1989 - 1993 5.9 Cummins

If you are familiar with diesel trucks, then you have probably heard of the first-generation Cummins. When Dodge introduced the 5.9L 12-Valve ‘6BT’ Cummins engine it helped create a new standard for OEM diesel performance. This completely revitalized their truck lineup.

The Dodge AD platform originally debuted in 1972 and was used all the way up to 1993. Starting in 1989, Chrysler partnered with Cummins to offer the 5.9L Inline 6 Cylinder Turbodiesel in their 3/4 and 1-ton Dodge pickups. The 12v Cummins quickly became the popular alternative to Dodge’s V-8 gas engines. This diesel offered nearly double the torque at low engine speeds. The 5.9L Cummins had some unique features never seen on a diesel pickup truck before. Including a turbocharger and direct fuel injection. It was revolutionary for the time and had a huge impact on drivability and towing capability.

Now 160 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque might not seem that impressive by today’s standards. Especially when you compare it to many of the later model diesel offerings. Fortunately, you can crank up the horsepower and torque numbers on the 6BT relatively easily. Aftermarket upgrades are available and can drastically raise the factory ratings and really help wake it up. Best of all, since the 6BT was originally designed for commercial and agricultural applications, their robust design is more than capable of handling the bump in power without needing to completely tear it down.