6.4L PSD news

[JUeckert]

the smallest inline that international has made for the last several years,is a dt466. dry,it trips the scales at over 1400lbs.

 

[Signal73]

The Cummins sells Dodge trucks.

My point exactly. I shake my head when I see a 2500 or 3500 Gasser going down the road.

 

[rbattelle]

Ford quality my arse!

Being rather young, I've only owned 4. 5 vehicles in my life. 2 of them were Fords: an '85 Bronco II and a '96 Mazda B4000 (Ranger). I was not particularly impressed with the quality of either, the former nearly causing my complete financial ruin on more than one occassion. The B4k was fairly reliable, but I only had it a couple years and never touched it unless something broke (every maintenance job inevitably resulted in 2 or 3 things breaking along the way).



I have come away from Ford ownership with a firm belief that Ford Motor Company makes garbage automatic transmissions. I'm still angry with them over the A4LD that was in my Bronco II. Never will I buy a Ford automatic-equipped vehicle again. When I was immersed in the Ford world everyone seemed to think their transmissions were junk, and I don't fully understand where everyone these days got the opinion that Ford makes good automatic transmissions.



Perhaps the thing I hate most about Ford vehicles is that every one of them seems to be a snowflake. Buying parts for both of the ones I owned was like being Indiana Jones. The only thing missing would have been a bunch of loincloth-wearing blowgun shooters chasing me around Pep Boys every weekend. There always seemed to be 3 to 6 different part numbers listed for my application, and about 50% of the time one of them actually turned out to be right. The other 50% of the time the correct part had to be found with a great deal of searching and measuring and trial and error among parts meant for other years or other applications. It was ridiculous. I swear Ford changes part numbers and designs with every shift. You almost have to know the exact time and place your truck was built to get the right part for it.



Maybe things have changed, although I doubt it very much given the sad state of affairs at FMC. They've got a Twinkie of a Chairman, who's on his second restructuring plan and who can't keep an executive working for him. This does not inspire my confidence in FMC. If you can't plan and execute a viable corporate structure, why would I think you can design and build a reliable vehicle?



Besides, I'm a tinkerer. I have no interest in a vehicle in which I can't even see the cylinder head(s) without being a contortionist.



-Ryan

 

[Dieselnut59]

"I have come away from Ford ownership with a firm belief that Ford Motor Company makes garbage automatic transmissions. I'm still angry with them over the A4LD that was in my Bronco II. Never will I buy a Ford automatic-equipped vehicle again. When I was immersed in the Ford world everyone seemed to think their transmissions were junk, and I don't fully understand where everyone these days got the opinion that Ford makes good automatic transmissions. "



Exactly! At our previous family business (before I had any influence over vehicle purchases!), we had Ford Econoline vans. They never gave any trouble with the inline 6 (300) and we had one with almost 300,000 miles. It was a '86 model E250 with C-6 auto. We never had problems out of the C-6 auto's or the three speed on the column transmissions. The auto/od ones were junk! The one and only one we had with a V-8 (302) was total junk. We put four transmissions (two under warranty) and an engine in that POS. It was a '91 model with the "AOD" transmission. A transmission almost equally as junky was the "E4OD" we had in a '90 model with a 300. Had to replace it once under warranty and rebuild it once later. We finally junked the 302/AOD one with around 130,000 miles on it. That was the biggest POS. The '86 model was great, so I am not totally bashing ford. Their 300 6-cylinder is an EXCELLENT engine. Everybody makes some junk along the way, just look at Chrysler's "K cars"! Ford just seems to continue to make more junk than anyone else, judging by the recalls and problems they have.

I had a '86 F150 which was a nice truck, plauged with a POS 302. It was reg cab short bed 4x4, granny gear 4-speed. The drivetrain was great but the engine was nothing but trouble. if it had a 300, I would probably have kept it. Now I am glad I did not because I sold it and bought my '93 250 4x4 Dodge/Cummins- Never had a desire to have any other company's truck since!

