I don’t think dodge had any idea how good of an idea it was to partner with Cummins or how popular it would become. To this day I haven’t heard hardly anyone talk bad about the Cummins diesels.
@@alexanderbarcenas6224 I like the older ones though and the real reason is the newest Cummins are like the Powerstroke and the duramax diesels! Because the newest diesels have what a diesel power pickup should never have like "remote start"!!
If you wanna know a cool secret. The 5.9 cummins was never meant for a light duty truck. It was meant for medium duty 4500-up trucks, they just crammed one into a regular pickup and called it good
For sure, we had a ‘92 that ran perfectly but the body and frame were completely rusted out in about 12 years. We put 550,000 miles on it pulling a gooseneck and then ran it a while as a farm truck. My Dad sold it to someone who most likely bought it for the engine. That engine will probably be continually swapped in to something until the end of time
These trucks held up good...better than Ford&GM trucks of the era! People beat vehicles to hell back then...smashed things all the time as most places it was legal to drive drunk...Hell You could legally drink 8 beers and drive...they had a drink per weight and usually yo were feeling good or drunk by the legal limits they had!!! My uncle had a 1986 Dodge D 350 with a gas 360 4barrel 9quicker than a Cummins)and it went 450,000 miles before he rebuilt the engine..He used it on his ranch and used it until early 2000's..
In 1989 that body style had been out as they said 1972 and lasted until 1993 GM used the same square body from 1973-1987 with pickups and 1991 with suburbans and Blazer and jimmys and Ford from 1980-1996
1994 would bring about a new Ram and a huge leap forward for the company, but the longevity of this pickup truck for Chrysler was absolutely remarkable. To think that this platform survived until ‘93 was astounding. It looked like a relic in its final days, but I think that’s why it’s so admired. Sure they were somewhat crude, utilitarian and rough-around-the-edges, but that’s what gave them so much character. I’ll always have a soft spot for old pickups like this.
That's when you compare it with the 1973 Chevy and GMC full-size pickups, in which the previous generation crew cabs, Suburban, and Blazer/Jimmy continued up to 1991 after the pickups themselves were replaced during 1987 (as 1988 models). In 1990, all of the single-cab chassis-cabs wore the new outer skin.
Not to mention the Detroit 6.2/6.5 were designed in the 70’s and were built as economy motors. At the time Cummins was so far ahead of everyone else it wasn’t even fair
Let's be real, Dodge didn't carry this body style for so long because they were great sellers. They kept the body style because Chrysler didn't have the money to redesign in that Era. Its likely the Cummins trucks that saved Dodge thru the late 80s and early 90s.
@@dante04srt - A very good point. The success of the K car and minivans helped build up Chrysler’s cash reserves to where they could finally give the Ram some much-needed attention.
@@dante04srt Nor did they have the clout to keep their big block V8 line up to date (both the 400 and 440 V8s were dropped after 1978). In some ways they were leading, but falling behind in other ways: their last rear-drive cars, the M-body Chrysler Fifth Avenue, Dodge Diplomat and Plymouth Gran Fury, were all dropped after 1989, and all three had the carbureted 5.2L V8 to the end (the Magnum 5.2L and 5.9L didn't show up for another three years).
Even though Chrysler had experience with diesels going back to the 1940's, they were smart enough to buy one from a company that actually knew what they were doing instead of trying to build/retrofit one in-house.
I know GM owned Detroit and the 6.2/6.5 were designed in the late 70’s and was never geared for performance. I always wondered why they never designed a smaller version of the Series 60 in the 90’s to compete with Dodge/Ford. Certainly there’s a reason 99% of big rigs use inline 6’s. Dodge was smart to use Cummins as I don’t remember anyone liking the truck itself, everyone bought it for the engine. Our 1992 Ram 3500 rode as bad as anything I’ve ever been in and was completely shot after 12 years/550,000 miles. The engine was still 100% perfect and i wouldn’t be surprised if it’s doing duty in something to this day. I always felt like Caterpillar missed on opportunity in creating something under the C7/3126 and competing in the heavy duty truck marketplace. I think Cat fans are more diehard than Cummins guys. We had a few dozers/excavators from the 60’s and 70’s and I can tell you people like Cat for a reason
@@RobertSmith-le8wp Well I know of a few guys that swapped Cat 3204 (Inline 4Cyl 5.2L 318ci engines) in pickup trucks...Perkins made engines close in size to B series... The L634T/6AT was a bread truck engine DSO from Ford...but at only 3.4L and 125hp it would have only been useful in half-ton trucks...
1:01 look at that sexy engine. Not covered up by wires, hoses, huge EGR coolers or throttle bodies. Just a quality engine. Those were the days! I also see why they were so noisy in the cab. Zero sound deadening material on firewall of under side of hood!
S Homaidan maybe today, but comparing in the same era no way. Prior to our 1992 Ram 3500 we had an 80’s F250 with a 460. It was rated at 245hp 380tq, but that was at fairly high rpm (relative to a diesel) I pulled many loads with the Ram, cattle, hay, steel, and regularly a 35’ gooseneck. You could just about idle it when hauling a huge load and it never strained. The 460 you really had to lay into it to go anywhere. Also the biggest thing was fuel mileage. We ran it 40,000 miles a year and it got 20+ mpg. The 460 was well under 10 loaded or empty and sometimes as bad as 6-7. Also part of the charm of the Cummins was the fact that it was a large understressed engine that would go 1,000,000 miles plus. There’s a reason 15L big rig motors “only” make 400-500 horsepower, it’s not like they’re no capable of producing more than that. It’s always a balance of performance and durability
@@SHomaidan that 400 lbs of torque from the Cummins came in at 16-1800 rpms. Perfect for towing. The 5.0 would struggle and have to rev fast just to keep up but isn't sustainable. Also, with a few cheap mods that torque of a Cummins can easily be doubled and still get excellent fuel mileage.
@@SHomaidan there was nothing wrong with that kind of torque output. Transmissions back then weren't that stout to handle this kind of torque. That output that the Cummins had was a little more than what Ford in GM had the time.
