1996 Dodge Cummins Opinion

[RavensRoost]

BIL has a 1996 Dodge with Cummins, auto trans, and 4x4 with 75K miles on it (!) that he is likely going to sell as it does not get much use. I know from reading that some years of some trucks had issues -- all makes, not just Dodge -- but as I am not familiar with Dodge Cummins (except for driving his), I am looking for feedback as to whether or not '96 was a good year for them. For instance, would have preferred manual trans, auto seems fine, but how did they hold up to "normal" mileage and use?

If 96 was not a good year for Dodge Cummins, what is the best year range (used/affordable)?

Thanks.

 

[jayste]

RR, it seems there has been some saying that the Dodge transmissions aren't known to hold up too well. I think I'd measure out the odds because one thing is for sure, you know the truck and you know your use of it. Very low miles and probably taken care of.

Maybe later some of our "Dodge TBN Bretheren" will chime in with more useful info!:thumbsup:

 

[silvertramp]

My '96 1500, 5.9 gasser went thru a tranny every 38-40K. Warranty was 36K. Towed approx. 2K lb. 6K/yr.

 

[RollTideRam]

The 96 has the 12 valve cummins. It will get the best mpg of any cummins truck. I get 20 on the road with my 24 valve. There are some things that you will need to check, like if the Killer dowel pin has been taken care of. The auto will do fine if you treat it right, I have 114k on mine towing up to 8k. I pay to be a member of TurboDieselRegister and have gotten my moneys worth for the 8 years I have been a member. You can read alot there, just have to be a member to post or search. JC

 

[Diamondpilot]

That is a sweet motor, probably the best diesel every put in a pickup. The main issue is the 53 blocks. Not sure if that year has them but if so run. Just google it, there have been tons of problems. The killer dowl pin is also a issue but not a big one. It would not scare me away from a Cummins.

Around my part of the world the Dodge trucks of that era rust the worst. Mainly the wheel wells, tail gate bottoms, and front quarters. Fixing rust is impossible so now you are talking new sheet metal. Not sure about your area with rust but that is a concern.

The auto tranny is also a issue on Dodges, especially a Cummins powered truck. I went through 2 on my 2500 series in 68,000 miles before I gave up and my old work truck, a 96 Dakota, had 2 also and traded with a bad one 1 year ago at 125,000 miles.

Chris

 

[om21braz]

That truck around these parts with no rust issues would bring a premium price. A gent I work with has had a 1994 since new - approx. 160k on it with no major problems, but it has a 5 spd. tranny. I would rather have the truck you are looking at than newer as they are not as complex and typically get better mpg.

 

[bglz42]

My 96 Cummins was the best truck I ever had. No tranny problems ever, but I maintained it. Also didn't hotrod it. Ran it to 200k. Traded it for my '99 3500 just because I needed 4wd... I still miss that 2500!

Jim

 

[Egon]

I got a 96 4x4 extended cab, cumins and auto transmission with 230 K kilometers on it.

My only complaint is a lousy paint job.

Most of the mileage has been towing a twenty foot bumper pull trailer loaded up to 14k with a camper on the truck. No transmission problems!!:thumbsup:

The fuel mileage is usually 14 when towing, 18 with only camper and maybe up to 25 empty.

The DODGE TRUCK part has held up well with only a few rust spots. Painted and undercoated the bottom three times so far.

 

[Mighty Dodge]

I have a 97 2500 4wd auto with 143,400. No mechanical issues, however the paint's not holding up on the roof.

M.D.

 

[medicshawn]

check out www.dieseltruckresource. Lots of good information and free. Turbo diesel registry is good but I didn't ever feel like I was getting my money's worth.

 

[Dmace]

Sounds like a winner to me! :thumbsup:

Those transmissions were very strong and reliable as long as you keep the truck stock. That's what gave them a bad name, that era Cummins was so easy to increase HP/TQ in that people quickly learned the limits of a stock auto tranny. Keep it stock and tow within it's limits and that transmission will last as long as the engine.

Rust and suspension parts (ball joints, tie rods, wheel bearings) will be your only real issues.

 

[manganos]

Heck if you pass up on it I'll take a look Nothing a DTT trans can't cure. Massage the pump and move the fuel plate... fix the KDP and woohooo!

