Just signed up, thought I would introduce myself. I'm Brandon, I live in Montana. I bought a 98 3500 about 5 months ago. I have an 89 F250 with the idi 7.3 that I used for years to travel the country. I'm a welder and I travel working on power plants and similar facilities. I have over 800k on Ol Red and decided she needs to be turned out to pasture. I went on a job with a friend to Grand Rapids Michigan. He has an 02 2500 with the 6 speed. We towed a 30ft camper all the way from Mt to Mi at about 70 mph and got 20 some mpg. I was amazed and had to have one. I had never owned a Dodge and we got to talking and looking around and found my truck in Central Mi for 3500 bucks. The overdrive was blown out of it and I figured I would just chuck a 5 or 6 speed in and have a bad *** truck. Should have priced it first. I spent 1800 and just got the tranny rebuilt with all the upgrades. Still not into the truck for too much and its a hoss compared to my Ford. I gotta tell you I hate that overdrive transmission. I can only comfortably cruise at 65 and average 17mpg. And towing is great(which I do a lot of) until you hit the top of 3rd gear. I thought I'd get more out of the most infamous truck on the road. I still like it, I'm just weary about doing too much to it cause I kinda wanna sell it and get a 3/4 ton with the 6 speed instead of my dually with the auto. Well, that's my introduction. Hope I didn't bore you to death, I love these forums and hope to learn more than I already have from all of you. Thanks for reading, happy holidays. Brandon

 

Brandon - welcome aboard. You will find a lot of good information and a lot of nice people here. Why don't you take a minute in the UserCP section and fill out a signature with the details about your truck, including mods. Since you have a 98' I expect the first thing you will get asked is if you have a 12v or a24v.
I just checked and there is no Manitoba chapter but you are welcome to stop by the Alberta chapter ABDTR #5 and say hello. You are still from the Canadian prairies after all.

 

Thanks, I have been reading threads for a day or two and already learning quite a bit. Much more info than I am familiar with. I find myself googling terminology and abbreviations. Its kinda funny.

 

Welcome and if you are like most of us, a little reading and sharing will get you a lot of insight about the 12v performance. I think after a few mods you will find your 3500 is a great towing machine.

 

Thanks, I do like the power as far as towing is concerned. I just hate my tranny. I have been reading about a few different things I could do to it to get a little more. But I highly doubt I can modify enough to equal what a manual would do without spending the same amount of money and doing more work. But I don't know that for a fact, I'm just assuming. I'm not in a huge hurry to do a whole lot to it. It is old and has 300,000 miles on it. I know it's gonna run for a long time, but I know it'll run a lot longer if I do it right. I'm leaning towards exhaust, fuel plate, and the gsk kit first. The exhaust needs replaced anyways, the plate is easy power increase, and the gsk is self explanatory. I get to looking at parts on these websites and I want to do a lot more, but if I'm gonna replace the auto with a manual I gotta save my money ya know?

 

BrandonMT

I have put the 3000 rpm governor spring in and the 10 plate and the truck pulls nice.the new TC did make a huge difference in how the truck shifts and works. Do you have the switch for OD installed. That was a huge difference towing , I could take my foot out of it on a hill and it would stay locked up and slow the truck down.There is a few 7.3 Fords around here and I have seen a few behind me trying to keep up lol. I love to tow my fiver and pass other trucks towing on the hills, I all ways give them a big smile and a wave lol. I have plans for water meth ,exhaust brake,and fan controlled auto trans cooler , studs and springs yet . I can`t seem to let the truck alone,I have a class 1a licence and some day might add a 6 speed,but I`am loving just sitting back and loving the ride. later Don T

 

When did Montana become Manitoba???

 

Those are going to be the first two things I do to it! But I was thinking the #8 plate. Did you put the spring kit in yourself? I have the switch on the dash for the od. I have an old 7.3 idi and get passed all the time towing with that hog. She does well, but no turbo and no power makes her slow as hell. She'll do it, just not very well. Fuel mileage while towing is good with that thing tho, and she never quits.

 

I don't get it?

 

Welcome aboard! You'll get a lot of great advice from the folks on this board - I know I have. I've got a 97 as well and overall wouldn't trade or sell it for anything. If something needs fixing or needs upgrading - I have to suck it up and get it fixed. I know what I have and would think you will too.

Good luck with it.

 

Thanks, the only gripe is the trans right now really. Doesn't seem to be a new topic on here. I put up another post in the general forum talking about maybe selling and buying a newer rig with the 6 speed. But after all the advice and talking to everyone I have decided to just swap my auto piece of trash out for a 6 speed with an upgraded clutch and do some light mods to get my truck rolling down the road the way it should. I've always been big on fixing what I have and opposed to just pushing it off on someone else and buying something different. I have an 89 f-250 with the 7.3 idi that I have been fixing for years and it's just time to turn her out to better pasture and fix up my dodge. Thanks for the warm welcome buddy, I appreciate the heck out of the huge amount of help and informative responses. I used to be on a couple of forums years ago, and 9 outta 10 guys on there were real dicks to people so I haven't been on one in a long time. But I am really liking the attitude here and especially the quick responses and wealth of info already up for me to read.

 

The 'when did Montana become Manitoba' comment was aimed at me. I assumed your screen name meant you were from Brandon, Manitoba, Canada even though your signature clearly says Montana. Sometimes the fingers move faster than the brain for me.

 

Ha ha, I was totally lost there. I do that sometimes tho. I get to typing before my brain gets to thinking