New Ford 6.8L diesel

cxturboboost · **Posted:** Sun Nov 22, 2009 9:35 pm

Just my .01

I used to manage the cummins industrial dealership here in town. We were repower kings in the heavy equipment industry. Because of this, I repowered my 1974 Dodge W200 with a cummins 4BT. For those who don't know what it is, take the 5.9 and take off two cylinders.... I now have a 3/4 truck that gets great fuel economy and has just as much power as the 360 with the 4 barrel.

Isuzu already makes good 3 and 4cyl diesels (We were also the Isuzu dealer) Great quality and fuel economy. Factory Ford High boy got repowered with a 6 cyl. 300k and still going strong.

Repowered a 3/4 Suburban with a Cummins from a 1992 Dodge. Ever seen a Suburban at your local truck pulls? Peoples eyes open wide! 20MPG , hauls 8, and pulls anything you want..... Does it get any better? Backed by the NV4500 five speed. (OK the NV5600 six speed would be better)

The diesel engines are already out there. No need to re-invent the wheel. Most of the Cummins in Dodge Pick ups we saw all got over 500k on them if serviced properly.... I swear by that engine. Dust is the number one killer.

To each their own.... We'll see how this VM does for me...

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Sun Nov 22, 2009 9:39 pm

tjkj2002 wrote:

I still price out a brand new F350 every year they way I want it just haven't pulled the trigger since I presently have no use for a pickup.

Hey, now you have a very good reason, you can haul your SFA KJ to different off-roading events and take your Rock Lizard Fabrications products to the shows, etc. Sounds like a good reason to me. And you can write it off as a business expense. I feel a F350 is near in your future...........

Khaki-KJ · **Posted:** Sun Nov 22, 2009 11:13 pm

flman wrote:

Khaki-KJ wrote:

I have always loved Ford and Dodge pick-ups, especially the diesels. I just wish that Ford would offer a manual transmission with their diesel.

Huh? My 99 F450 had a 6 speed manual. Ford is not offering manual transmissions on diesels any more?

Nope, only Dodge offers the diesel with a manual. I even went to the "Build Your Ford" section of the website just to double check. I am not sure when they went to auto only.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Sun Nov 22, 2009 11:15 pm

Khaki-KJ wrote:

I am not sure when they went to auto only.

Increased towing capacity.

Khaki-KJ · **Posted:** Sun Nov 22, 2009 11:21 pm

tjkj2002 wrote:

Khaki-KJ wrote:

I am not sure when they went to auto only.

Increased towing capacity.

When, not why.

I know the new autos haul more weight than the manuals do these days, but I still love shifting, the feel of the engine braking the vehicle, steering with the real wheels in a tight corner...

Auto has some advantages over manual, but I will still take a stick any day.

CRD Joe · **Posted:** Mon Nov 23, 2009 3:59 pm

cxturboboost wrote:

Just my .01

I used to manage the cummins industrial dealership here in town. We were repower kings in the heavy equipment industry. Because of this, I repowered my 1974 Dodge W200 with a cummins 4BT. For those who don't know what it is, take the 5.9 and take off two cylinders.... I now have a 3/4 truck that gets great fuel economy and has just as much power as the 360 with the 4 barrel.

Isuzu already makes good 3 and 4cyl diesels (We were also the Isuzu dealer) Great quality and fuel economy. Factory Ford High boy got repowered with a 6 cyl. 300k and still going strong.

Repowered a 3/4 Suburban with a Cummins from a 1992 Dodge. Ever seen a Suburban at your local truck pulls? Peoples eyes open wide! 20MPG , hauls 8, and pulls anything you want..... Does it get any better? Backed by the NV4500 five speed. (OK the NV5600 six speed would be better)

The diesel engines are already out there. No need to re-invent the wheel. Most of the Cummins in Dodge Pick ups we saw all got over 500k on them if serviced properly.... I swear by that engine. Dust is the number one killer.

To each their own.... We'll see how this VM does for me...

