This message is from: " Dave McWethy" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Last year Ford (the owner of the Cummins Company), notified Dodge that >it was using Cummins engines in the Ford trucks for the 2001 model year >and that it would not be available for the Dodge trucks. So Dodge is >now using Mercedes Benz diesel engines.
This information has bounced around, but may not be true. As I understand it, Ford no longer has a significant share of Cummins as they once did. Ford uses Cummins for their larger (over 1 ton trucks) as an option. Daimler Benz has denied all suggestions that they are planning a MB engine for Dodge, and say they intend to continue with Cummins. They don't have an engine with the right power/weight to do the job. Ford, Chevy and Dodge are in a low key HP/torque competition with their diesels. The Cummins engine leaves Dodge plenty of room to increase power (aftermarket power kits have gotten as much as 750 HP). For $600 you can turn the old Dodge into a hotrod (HP in 350-375 range). Dodge doesn't want to have to provide the drivetrain to support a lot of extra power. As it is, the New Venture standard transmission can take more but at upper levels needs a stronger clutch. The automatic needs a ruggeder torque converter to take extra power.