Get it you will love it.

 

[Raspy]

The '96 Dodge Cummins was an excellent year!

My buddy has one with over 100,000 miles on it and he gets a hand calculated 23 MPG on his camping trips. Of course, he drives it easily.

There were no "53" blocks until 1998, if I recall, so don't worry about that.

The '96 12 valve engines had the P pump style injection pump and are completely reliable. Probably better than all later models for long dependable life and simplicity.

The transmissions have had a bad reputation, but it's only if you pull with them and don't watch the temperature of the trans fluid. Or if you crank up the horsepower. If you want to pull, get some gauges and, maybe, add a tranny cooler. If you turn up the power you'll need a built trans. No problem.

Look at the cruise control module under the battery and make sure it doesn't get battery acid on it. Expect the paint to fail if it's kept outside and not waxed.

These are excellent trucks that can go a million miles. They are way better than the '93 and earlier ones, more reliable than the '98 and later 24 valve models, and much simpler than the '03 and later ones. "High" mileage is not part of the consideration with the Cummins. The rest of the truck will normally be shot long before the engine.

 

[whistlepig]

I had a '96 4x4 with a Cummins and it was a beast. The auto tranny is the proven 747 transmission. Don't worry about the killer dowel pin problem. There is a way to adjust the valves with out using the dowel pin. The only issue I had with it was cold starting in winter. It had a manifold heater instead of glow plugs. Glow plugs are better.

 

[Raspy]

whistle,

The Killer Dowel Pin is not part of adjusting the valves. It's one of the hardened steel alignment pins that locate the front timing cover on the Cummins. This particular alignment pin is near the top of the cover, inside the gear case, and can "walk" out of it's hole through temperature changes and fall into the timing gears. This usually causes serious destruction. Some lucky souls have found this pin when it came out with the oil during an oil change. In those cases it made it past the timing gears without damage.

There are some kits to address this potential problem without pulling the front cover off the engine.

Anyone interested can search For KDP or Killer Dowel Pin.

 

[whistlepig]

whistle,

The Killer Dowel Pin is not part of adjusting the valves. It's one of the hardened steel alignment pins that locate the front timing cover on the Cummins. This particular alignment pin is near the top of the cover, inside the gear case, and can "walk" out of it's hole through temperature changes and fall into the timing gears. This usually causes serious destruction. Some lucky souls have found this pin when it came out with the oil during an oil change. In those cases it made it past the timing gears without damage.

There are some kits to address this potential problem without pulling the front cover off the engine.

Anyone interested can search For KDP or Killer Dowel Pin.

Thanks for the correction. There is a dowel pin used for timing the crank for valve adjustments and I thought that was the dowel problem that was mentioned. I was not aware of the problem you are describing.

 

[ETpilot]

I have a 96 5sp 2wd CTD and just love it. It is my first diesel and I've had a good learning curve on these engines. I tabbed my KDP and have had no major repairs, just normal wear and tear. It has 272,000 miles and still on my original clutch.

 

[Lt CHEG]

The rest of the truck will fall apart around the engine, which as has been said already is likely the finest engine ever put into a pickup truck. If the price is good, it could very well be a great buy for you. Based upon the experiences of people I know with CTD powered Dodges, I'd prepare for tranny problems but do everything you can to prevent them. That way if you're lucky, great, but if not then you haven't over extended yourself. If I had the place to keep one, I'd love to come across a 12 valve CTD powered Dodge 3500 4x4 extended cab from someplace in Nevada. It would be a great second truck to have as just a hauler. If the truck is well maintained and the price is cheap, I don't think you stand to lose much. To be on the safe side though, make sure you get your transmission flushed right away after buying as it is cheap insurance.

 

[Renze]

Thanks for the correction. There is a dowel pin used for timing the crank for valve adjustments and I thought that was the dowel problem that was mentioned. I was not aware of the problem you are describing.

The problem only occurs in on-road versions (e.g with a rotary fuel pump): the industrial versions had a heavy duty timing casing, to carry the offset weight of the inline Bosch pump with governor.

 

[PoorMansCat]

if you pass it up, let me know.. i'll definitely take a serious look at it.