Home Forums Gear Hunting Trucks and Four-Wheel Drives 12 valve Cummins

Looks a heck of a lot better shape than than my 98.5

Mine too

Mine hasn't looked that good for a long time.

Pretty cool truck, looks almost new. Probably pretty rare to find a manual in that nice of shape.

Nice truck, just like voiced above, those engines are darn near bulletproof. Lots of them rusted out around here, but engines running strong. We had one on the farm, best pickup we ever had...

First phase is completed and that was to baseline the truck and make sure that anything that needed to be addressed was addressed and the fluids were changed. I replaced the original clutch with a South Bend 13125OFEK clutch and flywheel and it is awesome!!! This clutch is so nice. I also replaced the clutch slave and master cylinder, replaced the rear main seal, replaced the transfer case output seal, put on a 5th gear but retainer, fixed a leaky gasket where the posi lock goes in, replaced my battery cables with a custom heavy duty set, put on Nitto Terra Grappler G2 tires in 285/75/17 on third gen alloy wheels and checked the valves and replaced the valve gaskets. We also tuned it back a little and it doesn't billow black smoke as I go through the gears. The drivability, at least for me, is much improved.

Second phase will be the suspension and I am either going to go with Thuren springs and Fox shocks or the springs that frojoe is having made. I'll see how he likes his and make a decision. I am also wanting a pacbrake but I will wait a bit for more funding before that happens

I apologize for the tire shop parking lot pic. I won't be headed to scout for a few weeks....

Looks nice. Those wheels look good on that gen. If you end up selling the Tundra, let me know - I might be interested.

Will do! I'll probably hunt out of it this year but will definitely let you know

Damn nice

Had a chance to take the truck to a ranch I outfit hunts on in NM this past weekend. I wanted to get it out and see how it would do and see if there was anything that needed immediate attention and the truck did great. I averaged 18.7 MPG for the entire trip and I'm happy with that

Got to get away and see amazing country. I glassed a bunch of elk, deer and sheep and checked a bunch of trail cameras







A better suspension is next on the list but it may be a couple months before I pull the trigger on it

Loaded up the family, rented a Rockwood Roo Hybrid toyhauler and headed to Grand Teton National Park. It's not normally how I roll BUT it's been a fantastic trip so far. The wife and kids are thoroughly enjoying themselves and that makes for a great getwaway.

I've always wondered what one of these 12 valves would get for mileage if you kept it between 35 and 50 mph and today I was able to find out. Daily driving it over the past month I've seen anywhere from high 17's to right at 20 mpg. If I'm on the interstate it'll get right at 20. The other day I filled up at the campground and we made the run to see Old Faithful and a few other sights with the kids and we made a 142.7 mile loop and ended up back at the filling station at the campground. I filled it to the brim as I normally do and it only took 5.737 gallons. I couldn't believe it! We never got above 2k RPM's for any extended period of time and probably averaged 45 mph. It got 25 MPG on the loop. Crazy how efficient these old trucks are if you keep the RPM's down

Huntsonora: My 1996 Dodge 4x4 extended cab five speed has the 12 valve Cummins engine - I have been especially happy with it and the truck as a whole.
It gets great mileage and only comes out of its enclosed garage to take me Hunting or fishing.
I have 142,000 one owner miles on it (average of about 6,700 miles per year) and hope it will be the LAST new truck I ever have to buy!
No "mods" no "exhaust" just a supremely reliable and economic truck!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Huntsonora: On the highway I get 22 to 23 M.P.G. (with camper shell on it) at 66 to 68 M.P.H.
Maybe I should drive even slower and get even better mileage?
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

My 97 has 253K miles and still going strong. 5 speed manual. Definitely not stock. I replaced injectors, turbo, air system, and a bunch of other stuff 10-15 years ago. I've also been running an exhaust brake since 2000 with no problem. Don't know where that myth came from! Pulled lots of horses and at least 6 bumper and fifth wheel trailers and 4 of the biggest and heaviest Lance campers. Best of all, it has the brakes to stop them.

The engine gives over 375 horse power with almost 700 foot/pounds of torque. Used to get 18-20 around town, 22 on highway, but now doing only 18 for everything.

I've have many offers from douche bag 20-30 somethings wanting to "build" it and drive around town with the tow mirrors up all the time. Mirror [bleep]! I'd never let this truck go to one of those dicks!

Added an all aluminum Denver Off Road bumper with 12k lb Warn winch today. Thuren or Carli suspension next...

gonna add a lightbar?

I am. We have a lot of deer and elk as well as black angus cows down in NM and it'll be nice to be able to see them.

That's one sexy ass bumper!

What tuner you running to pump out 160 more hp and 260ft lbs more torque out of the 5.9?

You tune a 12 valve with a screwdriver. That's why I love em. Its impossible to use a "tuner" or a chip on a 12 valve