@@SHomaidan it would crank out those numbers all day long for thousands of hours. The B series was a motor for equipment and wasn't intercooled in 89 for the dodge. It didn't need to make more power. The drivetrain wouldn't handle it.
In 1989 they added a dealer stock class to the truck pulls competition at our local county fair. A nearby Chrysler dealer entered an club cab version of this and took the win ..... game changer.
I have this exact truck, 89 D250 sitting in my garage. Same color scheme, engine, except I have a heavier stock bumper on mine. It also has a five speed manual transmission. The whole truck has 150,000 miles on it
But does it as you see in 2:47 of this clip your 89 D250 have a steering wheel from like a Dodge Dynasty/Chrysler New Yorker or does it have a different steering wheel!
Memories. My neighbour growing up had a white reg cab 4x4 Cummibs. Probably 6am or whatever, slight whine, clack clack clack clack. I was probably 5 years old, looking outside, seeing black soot and him walking back into his house. I swear he would idle it for 20 mins every morning. Little did he know he changed my life forever. Bought my first Cummins in 2015, 2001 5.9 with 406k. God bless Cummins!
I tell you what you dont see is anyone putting a duramax and or a power stroke in a ram trunk but you damn well see Cummins going into those products on engine swaps....lol
Fond memories of my family's 82' Ram. I went to my 1st day of school to moving me into my 1st apartment. My family still has him. We call him MR. T. 😂😂😂
Lol! My daily year round driver is an 82. 215k slant 6 on its 2nd manual trans. But the newest ride on the road for me is an 83 totally rust free ramcharger prospector, with 86k on it.
I remember I was 8 years old and our neighbor across the street bought one brand new. I loved how it sounded just like a semi truck. Peterbilt if you will....
Boy, motor week you had no idea what this engine could really do. It's still a legendary head turner. My friends p-pump 97 model is amazing with just a fuel plate mod and injectors. Pulls like a rocket at 290k miles!
Still my favorite Ram over the generation after it! These have REALLY shot up in value, especially the Cummins duallies! Love how Dodge soldiered on into the 90’s with this truck with the appropriate updates, creature comforts and safety features while Chevy and Ford redesigned their trucks to accomplish the same thing.
With mandatory Dodge/Chrysler Bordello Red interior. At least they didn't paint them with that Burgundy/Plumb color they put on every other car they made.
I had a '93 4x4 ext cab Cummins SRW 1-ton with the automatic transmission and loved it. Pulled a 27' 5th wheel trailer all over the country with it, never a single problem with it. Rode like a buckboard empty but it was strong for its day. I wish I still had it! 👍
Hardly anyone considers rust a preventative issue. That seems to be the case in any culture in the world. When you wash the underbody and coat it with a product like Fluid-Film, vehicles will generally not rust so badly that they can not be repaired when spring weather allows you to get under them and paint spots that need it. You can make a cosmoline from hot paraffin and grease, mixed with some zinc oxide and that stuff won't rust.
I came out of a coffee shop and noticed something odd by the bumper of my old dodge I used to have. It was the horns. They were dangling by the wiring harness. The bracket was no more lol. That thing was a rust bucket. It was funny though I put a headlight bulb in it one day in about 2012, and shockingly it was original. My truck was a '96 and the bulb had 95 printed on it. Would have figured the old 12v would have rattled it to death long before but it didnt
They were pumping them out as fast as possible. My '89 did not even have the seam sealer in the rain gutters or wind shield. It was applied later and and not covered with paint. I could have refused delivery and the dealer would have just sold it for more money.
I sold my 89 W250 last year. It had the 3-speed auto trans. Yes, it was retro looking and easy to work on. The bad part was with the automatic it couldn't get out of it's own way and was a struggle to keep up with 65mph traffic so I didn't find it fun to drive. Towing was also not so good. If you want one of these I suggest limiting your search to manuals. I got an 06 Cummins Ram to replace it.
The fact that these trucks went basically unchanged from 1972 to 1993 means it's very easy to swap a Cummins into my 1972 Dodge D200... the older 12-valve engines are the most sought-after for longevity, simplicity and power potential one of the best truck engines ever made.
I have a friend that swapped a 12v 5.9L Cummins into his D250 Crew Cab 4x4. It was never a factory option, but it sure looks like one installed. Cool truck!
@@krazi77 people have managed to swap them in pretty much anything with wheels lol. They're huge and weigh around 1100 lbs so putting one in a car is not a great idea but it's been done many times.
I still have my dad's 1989 W250 in its original blue and silver paint scheme. He brought it in PA shortly before he retired from Cummins, The truck spent most of its life in eastern Virginia and rarely saw snow, so the body is still in good shape. I replaced the 30 year old brake lines, calipers, and master cylinder, so it is safe to drive, but it could still use some additional work. While he worked for Cummins, he actually built his own back in 1986 using a 1976 Dodge 4WD Pickup he got on the cheap, and the 4 cylinder version of the BT6, which was a prototype test engine. He got it on the road, and I got to drive it a few times. It sounded like a bulldozer, but it had reasonable acceleration, but a top speed of only about 60 mph, due to the gearing. It got passed to my brother in law who used it for 7 or 8 years, and sold it to some guys in Western PA for their hunting camp.
I daily drive a 1992 D250 Club Cab. She's got the Cummins and a Getrag 5spd. 50 horse injectors, a HE351CW turbo, full 4" exhaust including downpipe and 4" intake with a huge filter. She scoots and still pulls my 30' toy hauler just fine.
I've got a 95 2500 cummins 5spd, matte black with matte bumpers. Came from Oklahoma, very clean. Stock mostly except exhaust and airbox. Sounds mean, love it so much. Not as sought after as 1st gen but still my fav for sure. Pulls a gooseneck with a White Field Boss like nothing. It's a beast.
Yeah, but automobiles now a days have a lot more mandatory tech, amenities and safety features to justify that price. Also you need to adjust for inflation.
