pro's and cons 12v vs 24v vs early commonrail.
 

I've been a lurker at this site for a little while and have done a ton of reading and know the basics of these three motors, and know some pros and cons. for a daily driver/tow rig/ toy and fun truck to drive which is the best.

12v would be the best case if i could find a clean lower mileage one

24v would be great in theory after a p pump swap, is the vp44 really that bad a pump if your not pushing it too terribly hard?

early commonrail- read they dont melt down as bad as the later ones, however i havent read claims that they dont melt down at all however.

I'm really not going for a hot rod right now, but I wanna be prepared for the future and choose the right truck for me the first time.

either one of the three trucks would most likely be a manual.

I know a lot of the facts on here, would just kinda like some different points of view from those that own each of the trucks about what they like and what they dont like. Basically a comparison.

Thanks in advance, and yes i've been reading and searching, Just trying to start a discussion on these trucks to help aid my decision in which one I am going to buy.

The 12 valve is the holy grail as for the best engine put in a pickup. They are just tough and reliable.

The 24 valve is also a very tough engine and very reliable. The VP-44 is its biggest issue. If one goes out, you may have warning, or you may be dead on the side of the road. The good news is when you lose a VP-44, it does not melt a piston. My original pump went 325,000 miles and I made 640 horsepower with 285,000 miles. I drag raced it some, hot rodded on the street, and towed a few hundred different trailers with it. Keep the fuel clean, run 15-18psi pressure and use a good additive and they will hold up fine. VP-44's are alot cheaper than common rail injectors, and just as reliable.

The Common rail is another story. They run good when the injectors are good, but at any given moment, you may be sitting on the side of the road with several thousand dollars damage from a melted piston. Year does not matter - the early ones melt too.

what kind of mileage should i be looking for on one that still has a ton of life left in it?

That's kind of debatable. A lot of it depends on the previous owner's habits.

As long as they have had routine maint done, I wouldn't be scared about mileage. Excessive smoke (with no mods) or white/blue smoke is a sign of a truck needing some care.

yea i'm really just trying to figure out what i'm really looking for here, starting to look like a 94-02 clean and good running truck

I have both 03 and a 97 Pound for pound the 97 is much more bang for the buck! Both Trucks are extreemly reliable, but the 97 I have not put any performance money in and I have brought it from a 18 sec to a 15 sec truck and it is a blast to drive. very responsive! the 03 is faster, but I have some money in it! ind you can get all 6 injectors for the price of 1 CR injector.

I you want holy grail, find 98 12V , new interior and real 12V engine

Real? Damn, guess I'll have to go see what I have in my truck.

as for which to pick i've got a 96 12v now with a fuel plate from bd in it and just updated the clutches and vavle body and get 19 mpg out of it. i also have a 03 thats in my avator that dyno 617 in may at TS 09 but i've done more work to it and on the street it gets around 14 mpg which now on a trailer. i did own a 00 model vp truck and it got 17 mpg put down 367 hp at TS 08. for a daily driver i would go with a 12 or 24v if your worried about melting a piston in a CR, if you get a CR get early 03-04 seems they dont melt piston's as bad. just my two cents

Go for a Common Rail, I prefer the 04.5-06, since the 03-04 had some valve issues. Just watch the amount of pressure and timing you throw to it. Keep good clean fuel in it and the filters changed, id suggest an airdog or fass. They are Capable of close to 500 hp if not more, depending on what Year, with electronics only, and then can go completely back to stock for daily driver in about 5 minutes. Trucks are built better, drive better and tow better. Just my opinion, ive had them all.

all CR engines will drop valve seats

I've had all except the VP motor.
I would take a 96-98 12v over all others.

KO

I drive one of each every week, Our 98 12v has 380,000 utility box on it, snow plowed with it for 12 years 8 1/2ft blade never touched it owned it sense 30,000 miles.
Our 01 (vp) left us dead on the way to the truck pulls last week stock pump lasted 163,000 truck now has 183,000 and new pump isn't lasting other then that it has been a very very good truck (got the truck at 60,000) O and its never unhooked from a trailer.

06 30,000 miles had to put a new pump on it. (used for light driving non work truck)

I would go with a 12 valve or 24v p pumped... I have used and worked with all of them.