread... Well I still have my 95 12 valve but with my wife, three growing daughters and a dog to travel with us, we bought a 6.7 2016 Ram crewcab longbed. So I can only hope that the hassle DEF and eventual smog tests, are worth it. Our new truck is far more powerful and comfortable to drive than the old one, but of course with the electronics, harder to work on for the home mechanic.