Perhaps the reason is the simple fact that Izusu and International actually make vehicles, not just engines. they wouldnt want anyone confused as to what they just saw go by. was it a chevy, or an izusu? Ford, or international?

besides, "Chevy Silverado Izusu Turbo Diesel" or "Ford F-350 International Turbo Diesel" just dont sound right.

not to mention people are stupid for words like: "Power" and "Max"

just gimme a CTD!

 

Cost and agreements with the current companies.

Look at it this way...

The **** on your radio costs, lets just say, 4 cents from your current supplier. There is a **** that is nicer and more astetically pleasing from another supplier. That nicer **** costs 6 cents. Now here is the fun part, multiply that times 500,000 vehicles. That is a $20,000 increase in your overall cost across the board which directly affects your bottom line. Now before anyone says "I am willing to pay the 2 cents to get that ****" keep this in mind. You have a contactual obligation to the current supplier of the 4 cent **** and you will have to pay them say $20,000 to get out of that contract. Now that makes your 2 cent increase to get the new **** a 4 cent increase over the entire product line. Which is passed to the consumer. Now apply this same principal for every single part, nut, bolt, molding, etc. on a truck.

Now, what makes anyone think that Ford and Chevy have not looked at CAT, Detroit, or Mack? I am sure they have explored those options and they have not been cost effective.

What would be involved with Ford discarding the current engine? Well Shipping logistics to get the motors to the assembly plant, retooling to install the engine, retraining and huge amount of Diesel techs at dealerships. All this without even considering the R&D costs. Who pays for that? You and I do.

Now I see alot of people bashing other brands like Ford and Chevy. Those people need to open their eyes and look in ther mirror because Dodge has it share of problems too. Just read the threads. People are way more likley to complain about something than praise it, it's human nature.There is an evolution process to every product offering. No one gets it right out of the gate. Two houses down from me is a guy who bought a 06 Duramax about the same time I bought my 05 Dodge. I talked with him about his truck and he loves it, I love the sound of it because it is quieter than my 05 with 6500 miles on it.


Sorry for the long rant but just had to add my opinion.

Hub

 

I'm not fired up about anything!
By the way; GM owns Dmax LTD. So it is not an Isuzu engine. Even though the engine is stamped Isuzu, GM has owned at least 49% (Now it`s more like 90%) of Dmax LTD from the beginning. And it was a joint venture.

I don't care what they name it, as long as it is trouble free for the time I own it! (Ricer even works for me! ) It`s built right here in Ohio, Owned by General Motors. The way I see it, It`s about as American as anything else we can buy these days. And the name doesn't bother me in the least!

 

"Why can't a company the size of GM come up with a good diesel pickup truck engine on their own?"

They did many years ago when they tried to convert a 350 block to deisel. Can you say belly flop?

 

Wow, never thought this thread would stir up so many varied responses!! Good read about the .02 cents. That would be the bean counters! Like I said it was something that popped into my head, driving down the road listening to the engine out the passenger side window. Just a useless, dim light bulb question......everything has problems. Dodge, Chevy, Ford......Toyota, Honda.....just different problems.

 

Hell id by a ford with a CAT motor just to put the CAT DIESEL POWER sticker on the windshield........LOL

 

How bout the Izusu NPR's that are gas powered that run 454's or 350's?? Wierd huh?

 

[QUOTE=charliez]"Why can't a company the size of GM come up with a good diesel pickup truck engine on their own?"

I guess your saying that DC came up with the Cummins Diesel to put in the rams? Everybody likes to talk smack on the dmax engines on this site, and while I understand that it is partly brand loyality I think that alot of it is unfounded. Dad has had a 02 dmax since it was new it has 114000 miles on it, and the only thing it had done to it was the injectors replaced at 105,000 miles(chevy paid the bill due to warranting them for 200k). I have yet to see DC step up and warranty their flawed fuel system on the 98.5-02 rams or the injector issue that the 04.5+ trucks are having. Whether people want to admit it or not the dmax is viable competition for the ol Cummins, and Gm will atleast back their motors if they know there is a problem.

 

I think the I-6 will out V-8 any V-8 because it is a superior configuration. It has better low end torque because of the long stroke and fewer parts than a V-8. My Cummins is very driveable but I will honestly say I've never driven a Ford or Chevy diesel (except for the old IDI 7.3 in a U-Haul). The old inline sixes (gas) in the Ford vans seem to outlast the gas V-8s . My friend has over 200k on his 4.9.

 

Ford PowerStroke sounds better than Ford FlowerStroke. That's the only reason. And why build your own when you can install the proven performance already available by Cummins? Same thing goes for Dana axles. Don't re-invent the wheel I say...

 

along that lines of thinking, why innovate at all.
If the Dana axle is go, why try to design something else?
Bilstein isn't the only shock manufacturer
Nor Goodyear tires.

I think it was Henry Ford that felt the Model T was good enough so he didn't innovate until he had to.

 

What I'm saying is let the Cummins and the Dana guys do the innovating. Dodge needs to figure out how to keep a passenger power door lock working. Man I hate reaching across the cab.

 

uh...they already do...

 

They do have an engine if they chose to use it. Can you say "Mercedes"

 

All i can say is the VT444 aka 7.3 powerstroke is a great engine. THe 6.0 is a total piece IMO.