Hey everyone,

New to the forums.

I'm planning on getting my first pickup truck soon.
It's going to be dodge 2500 diesel regular cab long box 4x4.


I've done some extensive google searching.
I found a few posts comparing 2nd generation dodge 2500 and 3rd generation 2500's.

I can't seem to find a straight answer.

Is there any reason I should get a 3rd generation over a 2nd generation?

Wikipedia said these:

"Water jackets and injectors were among some but the most notorious is the "53" block cummins which in these years had a defect that would cause cracks in the block."

On a few forums, some people said the 2nd generation was better, while at the same time others said the 3rd generation ones were better.

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Sorry, two more question...

1. Are all 3rd generation dodge 2500 diesels 24 valve?

2. And, are 2nd generation parts harder to find?
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Thanks so much in advance for your time, help, and advice.

Cheers,
Kevin

 

Depends on what you want. The interior is much nicer on the newer trucks. I like the common rails better than the vp44s. The 48re is a bit more durable than the 47re. The AAM axles are pretty darned stout.

But the older trucks are lighter and cheaper.

What do you like better?

It usually stands to reason that the manufacturers want the new vehicles to be an improvement over the previous model.

 

Thanks for your input horatio102!


Hey, I have a friend who says that I should avoid pickup trucks that formerly was a snow plow truck.

Is this the usual consensus?


Here is the ad.


http://www.kijiji.ca/v-cars-trucks/m...-km/1068922235


What do you think? Pass?


Thanks so much for your input guys!

Cheers,
Kevin

 

IMO I would not buy a truck that has been used to plow. Plowing is hard on the drove train. You don't know if they hit something and tweaked the frame.

 

Thanks so much for your advice p38251!!!

Cheers,
Kevin

 

Plowing is really hard on trucks, plus you know it's been beat on in the snow - and by extension there is a fairly high probability of salt damage.

 

Thanks so much horatio102 for your!

Much appreciated

Cheers,
Kevin

 

not all 53 blocks crack, but some can.

My 2nd gen 24v has a 53 block in it and over 253k miles on it. No cracks in the block and the truck has been well over 500hp @ the rears for the last 4+ years now.

Some claim the vp44 fails constantly and is unreliable...those who claim that just don't take care of their trucks at all and don't care at all about them.

My vp44 has well over 100k miles on it, possibly even 250k but I doubt it as when I bought my truck it had the in tank retro lift pump which tells me a dealer replaced the lift pump and likely the vp44...


However I have had zero issues in the 100k miles I have put on the truck with my vp44 and it has been wiretapped with a performance box since the weekend after I bought the truck 7 years ago.

Add 2-cycle oil to the fuel in a 128:1 mix (about a quart per 30 gallon fillup) and install a fuel pressure guage on the truck and keep it above 14psi and you won't have any issues with it.

if the lift pump can't maintain 14+ psi than it is a weak pump and should be replaced with something that can keep up.


3rd gen guys hate to admit this, but their common rails are becoming notorious for injector failure which is a far more serious problem than a vp44 could ever be.

common rails hold fuel pressure at the injectors 100% of the time, so if/when their injector tips crack, they start leaking/dumping 20k psi worth of fuel into that cylinder 100% uncontrolled which can cause a range of problems depending on how bad that crack is...could just start smoking and losing fuel economy to filling the oil pan with diesel and melting down the piston from excessive fueling that never stops while the engine is running.

vp44's only have fuel pressure behind the injector when it is that cylinders turn to fire, so even if a vp44 injector cracked which is EXTREMELY rare (like 1 in a million+ rare) it would still have controlled fueling because it only has pressure when it is that cylinders turn to fire, so the worst it can do is what my injectors already do: push the full amount of fuel the vp44 is capable of to the cylinder. big deal... just make it smoke a bit and get crappy economy till you replace it. lol

parts:

certain trim and body parts are just starting to become harder to find, but any of the mechanical parts/drive train parts are very easy to find.

yes all 3rd gen cummins are 24v

2nd gen 94-98 was 12v, 98.5-02 was 24v

53 block motors were possible in 98-2003 (yes early 3rd gens could possibly have a 53 block and late 12v's could also possibly have a 53 block)


My truck can be a pain in my @$$ some times, but other than dodges inability to build a decent steering system, any failures it had were caused by me and my lust for power. and just standard wear and tear

Wouldn't trade my truck away. Love that old rattle trap.

btw I haven't updated that fuelly in a while... it got 16.2MPG it's last fillup. not bad for a truck with crappy 4.10 gears, 35" mud tires, over 380hp @ the rears MINIMUM (lowest power setting on my fueling box is @ 388hp/813tq @ the rears on the dyno.) and living in an area riddled with hills.

 

Wow! Thanks Jigabop for your time and help!

Much appreciated!