Yep...Another Happy CTD Newbie

[TRadke]

After extensive searching and researching, I finally found it.

My first diesel, a 12-Valve 98 QuadCab Short Box. NOT a '53' block . SLT Laramie, power everything. Primo condition, 109K, Black w/ Gray 'Leather' interior.

Flew to Sacramento last week, bought it and drove it 230 mi. to the coast.

Loaded up all my Mother-In-Laws's worldly possessions (long story), then drove 1,200+ mi. home to Washington (21 hrs straight thru).

So it earned its keep in the first 36 hrs in my stable.



FIRST IMPRESSIONS

This thing rocks. Crushed two P-Strokes climbing Siskiyou Pass (near OR border, 4000+ft el), 65mph with a full-size fridge standing up in the bed and barely nudging the throttle. Only thing that passed me was a 3500 Common-Rail.

Nice comfy ride, great visibility. Interior build quality seems pretty cheesy, but it's in real nice shape for now!

Oh, and most important, the wife likes it too.



KNOWN ISSUES/GRIPES

4. 10's hurt mileage, I was hoping for taller gears, but truck was too nice to pass up. 16. 1mpg avg. Hmmm, maybe a swap in the future?

Wonky latches on center console lid and tailgate. Need a little massaging.

Planning some auto-transmission upgrades. It 'seems' to be healthy, but I need to get it checked out fully. Didn't get the 5-sp I was hoping for, see above. How convenient, I only live 40 mins. from BD Diesel (I live up near the CDN border).

KDP-Kill kit is on its way... but I'm extremely paranoid right now.

--EDIT-- Coolant gauge hasn't gone beyond about 155*F, w/air temps from 45*F to 80*F, level or climbing, empty or loaded. From what I've read, temp should be bouncing around a bit more? Or does it really run that cool? Seems to have decent heat & defrost. Is my t-stat smoked?



FUTURE PLANS

Some light, "sane" bombing. Yeah yeah, I know...

Greaser conversion (SVO/WVO, that's why I chose the P7100-equipped 12-valver).

--EDIT--Currently running 1/3 B100 biodiesel - 2/3 tank dino. Seems to like it, quieted her down a bit too. Planning to run it on 100% B100, until full VO conversion. Looking into winter heating options for existing fuel system.



No Doubt, more questions as I learn to live with this thing. For now I'm just digging driving it. Loving the Cummins music-who needs a stereo?



Cheers, Ted

 

[the whale dog]

Congratulations sounds like a nice truck and easy to bomb I went from a 96 with the 4. 10 rears 3500 dually to a 98. 5 24 valve with 3. 55 saw less than 1 mpg in town difference and 2 or 3 mpg on long cruise control trip the only thing I liked was that I could (had to) run direct when towing and still run 55 or 60 also found my ear tuned to the rpms well as normal cruise speed went up about 12 mph enjoy your truck

 

[TRadke]

KDP Has Been Neutralized.

Tabbed it last weekend.



And it was sticking out... about 2mm (more than shown in the pic in the TST instructions).



It's nice to be able to breathe again.



Also beginning to bond with the truck, now that I've wrenched on her.

For the first two weeks I felt like I was borrowing someone else's rig... waaaay nicer than the scruffy '90 F150 it's replacing.



Ted

 

[Joe G.]

If your temp is steady at 155° then your t-stat is probably like this:



#ad

 

[TRadke]

Thermostat

Yeah, I've seen that pic, and others like it.



Bellingham's a pretty small town. NAPA (carries Stant?) didn't have the T-stat; local dealer wanted my first born child and left nut for one ...

... but didn't have it in stock. Never mind.



I'm drriving to Seattle tomorrow, gonna stop by Cummins NW along the way and pick up a T-stat and fuel filter. Hope they're open on Saturday.



Oh - and I got the console latch working... not the best design in the world IMHO. Fuel gauge is acting up... sigh... glad I don't mind tinkering with stuff... but my 6-mo-old son makes finding the time the tough part .



Ted

 

[Joe G.]

Bellingham's a pretty small town. NAPA (carries Stant?) didn't have the T-stat;

That's odd. I bought the stat I'm using now at NAPA in the thriving metropolis of Winston, OR.

 

[TRadke]

The NAPA gal sorta did a double take when she looked at her monitor, then said "We should have it, but it's out of stock at the moment. "



The (st)ealer parts guy said "I just sold my last one about an hour ago. "

Not my day. Go figure.



Lotsa CTD's running around up here - must be a popular item.



Ted

 

[WadePatton]

Congrats on the ride. I also moved up from a 90 f150. BIG DIFFERENCE.



A Cummins shop will have the t-stat.



Enjoy.