Cummins diesel engine, is fantastic, constantly the best engine ever made for pick up trucks, concidering they've been making diesel engines for rigs for almost a century.
Yeah I myself am also interested in time travel But I’m curious as to how you plan to bring one vehicle back with you let alone two into the future ?? 😂
I remember my Dad buying our first heavy duty truck, a 1992 Ram 3500 Cummins 5 speed, 2wd. It was $21,500 before TT&L. We put 550,000 miles on it pulling a trailer almost always before it got relegated to farm truck duty only. After that we got a 1999 F350 7.3 4 door. It was around $32,000. Even considering inflation that doesn’t seem too bad. We got lucky as both engines were incredibly reliable. The Dodge rode very rough I remember. No mods to either. They were definitely pre emissions, the Cummins would roll coal bone stock if you laid into it
For sure, all Diesels rolled coal back then. I remember the late 70’s early 80’s Mercedes did as well. I think part of the reason these early 12 valves were so reliable is how simple they were. 100% mechanical, and very understressed. For a turbocharged 5.9 diesel it only made 175hp/400tq compared to the 500hp/1000tq of today’s diesels. We never felt the need to turn it up as it pulled a 35’ gooseneck fully loaded without breaking a sweat, and would get well over 20 mpg, I remember seeing 24mpg on a long flat road trip. Before that we used a Ford F-250 with a 460. It was pathetic, wouldn’t do better than 6-8mpg loaded or empty and struggled on hills
It's kind of interesting that by the numbers this thing's capabilities are more like a half ton truck. 11000lbs towing capacity and 400lb•ft of torque puts it right in line with a modern F150. Crazy how far things have come.
Not a dodge Cummins (which I like and respect) but we’ve have 6k payload (a huge old Cummins out of a 30s cable shovel) in my 84 c3500 and that was the first time I saw that truck on the helper spring. The 13 leaf main pack still had a positive arch in it. Huge hydro boosted brakes 4.56 gears and an SM465 transmission with deep granny gear and the heavier reinforced frame. You can go way past the “legal” ratings and still be safe in the older HD trucks
Settle down Russ. Let me handle this. Ed, this is not the car I ordered. I distinctly ordered the Antartic Blue Super Sports Wagon with the C.B. and optional rally fun pack.
My father owned three of these when I was growing up for his business. I would love to see a video of the 1994 dodge dakota V8. I drove that truck in high school and had a lot of great memories.
I love the look of these things, I was going to buy a 87 318 but someone beat me to it. If I get a truck it's just going to be something to haul things around town not a daily driver or for offroading, So I want something with some character. Lol
It’s hard to imagine these trucks were once brand-spanking new! While you still see them around, the vast majority have lived extremely hard lives and their miles and condition prove it! VERY few late-80’s to early-90’s Rams were purchased with the intent of being well-cared for garage queens......😂
The first “Cummins Dodge” was built in ‘84. They tested them for over 4 years. Looked just like this one, had the egg crate grill instead of the cross bar and automagic trans.
Mom bought me a beat up old dodge diesel when I was 16. I liked it, but had no idea how valuable it was at the time. When it runs, it does everything I ask it to perfectly. When it doesn't, I get that much better at DC electrical.
My 1993 D250: 230K, Auto (never rebuilt), no rust (California, Arizona), 22mpg, 14mpg towing. It's loud, smokes, and stays out all night like the ex wife. El Mula Blanco. Owned it since 1999. They fetch about 10-12K here in this condition. Shows you what the buck is worth today.
best trucks I ever owned were 80's Dodges. I've roadtripped mine a few times and never had comfort problems with the seats. and my friends that drive chevy trucks are amazed at all the leg room my Dodge has.
The Cummins saved the Ram line they were dated and sales were falling fast until Chrysler tried something risky and attempted to save their truck line by shoving a Cummins diesel into their dated pickups. It worked and sales increased significantly. Many buyers bought one because of the engine alone this motivated Chrysler to design the revolutionary 1994 Ram.
Parents took delivery of theirs in December of 91, 12v Cummins, Extended Cab Long Bed LE, had it since new. Odometer stopped working at 128k miles. Figured it had way over 305k miles when the head gasket went and was parked in my parents barn back in late 2010. Until 3 months ago, where they gifted it to a family friend who's daughter does competitive shooting. 5 Spd, 3.55 POSI, triple black, dog dish hubcaps
This was a real deal truck, especially with a manual gearbox and a Cummins turbo diesel. Now newer models no longer offers a manual gearbox due to the redesign Cummins engine, which unable to handle a manual gearbox. Back then there were meant for hardworking blue collar class, but now they are offer higher fully loaded features turning into a hair salon.
My dream truck also...had a few opportunities to get Power Ram 4x4 trucks...late 80’s for super cheap. Passed on em, then when I actually went to look for anything from 1988/89 - 93 realized I’d have to take out a loan to buy one for what they go for now..especially the Cummins versions.
1989 also has for the interior a steering wheel borrowed from the Dodge Dynasty/Chrysler New Yorker! Minus the Crystal Pentastar! Skip to 2:47 and you'll see!
One of the best engines...put into the cheapest truck ever built. -owner of a 1990 W250 manual. Transmission #3, Transfercase #3, rear end #2, and now with a flatbed because even with only 250k miles and never being driven in the winter, it still rusted out, and don't forget about the terrible ride. Even the 6.2 GMC K25 lasted longer and was driven in the winter. Meanwhile the 2000 F250 manual 7.3 rides nice, isn't rusted out, and is still original. Holds back better and has more power in the hills.
You're not wrong. Swap in an NV4500 and Dana 60 axles and you'll have a bulletproof truck. The Dodge trucks with that setup are extremely desirable to this day. And for very good reason.
@@ironpanther2420 yeah put $30k of parts and labor into a $5 pickup, it better be bulletproof then. For us its slowly being replaced by the F250 with the 7.3, mostly due to the ride.
