Alright it is time to upgrade trucks. I have had to start driveing my truck more and more. I have a 93 f-250 diesel and it has no power and gets pretty crappy mileage.

I have been looking around and have found some pretty good deals on a few different trucks. I plan on doing quite a bit of mods for both fuel and power, poss lift it a bit. I am deffanatly going to buy a older truck but do I want a 12v or a 24v? 5 speed or a automatic.

My diesel is automatic and I hate the way it shifts. It makes all its power at about 1800 rpm but always runs 2400-2800 rpm.

I figure if I start modding up a truck I rather put in a clutch then a torque converter and upgrade the tranny...

I know you can use a power commander on a truck older then a 99. Do the mods that you do on the older trucks mess with the mileage much or is it better to use a tuner. ect. Give me some info...

 

find a 2000 - 2005 ctd 3500 5 speed. throw a new chip/ computer or what have ya, big exhaust, exhaust brake, and youll have fun!!!

 

the last 5spd's were in 03. your best trucks are going to be 94-98.4 12 valves. the 98.5-02 trucks have some issues, but are still good. 03-present uses a fully electronic injections system that easy on the fly power can be made.

 

I suggest the early 98 "12 Valve Quad Cab." In 1998 the Quad Cab went to 4 doors. The 12 Valve engines are bullet proof, and are easy to mod for more HP / TQ. My 3500 Dualy gets 20+MPG @ 70 on the open road.

Try to find one in good condition inside and out, but with a "Iffy" Automatic. Get a good price on it because of the transmission.

Put in a new Billet Torque Converter, lockup controller and have the transmission beefed up by a good shop or get an after market transmission, put a #10 fuel plate in it, along with a good intake and exhaust. Add 3 guages, Trans. Temp. Boost Pressure, and Turbine Inlet Temperature. Then set back and enjoy a great truck for the next 300,000 miles or more.

 

Thanks for the replys guys!

This is what I have on the line right now, 94 2500 4x4 diesel 237,000k reg cab. Has bigger injectors, exhaust, leavling kit, advanced timing and another mod he cant remember. Its a automatic and the tranny has about 20k on it. He says you have to let it idle for a while before you can drive it because they took some kind of a valve out of the tranny. The guy claims 400hp. I have negotiated $6200. Any ideas what to look at when I go to buy it?

I already found built tranny and a good converter for it for $1600.

 

that whole valve thing sounds weird. . .I bet if you put it in neutral, then in what ever gear you want right after start-up it'll fun fine.

I would ask them if the Killer Dowl Pin has been fixed for starters, then ask when the valves were adjusted. also ask what type of oil he's been running.

 

Alright I got the truck, the tranny seems like it is pretty screwed. Anymore then 1/2 throttle in 1,2, it doesnt want to shift. At 45-50 it shifts into overdrive no matter what. It seems to have okay power in overdrive at 50-60 but if I get on it down low it just climbs to about 2700 and studders. I figure I will pick up that tranny and torque converter somtime this week.

I dont know what kind of injectors are in it, the exhast looks more like a muffler deleat though. It does have a k&n in it but it has the stock box with some holes cut in it. Should I swap it out? Turbo is pretty damn loud. The guy who I got it from said the guy he got it from claimed 400hp but it just doesnt feel that powerful. Not to mention the exhaust was done by the guy I got it from.

Now that I have it what should I do to it now after the tranny...? I was thinking about getting some gauges and sqeezing some propane? What do you normally have to do to get theese things into the 14's?