Posted 2009-04-10 4:17 PM (#103143 - in reply to #103018) Subject: RE: Diesel truck questions ?
Veteran
Posts: 100
Location: Arkansas
"...The 7.3 Powerstroke(as opposed to the naturally aspirated 7.3) or the 5.9 Cummins in the Dodge would be my pick."
By this do you mean just the 7.3 Powerstroke and not the 7.3 Intl.?What do you mean by "naturally aspirated" ? Is that just the 7.3 without the Turbo?
I seen a 5.9 Cummins 1993 Dodge for sale...are those good engines/trucks?
What years were the 5.9 Cummins made?
Do they have Turbo and non-Turbo versions of the 5.9 Cummins, like Ford and GMC?
Reminder: I have NEVER owned a diesel and I don't really know much about them.... which are duds and which are the better trucks with good powerhouses.
Posted 2009-04-10 4:44 PM (#103144 - in reply to #103018) Subject: RE: Diesel truck questions ?
Expert
Posts: 5870
Location: western PA
You don't need a one ton diesel to pull a 2H BP trailer.
Buy any one of the big three gassers in a 3/4 ton rating, with their largest gas engine if you're worried about the power. They're less expensive to buy and maintain, and there are thousands available country wide.
Posted 2009-04-10 6:17 PM (#103149 - in reply to #103018) Subject: RE: Diesel truck questions ?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 317
Location: Barnesville, Ga.
We run 5 chevy's at work with basically the same setup just in 3/4 ton and 1 tons (97-00). All have multiple drivers and all have 200k+ miles and have been real pleased. In a fleet it is hard to maintain them like an individual would. Sometimes our oil changes go 7-10K miles. They have been rode hard and put up wet, but still running strong and won't even consider replacing them until they are worn out. You should have alot of life left in them. We load them up daily to the max and pull trailers too. Most are still on the original trannies. The weak spot we have found is that the gear on the bottom of the distributor will wear out and leave you stranded. Usually happens around 150K. Certain 350's came with a soft gear. Once you replace the gear everything is good. Scared us the first couple of times it happened thought it was the motor, but fortunately a very cheap fix. A good mechanic should be able to run your vin # and see if your truck has the soft gear or not. I'd stay away from a new pmt if I could. No since in wasting money unless you just want a different set of headaches. I would think you would be hard pressed to find a well maintained truck that old that isn't going to require some repairs and anything a heavy duty truck is going to be more expensive to fix than the truck you already have.
Posted 2009-04-10 10:51 PM (#103165 - in reply to #103143) Subject: RE: Diesel truck questions ?
Location: Colorado
Originally written by Killrail on 2009-04-10 3:17 PM
"...The 7.3 Powerstroke(as opposed to the naturally aspirated 7.3) or the 5.9 Cummins in the Dodge would be my pick."
By this do you mean just the 7.3 Powerstroke and not the 7.3 Intl.?What do you mean by "naturally aspirated" ? Is that just the 7.3 without the Turbo?
I seen a 5.9 Cummins 1993 Dodge for sale...are those good engines/trucks?
What years were the 5.9 Cummins made?
Do they have Turbo and non-Turbo versions of the 5.9 Cummins, like Ford and GMC?
Reminder: I have NEVER owned a diesel and I don't really know much about them.... which are duds and which are the better trucks with good powerhouses.
The 7.3 liter engine in the Fords was built by International. It first came out in trucks and vans as a naturally aspirated engine(no turbo). That engine is a good engine , and you can get a lot of miles out of it, but it lacks power and it will smoke. Then came the 7.3 Turbocharged version. Better, but not as good as the Powerstroke version. I think the Powerstroke was introduced in 94 or 95. I was working at a Ford place then, but I don't remember for sure which year. The 99 Superduty came out in late 97(wierd, huh) and it was a lot more user freindly truck than the 95 to 97s. More HP, better gearing, quieter in the cab(nothing like today's diesels, though). If I were buying an older Ford diesel, I'd be looking for a 99 to 2002 or 03 7.3.
As far as the 5.9- I don't think Dodge ever put a non turbo version in their truck. The older 5.9 in the Dodge is a great engine. A little short on the horsepower when you compare it to the engines in 99, 2000, 2001 pickups, but when you compare it to the gas engines of the day, it was a real step up. The older ones also get good mileage. My stepdaughter has 94 3/4 ton Dodge 5.9 diesel that she pulls a 4 horse Hart with. I'll out pull her on the hills with a 2000 Ford with the same load, but on a 100 mile trip there won't be 5 minutes difference in total travel time.
Posted 2009-04-11 12:51 AM (#103176 - in reply to #103117) Subject: RE: Diesel truck questions ?
Expert
Posts: 1351
Location: Decatur, Texas
I have a 1-owner 97 Ford F-250 extended cab 4x4 with the 7.3L powerstroke, 5 speed, cold air, but it is just an "XL" package with high miles,(277-k) but runs and drives like it has 77-k on it. I have it in the detail shop this weekend and will be on craigslist on Monday for $3500.00!
Posted 2009-04-11 12:57 AM (#103178 - in reply to #103100) Subject: RE: Diesel truck questions ?
Expert
Posts: 1351
Location: Decatur, Texas
90% of the 6.5L diesel with the SEL is a bad fuel cap!
