Buying 03 Dodge 2500

_Snake_ said:

It's a SO.

Click to expand...

If it's a solid truck, I wouldn't necessarily let that scare me off. Use it as a negotiating point.

You can tune it for decent power if you feel the need. Don't forget the tranny if you go that route. Unless you go crazy with modding, there are some pretty cheap upgrades for it that provide good insurance and peace of mind.

Corbic said:

They are worth whatever someone will pay.

Click to expand...

A fool and his money are soon parted, banks are always willing to finance to suckers.

Junior00 said:

A fool and his money are soon parted, banks are always willing to finance to suckers.

Click to expand...

There's not too many banks that are willing to finance an 18 year old truck with 280k

Differences between SO and HO in those years is the piston cooling jets, tune, turbos, and trans options. Both motors had piston cooling oil jets, but they are different style jets.

Both versions have the same CP3, the same injectors.. tuning is different. Turbos are different also... 60mm compressor on the HO and 57mm on the SO i believe.

SID297 said:

I'd look for a manual.

Click to expand...

Ah hem. Someone rang? Thread hack coming...






These cummins trucks are SOOOOO easy to mod for great power. You'll get addicated quickly (like i did).

I pulled stock injectors and installed 75hp nozzles and reinstalled them all in about 3.5 hours taking my time.








Then i realized my turbo was out of air so a billet 60mm HX40 upgrade was in order... built on my bench by me and balanced at a local shop.. too easy!










Truck now tows my 14k lbs 5th wheel pretty damn easily and i can pull the hills comfortable at ~50-55mph passing the big rigs as we climb.

98 svt said:

There's not too many banks that are willing to finance an 18 year old truck with 280k

Click to expand...

A generalization man, use some common sense. Besides, probably half of us here (I would hope) can walk into a bank and walk out with 20k plus in cash just by signing our name, I know I can.

gimmie11s said:

Ah hem. Someone rang? Thread hack coming...

View attachment 1674194

View attachment 1674195


These cummins trucks are SOOOOO easy to mod for great power. You'll get addicated quickly (like i did).

I pulled stock injectors and installed 75hp nozzles and reinstalled them all in about 3.5 hours taking my time.

View attachment 1674196

View attachment 1674197

View attachment 1674198


Then i realized my turbo was out of air so a billet 60mm HX40 upgrade was in order... built on my bench by me and balanced at a local shop.. too easy!

View attachment 1674199

View attachment 1674200

View attachment 1674201

View attachment 1674202


Truck now tows my 14k lbs 5th wheel pretty damn easily and i can pull the hills comfortable at ~50-55mph passing the big rigs as we climb.

Click to expand...

Stupid simple ain’t it? Cummins wasn’t shitting when they claimed they designed the 6bt (and 4bt since it went into production first) for industrial and commercial 24-7 applications.

Just looking at the crank support with 7 caps and a throw for each individual rod and you can why they’re so stout.

Junior00 said:

Stupid simple ain’t it? Cummins wasn’t shitting when they claimed they designed the 6bt (and 4bt since it went into production first) for industrial and commercial 24-7 applications.

Just looking at the crank support with 7 caps and a throw for each individual rod and you can why they’re so stout.

Click to expand...

Its so true. I love this damn truck but want another CR 03-06 also!

Totally ghost edited....

GTSpartan said:

Ford used the Cummins in their medium duty SD's during the 7.3/6.0/6.4 years, so that should tell you something. While the 7.3 was good, it never even remotely saw comparable industrial applications like the ISB. Yes, I just dropped that bomb lol

While the SD was a top notch truck for sure, it had some real POS engine offerings for several years.

Click to expand...

100% agree. Hell, I was floored when they started to offer the 6.7 Cummins too. Ford knew they ****ed up with International, and the 6.7 Powerstroke finally got Ford free from needing 3rd party development for one of their most important models.

My comments shouldnt reflect any negativity on Cummins. I wanted a Ram 5.9 Cummins truck for a long time back in 05-07. That desire was independent from Ford's 6.0 issues as I wasnt a Ford guy at all back then. It was actually the 2007 GT500 that got me to finally look Ford's way. lol

I think Cummins is fantastic and Ford's market share would be a lot bigger had they been able to put Cummins engines in instead of International. But, credit to Chrysler for locking that contract up with Cummins for that segment. Either way, BOTH the 5.9 and 7.3 are retardedly easy to work on compared to modern stuff. But I think the Super Duty is still the better platform. Even if @gimmie11s is a closet Mopar homo.... jk jk jk

Compared to modern diesels, sure. Compared to each other? El oh El.. theyre not even comparable. Eff that 7.3 compared to the 5.9.

