Just found this one on the Bay of E - OK, so it's low mileage for one of these but the bidding seems to be awfully high already:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320857088982
Are these things really that valuable out here? If so I might have to reconsider my nefarious plan of buying one.
That'll go for mid to high teens.
This one went to over 15K and didn't meet reserve (not that that says the reserve is appropriate though). http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130662506825&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649#ht_1193wt_1167
Simple answer, yes they are. But you get a lot of truck for the price. Think Zombie Apocalypse type vehicle here. That 12V will run forever and a day with little to no worries. I had a 92 2wd club cab (like the one pictured) with the 5-speed and it was maybe the best vehicle I have ever owned.
Chris
Ouch. I really like the idea of a 1st Cummins but if that's what they go for I may have to reconsider.
2nd gens seem much cheaper out here, is that because they're not as durable?
2nd gen 12 Valves are just as reliable, but the bodies didn't seem to hold up too well in rust country for whatever reason. The 12 valve is the best engine in my opinion as they are stone reliable, and super easy to repair as they are all mechanical.
Chris
Those first gen cummins are why we have the Isuzu Duramax and Powerstroke. Ford and GM have gone through suppliers and designs trying to keep up with the truck in the ad. I sold mine (regret it at least once a week) with 365K on it. Stone reliable and 22 mpg empty, 20 loaded with 10K+ lbs.
Yes. I wanted a 1st Gen when I was looking back in 2006-7. Prices were staggering back then as well, which is why I ended up with a 2nd Gen. They're cheaper. Especially as the 2nd Gen's age and get more creaky, I'm not surprised the 1st Gens are still getting top dollar.
I'm not surprised at all the reserve on that crew cab truck wasn't met. Crew cab Dodge trucks were rare - I believe most were custom US Govt ordered and not sold through normal dealers. So one fitted with a later 12V would be a valuable truck indeed.
It's actually cheaper to find a wrecked dodge dualle or cab chassis with a Cummins rather than buy an engine alone.
DrBoost wrote: That'll go for mid to high teens.
Looks like it went for $14.3k. Bit too rich for my liking.
Dodge makes em', Cummins shakes em'. I know nothing of these things just heard someone say that the other day. Continue on..
If you have your heart set on a 1st Gen, be prepared to spend well over $10K for a nice one. You might get lucky, but you might also be looking for a long time.
There are certain things about the 2nd Gen that is ok. The interior is more modern and roomier. The seats are decent. They started the truck styling trend that manufacturers are still copying today, so they don't look overly dated for being almost 20 years old.
The interior of my truck is surprisely solid. This is even more surprising given it was cobbled-together by a couple of hicks in western PA...
There are a few things that are incredibly annoying (at least to me):
Axle-disconnect 4WD is a horrible design for such a heavy vehicle and converting it to a proper fully-manual system is expensive.
The automatics are not the greatest, but the manuals are even worse and more expensive to repair/upgrade. This is one of the few times in my car-purchasing life when I wish I'd bought the automatic version. It also helps that automatics were a lot more common so finding a clean one is a lot easier.
The headlights are woeful, but so were many other Chryslers of that era.
TBH I am mainly looking for a diesel truck first and a Dodge second. The idea is to try and find either an older Powerstroke or an older Cummins...
That said, I'm not wedded to the idea of a 1st gen Dodge. I'd be happy with a 2nd gen in decent shape unless that would mean I would invite a bunch of additional problems over a 1st gen that would make paying the extra money worth my while.
As with most GRMs, I'd prefer cheap as that leaves more money for playing with the Miata 
.
Ian F wrote: The automatics are not the greatest, but the manuals are even worse and more expensive to repair/upgrade. This is one of the few times in my car-purchasing life when I wish I'd bought the automatic version. It also helps that automatics were a lot more common so finding a clean one is a lot easier. The headlights are woeful, but so were many other Chryslers of that era.
My 1st gen had a second gen NV4500 swapped in after the Getrag failed at 200k miles. I wouldn't say the Getrag is terrible, but the NV4500/5600 is a much better choice. I loved my 5 speed NV4500 1st gen club cab and wish I still had it.
Is it wrong that I want a 12V Cummins in a Ramcharger?
I have neither the skills, money nor equipment to make it happen, but I want one.
rmarkc wrote: Is it wrong that I want a 12V Cummins in a Ramcharger? I have neither the skills, money nor equipment to make it happen, but I want one.
No more wrong than me wanting one in a Grand Wagoneer.
DrBoost wrote:rmarkc wrote: Is it wrong that I want a 12V Cummins in a Ramcharger? I have neither the skills, money nor equipment to make it happen, but I want one.No more wrong than me wanting one in a Grand Wagoneer.
I'd say less wrong, since a 12V in a Ramcharger shouldn't be terribly hard to do (and has probably been done if one cares enough to google it).
The crew cabs are harder to get because they stopped making them in 85-86, about the same time they dropped the step side bed. So a crew cab Cummins is a home brew by definition, much like my crew cab big-block '85.
I really like my 95 2wd Dodge Dually. The 12v cummins is great. Mine had a performance rebuilt auto trans when I got it and it has no problems putting the 800 ft lbs of torque (at the wheels) I'm currently making down. These trucks will make great power with minimal mods. The power I'm making now comes from a turbo upgrade, injectors, exhaust, fuel plate, and 3k gov springs. I have less than 8k in the whole truck and I paid around 4k for it when I bought it 6 or 7 years ago. I got that deal because basically it looked pretty ugly and the interior smelled, The paint and interior were pretty rough (all fixed now), but the ac worked and the drivetrain was solid, which is what mattered most to me. I use my truck probably 80-90% just for towing, but it's comfortable enough I have no problems driving it to work occasionally. If I had it to do all over again I would have got a 4wd dually. Good luck in your search.
Bunch of enablers. The internet is full of 'em.
This guy says it is almost plug-n-play for same year vehicles: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XQEDOhJOd8&feature=related
This guy with a 93 RC gives a little more detail:http://www.dieseltruckresource.com/dev/showthread.php?t=199598
and there is a 90 4wd RC for $1000 on CL locally.
rmarkc wrote: Bunch of enablers. The internet is full of 'em. This guy says it is almost plug-n-play for same year vehicles: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XQEDOhJOd8&feature=related This guy with a 93 RC gives a little more detail:http://www.dieseltruckresource.com/dev/showthread.php?t=199598 and there is a 90 4wd RC for $1000 on CL locally.
The biggest potential issue with converting a Ramcharger could be registration and inspection, depending on where you live. Where I live in SE PA, most Ramchargers would be either light trucks or station wagons and thus subject to the emissions standards it was built with. Obviously, a 12V would have trouble meeting those standards.
Heh.
South Cacalacki don't need no emishuns or inspeckshuns.
rmarkc wrote: Is it wrong that I want a 12V Cummins in a Ramcharger? I have neither the skills, money nor equipment to make it happen, but I want one.
No its not wrong, but why put your gold in a rattlecan?
Yes they are.
I bought a 91 several years ago, and never got to drive it. A 18 wheel dump truck blew a stop sign at 50 and rolled over on top of it. It was 100 yards off the edge of the road. 
It had 550K miles on it and still ran like a charm. They are bullet proof, just not dump truck proof.
TRoglodyte wrote:rmarkc wrote: Is it wrong that I want a 12V Cummins in a Ramcharger? I have neither the skills, money nor equipment to make it happen, but I want one.No its not wrong, but why put your gold in a rattlecan?
It makes for a better ZAV?
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