@Darkbloodmon , I also have a 05 CR nv5600 truck. It would be hard for me to argue that it is really that much better than a 12v. The injectors cost 5-6 times as much to replace, inj pumps dont last as long, just about everyone you see has been tuned before but "never" turned up, dashes fall out of them too. Transmissions give about as much trouble, they are a little tougher, my dads 07 has 410k on the stock 48re now. It's tired, though. 07 was the last year pre emissions unless you count a CAT. But I think about everyone can agree older dodges are driven for engine reliability and simplicity.
I disagree. I am exclusively talking about 03 and 04 HO 6MT trucks. 04.5+ trucks are not the same, i.e. There are early 03 04 injectors and then 04.5+ injectors for a reason. I've stated this before in another thread but to keep it short. 04.5+ trucks have a different piston bowl design and injector tip as well as additional pilot injection programing. This is an emissions transition change prior to DPF and EGR systems. 04.5+ melt cylinders and break rings at much higher rates with normal and tuned operation than early 03 04 trucks by physical design. Emissions components don't just mean exhaust system filtration; pistons and injector tips are hard parts that can not be changed out easily. 03 04 piston bowls don't work on 04.5+ injectors.
The injectors are expensive, its price of power and efficiency. Common rail injection and timing is precise, a 12v is sloppy. If you buy from a reputable mfg. Big Bang Injection (Austria based) they'll last for years with proper filtration. The injection pumps aren't a common failure point CP3s have been robust in design on the 5.9 platform, I hate using personal on off examples because not every truck is the same or maintained the same but I have a 230K mi original CP3 that was still working when I replaced it with a S&S Super Sport 6.7 CP3 in prep for tuning.
The dashes are a feature at this point, just like the interiors, front ends, and high mileage electrical issues/battery fires. You know what your signing up for with a Chrysler product.
Chrysler Transmissions are shit historically speaking, I'm only driving my truck because it has a Cummins and Dodge didn't go it alone with the transmission and developed the NV5600 in partnership with GM through their now dissolved New Venture Gear company. If you think you're going to "Dodge" (haaaa) electrical issues on a high mileage auto 12v you're sadly mistaken.
Lets talk straight. How much more parts support will 12v engines get going forward? Not even including the crumbling Chrysler crack wagon the engine is sitting in. There are no new injection pumps, they're all reman and in limited supply, even more so are the shops "claiming" to do quality work. That part when you need it will be even more expensive as time goes on. If you've not installed a P7100 it'll get old fast with the number of junkyard cores you'll be trying to save on. You can get injectors cheaply now easily, but again quality control for a more than two decade old truck in dwindling numbers, price is going to go up as the rust creeps on. For example I bought a 4" turbo back exhaust from AFE last year for my 03. That same exhaust system is now discontinued. No longer supported, No parts, No warranty. AFE has only cat backs now, if it wasn't a California truck it doesn't have a factory cat for 03 04. This a reaction to recent EPA policies and laws now being enforced; because ol'boys put diesel trucks down range trying to bring coal jobs back with the end of their exhaust tips.
I'm not your wife, but ask yourself honestly what you want to do with the truck long term. There isn't any value in selling it out side of the diesel community, and eventually the prices for them will fall when it becomes unrealistic to maintain one. There's no 12v that's not been touched, and because of its inflated reputation no one is going to give a damn about anything else but squeezing the "experience" out of it as its passed around like the only Gatorade on the football field during summer training.
I wish I could show you pictures of the RCLB NV56 12v I looked at up in Hickory years ago, it had plastic bottle zip tied to the oil fil because there wasn't a cap, it'd been painted several times, dripping sin, 4x4 worked by touching wires together, cab was melted in one corner and deformed from the exhaust stack in the bed, and the owner was genuinely afraid to drive it down the mountain from Hickory not knowing if the brakes would hold. He'd done nothing to it and was trying to get out of it for the low price of 6Gs or trades.
The older 12v dodges are overrated oil stained wet dreams. You got people putting 5 grand wheels in front of drum brakes...... wake up.