Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire 2004.5 Cummins Yes or No?

$7,500

Trans had a bad seal when rebuilt 300 miles ago... Trans will need to be pulled and gone thru. New clutches probably.

2004.5 HO Cummins. Strong engine. Bone stock. Short bed. No rust.

Yes or no?

yes

I'd fix it if I owned it, I don't think I'd buy it. 300 miles on a rebuilt transmission and needs a new seal and new clutches, I'd be back at the shop for warranty work. My 99 F250 XL regular cab books higher private sale than $7500 with 300K on the odometer.

Cash;
Good evening my cyber friend and fellow Cummins fiend, I hope the Christmas and New Years holidays were good to you and you're all well.

Since you already know I've got an '03 and that I looked for a little bit to find an '03-04½ - it's not going to be an unbiased answer from me.

I'm not sure if you ever see the YouTube channel Hoovie's Garage, but he bought an 04 with a million miles on it - 4th transmission I believe - but well maintained.

My vote then is a yes, but take a look at the transmission cooler lines when you're there, as my return line puked on me this past hunting season and was neither free, nor easy to find apparently. Since you'll be into the transmission and the music is playing and all that.

Oh, do take a really good look at the front drive shaft on them too, it's a consumable item and will wreak havoc if the u-joints let go. You might know that, but others looking at this vintage might not.

Otherwise it's the usual weak front end components on them, but some of them can be replaced with '08 parts which are definitely more skookum.

Hope that was useful to you or someone out there.

Best to you in 2023.

Dwayne

Dodge front ends are always drama...

The good news on this one is that the front axle was rebuilt as manual hubs (much better/stronger)... I assume the rest of the front ends was also upgraded. When? Current condition not yet determined.

Thanks for the link...

I have a couple of "Leonard Proof" transmission guys... under $3k if the whole trans is toast... but I am thinking just clutches/soft parts.

Low miles... only 191k.

yes

Cash;
Good evening again and thanks for the reply.

Oh, I'd not noticed the manual hubs! Very, very nice!

The last ball joints I had installed are lifetime warranty, but I pay labor - so that cuts down a wee bit on that issue and my regular mechanic is pretty adept at working on Dodges. His shop specializes in diesel pickups.

If you can get a transmission built right for that amount it'd be cause for celebration up here - Canadian loonie conversion factored in and all!

The rust free thing is very nice too.

Up here it's tough to say what it'd go for fixed, but likely close to $30,000 for that year and condition - as crazy as that number sounds.

Best to you all once more.

Dwayne

My vote yes. Put it on the lift, fix what needs fixing, and roll coal on some Teslas

No brainer…….yes

Confused.

It was rebuilt?
With the billet parts?

What's wrong now?

That’s not bad especially if the ft end has been gone through. I just spent $3500 on mine a did all the work myself; including the new upgraded steering box. Trans price seems a bit high for just a rebuild. Why isn’t the rebuilder covering it if it was only 300 miles ago? Might want to check around and get an upgraded unit while you’re at it.

Learning how to set the input preload on the steering box is a game changer on dodges. It is simple, back the lock off, take the spanner to zero then back off a fuzz....reset the lock. Dial the over center on top and it will steer like a new chevy.

I had the local hyd shop build me lines for the trans as I have lost two return lines myself (370k).

Why would the transmission have to be gone over? If it works fine just replace the seal. Was it run out of oil?

You can't wash the ugly off that one. But it's tough to find one for that money anymore.

I have one, not 4 WHD, has 220,000 miles on it. I had the front end rebuilt. It’s had a couple water of water pumps, but that’s it. Got an 2018 also, love it.

Just about bet there is rust under the flares on the bed. If not right now there will be since they decided to punch holes in the bed.


Would also want to make sure inner rockers and floor pans are good.

If rust under flares in bed I would want to make sure the inner wheel well is solid if any of that matters to you.

Asking price for that rig out this way would be between double and triple of that.

We have my father in law’s 2004, it had just at 50k miles when it was inspected for tags this week. It’s a 2wd, when he had his stroke in 2019 it was sitting on 18k miles.

Depends on wha'cha want! LOL!
I've got a '01 3500 dually w/Cummins & 6 spd std.
Over 400K. Main seal went out about 350K. Brakes redone about 375K. I've replaced 2 water pumps. Updated fuel pump from firewall to inside the tank and had one injector line crack.
Unless the mechanic replaced them when he replaced the main seal, it's still on the factory clutch, pressure plate and throw out bearing...and I didn't request it.
Looks like crap!
Runs like a champ!
In fact, later this month, I'll take it on a 550 mile road trip to S. Texas and back in April.

Don't know where you are, but Bloomenthal's in OKC is aces with anything Cummins or trannies. They rebuilt a '95 5 spd std in '07. Still going and don't miss a beat. Only problem is it's a gas guzzling 360 cid! Sixty five mph and in over drive is it's "sweet spot" at about 15mpg.

BTW! I think it's a good buy.
We bought an '06 3500 w/Cummins and 6 spd std. Ready made pile of manufactured grief! Real junk pile.
When they changed the Cummins to make it run quieter, they really screwed it up. I wouldn't buy anything newer than '05.

JMNSHO!