To rebuild or not to rebuild

[Kgardner350]

So I have a 2000 dodge ram 2500 24 valve as far as I know has 345k miles on it. Runs pretty good I guess but the mileage is concerning. I wanted to do some mods maybe get 350 400 hp but the mileage concerns me. I did the oil fill cap blow by test and it doesn't move a mm. The engine does need multiple oil leaks fixed but other wise seems OK despite some recent electrical issues. Should I consider giving it a rebuild or atleast rolling some new bearings in it before squeezing some mo powa out of it? Or should I just send it and figure it out later. I am willing to spend some money but am definitely on a budget. 

[01_Cummins_4x4]

If it doesn't have any blow by, has great oil pressure, and runs good, then I'd just add some conservative mods/upgrades to it and run it. I've heard of other Cummins owners with more miles on their engines than what you have on yours, and they are running all sorts of power mods/addons and haven't had any issues with them so far.

[Mopar1973Man]

19 hours ago, Kgardner350 said:

So I have a 2000 dodge ram 2500 24 valve as far as I know has 345k miles on it.

Sounds like you got a fairly low mileage engine yet. 238k miles to the moon, 476k miles to the moon and back... I'm at 436k just another 40k miles and I've gone to the moon and back. 

 

19 hours ago, Kgardner350 said:

The engine does need multiple oil leaks fixed but other wise seems OK

Common oil leak spots

• Vacuum pump seals
• Front crank seal
• Gear case either front cover or case to block gasket
• Tappet cover gasket
• Rear main seal

All these leaks are fairly simple to deal with.

 

19 hours ago, Kgardner350 said:

I wanted to do some mods maybe get 350 400 hp but the mileage concerns me.

Shouldn't these engine are good for 1 MILLION MILES. Your engine is low in the mileage game. I'm at 436k miles and making roughly 500 HP. Best yet broke my own high mark and topped out at 28.04 MPG. (263 miles / 9.379 gallons = 28.04 MPG)

• Quadzilla Adrenaline (My Eco Tune)
• +150 HP DAP Injectors (7 x0.010) popped at 320 bar
• HX35/40 Hybrid turbo
• 4" Exhaust straight piped
• AirDog 165 GPH fuel pump
• Stock SO VP44

Edited October 31, 2021 by Mopar1973Man

[Dieselfuture]

I'd just take care of little things and keep driving it. All the mods you do to it slowly stay with it, when time comes to rebuild you'll have most of parts bolted to it already so rebuild wouldn't be that bad down the road. If you do it now, where do you draw a line ? If I was doing it I'd probably spent 10k at least by the time I get it where I want it and maybe some. What are your plans with it ? Like said above 400-500hp you can put a million miles on it the way it is more than likely. More power more things to upgrade... all these little things nickel and dime you adds up quick.

[Silverwolf2691]

TFaoro did an article for his engine rebuild. I think he also posted the end amount of money he spent. It was around $10k if I am remembering correctly. He did do some upgrades while he was in there rebuilding things, adding to the cost.

 

After watching my brother frame off restore a cj7 with an AMC 360 v8, I can tell you for sure its not the big stuff that gets you. Yeah it hurts initially but its when everything is getting put back together that you get into "crap I need this bolt/o-ring/seal/knob/sensor/etc" and the cost plus shipping adds up and takes time. Takes even more time if you cant get the parts anymore.