I have been looking around for a few years and trying to learn more about deisels. I will be in the area to buy one fairly soon and I'm looking at two trucks, a 97-2002 dodge cummins and a power stroke 99-02 as well. Before you guys bash me for bringing up ford talk over here I'm curious the ups and downs to both vehicles. I know that 98.5 dodge went to the 24v motor, is that a better motor than the 12v? Also what is the KDP fix?( just found the search feature....wonderful thang....disregard this question.) I'm tyring to weigh both vehicles in the following categories:

longevity
power
upgradability
dependability
resale
transmissions
gas mileage
overall quality
potential problems

I appreciate all the help and the site is awesome

 

Welcome to DTR!!

Here you will find anything and everything that you need. if you are looking for a 1997-chances are you will draw a 12V, but with your year range, you might be looking at getting a 24V as a larger possibility. Not bashing ford nor dodge, both have their strong points and both have their weaknesses.....

KDP.. more of a problem on a 12v (i know u already found it) needs to be tabbed to prevent it from falling into crankcase... and cauing mega bucks in damage... 50 bucks an an afternoon of work is a better deal than 3000 worth of possible engine repair work... yes...

Anyways this is my opinion weighing out three options 12V (24V im least knowledgeable in) and 7.3 PSD..

longevity: Well either ways you cannot go wrong with a cummins here, powerstrokes usually need a massive overhaul by 300K or so, or they drop a valve or injector failiures, HPOP (high pressure oil pump) can also fail around this time. I have seen 12V cummins with over 300K still running well and some members here even have some super high mileage trucks, 24V from haulin in dixie with no issues... just basic maintainance, and mind you these rigs get worked hard.

power: All three engines are powerful in their own respects, But if you are going to be towing, then the king of low end TQ is the 12V cummins, these trucks due to the p7100 pump fueling on the 1997 model have some massive potential and some wicked low end, i drive a 1996 and it has the same pump.. woo!! , the 24V has lots of tq down low as well, both have more low end than the powerstroke easily, The peak TQ is also reached sooner in a cummins than a powerstroke, Powerstroke i think reaches peak TQ at 1800 rpms or so, and cummins at 1500 ish? dont quote me on that tho, I have towed with both and the cummins tows better by far on the low end, and for passing power, but once the stroke gets going its a really nice machine as well...

upgradability: No doubt here, its preference. If you like electronic gizmos, then go with a 24V cummins or a powerstroke diesel. The 12V is nothing mechanical (i beg to differ with a pcm....) and is much cheaper to modify than a 24V or a powerstroke to lets say about 400-450 horses or so, 12V involves pump timing, fuel plate changes and adjustments, playing with the Air Fuel Control housing, Governers spring kits, ya know stuff you do with basic hand tools and so forth. A 24V is simply a plug in your favorite fuelin box and play, as is a power stroke. Mind you before Upgrading them or BOMBing them as we call it here, Good gauges are a must, and best have some money as well cause ur tranny, whether auto or manual aint gonna like the increase too much...

dependability Man, that is a tough one here, Cummins has been around and in dodge since 88 i believe? and the powerstroke has been with ford since mid 1994, My uncle has a 2003 7.3 liter PSD, and it is a very dependable truck, has not given him any problems yet to this day (knocks on wood) with over 102K on the clock. Id say in this one its a matter of preference once again, If you plan to keep this truck for a long haul, then id go with a 24V or a 12V cummins, i say this not out of biasedness, but because it has been around longer than the 7.3 powerstroke diesel, and seems to have more of the issues worked out of it. I love that 7.3 powerstroke and have somewhat wanted one in the past, but as a stable mate to my ram

resale: No doubt that dodges have higher resale than Fords, Look in autotrader so to say and look up fords, they are everywhere, so prices are lower, look up cummins powered rams.. well.. he he he he he.. u get the point... not many ppl want to part with their rams, but look on www.thedieselstop.com, and you will see the total opposite from me, u should try and post this there too see what answers you get...

