Vintage RAM.... what to do?

when you have a good truck, repair it and keep it.

4x4ord wrote:
If I was going to pull some numbers out of a hat I would say 6 years from now your net worth will be $24000 higher if you keep your 04 and spend a little money on it vs buying a new one. I'd buy a new one.

I want one of your hats.
OP has a say $15k truck he’s looking to dump $20k into.
Now he’s got a truck that is $35k into it that will be worth $15k in 6 years, maybe.
Option 1 net worth $-20k.

New truck, reasonable truck, $55k out the door - $15k for the old one = Net of $40k out of pocket. 6 year old low mile diesel (only 140k on the first one in 15 years), sells for $35k.
Option 2 net worth $-5k. Call it 10 if he racks up some miles.

Your theory is great if the OP wasn’t planning on pouring 2 buckets full of money into the old truck.

Perrysburg Dodgeboy wrote:

Me Again wrote:

You mean by simplictiy, it is NOT simple to resolve 47RE transmission gear hunting, lift pump failures, APPS isuues, head pedal and other VP-44 failures? LOL after owning a 24V for 14 years. I did replace my failed VP-44 myself.

Lift pump is an easy fix install an Air-Dog pump. The 2004's built before 01/02/2005 had the lift pump on the left side of the engine block. After 01/02/2005 the pump was moved from the engine block to inside the fuel tank ending the failures. Dodge was told by the pump manufacture that the lift pump had to be with-in three feet of the fuel tank or it would not last. Dodge decided they knew better (they didn't).

As for the injector pump again starting in 2003 the Cummins was running the CP3 not the VP-44. When I sold my 2004 with 150K+ it was still running the stock O.E. CP3 injector pump. However I added Opti-Lube to EVERY tank of fuel since the injection pump was not designed to run ULSD. Add some kind of good additive to increase the lubrication of the fuel and your pump will be happy and have a long life. https://opti-lube.com/

The 48RE is what was in the 2004 trucks not the 47RE but they had there issues too. If you kept the oil and filter changed they were fine if not 100K would be tops for it. There are tons of builders making beefed up 48RE's so not an issue there.

I don't know what you mean by APPS or head pedal. But I think you are confusing the 2004 with the 2002 or 2nd Gen trucks.

Don

Don, my '04 OEM lift pump was still going strong at 14 years and 216K. Me Again, my '04 had none of the issues you mentioned.

Perrysburg Dodgeboy wrote:

Me Again wrote:

You mean by simplictiy, it is NOT simple to resolve 47RE transmission gear hunting, lift pump failures, APPS isuues, head pedal and other VP-44 failures? LOL after owning a 24V for 14 years. I did replace my failed VP-44 myself.

Lift pump is an easy fix install an Air-Dog pump. The 2004's built before 01/02/2005 had the lift pump on the left side of the engine block. After 01/02/2005 the pump was moved from the engine block to inside the fuel tank ending the failures. Dodge was told by the pump manufacture that the lift pump had to be with-in three feet of the fuel tank or it would not last. Dodge decided they knew better (they didn't).

As for the injector pump again starting in 2003 the Cummins was running the CP3 not the VP-44. When I sold my 2004 with 150K+ it was still running the stock O.E. CP3 injector pump. However I added Opti-Lube to EVERY tank of fuel since the injection pump was not designed to run ULSD. Add some kind of good additive to increase the lubrication of the fuel and your pump will be happy and have a long life. https://opti-lube.com/

The 48RE is what was in the 2004 trucks not the 47RE but they had there issues too. If you kept the oil and filter changed they were fine if not 100K would be tops for it. There are tons of builders making beefed up 48RE's so not an issue there.

I don't know what you mean by APPS or head pedal. But I think you are confusing the 2004 with the 2002 or 2nd Gen trucks.

Don

Just another way to add some lubricity back to low sulfur diesel fuel -- some 3rd Gen Cummins owners add some two stroke oil to every tank of diesel, typically about 1 oz TCW3 per gallon of diesel.

APPS and dead pedal was an early 3rd Gen issue too, but cheap and easy to fix.

If I was going to pull some numbers out of a hat I would say 6 years from now your net worth will be $24000 higher if you keep your 04 and spend a little money on it vs buying a new one. I'd buy a new one.

Me Again wrote:

You mean by simplictiy, it is NOT simple to resolve 47RE transmission gear hunting, lift pump failures, APPS isuues, head pedal and other VP-44 failures? LOL after owning a 24V for 14 years. I did replace my failed VP-44 myself.

Lift pump is an easy fix install an Air-Dog pump. The 2004's built before 01/02/2005 had the lift pump on the left side of the engine block. After 01/02/2005 the pump was moved from the engine block to inside the fuel tank ending the failures. Dodge was told by the pump manufacture that the lift pump had to be with-in three feet of the fuel tank or it would not last. Dodge decided they knew better (they didn't).

As for the injector pump again starting in 2003 the Cummins was running the CP3 not the VP-44. When I sold my 2004 with 150K+ it was still running the stock O.E. CP3 injector pump. However I added Opti-Lube to EVERY tank of fuel since the injection pump was not designed to run ULSD. Add some kind of good additive to increase the lubrication of the fuel and your pump will be happy and have a long life. https://opti-lube.com/

The 48RE is what was in the 2004 trucks not the 47RE but they had there issues too. If you kept the oil and filter changed they were fine if not 100K would be tops for it. There are tons of builders making beefed up 48RE's so not an issue there.

I don't know what you mean by APPS or head pedal. But I think you are confusing the 2004 with the 2002 or 2nd Gen trucks.

Don

Keep the 04, the def free urea free engines will run forever with good maintenance. You've owned her from new.

I'd just get an interior detail, change ALL fluids (yourself) and fit a Jake brake, bigger rotors (possibly go to 18" wheels) and add new shocks (5100s). You'll fall back in love again!

Me Again wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:


I am specifically referring to the potential block crack below the exhaust manifold. Seems 99's were more problematic.

99.99 % of the block that crack have a 53 embossed on the side of the block below the VP-44 injection pump. I am not away of cracks in any blocks but the 53's. My 2001.5 had a 56 block, however some of that vintage still had the 53 blocks.

I recall my mom was still processing warranty repairs for these cracked blocks in 2001. She retired that same year so I'm not sure how far these problems went.

Cummins12V98 wrote:


I am specifically referring to the potential block crack below the exhaust manifold. Seems 99's were more problematic.

99.99 % of the block that crack have a 53 embossed on the side of the block below the VP-44 injection pump. I am not away of cracks in any blocks but the 53's. My 2001.5 had a 56 block, however some of that vintage still had the 53 blocks.