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Thinking about getting a Diesel...
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Posted by: 85snake

But I dont know anything about them. Does anyone know drivetrain specifics on the big 3? I plan to spend no more than 20K and I dont want anything with more than 100Kmi. Im interested in performance and breakage.This is what i know so far,
99 and up powerstrokes are sweet, they are quick and powerfull and look good.
pre 95 powerstrokes suck, I do like the 93-98 body and they are cheaper but are they as fast as the superdutys?
dodges have sweet engines and crappy trannys and thats all ive heard
havent heard anything good about the chevy 6.9 but the new dynomax sounds good.

Posted by: Mr. P

sorry, can't help ya, diesel sniffers are a total different breed.

Mr. P

Posted by: VETTKLR

We've got a 2000 Excursion with the 7.3 liter PowerStroke, and we love it. It walked away from whitefastpony's 2002 Suburban from a 70-punch with no problem whatsoever. I haul a 20' steel trailer and my 85 GT to the track an hour away...Drop it into OverDrive and forget about it.

I love the hell out of it. My wife won't drive anything else now.

Gremlin406 has a 3/4 ton Dodge with a 6-speed Cummins, and he said it's awesome, too. I think the only problem he's ever had with it is that he can't find anything heavy enough to actually tax the motor!

I talked to a guy that drives a Duramax diesel last week. He says with that Allison transmission, it's badass, too! His old truck was a PowerStroke with a complete Banks Turbo Upgrade. He told me that he was tearing up that auto tranny in the F-250 all the time.

The Cummins, the Isuzu and the International are all killer diesels. Just pick one and haul ass...tons of it.

Posted by: Tang

Yup, pretty much just flip a coin. Because they all kick ass. I'm partial to Ford. My Dad has an ole '91 F-250 with the non-turbo 7.3, and even it would do anything we needed with no complaints.

The '95 Powerstrokes, perform just as good as the '99's when the Super Duty line of trucks came out. The later models got improvements, and the new 6.0 is a beast.

I have one uncle with a 2000 model, 3500 Ram Dually, with the 24-valve Cummins, and a 5 speed. His has a custom dual exhuast with Flowmasters, and he added one of those computer modules, and that thing is unreal set in stage 5 ! Plus it sounds like a big rig.

I have another uncle, with a 2003 3500 Silverado, with the Duramax and the Allison trans. He added a shft kit, HUGE, stainless steel exhaust (polished none the less), and one of those power modules. All I will say, is HOLY TIRE SMOKE. I can't remember the name of the prgrammers they use, but they have a G-Tech type thing built in. That big ass, 4 door truck traps 100mph in the 1/4. Which I consider good for no more mods than it has.

Find you a nice '95 - '97 F-250/F-350 with a Powerstroke and enjoy !. Stay away from the auto if possible, Ford's E4OD isn't a great trans. My dad's truck has went through 2 already. What really surprises me about the E4OD beign weak, is it is a design based on the old C6. It was a rush effort caused by the US Govt. pressuring Ford into getting it out quick. So therefor, they arent tough. The '99+ autos are reported to be working MUCH better. So just go 5 speed and dont worry about it.

Posted by: Grape Ape

I still don't like the Duramax, but I'm told the head cracking issue has been resolved. They make good enough power, but are kinda lazy on torque IMO, but the available Allison makes the truck worth considering, all by itself.

The Dodge looks like more truck than it's capable of being, but there's at least some reason...

The fact is, it's a Cummins diesel and that is a really good engine no matter if you like the rest of he truck, which is ugly IMO.

The newer non automatic PowerStroke trucks supposedly have 6speed tranny's. My auto was rebuilt just before I got my F-350 and it seems fine as new... New just wasn't all that good. If taken care of, it's not too bad, but they REALLY NEED an aftermarket cooler added just to be safe.

Otherwise, they're great to have. My 93 has a 95 engine and it has no trouble hauling heavy loads. Today, I had(still do even) probably near 60 boxes in the bed, stacked higher than the cab, plus a trailer with a winch and a toolbox and a car on it and I drove it 250miles. It got 15mpg including 6 stops with the engine running all the while, and the through town traffic. I'll estimate there's 10,000+ lbs involved here, maybe 11K. The 'ol F-250 5.4L runs strong and is quiet and comfortable... But it only gets about 12mpg with any good sized load. Of course, it won't be loaded like the F-350 is, ever(it has a topper).

You can't likely get a post 2001 F-250 or up for under $20,000 even with high mileage, but 150,000 is nothing to be concerned about with a diesel. I know a guy who put 650,000 on his 99 F-350 P.S. diesel before trading for an '03(7.3L) because he was so happy with it. He already had over 65K on the '03, in April. He hauls cars, etc. cross country.