Great points CX. I agree, the Cummins has been the best light duty (2500/3500) series truck motor for years. The Mini (Dura) Max is a good engine too. Ive never been a Struggle Stroke fan. Imagine how many trucks Ford would sell if they had a Caterpiller badge on the fender????

Tinman · **Joined:** Mon Apr 10, 2006 10:45 am **Posts:** 308

Caterpillar is out of the on the road market all together, thanks to the EPA. And they never made anything small enough for a p/u. I think I remember that John Deere had thought about or had a prototype engine for that market. Ford couldn't build enough trucks if they had a JD straight 6 under the hood.

nursecosmo · **Posted:** Wed Nov 25, 2009 1:59 pm

I bought my 97 2500 Ram for the engine. It's the last of the 100% mechanical diesels ever made. It has 206K miles and still runs like the day it rolled off the line. The rest of the truck is a piece of crap. Tranny, crap. Steering, crap. Suspension, crap. Body, crap. I just wish that a Cummins was available in a ford body.

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Wed Nov 25, 2009 2:19 pm

nursecosmo wrote:

I bought my 97 2500 Ram for the engine. It's the last of the 100% mechanical diesels ever made. It has 206K miles and still runs like the day it rolled off the line. The rest of the truck is a piece of crap. Tranny, crap. Steering, crap. Suspension, crap. Body, crap. I just wish that a Cummins was available in a ford body.

The newer dodge cummins trucks are much better. My 06 doesn't rattle, the suspension is tight, no problems with the transmission, and the body is pretty solid IMO. Overall, I'm very happy with the truck, and it tows like no other.............

Plus, excellent fuel economy and lot of cool upgrades for the Cummins. :wink:

Turbo Tim · **Posted:** Wed Nov 25, 2009 2:31 pm

Quote:

I bought my 97 2500 Ram for the engine. It's the last of the 100% mechanical diesels ever made.

What do you mean it's the last mechanical diesel made?

I have a 99 2500 (24 Valve Motor) at it still has the VP44 injection pump, mechanical lnjectors, etc. What's different?

nursecosmo · **Posted:** Wed Nov 25, 2009 2:49 pm

Turbo Tim wrote:

Quote:

I bought my 97 2500 Ram for the engine. It's the last of the 100% mechanical diesels ever made.

What do you mean it's the last mechanical diesel made?

I have a 99 2500 (24 Valve Motor) at it still has the VP44 injection pump, mechanical lnjectors, etc. What's different?

The VP44 has electronically controlled timing and fuel delivery. It has a computer on the pump itself and when they go bad (they all do), they go in a big way. If you get a P0216 code, you had better order a new pump, cause the code of death has arrived. When the lift pump fails (they all do), the IP goes as well. If you can get your hands on a FedEx spec pump you will get much longer life out of it. FedEx would not accept Cummins engines for their trucks until the computer on the IP was redesigned with a better heat sink for longer life, and the internal tolerances were tightened up for less wear due to LSD and ULSD use.

That is why I bought an older truck. The IP is the venerated P7100. It is an inline pump vs a rotary style like the VP44. It is lubed by the engine sump and typically lasts 500K-1 million miles without being rebuilt. The LP on the 94-97 models is also a bulletproof piston plunger style pump and lasts ~200K miles.

geordi · **Posted:** Wed Nov 25, 2009 3:12 pm

If there was a pump out there that had proven 1 million mile reliability... WHY would Cummins mess with the design? What possible benefit could they have been seeking to flush 90% of the lifespan of the pump?

nursecosmo · **Posted:** Wed Nov 25, 2009 3:46 pm

geordi wrote:

If there was a pump out there that had proven 1 million mile reliability... WHY would Cummins mess with the design? What possible benefit could they have been seeking to flush 90% of the lifespan of the pump?

Impossible to meet emissions requirements with static timing. Cummins still puts them in some industrial applications. Besides what auto manufacturer wants a vehicle which lasts a million miles? Sounds like a good recipe for decreased new vehicle sales.

