selling my super duty for a ram 2500...

[Wicked72]

So i currently have a 99.5 f350 reg cab 7.3 6spd man trans, banks turbine housing, wicked wheel, 4" magnaflow exhaust sst straight pipe, 75hp injectors, spectre intake, sperco intercooler, ts performance on the fly 3 setting chip, 6" rough country full spring suspension lift, 7" double din dvd player, kicker amp, 10" old school orion sub, pioneer speakers all around. So yeah ive have had my truck a very long time and i love it but now with twins i gotta have more room. When i got the duty i had to have a man trans bc the autos are worthless with a moded truck unless thousands more are invested. So i have been looking at some cummins mega cabs 03-07. How is the drive train once i start modding the hell out of it? Finding a man trans is damn near impossible and i got very lucky when i found my truck now so ill settle with an auto. Kills me to sell my truck..

[garner7555]

The auto trans behind the 5.9 is weak, the one behind the 6.7 is better but not bulletproof. On my first 06 I put 35"s and a superchip, transmission was not even build able at 38k miles. I was ruff on the truck though (doughnuts, burnouts, even burnouts with 24' gooseneck hooked up  ). Now I have a 07 with the same transmission and way more performance mods on this truck, and it seems fine. I think all that really matters is how you treat it.     They have weak transmissions, keep that in mind when you are driving it and you will probably be ok.

On a side note I also had a 06 dually 6speed cummins for pulling and the clutch parts are over $1000 not counting labor. After a few clutch replacement that will pay for the auto to be rebuilt. 

[charger_fan_4ever]

The auto trans behind the 5.9 is weak, the one behind the 6.7 is better but not bulletproof. On my first 06 I put 35"s and a superchip, transmission was not even build able at 38k miles. I was ruff on the truck though (doughnuts, burnouts, even burnouts with 24' gooseneck hooked up   ). Now I have a 07 with the same transmission and way more performance mods on this truck, and it seems fine. I think all that really matters is how you treat it.     They have weak transmissions, keep that in mind when you are driving it and you will probably be ok.

On a side note I also had a 06 dually 6speed cummins for pulling and the clutch parts are over $1000 not counting labor. After a few clutch replacement that will pay for the auto to be rebuilt.  

I think you lost credibility for saying they are weak when you mentioned doing burnouts with a gooseneck hooked and doing donughts in a 7000lbs truck lol. Once you start driving a 7000lbs truck like a 3000lbs mustang/camaro things are going to break quick.

I had a 7.3 powerstroke once. Only truck i took a bath on out of the 8 or so diesel trucks i have owned. Wire harness under the valve covers running in oil and valve cover gaskets that double as electronic connections i mean really how did this make it past the drawing board.

I will say the superduty steering set up is better than the dodge.


My 99 has 220k miles on it and no trans issues at all.
for sale too  

[GPULLER]

I'd say you have one of the good Fords!  I would think that someone will snap that up pretty quick.
Not sure of the newer Dodge trans, haven't heard too many horror stories.
My 98 12V has 200,000 miles on the original trans.  It has a 230hp/610tq cam plate and 285/75 tires.  Like Charger fan says if you drive it sensible you shouldn't have troubles.

[Cooter]

Better keep it under 2008 at least because you WILL NOT screw with the Engine as far as mods/programmers are concerned as the Emissions will have to come off and are illeagal in most states.
I know The aftermarket is having issues with this right now with those "Urea" filters and the "re-Gen" that accomapnies them. Yep, the days of modding Cummins' is all but gone now. the EPA has made sure it cannot be done without DOT checks for emission compliance.

[ACUDANUT]

I would have bought another 7.3 with a crew cab.

[garner7555]

The auto trans behind the 5.9 is weak, the one behind the 6.7 is better but not bulletproof. On my first 06 I put 35"s and a superchip, transmission was not even build able at 38k miles. I was ruff on the truck though (doughnuts, burnouts, even burnouts with 24' gooseneck hooked up  ). Now I have a 07 with the same transmission and way more performance mods on this truck, and it seems fine. I think all that really matters is how you treat it.     They have weak transmissions, keep that in mind when you are driving it and you will probably be ok.

On a side note I also had a 06 dually 6speed cummins for pulling and the clutch parts are over $1000 not counting labor. After a few clutch replacement that will pay for the auto to be rebuilt. 

