2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Thinking of buying 2nd Gen - what to look (out) for?

[dan brooks]

I'm about 95% sure I'm going to sell my 1st Gen and pick up an extended cab 2nd Gen for the extra room. Right now I'm considering both 12- and 24-valve trucks, depending on price and what is available.



I know about the KDP issue on the 12-valve trucks, but are there any other issues to be concerned with? What about the 24-valve engines? I read something about the "53" block a while back - how common and how big of an issue is that? Any major or common problems with the rest of the 2nd Gen trucks?



Thanks!

 

[Allnew2Me]

1 2

 

[rweis]

VP44, VP44, VP44, VP44, VP44, VP44, fuel system in general.



transmission if you pull heavy, transmission if you pull heavy, transmission if you pull heavy, transmission if you pull heavy, transmission if you pull heavy.



53 block, but you covered that.



4x4 death wobble (not personally observed as I have a 2x4).



Bob Weis

 

[FourBarR]

lift pump, lift pump, lift pump, apps, apps, apps. vp44, vp44, vp44, 53 block ,53 block, 53 block. auto, auto, auto. get a 12 valve standard ,and 2wd.

 

[dan brooks]

Okay, I think I see a pattern here... .



Is a "53" block a definite deal killer, or is it something that most trucks have no problems with.



I had heard the lift pumps were an issue on the 24-valve trucks. Are the problems with the VP44 because of lift pump failures, or are there other issues with the injection pump not caused by a bad lift pump?



I have a friend who owns a transmission shop, so that will be upgraded if I go with an auto. Do all the NV4500s have issues with the 5th gear, or was that fixed for later models?



Thanks, and keep the info coming!

 

[Joe Mc]

Brakes: if it's rear drums plan on replacing the pads up front alot. There are fixes if you search here you'll find them.

 

[amnewsom]

I have a friend who has a 99 "53", Auto, but he is not worried about it. Dodge covers it for an amount of time I think. My issues -



Steering



VP44 49000



LP - one so far at 45000



Dash is cracked.



Seat was ripped at the joint but fixed it.



Yes, all vehicles have probelms but the '02 model year seems to have something from all the previous years but the "53" block. I would look for a 98 Quad 12v 5 speed.

 

[dan brooks]

VP44 49000



LP - one so far at 45000

Do you think the LP took out the IP, or just coincidence?



I'd really like a 12-valve, but trying to find an unmolested, low mileage one around here is next to impossible.

 

[amnewsom]

Maybe, but it never dropped below 6 pounds at cruise, and that is was just 2 or 3 times maybe.



It happens but I dont know. To the dodge house it goes tommerow for a warranty replacment of the VP. If you do go for it, find an 01/02 HO 6 spd, I prefer the late 02s, they have the discs at the corners and some late-late 02s dont have the CAD. Mine has disks but with CAD.



Good luck.

 

[dan brooks]

Thanks... but one quick question: What is CAD?

 

[biggy238]

As far as the engine goes, mileage is of little concern. . It's the rest of the truck that suffers from mileage.



Be prepaired to attack the front suspension above and beyond all. It's a sad fact and rarley can one be fixed one part at a time. I replaced all of the major steering components on my front axle within 6 months of eachother. Thats not to say that they all are like that, but be aware of the condition of the steering components before a purchase and adjust price accordingly. 53 block seems sporattic at best to me. There is no real correlation between causes and failures other that the casting #.



There was a 98. 4 QC in the classifieds but I figure someone grabbed it by now.

 

[FourBarR]

to add info to my post my 98. 5 has 37000 kms. i am on the 4th. lift pump,this one was moved back just forward of the tank. pressure now are 16 at idle 13 at wot. these are the highest ive seen from any of the lps ive had. the pressures are on westach gauge and verified with my certified aircraft fuel gauge. the injection pump is the original, an early one without any of the later mods. i attribute its long life to, allways having gauges, adding howes meaner to every tank, buying fuel from the same card lock, no power increases,never abusing the engine . truck has never had a start problem, never left me stranded, the only drivability problem was the converter clutch locking , this has been a recent thing now cured with high quality grounds from the ECM to the apps to the neg . battery cable and from the PCM to the neg. battery terminal. sorry for the long post. hope it helps somebody.

 

[FourBarR]

mileage should read 370000kms. sorry about that.

 

[KevinSmith]

Mine is an 01. After buying it besides the problems everyone has listed remember that the 02 has a better turbo and rear disc brakes. I have not had any problems with anything on my truck but if I had it to do over again I would definatly want the rear disc brakes.

 

[amnewsom]

CAD - Central Axle Disconnect



basically a multi piece shaft and vaccum engament system, it is a system that should have never been installed.

 

[dan brooks]

Ah, I'm familiar with those but not that term. A lot of the Jeepers ditch the vacuum disconnect and swap in a one piece shaft and new seal from a later model - wonder if that will work with the Dodge... .



Thanks for all the great info. I've been doing some number crunching, and unless I happen on a smokin' deal on a low mileage, bone stock truck, I think I'm going to put things on hold to get more $$$ together so I can buy a new 3rd Gen.

 

[Allnew2Me]

Actually the 2001 later builds, I think after July 2000 all had rear discs. Mine was built in August 2000 and has them and they do stop well. I read that they started calling them 2001 in January of 2000 and phased out some of the standard features and added others, mostly deleted. I also have the CAD but it does allow that nifty two-wheel low option from Bob V.

 

[EBottema]

Get a 1996 or 1997 12v truck. You won't regret it

 

[jbrowne]

Rear drum to disc

A friend of mine put me on this and I have had good luck with it so far. I can't afford a disc brake conversion kit so I started looking for another way to attack the front brake wear problem. I figured that the rear brakes were not doing their share of the stopping chore so what is needed is more authority on the rear and the only way to get that is larger rear brake cylinders. The Dodge has 1" pistons and Chevy had 1 1/8" pistons and they bolt right in perfectly. There is a bit of grinding that must be done. The Dodge has internal rubber seals inside of the cyl opening and Chevy has an external seal. The piston stops that are on the back plate have to be ground off about 1/8" to allow a good fit for the external rubber seals. Other than that they fit right in. Hope this halps someone.

jbrowne