hi all!
My name is Roberto and I come from Italy. I am looking for a used dodge ram, and I just don't know if there are many differences between the
cummins on the second generation (with 250hp) and the 3rd generation one (325hp). They both are 5.9 litres and 6 cylinders, right?.
Is easy to increase cummins power and torque with "few" bucks ?
thank you very much.
bye

 

the 2nd gen enginesare more mechanical than the 3rd gens for starters. you can also look at the engine data sticker and tell what the engine rated power is and the engine build date.

as far as ease of increaseing power, the electronic HPCR's (03 and up) are the easiest, however the 2nd gens built from 94-98.4 have the greatest potential, but you cannot shift on the fly so to speak since those 12 valves are fully mechanical.

all the engines put in the 2/3500's from 89-07.4 have been the 5.9L I-6 ISB block. the head design and injection system may have changed, however the overal engine is still basicaly the same. the newer 07.5's have a bored and stroked 5.9L to bring the displacement to 6.7L.

The older 94.98.4 12 valves are probably the cheapest to build good power with, some of the mods that can be done dont cost a thing, on the 98.5-02's you start getting into electronics, and the increase in power gets a bit more expensive, the same can be said about the 03-present trucks.

 

Thank you very much for your fast and really interesting reply. So there are few meachanical difference between 2nd and 3rd generation cummins. I like it.
bye!