I wish my 96 had a hand throttle. I bumped my idle up on a cold day and went to go in a store. Some kid asked me if I had a tuner with high idle. I was like "nah I got a piece of wood between the seat and the pedal"
The cummins option was $2500- If you still have one, you can get back your money + for the motor and scrap price for whatever little bit hasnt rusted away
What a handsome truck. I wish regular cab long bed pickups still ruled the roads... too many trucks these days are little more than glorified, lifted minivans with 5-foot birth defects hanging off the back end.
Years ago some pickups even had 9 foot beds. I'd rather have a nice toolbox on a long bed than to pile stuff in the back seat. But trucks are so costly that people need to justify them as a daily family vehicle.
@@timothykeith1367 When you take into account inflation and also consider how much lower the average apr on a car loan is now, trucks today really aren't any more expensive than they used to be. Whatever price gap remains is more than made up for by just how much you get for your money, I mean, there was a time when your truck was considered fancy if it had actual cupholders, now even the cheapest f-150 gets an 8" touchscreen and a backup camera... and 6 (!!!) cupholders.
Dodge produced those first generation Ram pickups & second generation Ramchargers from 1981 through 1993. The grilles with that design on the pickup in the video were produced from 1986 through 1990.
Man how could they not mention THE NOISE!!!!!! THE GLORIOUS/HORRENDOUS/OMINPRESINT NOISE!!!!!!!! All that racket is a lot of fun when this is your Sunday driver, even more so when you have it tuned to make 500hp/100,000 lb-ft tq. But man that shit got old real quick if you had to drive one of these things every day, all day towing construction equipment around town.
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In the review you forgot to mention that the steering wheel was borrowed from the dodge Dynasty/Chrysler New Yorker minus the crystal pentastar!
This video smells like cigarettes and a cup of Hardee’s coffee at 7:30am waiting for the hardware store to open.
Makes ya want to invade Iraq for the first time all over again.
Awwww I can smell it too
Hilarious lol
@@mycoolkeno Fuck I didn't see that coming, funny AF.
🤣🤣😭
I don’t think dodge had any idea how good of an idea it was to partner with Cummins or how popular it would become. To this day I haven’t heard hardly anyone talk bad about the Cummins diesels.
Those cummins engines are really good
@@alexanderbarcenas6224 I like the older ones though and the real reason is the newest Cummins are like the Powerstroke and the duramax diesels!
Because the newest diesels have what a diesel power pickup should never have like "remote start"!!
@@4HBirtcher lol yeah
The motors no. The trucks yes. Not good.
If you wanna know a cool secret. The 5.9 cummins was never meant for a light duty truck. It was meant for medium duty 4500-up trucks, they just crammed one into a regular pickup and called it good
that trucks gone but the engine still lives somewhere
For sure, we had a ‘92 that ran perfectly but the body and frame were completely rusted out in about 12 years. We put 550,000 miles on it pulling a gooseneck and then ran it a while as a farm truck. My Dad sold it to someone who most likely bought it for the engine. That engine will probably be continually swapped in to something until the end of time
T...That
These trucks held up good...better than Ford&GM trucks of the era!
People beat vehicles to hell back then...smashed things all the time as most places it was legal to drive drunk...Hell You could legally drink 8 beers and drive...they had a drink per weight and usually yo were feeling good or drunk by the legal limits they had!!!
My uncle had a 1986 Dodge D 350 with a gas 360 4barrel 9quicker than a Cummins)and it went 450,000 miles before he rebuilt the engine..He used it on his ranch and used it until early 2000's..
That trucks actually still around. I’m 100 percent sure that was their “prototype”. They restored it and used it as a parts runner.
I have a 89first gen all original looks like never been set in
Even back in 1989 that truck looks very retro.
In 1989 that body style had been out as they said 1972 and lasted until 1993 GM used the same square body from 1973-1987 with pickups and 1991 with suburbans and Blazer and jimmys and Ford from 1980-1996
We had a '74 Dodge Adventurer pickup. If you put it side by side with this it would still be obvious they came from the same company.
Same with Nissan Frontier didn’t change body style from early 2000 to 2020.
DODGE IS GARBAGE
It was a very old design by 1989. The oldest by far among the competition.
1994 would bring about a new Ram and a huge leap forward for the company, but the longevity of this pickup truck for Chrysler was absolutely remarkable. To think that this platform survived until ‘93 was astounding. It looked like a relic in its final days, but I think that’s why it’s so admired. Sure they were somewhat crude, utilitarian and rough-around-the-edges, but that’s what gave them so much character. I’ll always have a soft spot for old pickups like this.
That's when you compare it with the 1973 Chevy and GMC full-size pickups, in which the previous generation crew cabs, Suburban, and Blazer/Jimmy continued up to 1991 after the pickups themselves were replaced during 1987 (as 1988 models). In 1990, all of the single-cab chassis-cabs wore the new outer skin.
Not to mention the Detroit 6.2/6.5 were designed in the 70’s and were built as economy motors. At the time Cummins was so far ahead of everyone else it wasn’t even fair
Let's be real, Dodge didn't carry this body style for so long because they were great sellers. They kept the body style because Chrysler didn't have the money to redesign in that Era. Its likely the Cummins trucks that saved Dodge thru the late 80s and early 90s.
@@dante04srt - A very good point. The success of the K car and minivans helped build up Chrysler’s cash reserves to where they could finally give the Ram some much-needed attention.
@@dante04srt Nor did they have the clout to keep their big block V8 line up to date (both the 400 and 440 V8s were dropped after 1978).
In some ways they were leading, but falling behind in other ways: their last rear-drive cars, the M-body Chrysler Fifth Avenue, Dodge Diplomat and Plymouth Gran Fury, were all dropped after 1989, and all three had the carbureted 5.2L V8 to the end (the Magnum 5.2L and 5.9L didn't show up for another three years).
Even though Chrysler had experience with diesels going back to the 1940's, they were smart enough to buy one from a company that actually knew what they were doing instead of trying to build/retrofit one in-house.
Yeah their Perkins and Mitsubishi were such great successes...LOL...
