I don't care about how much the new trucks " might " have. I have a NEW truck the DOESN'T have to meet any emmisions tests. Bomb's away !!!! Black 04

 

no kidding. so think about the most glorious 2004.5 truck scenario: Suppose Cummins and Fleetguard are able to meet the new emissions regs without EGR, and they have some post-combustion treatment thing that works. Also suppose that they bumped up the torque to 600 and that peak HP is 325.

You still have a truck that is watched by big brother, subject to local emissions testing and monumentally more difficult/expensive to legally bomb. you won't be able to touch that exhaust system without affecting emissions and you'll fail the yearly test. Personally I'd be worried and wouldn't put it past the politicians to add OBD II diagnostics to the yearly test to check for certain signatures in an attempt to fine you for using a fueling box. And the fueling box mfgs are going to be putting out lots more disclaimers such as "for off road racing use only. not legal for public streets".

And if the new engine does indeed have EGR and VGT then the fueling box itself will be considered 'tampering' with emissions (just speculation here of course).

 

all those hp and ft/lb numbers sound great - it's all a pipedream - until DC can make a transmission that is worth a darn big power numbers mean NOTHING. :
the dream is bombing your engine or having high power AND NOT worrying about the transmission - a positive shift without the clutch or TC slipping
specifically, the automatic :'(

 

The 03 and 04 rebates I heard were b/c Chrysler was in the dumpers as far as sales. They had to get the sales numbers up, even if to lose a little money in the process, in order to compete with two new products from the competetion. They are also betting the farm on the new models available this year and seem to be gunning for the 70's image of muscle. I would speculate that we will see something new in 05 in regards to styling and possibly a new engine that will meet emmision standards in all 50, and competetion with the evolving Duramax and PSD. If I were to speculate, the styling will probably stay very close, but we may see more room in the back seat and better interior styling.

Keeping in mind that Dodge is betting the farm on the new models, we should see something new come across for 05. I don't think you will see any changes in 04. The Cummins is too much of a staple crop for Dodge, and messing with that may only get them in trouble. I would bet that they offer another engine option prior to killing the Cummins in order to test the water and decide who we are really loyal to - Dodge or Cummins (I bought a Cummins that happens to be installed in a Dodge).

I am wondering when they are going to come out with a true full size SUV with a Diesel option to compete with Ford, and the planned release of the Duramx back in the Suburban.

Yea, resale always sucks after a major model change, except the Fords, seems the 7.3's are really holding their value right now with the 6.0 problems, and the new front end on the Chevy's isn't raising too many eyebrows either. Only emotion it invoked with me was just the question, "why?"

Some of us were able to get close to $10K off on our 03's with the rebates and many other incentives, and I don't care how much it is worth after driving it for 10 years - I am getting every dime out of it. With the engines evolving so much in the past 10 years, I am sure the dang things will be so choked up with emmisions controls by that time, we will be searcing high and low for a good low mileage truck that has nothing between the Turbo/Ehaust Manifold and the end of the tail pipe except for 4" OD of stainless steel.

All of the diesel owners are trying to talk all of the gassers over to our side. That will only mean the big three begin to build more, and the Govt. regulate them more.

 

Just got off the phone with my Dodge area sales manager. He said the new HO Cummins will be available for us to order as of december 1st and job 1 will be January 9th. He said there will be new emissions equipment, as well as a power increase probably jumping just ahead of Ford. He will have exact power #'s soon.

 

There's no doubt that the "tree huggers" will stick their noses into the diesel issues.
For some diesel applications, I can see a need for a little control. For the guys like us with diesel pickups, we're not causing the air pollution problems and they need to leave us alone.

My personnal answer to the coming regulations (and they're coming): I'm going to keep my 1999 CTD for a long time. As soon as it's paid off, I'll buy me a 1500 HEMI for everyday and drive my CTD when I really want to enjoy driving.

CR

 

You guys crack me up.LOL. My guess it has something to do with the egr. But if I was waiting for mine like the rest of you all, I would also be spectulating more guts.

I'm glad I have mine. Hope you guys get what you are hopeing for

 

Well, cummins luke has credibility -- the first non-speculative comment with any credibilty I've heard. We're talking about a Dealer who has heard from the area sales manager -- guys that haver to go through product training and information a couple of weeks before product launch, no?

sales talk, maybe, but cumminsluke has always been straight up and able to sniff out idle sales talk.

get ready, guys. I bet all of the old engines are committed to production now and that new orders will have the new power plant. a slightly more powerful engine with big brother watching it with eagle eyes...

 

Thanks CumminsLuke for the info.

Joe

 

[quote author=maybe2004 link=board=20;threadid=21430;start=0#msg201406 date=1067126551]
was at dealership this morning and a gentleman was there and said he spoke to dodge about the new 50 state legal HO... suppossed to have 600 lbs of torque and same or just a tad more HP...[/quote]

Hmmmm....that seems to be pretty much in line with what THIS thread says. Hmmmm....