Posted by: Mr. P

major torquemonsters, you ought to see some of the stuff lurking below decks in the offshore rigs. They wind em up to a comfortable rpm and let them sit there while they run out to the canyon and back. Prop shafts are as big around as your wrist, well except for ole "dog-arms".

Mr. P

Posted by: Starquest aka AndyR

I have a friend who has a 250 with the turbo diesel, and I dont know what "stage" he has it at, but I do know that he has an upgraded ECU, and he is pushing over 20#'s of boost through his full 4" exhaust system. He said he has over 700# of tq going to the rear wheels... all that with some wood trimmed interior and 4 doors... I want one.

edit: i think his is around a 2000 model.

Posted by: Mr. P

Just don't get one built out of this country, sheesh, we build em just fine here.

Mr. P

Posted by: 85snake

WOW, thanks for the info guys! Im kind of partial to fords myself but I just wanted some info on the other brands incase I find a good deal. Im not looking for anything newer than 01. I just need to figure out what im going to sell and then look for the truck. Im giong to have to move in sept so im hoping to get something before then. Ive seen alot of good deals on ebay but im a little scetched out buying a truck off the net. i dunno, maybe if i find one close enough to look at before i bid.

Posted by: Tang

Talked to my uncle with the Cummins, he said his is pushing 28#'s on the autometer guage, in stage 5. That is under hard acceleration ofcourse.

Posted by: 85snake

damn, thats sweet. I was really amazed by the power differences that can be with just a chip. if you go with the banks stuff you can really get crazy!! its freakin awesome, i dont even know why people buy gas powered trucks.

Posted by: StoneFox

A friend of mine has an 04 F350 Dualy 6.0. He ran a 9.1 1/8 mile, all stock with just a superchips programer.

Posted by: Tang

Quote:

Originally Posted by 85snake


	damn, thats sweet. I was really amazed by the power differences that can be with just a chip. if you go with the banks stuff you can really get crazy!! its freakin awesome, i dont even know why people buy gas powered trucks.

www.bullydog.com

Posted by: VETTKLR

Booyah!!!

Posted by: DeckSetter

Yeah diesels rock....... and they'll get you better mpg than a gas fullsize would (and better than most v6 small trucks too...).

Dodge automatics are famous for being pieces of crap, but if you want a manual, they say the 12 valves are more reliable than the newer 24 valve motors. The 12 valves are pretty low tech like a tractor motor...hardly anything electrical whatsoever. They're known to have gone half a million miles before.

The powerstrokes are supposed to be pretty solid too. Neither one should give you much trouble.......

I don't know much about the duramax, but the Allison is supposed to be the best automatic on the market, and people seem to like them pretty well. Time will tell.

STAY AWAY FROM THE CHEVY 6.5. They go through injector pumps pretty frequently (at well over a grand a pop), don't have as much power as a cummins / powerstroke, I don't think they're even intercooled. If you want a Chevy, you'd be better off with a 454 gas (at 10mpg...)

Posted by: Grape Ape

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tang


	Talked to my uncle with the Cummins, he said his is pushing 28#'s on the autometer guage, in stage 5. That is under hard acceleration ofcourse.

He's not even really pushing it yet either! Well, yeah he is, but I drove a friends older Dodge with Banks stuff and Diablo tuning(he is the tuner) and it surprized me what happened. His boost gauge wasn't high, at 50psi max ... But it almost instantly pegged when I floored it. Remember that 11.19 or whatever, that we saw here from the twin stack Dodge? His made at least that much smoke. I thought I was gonna kill it. He said it would only run low 13's, but that was likely because of the traction issues.

Posted by: Tang

I dont know about yall, but the smell and sound of a diesel makes me wanna hump some tires.

Posted by: DeckSetter

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tang


	I dont know about yall, but the smell and sound of a diesel makes me wanna hump some tires.

You're weird.

Posted by: Tang

Bahh, shut-up Dicksitter , you drive a Jeep.

Posted by: Grape Ape

I geta kick out of the sounds of a PowerStroke Diesel... But I ain't humpin' no tire!

The "aroma" doesn't do much for me, much like gasoline doesn't. I do despise the "fill-up" though, because diesel foams so badly. Last night it took me 12 minutes to put under 13gal. of fuel in.

I was mad too. Not in a hurry, but I wanted to top it off and it just seemed I'd never get there. Finally, I just quit and went home.

Posted by: IROC_ZO6

yep, those diesels sound fucking badass. especially with the 4" exhaust so all you hear is the turbo spool.

Posted by: DeckSetter

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tang


	Bahh, shut-up Dicksitter , you drive a Jeep.

.......and your point is...........?

Actually the Jeep stays parked most of the time. I'm usually putting miles on the Celica. The Jeep A/C still isn't working and it death wobbles like crazy so until I've got the money to mess with it I'm not putting many miles on it.

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