I know GM owned Detroit and the 6.2/6.5 were designed in the late 70’s and was never geared for performance. I always wondered why they never designed a smaller version of the Series 60 in the 90’s to compete with Dodge/Ford. Certainly there’s a reason 99% of big rigs use inline 6’s. Dodge was smart to use Cummins as I don’t remember anyone liking the truck itself, everyone bought it for the engine. Our 1992 Ram 3500 rode as bad as anything I’ve ever been in and was completely shot after 12 years/550,000 miles. The engine was still 100% perfect and i wouldn’t be surprised if it’s doing duty in something to this day. I always felt like Caterpillar missed on opportunity in creating something under the C7/3126 and competing in the heavy duty truck marketplace. I think Cat fans are more diehard than Cummins guys. We had a few dozers/excavators from the 60’s and 70’s and I can tell you people like Cat for a reason
@@RobertSmith-le8wp Well I know of a few guys that swapped Cat 3204 (Inline 4Cyl 5.2L 318ci engines) in pickup trucks...Perkins made engines close in size to B series... The L634T/6AT was a bread truck engine DSO from Ford...but at only 3.4L and 125hp it would have only been useful in half-ton trucks...
*Oldsmobile would like to know your location*
yes! gm diesels were junk the day they rolled off of the assembly line!
One of the greatest truck motors ever
I love Dodge Ram D250 Cummins TD first gen
The soul of America is pleased by retro Motorweek videos such as this
I love Motorweek Retro Reviews, my favorite. Dodge Ram Cummins is great truck
A 1993 first gen 4x4 5 speed Cummins is still a dream truck for me
The 5 speed was garbage
Me too.
I had one. Ever hear the saying "You should never meet your heroes"?
My dad still has his for almost 20 years.
@@Thinker669 20 years ago was 2000
Who would have thought that would be the holy grail
1:01 look at that sexy engine. Not covered up by wires, hoses, huge EGR coolers or throttle bodies. Just a quality engine. Those were the days! I also see why they were so noisy in the cab. Zero sound deadening material on firewall of under side of hood!
S Homaidan maybe today, but comparing in the same era no way. Prior to our 1992 Ram 3500 we had an 80’s F250 with a 460. It was rated at 245hp 380tq, but that was at fairly high rpm (relative to a diesel) I pulled many loads with the Ram, cattle, hay, steel, and regularly a 35’ gooseneck. You could just about idle it when hauling a huge load and it never strained. The 460 you really had to lay into it to go anywhere. Also the biggest thing was fuel mileage. We ran it 40,000 miles a year and it got 20+ mpg. The 460 was well under 10 loaded or empty and sometimes as bad as 6-7. Also part of the charm of the Cummins was the fact that it was a large understressed engine that would go 1,000,000 miles plus. There’s a reason 15L big rig motors “only” make 400-500 horsepower, it’s not like they’re no capable of producing more than that. It’s always a balance of performance and durability
@@SHomaidan that 400 lbs of torque from the Cummins came in at 16-1800 rpms. Perfect for towing. The 5.0 would struggle and have to rev fast just to keep up but isn't sustainable. Also, with a few cheap mods that torque of a Cummins can easily be doubled and still get excellent fuel mileage.
@@SHomaidan there was nothing wrong with that kind of torque output. Transmissions back then weren't that stout to handle this kind of torque. That output that the Cummins had was a little more than what Ford in GM had the time.
@@SHomaidan Try searching fuel screw adjustment 12 valve......not "cheap" FREE
@@SHomaidan it would crank out those numbers all day long for thousands of hours. The B series was a motor for equipment and wasn't intercooled in 89 for the dodge. It didn't need to make more power. The drivetrain wouldn't handle it.
In 1989 they added a dealer stock class to the truck pulls competition at our local county fair. A nearby Chrysler dealer entered an club cab version of this and took the win ..... game changer.
Great and solid truck
Even though the mini-semi-truck Ram was revolutionary in aesthetic design, these earlier Rams had a great bulldog look to them.
I think they look better than the mini big rig design that followed
I have this exact truck, 89 D250 sitting in my garage. Same color scheme, engine, except I have a heavier stock bumper on mine. It also has a five speed manual transmission. The whole truck has 150,000 miles on it
But does it as you see in 2:47 of this clip your 89 D250 have a steering wheel from like a Dodge Dynasty/Chrysler New Yorker or does it have a different steering wheel!
Would you take $1,000 for it?
Memories. My neighbour growing up had a white reg cab 4x4 Cummibs. Probably 6am or whatever, slight whine, clack clack clack clack. I was probably 5 years old, looking outside, seeing black soot and him walking back into his house. I swear he would idle it for 20 mins every morning. Little did he know he changed my life forever. Bought my first Cummins in 2015, 2001 5.9 with 406k. God bless Cummins!
Nice, mine's a 95 and I can agree love them. Cummins cold start is ❤❤🔥🔥
3:06 I feel like them filming that truck with the Cummins mud flaps was intentional
Why the "feeling"? Just think a little and you'll know it was a marketing ploy.
I tell you what you dont see is anyone putting a duramax and or a power stroke in a ram trunk but you damn well see Cummins going into those products on engine swaps....lol
Fond memories of my family's 82' Ram. I went to my 1st day of school to moving me into my 1st apartment. My family still has him. We call him MR. T. 😂😂😂
Thats awesome! My mom had a 83 Ramcharger. I loved it!
Lol! My daily year round driver is an 82. 215k slant 6 on its 2nd manual trans. But the newest ride on the road for me is an 83 totally rust free ramcharger prospector, with 86k on it.
@@dudehere340 RAMCHARGER
I got a 85 w350 with a 360 in it. About 200k miles. Motor was rebuilt but it still goes pretty good and doesnt burn anything except gas
I remember I was 8 years old and our neighbor across the street bought one brand new. I loved how it sounded just like a semi truck. Peterbilt if you will....
A Kenworth if you please.
A Mack for your thoughts
An International if you so choose.
