Diesel gurus, 5.9l 12v Cummins

[theleo]

I'm day dreaming a little bit here, but since I've never been an expert in mechanics I'm put this up for discussion.

My dad was given a 91' dodge 2500 a few years ago, as it sits it has about 100,000 miles on it. It was well taken care and the vast majority of those miles were on I-84 between LaGrande and Boise. He's not overly fond of this truck, preferring his 2015 Chevy, and it's what I normally nab the keys for when I'm over there and want to take the mules some where towing a horse trailer.

Would this be a pickup worth potentially trying to talk him out of? Would it be terribly expensive to upgrade parts (all are still original factory) to where a guy doesn't get a cramp in his leg from pegging the gas pedal to the floor trying make the speed limit on the freeway? Educate me gents.     

[KFhunter]

leave it stock and drive it for 900,000 more miles 

[Henrydog]

Yup take it and don't put anything aftermarket on it, it will run forever.  Bone stock ones are hard to find, damn kids are always messing with them. 

[Special T]

Get it and stick a 6 speed stick in it after the juice box pukes. Depending on what you can get it for it's a major score with that low of miles.

In an ideal world  I would put performance injectors, bump the fuel pressure, put on a newer style 6speed stick.

Is 4wd?

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[Special T]

If I was gonna keep it as a tow rig putting as little $ into it as possible I would buy some steel 19.5x6.75" wheels and put some used 245/70r19.5 tires on it. They wear like iron are about 32.5" tall to help freeway speed and you can't blow them up they are rated for 5k lbs ea. Run at about 60psi

If I got my hands on it I would purchase a military M37 powerwagon with good tin (If 4x4) put 5" exhaust lift and big tires.

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[theleo]

leave it stock and drive it for 900,000 more miles 

Yup take it and don't put anything aftermarket on it, it will run forever.  Bone stock ones are hard to find, damn kids are always messing with them. 

I do understand where you guys are coming from, my only issue with bone stock is when I trailer 2 mules in a 4 horse bumper pull to Idaho elk hunting I'm doing good to get it up to 70 mph on flats and chugs diesel like mad. If it's going to chug diesel like that I'd rather it be at the speed limit there.

Get it and stick a 6 speed stick in it after the juice box pukes. Depending on what you can get it for it's a major score with that low of miles.

In an ideal world  I would put performance injectors, bump the fuel pressure, put on a newer style 6speed stick.

Is 4wd?

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Yeah, it's a 4wd automatic with locking front hubs. I'm sure it'd be better as a stick, but in 4wd low and the hubs out there's still plenty of compression for it to hold back a trailer load full of stock coming out of the mountains. 

[Special T]

Ok in that case some very mild improvements can be made cheap. Help her breath. 5" exhaust AND some kind of cold intake in the front. I'd still do the 19.5 wheels and that would be the most expensive part.

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[tlbradford]

If you don't buy it, let me know.  I am in the market for a new rig as of yesterday afternoon, when an International 4300 backed into me.

[KFhunter]

5 inch?

You'd need to be running twins to make anything over a 4 inch worth while, I would go 4 inch. 

A diamond eye 4" exhaust is very reasonable and will last a long time.  I have one on mine and I get a lot of complements on the noise and it's holding up very well.  I like them quiet, kids like to rumble this is a good compromise. 


That stock transmission (A727) is 99% of your problem (even though it's nearly bulletproof) you don't have an overdrive and you're hitting the rev limiter at 72mph.  A 47rh swap with a TC-lock would be "doable" and cure your slow speed blues.  You'll need some adapter plates and move the transmission support and recut drivelines but it's doable. 


I wouldn't fart with the engine, exhaust or anything else until you have some legs on that girl  (actually I'd build up the steering components, a 1991 Dodge over 70mph is scary)

[KFhunter]

for power upgrades I'd add an intercooler before I did anything, no since feeding that engine hot charge air

(air heats when you compress it, makes it less dense = less power gains)

[Mudman]

Turbo injectors pump gov plate and trans.  Then it will work.  What 165hp stock?  Not sure that year but it aint gona cut it in the mnts.  Great truck really.  Do it.

[theleo]

Ok in that case some very mild improvements can be made cheap. Help her breath. 5" exhaust AND some kind of cold intake in the front. I'd still do the 19.5 wheels and that would be the most expensive part.

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Cold air intake and exhaust for something like $500-$700? If cheap upgrades will make a difference I'd likely abduct the truck and have the upgrades done before even getting a yay or nay on if he wanted them done.

That stock transmission (A727) is 99% of your problem (even though it's nearly bulletproof) you don't have an overdrive and you're hitting the rev limiter at 72mph.  A 47rh swap with a TC-lock would be "doable" and cure your slow speed blues.  You'll need some adapter plates and move the transmission support and recut drivelines but it's doable. 


I wouldn't fart with the engine, exhaust or anything else until you have some legs on that girl  (actually I'd build up the steering components, a 1991 Dodge over 70mph is scary)

There's an overdrive button on the dash that gives me a little extra but not much. The steering is fun, floating between lines, the scary part was finding out how old the breaks were going downhill on twisty grade. They have been dealt with though.

[Buzz2401]

I would not bother with it.  Its got one good thing going for it and that's the cummins and even at that it is a very under powered motor.  170hp and 400lb/ft torque is less then most half ton pick ups of today.  The rest of the truck isn't worth dumping money into.  Parting it out would probably be best solution.  If your looking for a project then it could be fun but it will cost money and you will still have a 1990's truck with 1990's tech.

[theleo]

I would not bother with it.  Its got one good thing going for it and that's the cummins and even at that it is a very under powered motor.  170hp and 400lb/ft torque is less then most half ton pick ups of today.  The rest of the truck isn't worth dumping money into.  Parting it out would probably be best solution.  If your looking for a project then it could be fun but it will cost money and you will still have a 1990's truck with 1990's tech.

The horsepower stinks, I'm aware, but the torque is slightly higher than the Vortec V8 in current 3/4 ton chevies. Tech is whatever, I don't need/want bells and whistles that come with a $30,000+ truck. The daily driver is a 2011 Sonata, the kick around the woods truck is a 94' Toyota pickup.

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[Special T]

Do some research it wouldn't take much to wake that thing up.  It has such low mileage it would be a shame not to do something with it. Aside from the transmission the 12 valve is the most sought after Cummins motor for budget builds. Not to mention the fact that it is not nearly a finicky about fuel as newer ones. I've talked to people that have run 80/20% filtered motor oil/ gasoline  for hundreds of thousands of miles. 

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