pondering a diesel

[Technikev]

yeah, those 12 valve cummins are an awesome engine. I have seen a ranch truck with well over half million km and hardly any work done. Just a couple clutches and regular maintenance. And a whole lot of Rotella over the years. She was no racer, mind you. It was all over before 3000 RPM, but had the torque to pull from a dead stop, empty, in 5th gear without slipping the clutch real bad. And there is something about the early body style... Been around since the early 70s, but... well, I guess I have to admit with a face only a mother would love.

-Kevin

 

[rick_d]

my 1995 power stroke was a Pile of Shiat. I bought it with 120K (miles) and had 4 good months of use (except failure of glow system and one injector).

then every 2.5 weeks

clutch (where entire system failed aluminum/plastic rod thing)
starter ($505 US rebuilt)
lift pump
water pump (and failed rebuilt install by a shop)
brake master
and I can't remember it all. $4,000 in 3 months.

the worst year (1998) of any vehicle I owned on record.

...and mileage (US) started at 21 mpg, and dropped to 13 mpg by the time I sold it at 160,000 miles.

My solution, sell the 40 and buy a 70/74, drive there in comfort and wheel all day to drive home in comfort.

 

[crushers]

sonds to me like you bought a another man's lemon...

 

[Eric Winkworth]

I'd say he bought a lemon holy crap, I really do like those old dodge body styles too, I would prolly own a diesel one right now if I wasn't such a cheap skate when it comes to fuel.

cheers

 

[red dirt squirt]

well so far dodge sounds like its the only diesel not totally violated.

 

[red dirt squirt]

great input so far, i appreciate it. keep em coming

 

[rick_d]

it was no lemon-

One of the local shops (Desert Diesel) was slamming them as well and all advised toward the 12 valve (mechanical) Cummins.

---thence my firm stance on mechanical pump Toyota diesels...

I was running around the forddiesel.com boards at the time and same issues with many of the same trucks were appearing.

plus, the rotten dealers in Tucson have the market cornered on parts and I later determined they charge 30% over suggested retail price (thanks Tuttle/Click!).

It so sad when you know a good system (like Araco built Toyotas) and you are stuck buying the crap they shove at US dealers.

Ford, their dealers, and all their products should burn in a great pile in central Nevada desert. (insert flip off face thingy)

 

[red dirt squirt]

i know that the company i am at now had bought a fleet of ford trucks, now granted these were not diesels but, before they made it 200 miles back from the dealership 12 of them had major problems with their oil pans and had to be picked up.

 

[red dirt squirt]

in reference to chevrolet on their petro trucks...they have been great to us so far we have a fleet of about 20 of them and several have run over 300,000 with low repairs and maintainence....as far as diesels go it sounds like the dodge cummins is the only diesel that no one really just despises....i'm sure there are some horror stories however. let me know what you think.....why is it that dodge has such a nice diesel engine but the rest of the rig isn't worht a flip? what kind of problems are people having with them and are these getting better in any of the newer, larger bodied models? thanks guys!

 

[brownbear]

on our 03 or 04 dodges we have had mulitiple lift pump failures. at early km's too.

I think all the early 90's from the big 3 would be better. I think somehow all of them have suffered with qualtity control into the 2000's. GM most defianetly.

I would look for a early 90's even up to a 95(new body style) with the 12v engine. Get something that was not a heavy work truck, you know owned by a retiree. Even if it has no turbo. That can be added later if you want. There are a million dodge(holset) turbo's in the junkyards for those engines.

Toyota is missing a market here. I think they could get in there with some of there engines. Maybe if the new Land Cruiser 130 comes out with the v8 diesel you might see it make it to the Tundra line.

I would buy a diesel Tundra. Get a 4 door version. It would make an excellant hauler.

 

[Eric Winkworth]

you know it, I would consider buying one, it would be cool. I would want full floating axles though no tousion bars or anything like that. Well I guess I can keep dreamin.

 

[DieselDick]

Tow Rig Shmoe Rig

Any truck you buy has problems, dommestic or imported, some more then others. GM can build a locomotive engine but not a diesel truck engine. Ford and Dodge both have nice engines. Iv heard good and bad about both. There are things I like about the Ford Diesel and there are things I like about the Cummins. The auto trany in the Ford E40D can be a rock crushing machine with the correct mods and updates. Probably cost 1000 bucks to do all the tranny mods but never have problems again no matter how much power you get her to produce. the 1997 E40D really just needs the tricumulator springs changed and a good controller. earlier models need the stronger updates. torque converters need to be changed in any of them with a lower stall speed. Buy the truck that fits your needs and that you like. Work on it yourself. and if you buy a ford only use the motorcraft glowpugs. I have a 1995 Ford Powerstroke. the first year of Direct Injection. It pulls hard and cruises like a dream with 3.55 in the rear. 21.5 Miles/Imp. Gallon all the time. oh 50,000km and its a 95. She sat in a garage for 10 years. Good Luck and Cheers.

 

[Eric Winkworth]

I agree with Dick, go do some test driving