1st Gen Cummins Performance Parts, Specs, & History

One of the grandfathers of American diesel power, the 1st Gen Cummins engine remains an enduring symbol of performance and attitude. After thirty years of reliable service and dependability, Cummins' 1st generation of Dodge diesel engines remains a standard by which performance trucks are measured.

History of the Cummins 1st Gen Diesel Engine

Back in 1981, Dodge introduced their first Ram pickup. It was designed as a successor to the D-series and intended to compete with Ford and Chevy in the passenger truck space. Available in single cab, crew cab and extended cab variants, the Dodge Ram saw middling success in the 1980s.

It wasn't until 1989 — with the introduction of the 12-valve, six-cylinder Cummins (B Series) diesel engine — that the Dodge Ram pickup became a staple in the American automotive landscape. The first generation Dodge Ram began using a 5.9-liter Cummins modified B series engine that saw a lot of use in school buses, box trucks, delivery vans and other commercial vehicles.

Dodge took the B series engine and dropped it into its 1989 chassis. The 5.9L turbo-diesel became one of the best-selling pickups on the market. The 1st Gen Dodge Ram with a Cummins diesel engine was so popular that Chrysler had to stop taking orders for it in 1989 so they could ramp up production for the 1990 model year.

Despite a modest 160hp at 2,500rpm, the Cummins diesel engine was a class leader with 400 lb-ft of torque at 1,700rpm. Coupled with Dodge's foresight to offer an all-welded bed floor design — which eliminated trapped water and rust formation around fittings — the Dodge Ram became a long-lasting success.

Then and Now: The Dodge/Cummins Partnership

Today, the 1st Gen Cummins diesel pickup from Dodge Ram has become an American classic. With over thirty years of reliable service and an excellent reputation among diesel truck enthusiasts, the 1st Gen Dodge with the 5.9L Cummins remains a highly sought-after work truck and collector's item. People love the 5.9L Cummins diesel engine so much that many truck collectors and hobbyists will retrofit older models of the Dodge Ram pickup to harness the potential of its big block design.

Changes to emissions standards, engine sizes and other introduced technologies have pushed modern diesels to output more torque and horsepower. However, the Cummins diesel paired with the 1st Gen Dodge Ram remains a classic.