Or a Freightliner.
A Volvo if you’d be so inclined.
I was living in the Housing Commission: 35 yrs ago! Almost every Saturday, I'd videotape 'MotorWeek '89'; this is one of my favorites!
And that folks is exactly why there's still more of these on the road than the new ones.
Boy, motor week you had no idea what this engine could really do. It's still a legendary head turner. My friends p-pump 97 model is amazing with just a fuel plate mod and injectors. Pulls like a rocket at 290k miles!
Still my favorite Ram over the generation after it! These have REALLY shot up in value, especially the Cummins duallies! Love how Dodge soldiered on into the 90’s with this truck with the appropriate updates, creature comforts and safety features while Chevy and Ford redesigned their trucks to accomplish the same thing.
my daddy had one of these when i was real young. can still feel those red velvet seats & those belt buckles that’d burn you in the summer
With mandatory Dodge/Chrysler Bordello Red interior. At least they didn't paint them with that Burgundy/Plumb color they put on every other car they made.
My black '93 has that interior.
I had a '93 4x4 ext cab Cummins SRW 1-ton with the automatic transmission and loved it. Pulled a 27' 5th wheel trailer all over the country with it, never a single problem with it. Rode like a buckboard empty but it was strong for its day. I wish I still had it! 👍
As that Cummins keeps running, you can literally hear the rest of the truck rusting.
Hardly anyone considers rust a preventative issue. That seems to be the case in any culture in the world. When you wash the underbody and coat it with a product like Fluid-Film, vehicles will generally not rust so badly that they can not be repaired when spring weather allows you to get under them and paint spots that need it. You can make a cosmoline from hot paraffin and grease, mixed with some zinc oxide and that stuff won't rust.
I came out of a coffee shop and noticed something odd by the bumper of my old dodge I used to have. It was the horns. They were dangling by the wiring harness. The bracket was no more lol. That thing was a rust bucket. It was funny though I put a headlight bulb in it one day in about 2012, and shockingly it was original. My truck was a '96 and the bulb had 95 printed on it. Would have figured the old 12v would have rattled it to death long before but it didnt
They all rust. Even Ford's aluminum which corrodes. I know because I worked for Ford.
They were pumping them out as fast as possible. My '89 did not even have the seam sealer in the rain gutters or wind shield. It was applied later and and not covered with paint. I could have refused delivery and the dealer would have just sold it for more money.
All the brands rust out on those salt-covered winter roads!
Thank you Motorweek! I’ve been waiting to see an old Dodge truck retro review
Wish I could afford one that nice now a days
I sold my 89 W250 last year. It had the 3-speed auto trans. Yes, it was retro looking and easy to work on. The bad part was with the automatic it couldn't get out of it's own way and was a struggle to keep up with 65mph traffic so I didn't find it fun to drive. Towing was also not so good. If you want one of these I suggest limiting your search to manuals. I got an 06 Cummins Ram to replace it.
The fact that these trucks went basically unchanged from 1972 to 1993 means it's very easy to swap a Cummins into my 1972 Dodge D200... the older 12-valve engines are the most sought-after for longevity, simplicity and power potential one of the best truck engines ever made.
I have a friend that swapped a 12v 5.9L Cummins into his D250 Crew Cab 4x4. It was never a factory option, but it sure looks like one installed. Cool truck!
I've heard of people putting them in Ramchargers as well.
@@krazi77 people have managed to swap them in pretty much anything with wheels lol. They're huge and weigh around 1100 lbs so putting one in a car is not a great idea but it's been done many times.
@@mopartron3030 there was an episode of Roadkill where they put one in an 80's cadillac.
Yep have my dream 95 2nd gen, love it so much. Favorite truck ever. And favorite sounding diesel engine.
I still have my dad's 1989 W250 in its original blue and silver paint scheme. He brought it in PA shortly before he retired from Cummins, The truck spent most of its life in eastern Virginia and rarely saw snow, so the body is still in good shape. I replaced the 30 year old brake lines, calipers, and master cylinder, so it is safe to drive, but it could still use some additional work.
While he worked for Cummins, he actually built his own back in 1986 using a 1976 Dodge 4WD Pickup he got on the cheap, and the 4 cylinder version of the BT6, which was a prototype test engine. He got it on the road, and I got to drive it a few times. It sounded like a bulldozer, but it had reasonable acceleration, but a top speed of only about 60 mph, due to the gearing. It got passed to my brother in law who used it for 7 or 8 years, and sold it to some guys in Western PA for their hunting camp.
I daily drive a 1992 D250 Club Cab. She's got the Cummins and a Getrag 5spd. 50 horse injectors, a HE351CW turbo, full 4" exhaust including downpipe and 4" intake with a huge filter. She scoots and still pulls my 30' toy hauler just fine.
I've got a 95 2500 cummins 5spd, matte black with matte bumpers. Came from Oklahoma, very clean. Stock mostly except exhaust and airbox. Sounds mean, love it so much. Not as sought after as 1st gen but still my fav for sure. Pulls a gooseneck with a White Field Boss like nothing. It's a beast.
18k for a ram 2500 diesel, sign me up, now a days its like 50k starting.
Yeah, but automobiles now a days have a lot more mandatory tech, amenities and safety features to justify that price. Also you need to adjust for inflation.
Buy an 89 model and they're still only 18k!
(42k for inflation)
18k in 1989 is equivalent to around 40k in today’s market so there isn’t that much difference
Cummins diesel engine, is fantastic, constantly the best engine ever made for pick up trucks, concidering they've been making diesel engines for rigs for almost a century.
I love that hood ornament.
But with a Chrysler New Yorker/Dodge Dynasty steering wheel inside!
2:47 shows you the wheel!
@@4HBirtcher I had the same steering wheel on my 87 Chrysler Fifth Avenue. One of the remaining rear wheel drive sedans in the 80s.
I love my 99’ and it’s my last truck! I still smile every time I walk out to get in it!!
You have no idea how long I’ve waited for this review! This was my dream truck growing up,Thank you!
