The Short Version: What Changed in 2019
Ram ran the fourth-generation 2500 and 3500 from 2010 through 2018. The redesigned heavy duty arrived for 2019 with a new cab, new frame, new wiring architecture, and a reworked exhaust and aftertreatment path. Cummins carried the 6.7L forward, but almost everything around the engine moved.
Separately, and just as important for anyone planning a build, Ram tightened ECM security during the 2018 model year. Late-build 2018 trucks and all 2019 and newer trucks ship with a locked ECM.
Model-year cutoff table at a glance
The short answer for most shoppers: treat 2018 and 2019 as two separate platforms and shop them separately.
Emissions Hardware Differences
Aftertreatment layout and sensor positions
The fourth-gen trucks mount the DPF, SCR, and associated plumbing to a fourth-gen frame with fourth-gen hanger locations. The 2019 redesign moved that assembly. Mounting points, bracket geometry, clamp positions, and the distance from the turbo outlet to the first aftertreatment component all changed.
That matters more than it sounds. A delete pipe is a length of tubing with flanges, clamps, and hangers that has to land on factory mounting points. Change the frame and the hanger spacing, and a pipe cut for a 2017 will not sit where it needs to sit on a 2019, even though both bolt to a 6.7L Cummins.
Sensor bungs moved too. Pipes are built with provisions in specific locations so that sensors relocate cleanly during installation. Wrong generation, wrong bung placement.
DEF and SCR system changes
The DEF dosing and SCR arrangement was revised alongside the new aftertreatment package. Tank location, dosing module position, and the wiring that serves them are not shared between the two generations. Any component that interacts with the DEF or SCR system is year-range specific, and the calibration side of that work is tied to the ECM, which brings its own hard cutoff.
If you are working through how the DEF and SCR side fits into a build, the 6.7 Cummins DEF delete and SCR removal guide covers what the system does and what changes when it is removed.
EGR cooler and valve revisions
EGR hardware follows the same pattern. Cooler shape, valve mounting, coolant line routing, and throttle valve placement differ between the fourth-gen trucks and the 2019 and newer trucks. A block-off plate cut for a 2013-2018 cooler flange does not match a later flange.
The 2019-2021 trucks have their own EGR service parts, such as the EGR valve and cooler delete kit for 10-12 and 19-21 Ram 2500/3500 6.7L Cummins, and those listings call out their year ranges for a reason. If you are diagnosing before you shop, common 6.7 Cummins EGR problems walks through the failure symptoms owners run into on both generations.
The ECM Security Change
This is the part that surprises people, because it has nothing to do with what bolts on.
Why 2019 and newer requires an ECM unlock
Ram added security to the engine controller that blocks the read and write access aftermarket tuning depends on. Early 2018 builds are generally still open. Later 2018 builds and every 2019 through current truck are locked from the factory.
A locked ECM means a handheld or cloud-based tuner cannot simply connect through the OBD port and load a calibration. The controller has to be unlocked first. No amount of correct hardware changes this. You can have every pipe and plate on the truck and still be unable to complete the tuning side of the job.
The 2019 Ram 2500 6.7L Cummins ECM unlock and tuning walkthrough covers this in detail and is worth reading before you buy anything for a 2019 or newer truck.
What the unlock process involves
The usual path is a bench unlock:
- Remove the ECM from the truck. On these trucks it is mounted in the engine bay and comes out with hand tools.
- Ship the ECM to the unlock service with your VIN and truck details.
- The controller is modified on the bench so it will accept aftermarket calibrations.
- The ECM ships back and reinstalls in the same position.
- Tuning is then loaded through your tuning device.
Some model years have a cable-based path instead. The 2018 Ram 6.7L Cummins bypass cable exists specifically because 2018 is the transition year and needs its own solution.
Turnaround time and what you send in
Plan for downtime, not just shipping. Typical turnaround is a few business days at the unlock facility plus transit each way, so the truck may be without an ECM for roughly a week depending on your location and the service you choose. Confirm current lead times before you pull the controller, especially if the truck works.
Send your year, model, engine, and VIN with the ECM. Photograph the connectors before disconnecting them.
Important: ECM unlock services and tuning products tied to emissions-related modifications are intended for off-road, race, or non-public-road use where permitted. Confirm federal, state, and local law before purchase and installation.
Which Parts Carry Over and Which Do Not
Delete pipes: platform-specific
Delete pipes almost never cross the 2018 to 2019 split. Length, hanger placement, clamp position, and sensor bung location are all built around a specific frame and exhaust path.
