I have a 2005 Dodge Cummins with a single cab, no 4X4, no extended cab, just the bare essentials. I know it's cool to take off in 4X4, but I liked the 2 wheel simpliness.
Anyway I wrecked that truck about 1-1/2 years ago. I still have it stored, but it will be lot to fix. I need two new front fenders, everything plastic from the fenders forward, the intercooler. And I need some of the left front sheet metal cut out up to the left window pillar. I'm currently checking to see if the repairs are worth what the truck is worth after repairs.
I had a twin turbo (stock over s400, but plans for a 300 over 400) I had a forged input, a much better torque converter, shift kit, Smarty, good diesel filtration, gauges, etc. etc.
I see those 'hot rod' 12 valves. I'm thinking maybe going that way if it's cheaper. I'm seeing trucks 1994-1998 for 4500 to 8000 STOCK. So I'd expect to put a good turbo on right away with good exhaust, and injectors. I only want the same 2 wheel drive, single cab.
I know that these trucks can be FAST, but how good is these mechanically altered Cummins for gas mileage? Given that they don't have 'Smarty' electronics, can I make a fast 500 hp minimum that still gets over 20 mpg? When I was driving at 55 I'd routinely get 23 mpg, and around 15-16 in the city. I never towed, just had my carpenter tools in the shell in back. If I accelerated a lot, I could easily get under 10 mpg. I know I was limited by the stock turbo over the 400, but from about 60 mpg on, it would FLY. Stock fuel CP3.
Lots of questions after this, but another thing, even if I fixed my 2005, they changed the smog laws so we have to be tested every 2 years, so I'd have to take my turbos off, put the catalatic converter back on with 4 in exhaust. It would be some trouble.
I'd like to avoid smog from this point on out.
Is it 25 years, after that they don't check for smog?
It's in Cal.

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I wish I could just move my 3rd generatioin to the 94-98, but I've heard it's a LOT of work. Are the motor mounts and tranmissioin mounts even the same? I still want the auto transmission, and I know the first generation auto's weren't as strong.
I don't think I'm up to the amount of work to put my 2005 motor trans into a first generation truck. I can take a weekend, or maybe a week to upgrade a truck, but not what it would take to move the 2005 engine to a first generation.