My neighbor still has his 93 and drives it everyday, he calls my 96 3500 little sister.
As soon as I can get that time machine working, I’m heading back to buy two of these. One for during the week, and the other for Sunday best.
Yeah I myself am also interested in time travel
But I’m curious as to how you plan to bring one vehicle back with you let alone two into the future ?? 😂
I remember my Dad buying our first heavy duty truck, a 1992 Ram 3500 Cummins 5 speed, 2wd. It was $21,500 before TT&L. We put 550,000 miles on it pulling a trailer almost always before it got relegated to farm truck duty only. After that we got a 1999 F350 7.3 4 door. It was around $32,000. Even considering inflation that doesn’t seem too bad. We got lucky as both engines were incredibly reliable. The Dodge rode very rough I remember. No mods to either. They were definitely pre emissions, the Cummins would roll coal bone stock if you laid into it
Some coal rolling may be why they pointed the camera mostly at the front of the truck while on the drag strip.
For sure, all Diesels rolled coal back then. I remember the late 70’s early 80’s Mercedes did as well. I think part of the reason these early 12 valves were so reliable is how simple they were. 100% mechanical, and very understressed. For a turbocharged 5.9 diesel it only made 175hp/400tq compared to the 500hp/1000tq of today’s diesels. We never felt the need to turn it up as it pulled a 35’ gooseneck fully loaded without breaking a sweat, and would get well over 20 mpg, I remember seeing 24mpg on a long flat road trip. Before that we used a Ford F-250 with a 460. It was pathetic, wouldn’t do better than 6-8mpg loaded or empty and struggled on hills
@@RobertSmith-le8wp If I had one it would be stock with some transmission upgrades
I love it! Just waking up at 6am and saw this retro mw review and I got so excited right away!!! I love it when my day starts like this...
It's kind of interesting that by the numbers this thing's capabilities are more like a half ton truck. 11000lbs towing capacity and 400lb•ft of torque puts it right in line with a modern F150. Crazy how far things have come.
An f-150 or any new 1/2 ton wouldn’t hold up to these. Lighter frames, weaker trans, semi float axles. Heavy duty in any era
Not in 2wd like this dodge, find me a modern 2wd 1/2 that can tow like this beauty.
11,000 towing capacity. 😂😂😂
I've towed 30,000 lbs too many times to count using my 1990 cummins powered dodge d250
Not a dodge Cummins (which I like and respect) but we’ve have 6k payload (a huge old Cummins out of a 30s cable shovel) in my 84 c3500 and that was the first time I saw that truck on the helper spring. The 13 leaf main pack still had a positive arch in it. Huge hydro boosted brakes 4.56 gears and an SM465 transmission with deep granny gear and the heavier reinforced frame. You can go way past the “legal” ratings and still be safe in the older HD trucks
Settle down Russ. Let me handle this. Ed, this is not the car I ordered. I distinctly ordered the Antartic Blue Super Sports Wagon with the C.B. and optional rally fun pack.
Vacation
@@mannymotta2174 yep
I have had my 1990 D250 Cummins diesel for 16 years not a single problem. I bought the pickup from my grandfather who bought it brand new.
a legend is born!!!
I am a proud second owner of a 89 Cummins and it still runs great today. Original engine and trans. never been rebuilt.
Oh hell yeah!
Ram forever!
Even though I wouldn't have bought a Dodge, I have a soft spot for these rams. But that Cummins is would make it hard not to love!
My father owned three of these when I was growing up for his business. I would love to see a video of the 1994 dodge dakota V8. I drove that truck in high school and had a lot of great memories.
I love the look of these things, I was going to buy a 87 318 but someone beat me to it. If I get a truck it's just going to be something to haul things around town not a daily driver or for offroading, So I want something with some character. Lol
It’s hard to imagine these trucks were once brand-spanking new! While you still see them around, the vast majority have lived extremely hard lives and their miles and condition prove it! VERY few late-80’s to early-90’s Rams were purchased with the intent of being well-cared for garage queens......😂
Some dealers were asking above list prices for these trucks.
It would be awesome to find one now. The 12v is a ghost!
I miss my 89. I wish I still had her
Beautiful Dodge Ram! I love the '72-'93 Ram series trucks!!
best looking trucks ever made! I've owned 4 of them over the years
The first “Cummins Dodge” was built in ‘84. They tested them for over 4 years. Looked just like this one, had the egg crate grill instead of the cross bar and automagic trans.
4,300 Lb payload was quite impressive.
Yeah, that's better than a lot of modern "3/4 tons"
30 gallon tank? Sheesh.... i have just a 50 litre tank on my domestic appliance ipod on wheels 'cross-over' vehicle.
Mom bought me a beat up old dodge diesel when I was 16. I liked it, but had no idea how valuable it was at the time. When it runs, it does everything I ask it to perfectly. When it doesn't, I get that much better at DC electrical.
My 1993 D250: 230K, Auto (never rebuilt), no rust (California, Arizona), 22mpg, 14mpg towing. It's loud, smokes, and stays out all night like the ex wife. El Mula Blanco. Owned it since 1999. They fetch about 10-12K here in this condition. Shows you what the buck is worth today.
1989 was the first year of the great partnership of Dodge and Cummins
best trucks I ever owned were 80's Dodges. I've roadtripped mine a few times and never had comfort problems with the seats. and my friends that drive chevy trucks are amazed at all the leg room my Dodge has.
The seats are comfortable
90s were my fav from experience and held up well too
I wish they still made trucks like this...simple and affordable.
I have this same color truck in 350 (1 ton) 4X4. Freshly restored. It's the Hemi Cuda of Pickups.
The Cummins saved the Ram line they were dated and sales were falling fast until Chrysler tried something risky and attempted to save their truck line by shoving a Cummins diesel into their dated pickups. It worked and sales increased significantly. Many buyers bought one because of the engine alone this motivated Chrysler to design the revolutionary 1994 Ram.