Cab and bed configuration matters on top of the year range. A crew cab short bed and a mega cab do not use the same pipe length. Fourth-gen owners can start with the 2013-2018 6.7 Cummins delete kit buyer's guide to see how kits are broken out. If you are still deciding between a single pipe and a full package, delete pipe vs full delete kit lays out what each one covers.
EGR components: not interchangeable
Coolers, valves, block-off plates, throttle valve delete pieces, and the gaskets that go with them are matched to the specific engine dress of that generation. Ordering fourth-gen EGR hardware for a 2019 leaves you with plates that do not line up with the flange bolt pattern.
Tuners: the hard cutoff
This is the cleanest break of all. A tuning solution sold for a 2013-2018 truck may not support a locked 2019 controller at all, and support depends on the specific tuning platform, not just the model year.
Before buying any tuning product, confirm three things: your exact model year, whether your ECM is locked, and whether the tuning platform supports your configuration. Browse 6.7 Cummins tuners by application, and read the best 6.7 Cummins delete tuner options for 2013-2024 if you are comparing platforms.
What does carry over
Some items are less generation-sensitive. CCV reroute components, general hardware such as band clamps and gaskets, and some accessory items may span wider year ranges. Check the listing rather than assuming.
How to Confirm Your Truck's Configuration
Reading the door jamb and VIN
The model year on the title is not always the whole story on a truck built near a changeover. Open the driver door and read the certification label on the jamb. It carries the manufacture date as month and year. A truck titled as a 2018 but built in mid-2018 or later may fall on the newer side of the ECM change.
The VIN confirms the model year at position ten and identifies the engine and series. Have both the VIN and the build date ready when you order.
Cab and bed configuration effects on pipe length
Year range gets you to the right family. Configuration gets you to the right part number. Before checkout, write down:
- Year, and the door jamb build date
- 2500, 3500, or cab and chassis
- Cab style: crew, mega, or regular
- Bed length
- Any prior exhaust or emissions-system modifications
- Current tuning hardware, if the truck already has any
Cab and chassis trucks are their own category and take different EGR and exhaust parts than pickup-body trucks. This exclusion catches people every year.
Shop by Your Model Year
Start from the year range, then narrow by configuration.
Buying a bundle for your exact year range solves most misorder risk, because the pipes, plates, hardware, and gaskets are matched to each other and to the truck.
Legal Notice: Off-Road and Competition Use Only
Emissions-related delete products are intended for off-road, race, or non-public-road use where permitted. They are not represented as legal for use on emissions-controlled vehicles operated on public roads. Customers are responsible for confirming compliance with federal, state, and local law before purchase and installation. If you need a solution that keeps a truck emissions-compliant for road use, these products are not the right fit.
Frequently Asked Questions
I have a 2018.5 build. Which side am I on?
Check the door jamb build date, then verify the ECM before buying tuning. Late-build 2018 trucks commonly have the locked controller even though the truck is titled as a 2018. On the hardware side, a 2018 truck still uses fourth-gen body and exhaust parts regardless of build month. It is common to need fourth-gen pipes and plates while also needing the newer ECM unlock path.
Will a 2018 delete pipe fit my 2019 with modification?
Not practically. Hanger locations, length, and sensor bung positions differ. Cutting and rewelding a pipe to force it creates leak points and voids returnability.
Do I have to unlock the ECM if I only install hardware?
Hardware installs physically without it, but emissions-related modifications generally require calibration work to address codes and drivability. Skipping the tuning side is how trucks end up with warning lights and derate conditions. Plan the full setup before the first bolt comes off.
Can I send my ECM in before the parts arrive?
Yes, and many owners do. Sequencing the unlock while parts ship reduces total downtime. Confirm current turnaround with the unlock service first.
Are gaskets, clamps, and hardware included?
It depends on the kit. Check the What's in the Box list on each product page before ordering.
How fast does EngineGo ship?
Most orders are processed the same or next business day, excluding Sundays. Most packages arrive within 3-5 business days after leaving the warehouse, depending on size, location, and carrier conditions. Free shipping applies to orders shipped within the continental United States.
What if I order the wrong year range?
Authorized returns are accepted within 45 calendar days from the date the product is received, if the item is unused, uninstalled, unmodified, and in original condition with all components. Tuner and electrical products carry stricter return limitations, so confirm fitment before opening them.
Confirm Your Year, Then Shop
Read the door jamb, note the build date, and match parts to the correct generation. Shop 2013-2018 6.7L Ram Cummins parts for fourth-gen trucks, or 2019-2024 6.7L Ram Cummins parts for the redesigned HD. Not sure which side your truck falls on? Send your VIN, build date, cab and bed configuration, and any prior modifications, and support will confirm the fit before you buy.
