I have had good luck with my 03 dodge with cummins too. An example of cheapness is the hinge pins on the older chevy trucks always used to go south well before 100K miles. The dodge is still good after 174,000. I've done shocks 3 or 4 times, tires, front wheel bearings, lift pump, injectors (prolly my fault), front and rear brake pads and three of the four rotors, ac compressor (prolly not needed because) we had to do the evaporator after that. The only things I am unhappy about are the evap, the front wheel bearings and the lift pump. Oh and I did sway bar links as well.

It has been a supurb truck for towing with power to spare and excellent fuel economy.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I was mainly referring to the early 90's chassis Dodge trucks. I'm going off what I saw at the time and that was mostly rusted and busted chassis. Maybe there are good examples out there and maybe the later chassis were improved. Being in TX where there are a lot of pickups, I don't see many early 90's Dodges in the streets. Fewer Chevys but plenty of old Fords bombing around. Ford seems to be the favorite Chicano work truck. As the years go by, I see newer body styles being favorited. Right now, it is the OBS style; the brick nose used to be the most popular.

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1991 F250 super-cab 7.3 IDI. (rebuilt by me) Banks Sidewinder turbo, hydroboost brakes, new IP and injectors.
2003 S430 - 107K
1983 300SD - Tanoshii - mostly restored ~400K+.
1983 300SD - Good interior. Engine finally tamed ~250K.
Monark Nozzle Install Video - http://tinyurl.com/ptd2tge

In case you missed it, here's what Charlie's got to deal with on this move.

Charmalu's Parts Warehouse.....

Charlie,
You need to organize some kind of moving party!

Jeff

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1984 300SD 300,000 miles--two tank WVO setup
2.88 diff & 500SEL anti-squat rear end

I have an 00 Dodge. It is expensive. Steering is crap. It needs an aftermarket lift pump and gauges to keep the VP happy. Trans in needed syncros at 110,000. Dash fell apart. The list goes on. I'm close to having it reliable.

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85SD 240K & stopped counting painted, putting bac together. 84SD 180,000. sold to a neighbor and member here but I forget his handle. The 84 is much improved from when I had it. 85TD beginning to repair to DD status. Lots of stuff to do.

That's not Dodge's (or Cummins') best effort. The '03's that Tom and I have is a superior truck in every respect.

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'83 300D, 126K miles.

Great find on the truck Charlie. I've got a 6.9 Ford that is a couple of years older. Very solid truck. It has pulled fifth-wheels and all kinds of trailers. The 6.9 is thirsty (about 14-16 mpg) but it gets about the same mileage loaded and unloaded. My previous truck, with a gas engine, would get close to 20 unloaded but would drop to less than 10 if you put anything behind it. With the driving you've done so far, you have probably found out that there is an rpm "sweet spot" that gives the best acceleration. If you fill both tanks at once, be prepared for the sucking sound on your wallet. Mine handles about 45 gal., which is nice for less fuel stops but $150+ fuel fills can leave you shaking your head.

Unless you really are in to self-abuse, I would be looking for some young hired help to assist with loading/unloading. Even two people can make all the difference in the world. I did my last move 90% solo but felt every bit my age, and more, when I finally got the last load. This time of year makes it even more brutal.

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Sam

84 300SD 350K+ miles ( Blue Belle )

Glad to hear you made it home Charlie - shame the break down people are ****s. Do they do trailer rescue as well? They don't discriminate against the unmotored here!

If I lived in the US of A I'd have at least one pick up just like that. Cool.

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

Got the official fuel mileage for the trip from Sacramento, over to Novato to pickup the trailer, back tracked to Benicia, down 680 towards San Jose and over to Santa Cruz. Filled it to the brim where it was almost running out of the fill pipe both times. 244 miles, 15.209 gallons for a 16.05 MPG.

Yesterday I stopped at Big O tires and ordered some new one sfor the trailer, and this afternoon got them mounted on the rims.

The tires on the Ford showed some cracks on one tire side wall, and upon close look at the other 3 tires, they have an 02 date code. so time for 4 new tires for it. They should be in tomorrow morning. I don`t need any more down time along side the highway between here and Reno or???.

Ordered from www.etrailer.com this morning shackle,s bolts, bushings, lug nuts, wheel clamps,, equalizer bolts. they will be in in about 4 or 5 days.
Noticed the Spring Shackles were a little oblonged in the holes, and no bushings in the Spring Eyes. Ordered the bolts with the Zerks to keep things greased up. Here is a video showing what Iam replacing.

The first bolt the guy removes, and the one to the right on the Equalizer is what I lost and was dragging, the shackle with the equalizer.

Wet Equalizer Bolt with Locknut and Grease Zerk for Double-Eye Springs - 3" Long Redline Accessories and Parts 126B2

Looking in the owners manual for the Ford, looks like we have two 19 gallon fuel tanks. Gear ratio for the Differential is 3:55. has a 133" WB, and a 13,000lb GCWR, and a 8600 GVWR, now how can that be? Maybe I read it wrong.

Picked up a new set of Fan Belts and new Fuel Filter, sure a big one. wonder what the micron rating is. Probably 10 micron. Only has the one filter. Air Filter doesn`t look too bad.

Bringing the trailer home the other night, I lost the dash lights, and the Turn Signal indicators started to act up. So a few more things to work through on my learning curve on this thing, and all the deferred maintenance.

Dan, I will be glad to get out of California's weird legal climate for sure. The State Sucks for sure with the tree huggers and other Political stuff. I can say that, as I have been here 70 years of my whole life and have thought of leaving for quite a while.

