On Thu, Oct 13, 2005 at 01:15:09AM -0700, kevin kraly wrote:
> Of course, I'm intending to get another MB diesel, but this next vehicle is
> going to haul stuff and tow my boat. I've decided to get a diesel ex-cab or
> crew cab pickup, and I've always wanted a Dodge with a Cummins turbo diesel
> in it. I've had Ford "powerchokes" before which were good trucks, but no
> Cummins dodges or GM diesels (don't think I'd consider one of those). Does
> anyone have any advice on older vs newer generation Cummins engins (of
> course 24V is more powerful), but which years should be avoided? Several
> listers have mentioned the killer dowel pin (KDP) that destroys expensive
> engine parts which is a very bad thing, but fixable. If anyone has
> experience with these, please chime in.
If you're not shelling out the big cash for a new truck (say after 00 for a
GM, 03 for a dodge or ford), you have three choices:
- dodge, which the engine will outlast the truck by billions of miles. Plan
on replacing or doing serious work on the transmission as the autos don't
deal with that kind of torque when towing for long, and the five speed
manuals have a nut that falls off if you lug the transmission. The front
end parts don't like 1300 lbs of weight hanging off it, so front
suspension parts don't last long. The 24v had an electronic pump that
could be problematic, but for the most part behaved itself.
- gm, which did the poorest in fuel economy, had the same five speed manual
problems as the dodge (but not as often since the cummins had more torque
and seemed to get lugged around more), had the least amount of torque of
the three, and had serious problems with its electronic injector pump.
The IP is expensive to replace, and doesn't last very long, especially
if the ECU or the lift pump aren't up to snuff. If you get one of these,
bribe kaleb with a dead 115 for how to rewire the thing to keep the thing
from going low voltage and taking out $2000 worth of parts. The duramax
has plenty of power and gets more competitive mileage, but I stay well
away from them - they make an overcomplicated powerchoke seem like an
OM616 by comparison.
- ford, the power leader by a long shot. Catch is the autos can't take it
for long because the same brain children who stuffed the garbage truck
engine in a pickup think that a torque converter from a 460 will work.
BZZZZT. The front end gets sloppy as the miles get high, the engine is
incredibly hard on oil (but so is the duramax now), and cavitation is an
issue that can be scary if buying a used vehicle that wasn't properly
maintained.
Or, do like me. I ended up with the infamous powerchoke, and unsatisfied with
any of the offerings from the big three, am setting out to build one. I have
an 80s K30 crew cab dually that will get a 12v cummins. Best engine, most
solid suspension (before chevy put that IFS junk in trucks), and a body that
parts are dirt cheap for. I hope to start working on it this winter, but
who knows how that will go.
K
