"DailyTurismo" (thedailyturismo)
09/03/2014 at 12:40 • Filed to: Daily Turismo, Blog
1
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"DailyTurismo" (thedailyturismo)
09/03/2014 at 12:40 • Filed to: Daily Turismo, Blog | 1
| 9 |
In 1981 Chrysler's truck division introduced a replacement for the aging D-Series pickup and B-series van. The new vehicle was called the Dodge Ram in homage to the Ram's head hood ornament that first appeared on Dodge vehicles in the 1930s.
While the Ford and Chevy guys decorate their rear windows with urinating Calvins, the Dodge folks just smile as their reliable trucks rack up miles and haul junk. Find this !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! currently bidding for $10,300 on eBay with 2 days to go, located in San Diego, CA.
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It would be strange to categorize a normal vehicle with 150k on the odometer as being "low miles" but the world of heavy duty pickups is not a normal world. 150k miles on a Cummins turbo diesel is just breaking it in; these things should last diesel Mercedes-Benz miles without major overhaul.
This 3500 Ram is powered by the optional Cummins 5.9 liter B-series inline six 12-valve turbo diesel. The Cummins engine puts out a meager 160 horsepower, but a whopping 400 ft-lbs of torque before you start modifying wastegate linkages and turning this thing into a smoke machine. Sure, Ford and Chevy offered diesel power at the time, but they were big nasty naturally aspirated V8s instead of the heavy goods vehicle style turbo six from Dodge and the difference is not insignificant.
The Cummins I-6 could be mated to a 5-speed manual, the Torqueflite A727 4-speed slushbox, and in a rare fit of slushitis I am going to recommend the auto-shifted transmission for a towing vehicle like this. You are never going to enjoy rowing your own gears on a monster like this, so why not relax and let some valve doohickeys decide what gear you are in and you can focus on trying to find a local bluegrass station on the AM radio.
See a cooler truck for your truckin' needs? !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!
Originally posted as !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! on !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .
Nibbles
> DailyTurismo
09/03/2014 at 12:51 |
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You are never going to enjoy rowing your own gears on a monster like this
This is incorrect, good sir. Even a 12v Cummins, with its 3000 RPM redline, is better with Manuel at your side.
HammerheadFistpunch
> DailyTurismo
09/03/2014 at 13:02 |
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$12,400? CP. Lovely, but CP.
Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
> Nibbles
09/03/2014 at 13:14 |
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Also, it takes less than $500 to make the redline 4k.
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Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
> DailyTurismo
09/03/2014 at 13:15 |
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Uh, the most desirable transmission in a Cummins is in fact, the manual. If this were a manual, it would probably go for more.
nermal
> Nibbles
09/03/2014 at 13:17 |
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Especially true of the older crappy 4 spd autos. On new trucks with modern 6 spds autos, not so much.
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Nibbles
> nermal
09/03/2014 at 13:21 |
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Nope, always better.
HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
> Nibbles
09/03/2014 at 13:25 |
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Driving a big diesel truck with a manual trans is an absolute blast.
Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey
> DailyTurismo
09/03/2014 at 16:05 |
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These trucks are like the Volkswagen of the diesel world. They are by far the simplest truck to work on in my opinion.
Surfbeetle
> DailyTurismo
09/03/2014 at 16:12 |
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The 94-98 12 valve Cummins Dodges go for more than this style and are bit more comfortable. I never liked how far away it was to get into 5th gear on this body style with the Getrag 5 speed. The next generation with the NV4500 manual trans was more comfortable to drive but still mechanically very simple to work on.