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 1993 Dodge Ram 3500
currently bidding for $10,300 on eBay with 2 days to go, located in San Diego, CA.
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.
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In 1993, Ford offered the 7.3 for the first year with a turbo, albeit with no intercooler, and could be had in a crewcab along with the Chevy. 1994 saw the first year of the 6.5 IDI turbodiesel in a Chevy which could also be had with a crewcab. The Dodge had the best power of the big 3 though. Not that I read a lot of dealer brochures when I was younger or anything.... This would also be the last year for a good slushbox in a Dodge. The later models in 3/4 and 1 ton had issues and the manual would be preferred.
ReplyDeleteSomebody buy it to pull a trailer before the 'Coal Rolling' assholes get ahold of it!!
ReplyDelete^ What he said +1. Also don't change out the stock headlights for some cheap blue tint illegal flood light bulbs.
DeleteLooking at that neologism, "slushitis" I immediately keyed in on "sluSHITis". No defection on your good suggestion; more a reflection of my scatological mind.
ReplyDeleteCoal rolling is fine if your working but just for fun makes you a prick
ReplyDelete