Mopar Diesel Winter Project. My new to me daily driver.

[Go Hogs Go]

I've been putting a ton of miles on my Dodge Diesel one ton using it as a grocery gitter and baby hauler. New diesel's are 50K rigs now, and I decided it was time to get something a little more economical too. The main criteria was 1. Must get over 20 mpg 2. Must to be able to get my little girls to school and back 3. Must be safe! Unlike Toyota's. Well, scroll on down and let me know what you think of my Green Machine.  

[Go Hogs Go]

My new to me 1996 Dodge Ram 12-Valve Cummins Turbo Diesel 4X4

[PocketThunder]

Do the girls climb in and out of the back seat with no back doors ok?  I want to get a truck just like that but i have 3 kids that all need to go in car seats and it would probably be easier to have a 98(?) and up cab that has 4 doors.  but i think the kids are a lot more mobile than i am so they could probably crawl back there just fine.

Paul

[Go Hogs Go]

I had one of these back in the day, and really missed it. I still have a few things to finish up on the truck, but over all I'm really happy with it. It's a 5-speed manual with 4:10 gears, 33x13" tires on 18X9 wheels, tonneau cover, 40,000 mile Cummins reman 12 Valve diesel with the 215hp pump, 4" turbo back exhaust with a jake brake, and just a slight tune on the engine. Right now I'm averaging just under 25 mpg, and when I get my US Gear overdrive installed I'm hoping for 30mpg. We're going to put some 3" fender flares on it this week, and rebuild a leaky vac pump, but other than that it's as reliable as death and taxes. These 12-valve engines are all mechanical with no electronics, and if you fix the KDP (killer Dowell Pin) are capable of 1,000,000 miles. When the dust clears I'll have about the same money in the truck as a new Yamaha Rhino ATV, which I can live with. I'll take some better pictures when the project is complete, but I'm stoked! It's a beast to drive, it sounds like a John Deere plowing corn, and the torque these old 12-valves made off of idle is still awesome even by today's diesel engine standards. Now I can be green, and pull my Charger too!

[Go Hogs Go]

My kids can get in the back just fine. There really is a lot of room when you fold the seat up. The worst part is getting the car seats installed. After that it's just reaching back and buckling them up. I would have loved to had a 98 12-valve, that is the Hemi Charger of diesel trucks. I just couldn't find one close, and for the money I couldn't justify passing on this one. The last owner put a lot of money in this truck, and just gave up at the very end. We just kind of finished it up. My girls love it, my four year old loves riding in it, and the 2 year gets excited and starts saying "noise, noise" everytime I shift gears and she hears the turbo come in. Both of them are use to hot rods and love going for rides in Daddy's Charger.

[tan top]

nice truck

[chargerboy69]

Looks good.  I love the Moto Metal wheels.  I have thought about a set for my beast too.

[Go Hogs Go]

Thanks Tan Top.

There is a company called RimZone that sells wheel and tire packages on ebay. I was able to buy wheels and tires for about what it would have cost me for just Nitto tires here, and I work for a dealership. So far I'm very impressed with the Nitto tires. They ride and drive really nice with zero tires noise. The moto metal rims seem to be the real deal too. The have a lot of detail work you don't see in the pictures.  

[chargerboy69]

Which Nittos are you running?  I am running BFG All Terrain and they are ok at best.  I have seen  the wheel and tire combos on E-Bay.  Just not sure which one I want yet.  Yours looks nice and mean.

[Go Hogs Go]

They are Nitto Terra Grapplers 325/60-R18 which is a 33X13" tire. I thought about Trail Grapplers, but ultimately decided I wasn't in the mud enough to justify them.

[Khyron]

Thats a big freaking truck!

nice buy

[Go Hogs Go]

Thats a big freaking truck!

nice buy

Thanks,

Nothing rides like a Long Bad truck! Jeff gave me my inspiration after seeing his Avalanche.

[Go Hogs Go]

I thought Jeff might like this picture. It's a snow day here at work right now so it's pretty quite. We're suppose to have 10-12 inches of snow on the ground by tomorrow morning, which is pretty rare here. We just had a 6" inch snow about a week ago, and we usually only get snow about once a year. This is pretty rare for us, but I did manage to sell one this morning anyway.

[Back N Black]

I like it!    Looks like you bought a toy and called it a family vehicle.  My wife would never fall for it. 

[Silver R/T]

nice truck, are you member of dieseltruckresource.com yet? If not, you should join in, one of best sites for CTD owners

[Go Hogs Go]

My wife is awesome. She's never hasseled me about all my car projects, so long as I take care of business at home. She actually likes this one. I had a truck like this when we dated. It brings back memories for both of us.

[Go Hogs Go]

nice truck, are you member of dieseltruckresource.com yet? If not, you should join in, one of best sites for CTD owners

I've been lurking around the cumminsdieselforum some, but I have not made it to dieseltruckresource yet. I'll check it out! Thanks.

[BIRD67]

There ya go! I love the Cummins! WOuld be neat to see one stuffed in a Cuda or Charger!

[FLG]

I thought Jeff might like this picture. It's a snow day here at work right now so it's pretty quite. We're suppose to have 10-12 inches of snow on the ground by tomorrow morning, which is pretty rare here. We just had a 6" inch snow about a week ago, and we usually only get snow about once a year. This is pretty rare for us, but I did manage to sell one this morning anyway.

Nice truck!!

BTW, where are the superman PJ's??

[Go Hogs Go]

"There ya go! I love the Cummins! WOuld be neat to see one stuffed in a Cuda or Charger!"

A Cummins in a Mopar muscle car would be awesome!


"Nice truck!!

BTW, where are the superman PJ's??"


I was more into the Incredible Hulk

[chargergirl]

I love my long bed, extended cab, 99 24 valve Cummings Diesel...and agree with your kids!!!! NOISE NOISE NOISE! Love to hear that turbo sing! Mark loves his 2001 Dually, same engine...wouldn't trade them for the world...but sometimes think about selling the house to buy the new dually...but what to do with the pups...oh wel maybe in another 5 years when they are no longer pups. That is ONE BEAUTIFUL TRUCK!

[mopar73]

Nice looking rig

[Go Hogs Go]

I love my long bed, extended cab, 99 24 valve Cummings Diesel...and agree with your kids!!!! NOISE NOISE NOISE! Love to hear that turbo sing! Mark loves his 2001 Dually, same engine...wouldn't trade them for the world...but sometimes think about selling the house to buy the new dually...but what to do with the pups...oh wel maybe in another 5 years when they are no longer pups. That is ONE BEAUTIFUL TRUCK!

Nice looking rig

Thanks guy's. I agree chargergirl, there is nothing like these trucks. They are big, loud, and are absolute beasts. The exact same thing that makes me love my Charger.

[chargergirl]

I have earplugs hanging from my rear view mirror...no one asks what their for when i start my truck....i love it!