CRD Joe · **Posted:** Wed Nov 25, 2009 4:30 pm

nursecosmo wrote:

I bought my 97 2500 Ram for the engine. It's the last of the 100% mechanical diesels ever made. It has 206K miles and still runs like the day it rolled off the line. The rest of the truck is a piece of crap. Tranny, crap. Steering, crap. Suspension, crap. Body, crap. I just wish that a Cummins was available in a ford body.

Hey Nure, thats not really true. The 12 Valver non computer motor was used as late as 1998.5. They switched to the 24V computer motor in the second have of '98.

nursecosmo · **Posted:** Wed Nov 25, 2009 4:50 pm

CRD Joe wrote:

nursecosmo wrote:

I bought my 97 2500 Ram for the engine. It's the last of the 100% mechanical diesels ever made. It has 206K miles and still runs like the day it rolled off the line. The rest of the truck is a piece of crap. Tranny, crap. Steering, crap. Suspension, crap. Body, crap. I just wish that a Cummins was available in a ford body.

Hey Nure, thats not really true. The 12 Valver non computer motor was used as late as 1998.5. They switched to the 24V computer motor in the second have of '98.

The early so-called 98 models were not 98s. The 12 valve Ram was only produced through Dec 97. The so-called 12 valve 98 model with available suicide doors became available fall 97 through march or so 98, when the 24 valve models (produced from Jan 98 on) hit the show rooms. The actual date of 24 valve ISB production began 1-9-98. There was no production from Dec 31 to Jan 9th for retooling setup. So regardless of what the dealers called them, there are no 1998 12 valve Rams in existence.

http://dodgeram.org/tech/dsl/Facts/epa_changes.htm

Tinman · **Joined:** Mon Apr 10, 2006 10:45 am **Posts:** 308

But didn't those "late 97s as you say" have the updated "98" interior and quad doors, kinda like the "98" 1500. Splitting hairs I know. But those 98 12valve quads are rare and very desirable trucks. Wish I had one.

nursecosmo · **Posted:** Sat Nov 28, 2009 11:28 pm

Tinman wrote:

But didn't those "late 97s as you say" have the updated "98" interior and quad doors, kinda like the "98" 1500. Splitting hairs I know. But those 98 12valve quads are rare and very desirable trucks. Wish I had one.

Yes indeed, they became available fall 97. They were called 98 models but not a single one was ever manufactured in 1998. I do not buy into the auto industry's practice of calling a vehicle a 2010 model when it was manufactured in June or July of this year. The dealer would have liked for me to believe that my Jeep manufactured in July 05 was an 06 model when I bought it in July 06. Because then he wouldn't have had to discount it. The tard didn't even realize that it was a diesel.

I didn't realize that my posting about purchasing the last of the electronic free diesels ever made in this country would cause such a discussion of the inane. I'm just glad I have it. If a comparable new vehicle were available today, I'd be all over it. Unfortunately each new model such as the Ford under discussion is more complex and failure prone than the last.

Cowcatcher · **Posted:** Sun Nov 29, 2009 9:34 pm

I would love a regular cab F150 with a straight 6 diesel. It would pull my goose neck cattle trailer just fine.

dkenny · **Posted:** Mon Nov 30, 2009 7:07 pm

nursecosmo,

are you kidding..I like my OLD DD8.2 liter..yes ALL mechanical engine..if the filters aren't plugged or too cold..it starts..and starts fast..always..
sure the engine it self is a poor performer.

it sure would be nice if the model year and the calender year were the same. but there not! we just have to live with it.

this thread has been interesting..I got slammed..I think..by my first comment but it seems many others agree..
a small 4 cylinder diesel in the midsize and small full size pickup..would be great..

-dkenny

nursecosmo · **Posted:** Mon Nov 30, 2009 8:11 pm

dkenny: I don't think that you got slammed. And yeah, those old DD 8.2L engines were nice even though they weren't straight sixes. Some of the marine versions would put out 300HP. I don't know why they were called throw away engines. Most lasted 20 years or better, although they would have some problems if the wrong mechanic got a hold of them. They will be some of the only vehicles on the road after the nuclear holocaust. :roll:

New Ford 6.8L diesel

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