I think you lost credibility for saying they are weak when you mentioned doing burnouts with a gooseneck hooked and doing donughts in a 7000lbs truck lol. Once you start driving a 7000lbs truck like a 3000lbs mustang/camaro things are going to

Well he said he was going to put Mods on the truck ( I assume similar to his ford) when you modify a diesel to that extent it will normally get driven fairly hard. I was just letting it be known that I abused my first 5.9 truck. The one I have now gets babied to try to save the tranny. We farm for a living, we are running about 8 diesel trucks (mainly cummins) and I can assure you that the transmission is weak. The auto trans. behind the 7.3 is weak as well. The best auto trans for a diesel is the ford that mates up behind the 6.0L, but the engines don't hold up without major upgrades. When a truck is used on farm (and I don't mean abused like the 06 dodge that I mentioned ) you will find its weak points.

[Wicked72]

Im sure spending the money on a good after market clutch it will hold up fine. I wonder how much a perfomance rebuild on the auto would cost me? Id do it myself

[chargerboy69]

I would have bought another 7.3 with a crew cab.

I second that.  Lots of room in the Ford crew cabs, plus you get to keep the 8 foot bed unlike the Mega Cab.

[Wicked72]

the ford auto trans are total junk tho. unless i can find a 6speed like i have now. i had an e350 with the 7.3 went through 2 transmissions. sold it with 400k miles on the motor. my uncle had a f250 also a 7.3 replaced a trans.
is the ram really the lesser option?

[charger_fan_4ever]

the ford auto trans are total junk tho. unless i can find a 6speed like i have now. i had an e350 with the 7.3 went through 2 transmissions. sold it with 400k miles on the motor. my uncle had a f250 also a 7.3 replaced a trans.
is the ram really the lesser option?

Both trucks ford or dodge have their flaws.

Working under the hood of a v8 turbo diesel is no fun and their powerband is about 800rpm higher than the inline 6.

The inline 6 is just so much more beefier and simple than the powerstrokes. They have 1/2 a dozen computers glowplugs in the heads, high pressure oil pumps to fire injectors. Not to mention most of the go fast parts for the fords are $$$ The cummins engines were made to be used on generators and farm equipment run on the govener wide open all day. Don't see any powerstrokes or durmax engines serving in the industrial world just sayin.

Buddy built 2 powerstrokes. i think the injectors were around $2500 just for the set :O
24v 150hp injectors are like $500 for the set.

I don't have much experience with the 03+ common rails. Seems the newer the trucks the less reliable and more expensive they become. my $0.02

[Wicked72]

Your spot on with the price on powerstroke parts. Even stock injectors are abt 3k. I havent heard anything bad abt thr common rail cummins just wasnt sure abt the rest of the drivetrain. What kinda rears are in these trucks? Id say it would be hard to break my sterling 10.5 after what ive put it through.

[charger_fan_4ever]

Big dana rears in the dodges. Never known anyone to break one.

The common rails have had injector problems. Usually 5 or 6 sticks open and burns out a hole.
Not sure if its just a problem with the factory injectors and the upgraded ones are corrected ?

I may have been too generous at 2500 for a set of bigger powerstroke injectors. My buddy put 10k in upgraded parts on his 6L and did not touch the longblock :O

[ACUDANUT]

I would never own a 6.0.  I have had my 7.3 for 13 years. Zero problems.

[firefighter3931]

The 48RE is a good trans but if you're going to bomb the motor the trans will need some upgrades. The weak link in a stock 48RE is the tq converter, flexplate and valvebody.

My 05 dually is bone stock (325hp/610tq) and the trans has zero modifications. Tows like a dream and the trans shifts perfectly. A friend has the same truck and his is stock as well and he just freshened up the trans at 380K miles with zero issues up to that point.

Bottom line, the transmissions in the HO Cummins equipped vehicles are fine with stock power and can take a beating with the weak areas addressed.....A triple disc converter is a huge improvement vs the factory piece in terms of strength and efficiency ! 


Ron

[charger_fan_4ever]

I would never own a 6.0.  I have had my 7.3 for 13 years. Zero problems.

Had one

Bad glow plug pulled to much juice through the under valve cover harness. Burnt up the harness and valve cover gaskets. Changing glowplugs bites. Had to work the bad one for an hour to get it out without breaking it off. After that job i sold it and took a bath. I don't know why all diesel engines don't have the intake heater and thats it like in the cummins. Maintenance free and starts way better.

