Whats the difference between the 6 and the C in the 8th digit truck.

Whats the difference in engine and transmission.

I tried to search it but had no results.

Is the non HO really that bad?

 

From all my research on here these are the differences that I know.

Horsepower & Torque
SO - 245hp / 460 lb/ft
HO - 305hp / 555 lb/ft

Transmission
SO - 47RE
HO - 48RE

Other than that, I'm not sure of the difference. I bought an '03 HO myself.

 

C is for the HO 305HP/555 ft lbs TQ

6 is for the SO 250HP/460 ft lbs TQ

 

Some of the 2004 SO engines did come with the 48RE.

 

Thanks is the 47re really that bad of a transmission?

What is different on the SO compared to the HO to make the poer difference?

Also what is the difference between the 04 HO and the 04.5 HO. other than 20 HP! Are the heads different from eachother, injectors??
Can an SO be modded to be an HP easily?

I am just learning this diesel stuff and want to buy the best value and still be able to tow with out worry of failure!
Trans or engine!

 

Lots of questions there but here are the answers that I can give- - - - - - -SO with the 47re Trans is probably the slowest and most Non Pulling Truck that I have ever own. 60 mph dead spot in the powerband and I had the 4.10 axle. Tranny was slow to downshift and terrible on the Turbo Barking!!

** The HO makes 610 lb ft of tq- - -the 48re Transmission is better by far but not the greatest transmission in the Diesel World right now...... Pretty dependable tho!

SO---- takes more money to make the power than the 04.5 and newer.

** Go with the 04.5 and newer and if you are not scared or Rowing the Gears get the NV5600 6spd or in a 05 get the G56 Manual....... God Luck

 

This is on the 04.5 and newer Cummins. The HO Cummins offered in 03 and 04 is 555 lb ft.

 

I get it now, the 04.5 is the king. 05 up is good but converter is present.

I will look for one if possible.

I am just looking at what makes them different.
I raced Ram Air pontiacs for years and the short block assemblies were all the same.
the HO was the same as a RAIII other than the air intake, The RAIV was just different heads and intake.

Just wondering what hard parts make up the difference in these three SO HO and 04.5 HO.

I appreciate the answers so far. Thank you.

A little more technical would be great though.

I am statring to get a handle on this diesel stuff and want to understand it further.
If anyone knows what causes the HP differences.

 

The power difference is mostly in the computer programming but you cannot upgrade the SO's programming to HO.
Yes the SO is slow compared to the HO but it will still pull a good amount of weight. My 03SO was much stronger stock than my 98.5 CTD that had an EZ on it. I never had an issue pulling 10-12,000lb around, even when it was stock.
It is possible to make an SO very powerful. All it takes is $$$....

When I was buying the 03, they had an HO on the lot too and I swear it didn't feel that much more powerful than the SO. I ended up with the SO because it had a lot more options. My new truck, however, is much more powerful than the SO was when it was stock...

 

The SO w/47RE is a fine truck. I really like mine. With an EZ on level 2 and boost elbow and a higher flow filter (total mods about $200 on ebay + gauges), I'm every bit as powerful as the HO if not more. I have no problem towing 10,000lbs through the mountains at 70mph on 5% grades. Empty I get about 21mpg on the interstate, 23 mpg on the backroads at 50-65mph.

I hope the 47RE will hold up well past 100,000 miles with proper care and feeding (even with the mods). I don't hot rod it. When it breaks I'll dump
~$3k into a DTT or somthing and it'll be every bit as good as a built-up 48RE. Or maybe by then it'll be time to buy a MeagCab 6.7l/68RFE.

 

Ok, here is the full scoop, the so and ho engines are the same, the ho has more oil galleys in the bottom. The main difference, as stated earlier is the computer. That being said, when you add any power enhancements they will have a greater effect on a so engine, giving the same number at the end of the equation. The 47re is the weak end of the problem. The 47 and 48 are allmost the same tranny, the 47 just has less clutch packs etc. Less pressure to the packs and so on.

The 04.5- 05 were basically the same truck, the 06 is a little different and the 07.5 is alot different (6.7 engine)

Kevin

 

I thought I heard that the HO had a slightly higher compression ratio compared to the SO trucks?

 

I am at 120k with mine, but I don't have any serious mods.

 

[QUOTE=turbo69bird;1337681]I get it now, the 04.5 is the king. 05 up is good but converter is present.
QUOTE]


04.5 had cats on them as well. 03 & early 04 HO motors get (in general) the best MPG, but the 04.5 & up have more power stock. Also, they switched from the NV5600 6 speed manual to the G56 6 speed sometime in 05 I belive.

Good luck in your search

 

MY 1st choice would be a new MegaCab w/ 5.9, my second choice after driving MANY of these trucks would be a 2004 not an 04.5 w/ cat, plastic intercooler, etc... the 03-04 HOs are much stronger than the SOs and they get better milage and run as well as many of the 04.5-06s, and if the DOT or EPA ever cracks down on diesel emissions the earlier HOs are the only ones w/o cats from the factory, and if you modded out your exhaust and lost your kitty, no telling what could happen. JMO w/ what I've driven.