It's an '03 with the ALH engine and the 5spd manual. I change the oil every 10K also with Shaeffers, and usually run either Stanadyne or Power Service in it for the additional lubricity that was removed with the change to ULSD... It has 205K on the clock right now and will probably need it's first clutch in the next 30K or so. I may end up doing injector tips and a few other little mods to it, to make it a bit more survivable in the urban scrabble. Right now combined average is 43-45mpg, hand calculated and that's City, Highway, A/C on/off, cruise and not, idling to 80+mph... If I keep it a 55-65 I can actually break 50mpg, but I normally don't have that kind of patience... Fuel filter also gets done every oil change because I don't want to buy a new injection pump ANYTIME soon... The radio needs replaced and the headliner is falling down, but I'll get those addressed. I plan to hit at least 400K with this car.
I've thought about an old IDI, IF I could find one in good shape (including someone who knew how to check the antifreeze properly to avoid a cavitated block)as the low-end torque is phenomenal for a pasture/farm truck and they're stone simple to maintain. With the Hypermax or Banks kits, they're ok on the highway too. BUT, if I get a newer truck than my current 350, it will be a 4500 or 5500 Ram with the Aisin transmission. I may still eventually put a 6.7 Cummins in my '05 F-350 though and have a nearly perfect truck.
