Why didn't Ford make an Inline 6????

[hammersley]

They had 5 years to come up with a new concept. We know that 6's have less parts, and therefore are cheaper to build - although we don't get any advantage when we buy them - so why didn't Ford build this new engine as a real workhorse? I guess they have their folks convinced that the V design is the way to go. To my surprise GM came out with the new inline 6 for their new Trailblazer, and fought the V trend.

 

[DIESELMAN]

Because Frod doesn't build diesels. Navistar International does. Its just an overlay design on the existing powder struck school bus engine.

 

[Joe G.]

V engines are shorter and fit well in the same space their V gassers fit.

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

I really think that part of it is that the general american thinking that V8's and V10's are king - sixes aren't. I have people at fuel pumps ask me all the time "is that a V-10?" then I tell them "no, it's just a six" and get back "oh" and they walk away. Then I proceed leave the parking lot and BLAST down the street .

 

[Partyat33]

Maybe because if they went straight six the truck would be too long to continue to make a REAL crew cab. Now that's a dilema.





HELLOOOO Dodge-- CREW CABS SELL



Dennis

 

[JTMcCracken]

Hi Dieselman, I'm sure you really know that Ford has made a lot of diesel engines, some even 6 cylinders. JTMcC.

 

[Steve M]

Ford used to paint the B5. 9 grey and had FORD on the rocker cover like Dodge did. Navistar also makes an inline six for medium duty trucks called a T466E. I've read in a couple of different articles that a V8 diesel drives more like a gas engine. I guess that's what most buyers want. The numbers don't lie.

As far as the crew cab goes, the new quad cab Dodge seems to be seeling like hot dogs at a ball game. It fits in the garage that I don't have and that's a big plus for the ones that do have. My Ford crew cab owning buddy is on the verge of trading his F350 for a Dodge/Cummins 3500 SRW quad cab short bed for that reason among others including the Cummins that he thought he was getting when he bought his F350 and the salesman told him it had a Cummins because Ford owns Cummins. I'm sure he's not the only one!

 

[JTMcCracken]

Ford was in the diesel engine business long ago, I'm not talking about pickups engines.

 

[98rammer]

yes, the V8 diesels run like a gasser, and unloaded that's better in terms of performance. we all know that the inline 6s have the low end torque which is better for those heavy loads. they also get the v8 design and rev them high to meet the emissions standards while getting the hp out.

 

[John Berger]

I am surprised that Ford doesn't make or contract to an engine maker for an I6 option for the light duty pickups. The market is there and their reputation with transmissions would be a plus. I think that it's the size thing all over again. This is all speculation of course, but you definitely can't argue with success. That's all fine and good, but I'll take a real truck engine any time.

 

[klenger]

Ford does make an inline 6. It's called the Cummins ISB 5. 9. Ford owns Cummins, right?

 

[DIESELMAN]

Originally posted by JTMcCracken

Hi Dieselman, I'm sure you really know that Ford has made a lot of diesel engines, some even 6 cylinders. JTMcC.

They are fine generator plants, but so are the little Lister's. I have quite a few in generators, and even a big @ss one in a John Deer Snow Cat, a long time ago. I know it wouldn't fit into a PickUp.



My brother gives me crap that the neighbors come running to the street with their garbage cans when I leave for work in the morning... ... .



I counter with the school kids get the snot beat out of them by their parents for missing the School Bus when he leaves in his Powder Stroke.



Besides, Ford owns Cummins, right?

 

[rdolan]

Hamersly -



I think Navistar and GM went the V8 route for packaging reasons as JoeG mentioned above, and also for cost reasons. For a given power density, the V8 provides cost advantages to the manufacturer compared to an I6. Of course we benefit from the inherently beefier bottom-end of the I6: wider, heavier main bearing bulkheads in the block, wider main bearings, loaded at more favorable intervals and wider conn rod bearings, which are one of the main life-limiting components in any 4-stroke engine. Leave the V engines for the accountants worried about cost, keep the in-line engines for people who demand robustness.