Posted by Lube, the new Cummins owner! on Tuesday, February 03, 2004 at 2:19AM :
After a couple weeks of talking and scraping around, I FINALLY bought that '91 W-250 Cummins Dodge today. Now, I said I would NEVER EVER borrow money again. Well I guess I am eating my slice of humble pie. THe amount was not too bad, but I really hate being in debt anyway. I figure if I can get enuff side work in the next year, The truck will pay itself off in a year or so. It runs and drives nice, but does need a bit of tinkering. The speedometer does not work right. I THINK the nylon gear needs replacing. It needs a master Cyl. The guy that had it before me put a cheap Auto Zone master Cyl on it, and now it leaks again. I plan to take it back, and get a refund, and then go to Carquest and get a good one. THe steering shaft is very worn out, but I plan to get one of those from Flaming river or Borgesen to fix that. The engine runs STRONG! and the 727 shifts really really well. When I took it for a test drive, the guy followed me, and I put my foot down, and I walked away from him with the truck! Man, thats Power! The only way you'd know its a 300K mile truck is how the steering shaft is so loose, but thats a traight on these trucks. The truck works great in 4 wheel drive. I am really happy with my new purchase. As you all know, I been after one of these First Generation beasts for a long time..Now I got one! Now to get my trailer starightend out, and I will have a good reliable Power Wagon Hauling setup.
I plan to run this truck as my work mule the rest of this winter, then after a while, look for a pre-94 Fuel inejected Gas Dodge 3/4 ton 4X4 to use as a winter beater work truck and plow rig. I want to run this truck from Mid March-Late November only, to keep it nice and not fight with hard starting of a Diesel in winter. Then once I get my injected gasser Dodge, I will DUMP my '92 Ford and clear pretty much all the Ford Junk out.
Is the TDR a worth while publication and website to describe to?
I was doing some reading and have come to find out, the Cummins uses a bellhousing adapter for Dodge Truck use. What bolt pattern is the adapter fitting for the engine? What pattern bolts to it? It looks kinda like a Mopar Pattern, but not shure what it is.
The guy I bought the truck from replaced it with a '96 Cummins 4X4 truck. He says it aint half the truck his old '91 was ..... He was very sorry to see the '91 go He calls his '96 a "cupcake truck" because it so much more frilly and comfy than the '91 was. I got to ride in both trucks on the same day and it was neat to compare and contrast. The only thing I like about his '96 was the NV4500. I offered to do the labor to swap tranmissions out, but he wouldnt bite at it.
Anybody have any tips or suggestions on the service, care and maintenence of these trucks? THanks!
Chris "Lube" Lublin
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