The problem you are having with it stopping and then being able to restart is going to be the little black module that is mounted on the side or beside the injector pump! This has been biggest problem GM had with the 6.5 diesel. Look up heathdiesel.com they have a easy relocation fix for this problem.
Posted 2009-04-11 1:21 AM (#103180 - in reply to #103143) Subject: RE: Diesel truck questions ?
Expert
Posts: 1351
Location: Decatur, Texas
Originally written by Killrail on 2009-04-10 4:17 PM
"...The 7.3 Powerstroke(as opposed to the naturally aspirated 7.3) or the 5.9 Cummins in the Dodge would be my pick."
By this do you mean just the 7.3 Powerstroke and not the 7.3 Intl.?What do you mean by "naturally aspirated" ? Is that just the 7.3 without the Turbo?
I seen a 5.9 Cummins 1993 Dodge for sale...are those good engines/trucks?
What years were the 5.9 Cummins made?
Do they have Turbo and non-Turbo versions of the 5.9 Cummins, like Ford and GMC?
Reminder: I have NEVER owned a diesel and I don't really know much about them.... which are duds and which are the better trucks with good powerhouses.
If you are wanting a stout ol' work horse the 7.3L IDI (non powerstroke diesel) would be the weay to go. Sure they are a little less hp, but they are REALLY CHEAP to work on and does not take much to keep them running. And you could find one of them cheaper priced than a POWERSTROKE.
Yes, the 5.9L Cummins is must likely the BEST diesel built, however some of the Dodge bodies did not last as well as the engines did.
Dodge used the 5.9L Cummins from 1989 to early model 2007, they had a GREAT 12 Valve engine from 1989 to 1998, then in 1998.5 the cam out with a 24 valve engine more power and electronic injector pump.
Dodge only had TURBO engines, the early models did not have an intercooler!
Last but no least, my opinion you would have to flip a quarter then pick the Ford or Dodge, both had good and bad issues, both are really simple engines, the "powerstroke" will cost a bit more to work on....
ie: 5.9L injectors $200 to $500 per set, Ford IDI engine injectors $90. to $175. per set, Powerstroke injectors about $900. per set.
Sorry to be so long, but if you are looking you need to know up front!
Posted 2009-04-11 8:23 AM (#103188 - in reply to #103018) Subject: RE: Diesel truck questions ?
Veteran
Posts: 188
Location: Ingalls, Ks
Hogtownboss, thanks for the heads up about Heath. I wish I had more interest in keeping that 6.5 running. It got bad enough that GM took pity on me and paid for a lot of the problems I was having, many pumps and pump drivers (i think thats the little box you referred to) 3 clutches and misc. other things all with less than 100k. I do agree with you about the older 7.3 and 5.9. If you can keep the electronics out of it you may have less power, but more reliability. I still have my old 6.2 GM and it runs fine every time, but when they went to the electronics in the fuel pump things went down hill. If one can find a 6.5 with the mechanical pump they too are good engines, but they had a very limited run. Somewhere around 1993 and early 94???? The 6.5 was the truck that switched me to Ford in 96!!!!
Posted 2009-04-11 8:23 PM (#103214 - in reply to #103018) Subject: RE: Diesel truck questions ?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 317
Location: Barnesville, Ga.
We had a 95 cummins for a couple of years. Bought it used with about 40K miles on it kept it for another 80k or so. Went thru 3 rear ends and two trannies sold it after we put the 2nd tranny in. Used them the same way we use the Chevy's. Seems like Dodge put some weak links in an otherwise good setup.
Posted 2009-04-11 9:07 PM (#103217 - in reply to #103018) Subject: RE: Diesel truck questions ?
Regular
Posts: 51
Location: Labelle, FL
Have a 2000 dodge 3/4 5.9L cummings and LOVE IT, bought it used one owner with 102,000 miles on it for 9500.00 3 years ago. My friends hate me cause I get 16-18 mpg hauling a 3horse Cherokee Tomohawk with 2 horses and stuff. I didnt want a new truck payment so went this route and glad I did. I had a 1500 gasser before this and though it did the job, I love this trucks power much better. Though I have a bigger trailer than a BP I have towed both and just prefer this power to the other,,,,Good luck with your decision.
Posted 2009-06-18 12:30 PM (#106629 - in reply to #103168) Subject: RE: Diesel truck questions ?
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Posts: 122
Location: Grant Twp., MI
Hi Paul - this is an off-topic question - but I did a search and can't find any information and thought you might be able to help me. We are considering a Ford F-650 super duty truck for hauling a 45 ft. LQ trailer....do you have an opinion? I have not seen one used as a hauler...maybe the bed is "too high" to properly connect a gooseneck LQ trailer? Thanks for your help.
Posted 2009-06-18 9:08 PM (#106640 - in reply to #106629) Subject: RE: Diesel truck questions ?
Expert
Posts: 3853
Location: Vermont
Originally written by Judy K on 2009-06-18 1:30 PM
Hi Paul - this is an off-topic question - but I did a search and can't find any information and thought you might be able to help me. We are considering a Ford F-650 super duty truck for hauling a 45 ft. LQ trailer....do you have an opinion? I have not seen one used as a hauler...maybe the bed is "too high" to properly connect a gooseneck LQ trailer? Thanks for your help.