I need a serviceable 3/4 ton pickup...will be moving soon and need to make several trips over WA Cascade mountains with personal belongings, etc. I've been looking at Dodge Cummins pickups. I don't need long cabs, but do need an 8-foot bed. Tonight my son-in-law called and said one of his co-workers in the building trades just bought a new diesel, and his old truck is no longer needed. I have scant details now, but he said the model year is, "in the 1980's." So if Dodge introduced the first Cummins equipped pickups in 1988, it appears this pickup offer will be for a truck built between then and 1990. I understand the truck is in good shape mechanically...not sure how hard the body was worked.

Can anyone give me tips on what to look for? I have been reading this and the 2nd gen forum for a while and know there is the Brazilian 53 block to watch out for, but I can't remember what years they were used. I have heard that if anti-freeze is not changed regularily, cavitation within the cooling system can eventually eat through cylinder liners. (friend at work had a very, very expensive engine replacement because of that in a Ford). I hear that the auto trans can have problems, but also that it is often associated with pulling hard in OD and TConverter trouble can result. I hear that manuals (which I'd prefer) are good and provide better fuel mileage, have some problems with 5th gear shift pins falling out (but are fine after repair/mod)

Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated on early Dodge diesels.

Thanks, Dennis