 

[OBendis]

I dont get why everyone thinks that ford builds a better truck than Dodge or Chev. I know they all have their faults but this I wish Ford would put a cummins in then you would have the best truck mentality baffles me. For me personally after 20 years of logging in British Columbia, on some of the most brutal conditions that you could put a truck through its my belief that Fords just try to look the part and dont deliver

 

[Grizzly]

I don't know what everyone thinks is so friggin great about furd trucks.



The Cummins sells Dodge trucks.

I agree with what you are saying, except I feel strongly that Dodge makes a much better truck then Ford or Chevy, engine aside. I also feel very strong about Cummins. Dodge and Cummins are a good match.

 

[CumminsBu]

Ford did had nice truck at one time. I think their product are on the down hill, hint the 30,000 lay off and the close of three factories. My uncle has a 05 Powerjoke and it's been in and out to the dealer. I let him drive my truck and he was impressed. He told me that if he wasn't a diehard Ford fan he would buy one. Dodge has improved their product a lot, I still don't think they are the best truck either, like the ball-joint area for example. Hopefully with the release of the Ram 4500 and 5500 they will smash the Ford F-450 and 500 sales. I've never own a Chevy, or GMC I can't say much about them. Don't get me wrong I love my truck and wouldn't trade it for anything except a Ram 5500.

 

[GAllen]

I agree with what you are saying, except I feel strongly that Dodge makes a much better truck then Ford or Chevy, engine aside. I also feel very strong about Cummins. Dodge and Cummins are a good match.

I think the Dodge has better fit and finish than Ford. But having had a F350 / 460 gasser and two Chevy dually's, I can say the metal (especially the bed) and the paint are two area's for improvement with the Dodge. Other than that, no problem.

 

[Grizzly]

I think the Dodge has better fit and finish than Ford. But having had a F350 / 460 gasser and two Chevy dually's, I can say the metal (especially the bed) and the paint are two area's for improvement with the Dodge. Other than that, no problem.

The metal on Chevy is much thinner then Ford and Dodge.

 

[Dieselnut59]

I should have said "the Cummins is what sold me on Dodge". I have had no problems with either the Dodge or the Cummins part of my trucks, except the few mechanical things that are expected to fail with time. I have never had to take any truck to a shop or a dealer either, except one time and it was for the throttle cable recall on my '96 (which I could have done easily myself but they would not LET me just get the part and put it on!) and the recent transmission rebuild on one of the service trucks. The sheet metal does suck, but it sucks on everybody's new trucks. My solution will eventually be the same as it was for my '96 and put a flatbed on the '03. I am happy with the fit and finish, as well as the mechanical part of the Dodge trucks. I have never really ever heard anyone have total high praise for either furd or chev, especially with well used (high mile) trucks.

 

[dodgeguy44]

signal73



I truly think you are living in a dream land.



I drive a 2001 PSD in a fleet of PSD trucks and not one of them can stay out of the repair shop for numerous 2 bit problems. Add the door squeeks and dash rattles... ... ... ... ... . I'll stay with Dodge with or without a Cummins. The Cummins engine just makes it that much better than a Ford or GM, period!

 

[Grizzly]

signal73



I truly think you are living in a dream land.



I drive a 2001 PSD in a fleet of PSD trucks and not one of them can stay out of the repair shop for numerous 2 bit problems. Add the door squeeks and dash rattles... ... ... ... ... . I'll stay with Dodge with or without a Cummins. The Cummins engine just makes it that much better than a Ford or GM, period!

I agree with you 100%. I've had Ford and never want another. Signal73, get a grip.

 

[Signal73]

Signal73, get a grip.

Oh, Believe me I've got a grip, and its tight on my steering wheel. That way when my trucks wandering down the road I can control it, or when death wobble strikes, I can fight the wheel and try not to take out the opposite lanes of traffic.

Just because someones got a different oppinion then you, no need to take it personal. Dont forget, Its just a truck dude

 

[dodgeguy44]

Three of our Fords have the wandering problem and we can't seem to find out why. We even replaced the steering box on one and it still wanders.

 

[Cummins360]

THE STEERING ON DODGE TRUCKS SUCKS!!!!!! ITS ALL OVER THE EFFING ROAD!! No but seriously you would think the engineer who designed the front end on the dodge trucks was on crack, e, and drunk all at the same time!