I could just leave all our stuff here, and my landlord could advertise as fully furnished.

Charlie

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

When this happened, did the leaf springs splay at all on either axle? If so, you may want to realign them and get the leafs strapped fore and aft of the axle. When they splay, they don't load up consecutively and then spring fatigue occurs. Usually the long leaf snaps right where the axle meets the spring and when the trailer is fully loaded. It's inexpensive to repair beforehand but can sure leave you stranded at the most inopportune time.

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Sam

84 300SD 350K+ miles ( Blue Belle )

Sam, there is only one leaf per axle.

The only thing that kept it all together was the bolt going through the
spring eye on the front and rear axle. That had to put some stress on the
one spring eye one each axle.

Etrailer.com has new springs for not all that much, and what they show
has several leaves, which may be better than a single leaf.


Charlie

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

Now that you have an $1800 diesel truck you are going to have to find some grease first and then learn how to filter then convert the truck to run on the grease.

Then every week you can go gather the grease and spend 5 minutes every day filtering the grease for the last 14 years....sorry that is my life

Iam going to have a $5K truck pretty soon here can`t be putting any of that greasy stuff in it now, LOL

Put a set of tires on it yesterday, the others I could see cracks on the side walls, and even though the PO mentioned there was plenty of tread. and there was. But these tires had a date code of 2002, and at 12 years old and then hauling loads over 80 to Reno or 50 through South Shore and Tahoe to Carson City. ahhhh....no. I want good rubber under me.

Pricy dang things, but they are LT265/75R16 10 ply tires.
Don`t know how other states are, but Calif has a state tire tax of $1.75 per tire, then the Tire Disposal fee of $4.00 per tire. Then the State sales Tax of $43.75, but how about this Waste Disposal of $23.00?
OH well, they are round and black, and hold air. It`s only money, right?

Threw on a set of Monroe Shocks for the front end this afternoon. These old one`s were way past worn out. The bushings on the lower ends were ready to fall out, and compressing them was like nothing. Should ride better when I take her out tomorrow.

I found this 69 page Document on this 6.9 engine and think it covers the chassis also. haven't` looked at the whole thing yet, just a few pages. But maybe this will help one of you 6.9 guys.

http://gershon.ucoz.com/FORD/Ford6.9LDieselEngine.pdf

Charlie

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

Iam going to have a $5K truck pretty soon here can`t be putting any of that greasy stuff in it now, LOL

Put a set of tires on it yesterday, the others I could see cracks on the side walls, and even though the PO mentioned there was plenty of tread. and there was. But these tires had a date code of 2002, and at 12 years old and then hauling loads over 80 to Reno or 50 through South Shore and Tahoe to Carson City. ahhhh....no. I want good rubber under me.

Pricy dang things, but they are LT265/75R16 10 ply tires.
Don`t know how other states are, but Calif has a state tire tax of $1.75 per tire, then the Tire Disposal fee of $4.00 per tire. Then the State sales Tax of $43.75, but how about this Waste Disposal of $23.00?
OH well, they are round and black, and hold air. It`s only money, right?

Threw on a set of Monroe Shocks for the front end this afternoon. These old one`s were way past worn out. The bushings on the lower ends were ready to fall out, and compressing them was like nothing. Should ride better when I take her out tomorrow.

I found this 69 page Document on this 6.9 engine and think it covers the chassis also. haven't` looked at the whole thing yet, just a few pages. But maybe this will help one of you 6.9 guys.

http://gershon.ucoz.com/FORD/Ford6.9LDieselEngine.pdf

Charlie

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

Taxes in CA, hard to believe that! You'll be glad you went with the Ford, they are solid trucks and the International was a good choice of engine manufacturers. Having 420 cubes under the hood pushing the aerodynamic equivalent of a shipping container and still getting 16 plus is nigh on miraculous. The really important thing with navistar diesels is buying the BEST fuel filter you can find. With only one filter to depend on you need tho get a good one and change it regularly. My brother in law manages school bus fleets in SC and navistar engines power many of the buses. The biggest longevity determining factor turned out to be fuel filter change intervals and filter quality. HPOP and injector failure and cylinder wall/piston top/ring erosion were usually the result of poor fuel filtering.
My t444e is at 260k and still running close to what it was when I bought it. I do need to replace the turbo soon tho.

Best of luck with the new truck.

I hope to heck you never have to touch the fuel system in that Ford! I've just spent the last 3 days troubleshooting an air leak in my dad's '87 F350 Turbo IDI, I STILL HAVEN"T FIGURED IT OUT!!!!

Bypassing the fuel selector valve today, just gonna run it off of one tank, I've replaced EVERYTHING ELSE in the fuel delivery and return system except that! Sorry for the rant I'm a Cummins guy, much easier to work on, better fuel economy, and MUCH more forgiving and (slightly more) well-designed fuel systems (except the 98-02's, those were basically mistakes that were produced while they R&D'd their common rail systems).

I once frustratingly sold an E350 diesel with an air in fuel leak after months of not being able to track down the problem, and again, replacing almost everything in the fuel system.

They're HIGHLY sensitive to air!

Ok, again, I'm sorry for the rant! And all the caps lock

Darn, was hoping to visit you one day down there, I work in SC right now like a mile from Soquel...

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'83 240D 4 spd. manual - Undergoing OM617 transplant - Soon for sale.

'97 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins 4x4 5-spd. WVO - Not stock. - For sale!

'06 Sprinter