Need opinions ya'll

[fla 66 cuda]

My beloved 98 cummins dually [white one pictured] had a fatal wireing harness short in the engine bay this past monday,i'm waiting on insurance adjuster to come take a look i'm unsure of what may happen [i'm expecting the worst]but trying to be optimistic.Anyways if they total it i have to replace it with another daily driver or use my 66 cuda as my olny car [i did not purchase it for that] and due to computers and heavy electronics in the newer cars i have chosen 3 older cars and one newer cummins truck.I'm over these newer vehicles that cost an arm and leg to repair. Written sugesstions are welcome.

 

[roadrunnerman]

i voted for the dually,cause you need to replace the truck with a truck. IMO.

 

[BIGSHCLUNK]

i voted for the dually,cause you need to replace the truck with a truck. IMO.

Agreed, use/parts availabilty/you did say daily driver right?

 

[Revhendo]

That 91 is just getting broken in. If Moby Dick there gets totaled, what's the buy back for parts for the 91 or a flip to get more Cuda money?

 

[bigredbird]

A truck should always be replaced by a truck - unless there's a really cool looking classic van as an option. That's why I voted for the van. :happy7:

 

[fla 66 cuda]

That 91 is just getting broken in. If Moby Dick there gets totaled, what's the buy back for parts for the 91 or a flip to get more Cuda money?

I'm still waiting on the adjuster and my thoughts were the same that 91 is just a baby [my 98 only has 162,000 on the clock] i was gonna try to fix it but who knows how much stuff got fried in the meltdown. And i just payed my insurance preminum friday and filled the fuel tank sunday damn the bad luck.

 

[Ron 73]

Yep, I agree.. Sometimes we don't realize how much we used a particular vehicle until its gone, I sold my 3/4 ton Chevy 4x4 and planned on just having my wife's car when she was home to do things, It didn't work as she didn't really care for me wanting to haul this or that and depending on how big whatever was, I sold the truck with the plow and everything to my son in law that promised to keep us plowed out in winter which he has, But the one vehicle deal wasn't working to well and i bought my Ram.. No plow though.. You may not plow snow but to have the truck and now this, i have to say one or the other for the truck so you can at least haul things if needed... I don't really need mine to be a truck but, it was a good deal.. Sorry for the long story but wanted you to understand you may have used the truck more then you realized is all and your used to having one. good luck which ever one you decide on.

 

[fla 66 cuda]

I'm torn i never really used or needed a 1 ton dually [just wanted this one] but my long term plan was to buy a racecar hauler with living quarters to travel in when i retired [in 8 years] but i have always thought the a 100s were so cool looking and a v8 one to boot therein lies my problem i need a diesel truck to complete my plan [which may change who knows] but the van is so cool. We'll have to wait and see what the insurance says.

 

[roadrunnerman]

maybe you can get enuf to buy the dually and the van.One can only hope.Good luck.

 

[fla 66 cuda]

That would be great but i don't have that kind of luck.

 

[cornfield county]

Have a look at the big wire off the alternator where it rubs against the alternator bracket. My 99 rubbed through there and grounded out. I feared the worst as the dash went nuts and the truck died. It took very little to fix and nothing was hurt. One year later and no problems with any of the electronics. Good luck.

 

[Hemi Rebel]

Yeah, what happened anyway?Why fatal? Did it burn to the ground? In which case,yes that is a I need new wheels situation.I cant decide.I like the d100 but the 91 would probably serve you better since it is closer to what you had. Even though dually's are pigs. Man, this is a tough decision isn't it.hahaha

 

[fla 66 cuda]

The harness just behind the engine bay fuse box melted and the wires in the box melted as i was parking in my yard [thank god] no fire just stinky smoke.I pulled the tape off of the harness and the bottom off the fuse box and the wires are roasted [not all of them about 1/3 of them].After it happened [before i tore it apart] i turned on the key and checked what still worked everything worked except my wait to start light did not come on,i even tried to start it and it fired up and died instantly [fuel shutoff] so i'm hoping i just need a harness replaced or repaired. I don't want to have to replace this truck but we'll see what the adjuster says. By fatal i mean she is dead at this time but i suppose she can be brought back.

 

[Budnicks]

I would like to say the 64 Belvy, it would be fun & cheap to drive, but the 91 Ram Cummins 5spd "diesel dog dually" is a better choice to replace another truck... I would think the insurance adjuster will say, "it needs, batteries, ground straps, engine bay & under-dash harnesses, fuse panel, relays, computer or any other associated wiring components, or other parts that were affected, in the melt down, probably all caused because of a bad ground strap somewhere, seeking ground"... I doubt they will "total it", but it won't be cheap either... Good Luck, Happy Moparing, I've had a couple 95 & 98 2500 Ram 4x4's w/5.9ltr. Cummins they both went easily 350k+ miles before getting rid of them, both were "hot rodded" with bigger turbos & larger inter-coolers, larger injectors, jacked up fuel pump timing & high flow fuel filters & K&N air filter, they were still both running very strong even after all those miles & mods... Good Luck & Happy Moparing

 

[Moparsmitty]

If your insurance covers your truck, I would get it fixed and keep it if they don't total it out. It looks like it's in good condition and like Budnicks said, you should get be able to go another couple of hundred thousand miles with the Cummins. It seems like you always need a truck if you don't have one. Good luck.

 

[fla 66 cuda]

It is in very good condition i take care of my stuff cause i can't afford to buy a new one or even a used one at this point in my life. The only issues are dash cracking and air conditioning is broke [looses freon in a day or two] evaporator or compressor leaking i was gonna fix that this income tax return. I have owned this truck since 2001 purchased it used with 64,000 miles on it from an older man in Zepherhills Fla. it and the fifthwheel he had was too much for him. I have always loved duallys and in 1995 i bought a new ram 3500 cummins [first diesel] and went to work hauling boats crosscountry after a year the busness [i was subcontracting] went south so i got rid of the truck [525$ payments were killing me] i looked for 5 years and found this one and bought it with cash the rest is history this truck has not been worked since i have owned it just towed my fifth wheel 3 times and my flats boat to the ramp [when i had my boat]. I really like this truck and don't want to part with it and will try to work a deal to keep it and have it fixed it kinda like part of the family.

 

[YY1]

If you get the van, you should paint your 66 Barracuda on the side.

 

[fla 66 cuda]

I have seen that done before had to do a double take.

 

[Ron 73]

That would look beautiful! Wouldn't that be cool someone telling you how cool it looks when your out in the van and you ask them if they would like to see the car that modeled for the paint scheme... Makes me smile thinking about it. I cant imagine what that would cost to do though... cool as it would be..

YY1 SUPER cool idea!

 

[loneagle]

Hate to say it but they probably gonna fix your truck dude they could replace entire harness for way less then 50% its worth they will send it to dodge dealer