For reference in 2021 dollars this $18k truck is $39,500 and the $2500 Cummins engine option would be $5500 today
Parents took delivery of theirs in December of 91, 12v Cummins, Extended Cab Long Bed LE, had it since new. Odometer stopped working at 128k miles. Figured it had way over 305k miles when the head gasket went and was parked in my parents barn back in late 2010. Until 3 months ago, where they gifted it to a family friend who's daughter does competitive shooting. 5 Spd, 3.55 POSI, triple black, dog dish hubcaps
This was a real deal truck, especially with a manual gearbox and a Cummins turbo diesel. Now newer models no longer offers a manual gearbox due to the redesign Cummins engine, which unable to handle a manual gearbox. Back then there were meant for hardworking blue collar class, but now they are offer higher fully loaded features turning into a hair salon.
Haha... try finding one of them in that shape now 😆
They can be found
@@Welcometofacsistube Really?!?! I'd love to see some of these trucks over in the UK
@@hazzaknox1069 can one of these fit on y'all's small streets🤣
@@joshuamorehead6124 that’s a myth, we have buses that manage fine lol
@@Nonamenever557 I was joking dude, I know buses can go through those streets no problem
Finally a 1st gen Dodge Ram review! Got any more of these "square body" '80s trucks?
God, this is my dream truck right here, REALLY good lookin' trucks! I'd just have one with a 440.
My dream truck also...had a few opportunities to get Power Ram 4x4 trucks...late 80’s for super cheap. Passed on em, then when I actually went to look for anything from 1988/89 - 93 realized I’d have to take out a loan to buy one for what they go for now..especially the Cummins versions.
There were two purchase reasons for buying this truck. The Cummins engine and the hood ornament. Everything else was immaterial.
beautiful truck
Ugly.. Chevy trucks always had the better looks
Love the Retro Reviews. And love my Dodge truck.
Great trucks to use as engibe donors. My Cummins swapped K3500 is a blast to drive and doesn't break a sweat towing.
1989 also has for the interior a steering wheel borrowed from the Dodge Dynasty/Chrysler New Yorker!
Minus the Crystal Pentastar!
Skip to 2:47 and you'll see!
I had a 1985 Dodge D250 with 360 4bbl that I was restoring. Really miss it.
My friends dad had one. Let us drive it when we were like 10/11 good times.
Awesome review! Motorweek please add the 2000 Tahoe review to your collection
Had this exact truck only mine was a 4x4 with 5sp same color to and what a truck it was
I still miss my 1987 Power Ram 150 SB It was just a 318 but that was my favorite body style.
I found a 93 d350, manual trans & service bed w/111,000 miles in 08... Looked for one 8 years.
Man, what’s crazy is that now that similar truck would probably cost over $50,000.
Awesome Vid! As you can see in the comments, we love our trucks. Any plans to share reviews from the other fullsize 80s trucks?
One of the best engines...put into the cheapest truck ever built.
-owner of a 1990 W250 manual. Transmission #3, Transfercase #3, rear end #2, and now with a flatbed because even with only 250k miles and never being driven in the winter, it still rusted out, and don't forget about the terrible ride. Even the 6.2 GMC K25 lasted longer and was driven in the winter.
Meanwhile the 2000 F250 manual 7.3 rides nice, isn't rusted out, and is still original. Holds back better and has more power in the hills.
You're not wrong. Swap in an NV4500 and Dana 60 axles and you'll have a bulletproof truck. The Dodge trucks with that setup are extremely desirable to this day. And for very good reason.
@@ironpanther2420 yeah put $30k of parts and labor into a $5 pickup, it better be bulletproof then.
For us its slowly being replaced by the F250 with the 7.3, mostly due to the ride.
Popping $18,000 into the inflation calculator.... This truck was almost $40,000 in today's dollars new!
Outstanding Leadership!!
I own a w 250 with the cummins. In process of restoring it. The trick in acelrating and passing was to get the turbo spooled up.
My grandpa owned a 91 cummins, I miss that truck
This is what a real truck looks like and is meant to be
looks like something Chuck Norris would drive
@@krazi77 he drove a Ramcharger once right?? Similar year too I think
@@tuckersautter1832 yes, it was an 81-84 I believe.
@@krazi77 thanks
the 12 valve Cummings is the best engine u can get .
I miss my 1st Gen dually so much.
I wish my 96 had a hand throttle. I bumped my idle up on a cold day and went to go in a store. Some kid asked me if I had a tuner with high idle. I was like "nah I got a piece of wood between the seat and the pedal"
A new full size turbo diesel pickup truck for $18,000. How times have changed.
Thank you john davis
The cummins option was $2500- If you still have one, you can get back your money + for the motor and scrap price for whatever little bit hasnt rusted away
What a handsome truck. I wish regular cab long bed pickups still ruled the roads... too many trucks these days are little more than glorified, lifted minivans with 5-foot birth defects hanging off the back end.
Years ago some pickups even had 9 foot beds. I'd rather have a nice toolbox on a long bed than to pile stuff in the back seat. But trucks are so costly that people need to justify them as a daily family vehicle.
@@timothykeith1367 When you take into account inflation and also consider how much lower the average apr on a car loan is now, trucks today really aren't any more expensive than they used to be. Whatever price gap remains is more than made up for by just how much you get for your money, I mean, there was a time when your truck was considered fancy if it had actual cupholders, now even the cheapest f-150 gets an 8" touchscreen and a backup camera... and 6 (!!!) cupholders.
Dodge produced those first generation Ram pickups & second generation Ramchargers from 1981 through 1993. The grilles with that design on the pickup in the video were produced from 1986 through 1990.
Gosh to go back to that time!
Man how could they not mention THE NOISE!!!!!! THE GLORIOUS/HORRENDOUS/OMINPRESINT NOISE!!!!!!!! All that racket is a lot of fun when this is your Sunday driver, even more so when you have it tuned to make 500hp/100,000 lb-ft tq. But man that shit got old real quick if you had to drive one of these things every day, all day towing construction equipment around town.