A buddy of mine is looking into a Cummins. I remember something about the 5.9L 12V? Who here knows the engine that can take a good modding without great difficulty... and stay in one piece? After all my misadventures, I don't ponder he's of the persuasion to Powerstroke.

 

I'm no expert, but I understand they can make about the same power for the same money as a 7.3 up to about 450-500hp. After that level the 7.3 starts getting expensive, but the 5.9 will go up to 600hp for not much more. I've seen those in 35' RVs. Very good motor aside from sudden fuel pump failures.

 

Some of those 6BT's have cam gear locator pin shearing problems. When it shears, all bets are off for survival.

One of those engine series also is prone to sidewall cracking.

I don't know enough to comment further, but there are guys here that can, and with authority!

Pop

 

I know a couple of people with various years of the 5.9 and they have all had pretty good luck. More problems really with the truck than the engine.

 

There's good reasons for a 1000000 mile club for them. There known to be one of the most reliable engines built... The 94ish to 98ish I don't recall the exact years. Yes power can be had fairly cheap. You can add about 100hp to them for almost free. Have to watch out for the dowel pin.
The block Pops is talking about is the B53 block the casting was just too thin. You can check to see if its a B53 block by looking at the front driver side of the block itself, if it has B53 on it RUN! I don't care how good of a deal it sounds like. There are tempory fixed but none perminant that I'm aware of.

 

The 53 series engine block is the one prone to cracking.

 

I'm just spitballing here but I think the b53 block was mostly in the 1st gen 24 valves which if I'm remembering what I read correctly was in late 98 and early 99.

 

Great info so far! He's got a '96/'97 that he's looking at right now and I'll pass on everything.

12V good, 24V bad. B53 screaming hair on fire bad.

 

I've heard the latest models are having major fuel mileage issues. I am a fan of the 5.9 cummins even though I don't know a lot about it, but I hate dodge. They aren't comfortable, and they fall apart. Talk him into a suoerduty with a cummins conversion if he doesn't want the 7.3.

 

The main problem I've had with a Dodge is their auto transmission. If it has a standard shift transmission, I'd be all over it.

 

good motors. i have a few dodge buddies(strange lot) . hope he doesn't have a "53" block. they...crack. other than that: if it's a 12v or "P-Pumper" they are fairly easy to mod. plate & spriings in 7100 and go! fix the dowel/ keyway, strap the block, hope for the best. good luck.

is the paint still on it some places? my old dodge could keep paint on it. old 90's turd box.

 

my buddy sam had a cracked 53"" in his 97. they literally weld a strap around the block. crazy. the "53" block goes to 01 i think. all dodges i've been in rattle hella bad, silly things fall apart around their motors.

 

As they say, nice motor, wrapped in a really bad delivery crate.

 

that's funny

 

Thank you everybody! I can now help my buddy gain the Dodge, but not dodge the pain.