Not being a ass, but perhaps you havent worked on or trouble-shot an early 7.3 that's not running. Not exactly a good time. I'll have to start a thread about the '97 Powerstroke ive been "working" on.

Truck looks good for the miles, buy it. I’d prefer a manual but that’s just me. My brother has an N/A 7.3 International and it’s kind of a pig to work on. Reason why I’m after the 01 3500 that’s at the shop. Cummins is my first choice, and that noise is heavenly.


Pick your poison.

gimmie11s said:

Compared to modern diesels, sure. Compared to each other? El oh El.. theyre not even comparable. Eff that 7.3 compared to the 5.9.

Not being a ass, but perhaps you havent worked on or trouble-shot an early 7.3 that's not running. Not exactly a good time. I'll have to start a thread about the '97 Powerstroke ive been "working" on.

Click to expand...

I wouldnt play with an OBS 7.3.. F that. 99+ Im down to dive in. Just gotta make sure you have a few spare cam sensors, a 10mm on an extension and youre set.

To be honest, I wont even look at a vehicle to buy if it isnt an OBD2 car lol.

Ha!!! Come on man...... have you no soul!?!?!

RedVenom48 said:

I wouldnt play with an OBS 7.3.. F that. 99+ Im down to dive in. Just gotta make sure you have a few spare cam sensors, a 10mm on an extension and youre set.

To be honest, I wont even look at a vehicle to buy if it isnt an OBD2 car lol.

Click to expand...

Cam sensor issue is a thing of the past. There's finally an updated sensor, 15 years after they went out of production.

I had the white version of that truck. I hated it. Trans sucked, rebuilt the front end and steering box and steering shaft and still was like herding cats down the road. Tons of electric issues that never ended. When I dumped it, the heater, ac, speedo, and 4wd weren't working. One high beam and low beam worked, on opposite sides of the truck. Stock power was dangerously slow. I put a mild tuner on it, and then could slip the converter clutch at will. It was replaced with a built trans, which held the power, but 1st gear was too high for heavy pulling.

It always started, no matter how cold it was. It did have great turning radius, and for whatever reason, was a complete beast in the mud and snow.

I have a 2015 Super Duty, and now I just work instead of fix. Super Duty chassis is 2x the truck of a Ram of that year, and 5x the truck of a GM "HD" of similar vintage.

too many miles. spend 5-7k more and get something nicer/less miles.

Nice truck. But the trans in those are trash. They dont work well in heat. At that miles it needs a rebuild for sure and better cooling. The manual would be a better option.

SID297 said:

Aren't all the autos in those years?

Click to expand...

From what I found, it looks like there was a change midyear 03 or at the start of 04.

I’m ok with a SO. The heaviest thing I’m towing is a 25’ center console, followed by a two-horse slant load gooseneck with a small living quarters. Both are too much for our current Silverado 1500 (5.3).

The really hard part is going to be leaving it as is. I could easily go back down that path that @gimmie11s is on. LOL

I guess the cats outta the bag. I put a deposit down pending a satisfactory PPI.

Junior00 said:

Maybe for 11.5k but no way I’d do one that for 13.5k I purchased mine last year for 14k, 2007 2500 with a built trans, billet converter, Airdog 165, II turbo, AFR exhaust, S&B intake and air horn, etc. with 100k less miles. Not to mention the front end components (Moog specifically) that just got replaced are absolute crap and you’ll be lucky to get 50k out of them and I’m not exaggerating.

Click to expand...

I found a lot of trucks with fewer miles, but they also had far fewer options and had been beat to shit. I’ve been watching the market for 5 months and it’s as crazy as the housing market. I found a 2000 7.3 Lariat with 90k miles listed at $32k. Super clean truck, but $32k?! Hard pass.

I’ll honestly be happy to get 30k out of the Moogs. I’m buying a 17 year old truck and I’ll be stoked if I don’t have to fix anything for 2-3 years.

RedVenom48 said:

1999-2003.5 Super Duty with the 7.3.

The Cummins is a slightly better engine, but the Super Duty is a VASTLY superior truck. My opinion of course, but I've seen older Rams at work.

While the Rams can be beat on, every Super Duty that's been through the same shit is in better shape when we retire them from the fleet. This is a State DOT agency as well, so we see vehicles from all kinds of different environments.

Click to expand...

Honestly, a 99-03 7.3 was my first choice. Right now, nice ones are as rare as hen’s teeth and priced like they’re made of unobtainium.

Edited to say apologies for not using multi-quote. It’s been a Jai Lai and Freedive night.