Did You Know Ram had a Diesel Engine 11 Years Prior to Cummins (89)?

[Wiredawg]

Friends,

Whilst I've been working on my new to me 1978 Lil Red Express Truck, I've found there were around 2000 Rams equipped with Mitsubishi in-line 6 diesel engines. They were naturally aspirated, and only produced a few years.

"In 1978 and into the 1980s, Dodge sold, as a factory option, the Mitsubishi diesels in D150s, D250s, and Power Wagons; the Mitsubishi 6DR5, was a straight six sized at 3950 cc, with 105 hp at 3500 rpm. It came without a turbocharger, providing good mileage (reportedly over 20 mpg) but limiting top speeds; the turbocharger was added by many buyers afterwards."
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I thought some of y'all would get a kick out of this...I certainly did.

Cheers, Ron

 

[Larry Willard]

I knew they were made, but I don't remember ever seeing one myself.

 

[Michaelsloft]

Friends,

Whilst I've been working on my new to me 1978 Lil Red Express Truck, I've found there were around 2000 Rams equipped with Mitsubishi in-line 6 diesel engines. They were naturally aspirated, and only produced a few years.

"In 1978 and into the 1980s, Dodge sold, as a factory option, the Mitsubishi diesels in D150s, D250s, and Power Wagons; the Mitsubishi 6DR5, was a straight six sized at 3950 cc, with 105 hp at 3500 rpm. It came without a turbocharger, providing good mileage (reportedly over 20 mpg) but limiting top speeds; the turbocharger was added by many buyers afterwards."
​

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I thought some of y'all would get a kick out of this...I certainly did.

Cheers, Ron

I've seen only one and it was for sale online! IIRC it was in Eastern Montana - Billings area. And it was around 10 years ago.

 

[Wiredawg]

I knew they were made, but I don't remember ever seeing one myself.

Larry,

I've seen one I think at a dealer when it was new, but according to more in the article, they were dog slow and couldn't get out of their own way. I remember blowing a turbo hose off my 00 Ram 2500 and how dog slow it was naturally asperated.

Cheers, Ron

 

[Ozymandias]

The black spot in Rams history, horrible vehicle.

 

[TFucili]

I can recall a customer who had one. They might have ben a dog, but I don't think they were a grenade like the Gimmick Motors 350 garbage.

 

[jgillott]

I can recall a customer who had one. They might have ben a dog, but I don't think they were a grenade like the Gimmick Motors 350 garbage.

A neighbor up the road had one of those 350 GM diesels in an Oldsmobile I believe. He didn't keep it long if I remember correctly.

 

[Deathrowdave]

I worked as a mechanic at a Dodge dealer in 1979 . I put two of these new on the road to one owner , Carlisle Crane Co. . They were both Red , both same exact truck . Dogs delux , but probably way more scarce than any other Dodge pickup of the era .

 

[Bob4x4]

We had one customer that bought a new one from us.It took a full 30 seconds to get to 60 mph but never needed any repairs to the engine or fuel system.

 

[Wayne M.]

Ron, seeing this made me remember that I have a 78-81 parts catalog. This option is all over and in every section.
I’ve never seen one in person.
BTW, if you need something looked up for the LRE, let me know!

 

[Wiredawg]

The only thing I actually remember was the Diesel Power decals. Never heard one run or knew anyone who had one. I wonder if any TDR member had one.

Cheers, Ron

 

[NIsaacs]

Don't leave out Dodge's little brother, the Power Ram 50 w/Mitsubishi 4 cylinder turbo diesel, 83-85 models.

 

[RVTRKN]

That Ram Mitsubishi Diesel was posted here a couple of years ago, I don’t think it’ll show up in searches anymore though.

 

[DonFitzwater]

Yep, there is one floating around Tok, Ak somewhere that has been for sale for several years................super high price tag for a dog.............apparently the owner thinks it should fetch money like a first gen Cummins truck.

 

[Brian Sullivan]

Had to work on a couple of them.... painfully sloow

 

[SnoKing]

Those lame Mitsubishi in-line 6 diesel engines went in a few production Bayliner boats back in that time frame and maybe others, and they were dogs at best, lucky to do 11 knots. My friends early 3870 Motor Yacht had them.

https://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1984/bayliner-3870-motoryacht-3241295/?refSource=browse listing

Fifth picture shows "130 hp Chrysler diesel"!

 

[Ozymandias]

For a fork lift engine as it was designed it did well, the one that decided to put it into a road vehicle should be blamed.

I never found a good Japanese Diesel engine, they are all dogs including the newer turbo ones.
There are no passenger vehicles with diesel in Japan, prohibited by law, so, they have no experience with that.

 

[Wayne M.]

Don't leave out Dodge's little brother, the Power Ram 50 w/Mitsubishi 4 cylinder turbo diesel, 83-85 models.

Many moons ago, a neighbor had one. Nifty lil truck. It was a stick too.

 

[Michaelsloft]

Many moons ago, a neighbor had one. Nifty lil truck. It was a stick too.

When living in Billings, MT during the late 90's a neighbor had one with stick. It was a good truck! Started easily and ran well with great MPG!

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

I found one in a boneyard in the early 1990s. Behind the adapter plate it used the big block B/RB cast iron bellhousing.