 

[Cummins Cowboy]

THE STEERING ON DODGE TRUCKS SUCKS!!!!!! ITS ALL OVER THE EFFING ROAD!! No but seriously you would think the engineer who designed the front end on the dodge trucks was on crack, e, and drunk all at the same time!

Man aint that the truth, that is the one thing on my '02 that sucks!! infact I might not get a new '06 if it where not for the sucky steering, fortunatly the 3rd gens steer like a sports car. I can't believe how slow they made the ratios!! my dads 3rd gen steers about twice as fast.



Ford being the better truck is a myth!!! this has been engrained into alot of people because ol grand dad swore by them f150's. It is not the case, my buddies who drive half tons, are always working on The front hubs or ball joints or something. other family members started with dodges, bought 2 fords, and now after only a couple years are dumping the fords and going back to dodges, Fords are just flat out less reliable and not put together as well. they have brand loyalty and they know it, people with fords are just used to having to fix things, they have been drivin them fords and dont' know any better. Dodge has very little brand loyalty I think in the last 10 yrs they have developed a following but only in the last 10 yrs as opposed to fords, which dates 70 or more years



I like to look at how a vehicle is put together, just look at a typical ford sometime, you will find they make parts way more complicated then they need to be, They also change designs on just about everything very often. This makes them suck to work on, as well as over engineered, hence they situation the guy had with the bronco II, those sucked BTW!!! I had a windstar thank god thats gone, but in order to remove the transmission the whole front subframe had to be removed, wheels brakes etc all had to be removed. making you have to support the engine from the top, WTF!!!! this is typical ford design make it more complicated than it needs to be, There are some exceptions look at the early 90's v8 mustangs you don't see an overly complicated setup, as a result they are good vehicles

 

[dodgeguy44]

THE STEERING ON DODGE TRUCKS SUCKS!!!!!! ITS ALL OVER THE EFFING ROAD!! No but seriously you would think the engineer who designed the front end on the dodge trucks was on crack, e, and drunk all at the same time!

As Ford says: Have you driven a Ford lately?... ... ... . I haven't heard that slogan in quite a while... ... . I wonder why?

 

[Grizzly]

Oh, Believe me I've got a grip, and its tight on my steering wheel. That way when my trucks wandering down the road I can control it, or when death wobble strikes, I can fight the wheel and try not to take out the opposite lanes of traffic.

Just because someones got a different oppinion then you, no need to take it personal. Dont forget, Its just a truck dude

I not trying to take it personally or even put down Ford. All I want to say is that Ford has not made anything good since the early 70's. My first taste with Ford was a 71, F250, Camper Special with a 390 gasser. Now that was the sorriest piece of junk ever made. Well maybe it was my 94 Ford Explorer. I'm telling you they were junk, always in the shop. My experience with GM was a bit better in the 70's. In the 80 GM fell off the deep end and have never recovered. Dodge trucks in the 70's and 80's rattled and drove like they had concrete shock absorbers, but mechanically, they were good. Dodge gas engines were great. Dodge have improved 100% with the start of the 2nd generation.

 

[Grizzly]

I should have said "the Cummins is what sold me on Dodge". I have had no problems with either the Dodge or the Cummins part of my trucks, except the few mechanical things that are expected to fail with time. I have never had to take any truck to a shop or a dealer either, except one time and it was for the throttle cable recall on my '96 (which I could have done easily myself but they would not LET me just get the part and put it on!) and the recent transmission rebuild on one of the service trucks. The sheet metal does suck, but it sucks on everybody's new trucks. My solution will eventually be the same as it was for my '96 and put a flatbed on the '03. I am happy with the fit and finish, as well as the mechanical part of the Dodge trucks. I have never really ever heard anyone have total high praise for either furd or chev, especially with well used (high mile) trucks.

I totally agree. My 95 was never in the shop and so far my 05 has been great. Sheet metal on all vehicle is getting thinner. I guess they all do that to try to keep the weight down as much as they can.

 

[BErmoyan]

As Ford says: Have you driven a Ford lately?... ... ... . I haven't heard that slogan in quite a while... ... . I wonder why?

Have you driven over a ford lately? Or around?