Hi there guys,

I am pretty excited as I just brought home my first Cummins. I picked up a “new truck” and this is what it is:

1993 Dodge Ram – Cummins Engine
5 speed Getrag Tranny and 4WD
It has a short box, 4 inch lift, 33 inch tires and a few bells and whistles.
DANA 60 front, and DANA 70 rear, with Power-Lock

It was a restored at some point in time, there is still black paint on the frame, and the box is from Texas. It also came with 1 new fender and texas doors, so I am going to have some nice parts to work with. I ended up paying $3500 for everything (in Canada), and it was good enough to drive home 3 hours)

All that being said, this is my first diesel truck, and I have a few questions about what I should look for when going over everything.
I plan on changing ALL the fluids in the truck before anything. The engine has 460 000 KM… so about 300 000 miles. It starts right up, and there is no odd knocking or smoke, even when it is cold (-15 degrees C), and drives like no other truck I have driven, very happy with it.
It has a new “lift pump?” on the left side of the engine, as well as a battery, alternator, and rad. I was told from the guy I bought it from that he THINKS that the head gasket was replaced, which I hope means that it had the head and valve train touched up. He said that there are also “larger” injectors in it.

So thats basically all I know. It seems really good, but since I am restoring it, and I would like a good reliable truck, I was wondering if there are any parts that should be inspected, replaced, or to look out for. Like I said, I don’t know much about diesel trucks (especially turbo’s) because I mainly work on tractors, so this will be a learning experience. Any tips or help would be much appreciated. I am eager to learn as much as I can without having to do it on the side of the freeway, and I don’t want to get into an unnecessary engine rebuild right now.

Thanks in advance for any input.

Jacob

 

i don't think we really have many diesel guys hanging around here. if you looking for some help you may want to check out diesel truck resource. they also got a thread full of how to's.
how to's
http://www.dieseltruckresource.com/d...t-t102027.html
1st gen section
http://www.dieseltruckresource.com/d...opics-f93.html

 

That sounds like a great truck and something i would love to have since I am a big diesel fan. I had a 1986 Isuzu Trooper Turbo Diesel and it cost me a total of .100 in repairs in the 7+ years I owned it and was such a great little truck. It got 28 minimum and a max of 54mpg when I babied it.

I would to find a truck like yours albeit with lower mileage! I can say the Trooper I had was at 389K miles when I sold it and the guy who bought it still drives it and that was 7 years ago!

 

I wouldn't go around digging too much, they are dead reliable and great trucks. Not exactly powerhouses, but that's easily remedied.

I say change fluids and drive it, it being as old as it is, expect things to pop up here and there, but I can't think of anything you really need to check out, sounds like it runs pretty good.

It's a longbed, unless someone chopped the frame. No shortbeds until 98

 

Thanks for the replies guys.., that’s what I was hoping to hear. Lots of people say these things are good to 500 000 miles before an overhaul, so I should be good to go as long as the maintenance has been done. I was told by the guy I bought it from (who was not the person who fixed it up) that the frame was indeed cut to fit a short box, however I cannot see anywhere under the truck that he could have cut it.
I compared it to my 1988 Power Ram with a long bed, and the wheel base is actually shorter on the Diesel, and yet there are no cut or weld marks on the frame anywhere.
Some people say that the 150 and 250 frames were the same, so Im wondering if someone used a half ton frame and added the big axels etc… not sure exactly, but it is defiantly a short box… and it looks good, so that’s what matters J.
Once I am finished my current project, then I will be able to put some time into the truck, and she is going to be just beautiful when Im done.

Thanks

 

What you have might be a conversion from a gas truck to a D. BUT if the title says non catalyst, it came as a diesel. Check the title and see what it says for the motor...it'll either says gas or diesel. At least NM titles denote the fuel type. I always wanted a short bed 3/4ton Diesel truck.

 

oh and with most Diesels i have seen if it runs, and is maintained it will continue to do that for a LONG LONG time.

 

Ownership states is was a Diesel from the factory... but at the end of the day, I got the truck I always wanted with all the features I wanted, so I am happy regardless. All I gotta do now is get everything safe, and paint her up nice. Fingers crossed that the cummins lives up to its name... mind you it already puts my 318 to shame...

 

only problem with these old truck is factory wires getting old. fusible links go bad and stuff quits working. one of the things you may want to do to both of your dodge trucks if you plan on keeping them is put the headlights on relays. makes them a bit brighter and also takes stress off the old wiring and connections that sometimes get a bit hot in there old age and melt things.

 

Thats a good tip. I will look into that one for sure... and easy enough to do. I think the gas truck is going to be for sale as soon as I am done fixing up the diesel, so wont bother with it. I am going to looking to hook up some fog lights as well on the diesel, so even more reason to relay the system. Thanks