What to do?

[Hawk]

Alright guys here is my dilemma. I own a 03 QC 2WD 6Spd DRW Dodge and I want a 06/07 Megacab. My truck was purchased in NM and fell under some farm rules or something and didn't come with a cat or a EGR. I love my truck and its been great since day one. I want the Megacab for the extra room in the passenger area. I would most likely have the truck stretched to accomidate a 8ft bed and put all my parts onto the new truck.



So my questions are to the guys who own the 06/07 5. 9's and to the guys who own the Megacab.



5. 9- any issues removing any factory installed parts(cats/EGR)? I hate codes and don't like the check engine light coming on for bogus codes.



Megacab- is it worth getting rid of my rig that I've had for 7 years for the extra space? Are there things about the cab you don't like?



The new truck will be exactly like the old one. 5. 9, manual trans, 2wd and dullie. Only diff would be the extra 20 inches in the cab.



Let me know what you guys think. I'm at the point of flipping a coin and going with it.

 

[HBarlow]

Whoever sold you your '03 with removed emissions hardware sold you ocean front property in AZ when he told you the truck was delivered under farm rules in NM and didn't have a factory cat converter. No such exemptions exist. All trucks manufactured for highway use in the US were required to have one installed. Someone could get busted by an inspection station somewhere down the line as the current wacko administration tightens the screws on emissions.

I don't think any '06s had egrs and I don't think they would set codes without a cat converter. My '06 had a cat converter which I left in place but removed the muffler. It was a little noisy outside but sounded great and didn't drone in the cab.

 

[mickeyblueyes]

I concur

I have 2 2003 trucks right now Neither ever had a cat nor egr. Good luck on your new venture

 

[GaryOwen]

No cats or egr's came on 03 models (except maybe Calif models - not sure of that).

 

[Hawk]

Whoever sold you your '03 with removed emissions hardware sold you ocean front property in AZ when he told you the truck was delivered under farm rules in NM and didn't have a factory cat converter. No such exemptions exist. All trucks manufactured for highway use in the US were required to have one installed. Someone could get busted by an inspection station somewhere down the line as the current wacko administration tightens the screws on emissions.



I don't think any '06s had egrs and I don't think they would set codes without a cat converter. My '06 had a cat converter which I left in place but removed the muffler. It was a little noisy outside but sounded great and didn't drone in the cab.

Well Sir I just bought some property in AZ and did purchase the truck new in NM so I'm only relaying what I was told when I inquired about the missing CAT.

I am still curious about the newer trucks and their emissions equipment.

 

[p-Bar]

03 wouldn't have a cat on it , cats came on 04. 5 and up so they would be a 50 state truck

 

[HBarlow]

Well Sir I just bought some property in AZ and did purchase the truck new in NM so I'm only relaying what I was told when I inquired about the missing CAT.
I am still curious about the newer trucks and their emissions equipment.

To be clear, I have never owned an '03 and don't know if they were supposed to be equipped with a cat converter, or not. Some models over the years have been equipped, some have not. My '01 was not, my '06 was, and current '08 is equipped with a cat converter.

My point was if a cat converter was required for that particular year and engine for 48 state emissions standards there was no farm exemption that allowed it to be shipped from the factory without. Some salesman lied if he told you that.

 

[mwilson]

I never buy new vehicles but broke that rule in '06 as I wanted the non-egr engine in a MegaCab.



Does have a Cat, does not have an EGR. Cat will disappear in 9,000 more miles. Whoops... ... ...



Have not regretted it yet!!!



The MegaCab is fantastic, tons of room and very well built. The only gripe for me with the interior is the heater / ac system does not the capacity needed for extreme heat or cold.



Passengers love the rear seat and the big rear doors.





I would do it again, no question. Oo.

Mike.

 

[firemansdiesel]

2006 & 2007 (5. 9) do not have a EGR on them, just a cat for emissions. Your '03 had no Cat on it unless it was a Cali Emission truck, then it had a Cat. It will tell you on the driverside valve cover ( on the side) which emission version you have.



Also there have been tests out there w/ Cat on & off. Really no difference in power & EGT's. . The biggest restrictions on the 3rd Gens (5. 9's) is the muffler. Get a aftermarket one to replace the stocker.

 

[AWeiman]

definitely love the cab of the wife's megacab. never had a passenger complain about enough room. anybody that has ever rode in the truck cant believe how roomy it is,truthly most are quite jealous of the truck cause there are not a lot of them running around in our area. i was leaning towards a quad cab when we bought it but she talked me into a megacab and i am glad that we did it now. you can put a lot of groceries in the back seat too. :-laf

 

[p-Bar]

There is an "internal" EGR built into these 600 motors .

 

[mickeyblueyes]

600 ?

There is an "internal" EGR built into these 600 motors .

Back to the adding machine 2003= 305/555 HO

 

[Elite1]

I live in Calif. and back in 03' I drove to AZ, just so I could buy the H. O. motor, which wasn't available in CA at the time. Mine doesn't have a CAT either.

 

[Elite1]

2006 & 2007 (5. 9) do not have a EGR on them, just a cat for emissions. Your '03 had no Cat on it unless it was a Cali Emission truck, then it had a Cat. It will tell you on the driverside valve cover ( on the side) which emission version you have.



Also there have been tests out there w/ Cat on & off. Really no difference in power & EGT's. . The biggest restrictions on the 3rd Gens (5. 9's) is the muffler. Get a aftermarket one to replace the stocker.

Which muffler do you recomend?

 

[mwilson]

Excuse me, I should have said it has no "external" egr system.



I don't ever want that troublesome, plugging nuisance on any diesel engine that I own.



What a high maintenance item that can be! It is a nightmare on some of the Class 8 rigs.

 

[rscurtis]

Here is what I remember about '03 emissions, as I lived in NY at the time. You had a choice of a 250HP engine with no cat, or by waiting until the beginning of 2003, the 305HP HO engine was available with the 48RE. For the 2004 model year, the 305 was no longer available, but was replaced with a 235HP engine with a small cat, like a second generation 12 valve. That was a very short run, and then the 600 engine became the only one available. The 305 engine also had no emission control hardware of any kind.

 

[firemansdiesel]

Which muffler do you recomend?

Any aftermarket will be free flowing (stocker is restrictive), just different sounds. I had a banks on my '05 , but Aero or Donaldsons have good reviews w/ sound & little drone under load.

 

[Scooby]

I have never regretted the extra room inside a MEGACAB! And since I no longer need an 8 ft. bed, the only issue is the long wheel base which can make parking just a little more interesting.



I recently removed the muffler but kept the cat and the resonator. The sound isn't much louder than stock but the motor seems to wind up easier... . shifts are smoother. No resonation so far although I haven't towed without it yet.

 

[CDonaldson]

I absolutely LOVE all the space in my MegaLimo. The short bed is not really an issue that would make me stretch my truck. I tow all kinds of trailers with my short bed, no issues whatsoever.



I somehow LOST my muffler and replaced it with a ME pipe, left the CAT and resonator. It is not too loud without the muffler and my fuel economy increased. NO external EGR stuff, in fact, that was shy I bought new in 2006 - to avoid the external EGR stuff and the coming/now arrived disaster it has become.



You will certainly not be unhappy with the Mega.







CD