transmissions: Manual or auto, if you are gonna modify or upgrade they will need work. The tranny in the 1999 plus powerstrokes is good, much better than that excuse of an E40D that they had in the 94-97 years, automatic that is. I speak out of experience the NV 4500 trans is what i have in my truck, and it is a good pulling transmission, BUT the fifth gear nut has the potential to come loose and fall off, if you lug the engine alot below 1500 rpms or so in fifth gear. The NV 5600 or the six speed here seems to be the choice for towing, but it does have alot of shifting, the ZF 5 and ZF 6 (i did have a ford at one point in time) 1993 7.3 idi, is a good transmission, the six speed however is much stronger in the ford and if you get a manual, its most likely the one that you will find, Gear pattern is a bit tricky and takes some gettin used to but it is a good trans that i know of. My uncle had one in his previous 7.3 (2001) no problems except a clutch.

gas mileage: well you have 6 cylinders inline with either 12V or 24V,a nd you have a sixteen valve powerstroke engine. My ram gets me 15-18 mpg in the city, and 19-21 on the highway, there are many factors to this tho, driving, transmission, my added weight in bumpers etc etc etc, However many 24V drivers get comparable mileage or better. i have not heard of a powerstroke getting more than 16-18 mpg to be honest with you, so id probly go cummins here and 12V for that matter, this is only out of my preference though.

overall quality In a nutshell, ok, Ford makes a better truck, dodge has a better engine.. thats the best way to make this point. Overall, they are all good trucks, but its a matter of preference, what you want to deal with, and what you like or dont like to work on. parts are also slightly cheaper for a 12V cummins and a 24V than a powerstroke.. 300 bills per injector if they have issues.. yeow!! :-o!!

potential problems Powerstrokes are known to have glow plug failiures, rams have grid heaters, MUCH BETTER for colder climates Powerstrokes have a weaker crankcase as well, that has many issues over 400 rwhp, BUT dodge trucks with the same things need some serious tranny work as well, but the cummins hold up 400 HP well with a stronger bottom end, as well as some modifications, either truck will need mods at these levels. dodge manual trannys (5 speeds) have fifth gear nut issues, 24V trucks have injection pump issues (rare at times) but mostly the lift pump can go bad. 12V trucks have that dreaded KDP and both 12V ad 24V trucks have a "death wobble" from a weak trackbar from the factory.

Hope that this helps ya...

Thanks and have a nice day..

PS Jeez...

from the above i either need a life, a more stressful job, or to do more homework! LOL!!!

have a good one...

Tx

 

man that answered a ton of questions. I was under the same impression that ford makes a better truck but dodge makes a bigger motor. I am leaning towards a diesel for a few reasons, towing (when needed), longevity and reliability. Oh yeah...and now gas mileage. I want another truck so I am in this delimna now. I'm not considering a chevy diesel, the duramax I like, but can't afford one. So that limits me to either a dodge or ford. Let the fun begin. All information is welcome. I thank you again for the great post.

 

get a dodge 2002 quad cab dually. They are the best, just my $.02 though.

 

I had a 97 ford, and had lifter problems and valve problems and it cost me 1000 bucks both times they bent or broke (hence the name). I was averaging 13 mpg with the ford. I am a ford guy still to this day. I own two of them as we speak. Not diesel though. When looking at my 02, a few people that had dodges were talking about fuel mileage and low end torque. I was going to buy an 03 cc lb ford with the 7.3 and six speed. Price was way to high. Finally test drove an 02 dodge with sixer and fell in love. Jerks at the dodge dealer let me drive it all weekend long. So I bought it. The power down low is so much better. I miss the crew cab of the ford, and the locking hubs. Upping the power on the dodge is much better as well. Adding some sticks is very cheap compared to the ford, plus it is 10 times easier to work on the dodge. I put a 4" exhaust on my ford and it was a pain to put the downpipe on. Had to bend the firewall to fit the thing, plus it was so tight to work way on the back of the motor. The 80 horse chip helped but it still had no where near the power of the STOCK cummins. No B.S. there either. That was the 7.3 motor, still better than the 6.0. Now my truck is no where near stock, but way cheaper and easier to get to 500 rwhp than the ford. Plus I dont think they make twins for the fords yet. I think I had a lemon ford, but I am happier with the dodge. Still on the original VP 44 (knock on wood), but I have added a pusher pump. My wife drives the 12V and the 24 Valve is easier to mod, but the 12 V is cheaper to mod. The 24 has more HP than the 12 stock. If you can find a 98 12v for a good price, get it. You wont be hurting if you get a 24v. I like my 24 better than my 12 and I own them both. THis is from someone that had both ford, dodge, and has 24v and 12 v. I bought my truck for the motor only. Not really a dodge fan.