I will say the 7.3's are the best of the powerstrokes. There torque rating is about the same as the cummins engines of that era, just the power range of the cummins comes in way sooner. Pretty much off idle. Good for moving heavy loads.

My trucks start way better in the cold then my TDI VW that has 1/2 the miles as the trucks.

[Wicked72]

changed my glow plugs and it was very easy for me actually. out of the 8 one worked. delt with that for years. i see ats has some badass built transmissions. thinking id like to just build one my self.

[Todd Wilson]

The 48RE is a good trans but if you're going to bomb the motor the trans will need some upgrades. The weak link in a stock 48RE is the tq converter, flexplate and valvebody.

My 05 dually is bone stock (325hp/610tq) and the trans has zero modifications. Tows like a dream and the trans shifts perfectly. A friend has the same truck and his is stock as well and he just freshened up the trans at 380K miles with zero issues up to that point.

Bottom line, the transmissions in the HO Cummins equipped vehicles are fine with stock power and can take a beating with the weak areas addressed.....A triple disc converter is a huge improvement vs the factory piece in terms of strength and efficiency ! 


Ron

Couldnt have said it any better! Very good info!   We are always on this forum adding power to our old Mopars and upgrading transmissions and doing this and that yet in our diesel trucks we do a bunch of mods and then wonder why the factory parts end up blowing up.............


Todd

[Cooter]

I find it funny that many talk about the "Durability" of the newer 46/47/48Re trans' VS the older 727 3-speeds. I even had one guy come in the shop and wanted me to give him an estimate on swapping his Dakota to the 727 for DAILY transportation!?

Of course, I had to break it down for him by asking WHY the Hell he would want to go that route. His reply is basically the same when talking to "Newbie" Mopar folks. "Cause I've heard them 727's never gave any problems. This OD junk in my truck won't hold the power."

I replied: First off, think about it. Many if not most of those older 727's were Parked at 100K miles. Many long before due to the first fuel crunch. They never really got a chance to get 250K miles on 'em to show any real problems. These transmissions today are routinely seeing 150-250K miles and people are still wanting more. Then they stick a huge turbo/supercharger on it and think it'll live. I'm not saying the newer trans' are any stronger/better, just that the older ones we think are "bulletproof" never had anywhere near the miles the newer ones get.

[lukedukem]

So i currently have a 99.5 f350 reg cab 7.3 6spd man trans, banks turbine housing, wicked wheel, 4" magnaflow exhaust sst straight pipe, 75hp injectors, spectre intake, sperco intercooler, ts performance on the fly 3 setting chip, 6" rough country full spring suspension lift, 7" double din dvd player, kicker amp, 10" old school orion sub, pioneer speakers all around. So yeah ive have had my truck a very long time and i love it but now with twins i gotta have more room. When i got the duty i had to have a man trans bc the autos are worthless with a moded truck unless thousands more are invested. So i have been looking at some cummins mega cabs 03-07. How is the drive train once i start modding the hell out of it? Finding a man trans is damn near impossible and i got very lucky when i found my truck now so ill settle with an auto. Kills me to sell my truck..

is there a reason it has to be modded. my 06 just rolled 98,000 on it, which is low for an 06, and i've replaced one set of brakes and u-joints, and the water pump. i have a 18ft trailer that i pull a 38hp john deere 4x4 tractor and the tranny pulls fine and shifts good. everyone knows when you start to mod it breaks stuff, so thats just more money to try and stop it frojm breaking or to fix it when it does.

being that you had twins and thats why you need to change trucks to a megacab. get a minivan. jk

luke

[Wicked72]

needs to be modded cuz thats what i like  . im kind of considering a 1500 with a hemi but i dunno. any real pros compared to the cummins?

[charger_fan_4ever]

needs to be modded cuz thats what i like  . im kind of considering a 1500 with a hemi but i dunno. any real pros compared to the cummins?

Real trucks don't have spark plugs  lol

[Cooter]

"Real" trucks don't cost tens-of-thousands of dollars when they break. I'll stick with my good ol' tried and true "LA" magnum engine.

[Wicked72]

yeah i said it once i got the duty. never again will i get a truck without a diesel, and i know ill regret not listening to myself.  going to get  the duty on Craigslist soon.

[speedfreak68]

I've got an 07 Cummins with the 5.9 and 6 speed. I absolutely love my truck. Its got a dual disc clutch, and now EFI live  I wouldn't have it any other way!