I would still rather drive the cummins 6 speed any day over any anyother. Just seems a shame to detune an engine because of a week clutch/flywheel.

 

Last time I checked the Cummins B series engines where designed and built way before they put them in the first dodge in 88/89. The DMax was purpose designed and built to replace the 6.5L GM diesel option.

 

Yes all the other manufacturers had different ratings. However even Ford had the higher rating on their manual than Auto. How hard is it to get a clutch to work?? The reality is if you have ever had a 6.0 with a manual or the DM with a manual, you wish you had an auto or you arm looks like Hulk Hogan from shifting all the time..

 

The clutch disk is up to the task. It is the Dumb A** I mean Dual Mass Flywheel that causes the trouble. I killed the first with stock power. The second new and improved was slightly better but did not last long either. My dealer wanted to replace it with another Dual mass. I said no thanks and bought a Billet Flywheel and dual disk setup. Works great. GM is not the only one that tried the Dual Mass Flywheel either. Also the Dual Mass flywheel was speced by ZF not GM.

 

How do you like the 6-speed behind the D-max, 6.6? I have always wanted to take one for a drive, but they are so rare.

 

If you don't need the dual mass for the engine to survive, why the heck are they putting it in??? I see SBC makes a kit for them, but by the stats they will only sell about 10 of em total...

I know the G56 and the CTD have the Dual Mass as well, but I haven't really heard alot bad about that deal.. I remember reading about the bushing material between the masses being different and thats about it...

 

The dual-mass flywheels are spec'd by Dodge to manage the NVH and reduce the undesirable harmonics transferred to the G56 - they won't harm the Cummins.

The DM units that LUK made for the Chevy weren't robust enough, so the later ones were beefed up - and of course, Dodge learned from GM's mistake and got a heavier-duty unit from LUK in Germany.

The biggest difference between the two units are the springs that cushion the halves of the flywheel against each other.

 

I like it a lot. Been a good truck. This summer I ran into about ten others with the ZF. They are rare but they are around.

 

To soften driveline spike is what ZF told me. It is noiser with the solid flywheel. The trans will rattle if you lug it below 1000rpm.

 

I could believe that.. I get a good buzz at WOT around 1400 when the boost comes up...

 

I think mine is quite fun to drive for a stock 3/4 ton truck. For the record, I do not have a "Hulk Hogan looking" right arm from shifting this truck. It looks just the chicken wing I have on the left side. I only use gears 2, 4, and 6 unloaded, so there isn't that much shifting to do.

 

Being able to rev over 3400 helps.. Those of us with 2900 redlines, have to get to work a little sooner...

 

Not really. I mean I am a die-hard Cummins guy but even I have seen what the Duramax can do at the track and sled pulls. It's coming on strong. I think you need to do a little re-thinking.

True, and International builds powerstrokes FOR Ford, and Cummins builds FOR Dodge. None of them make really make their own diesels. But anyone can probably agree the duramax is the better v-8 of the two.

 

Never mind the sled pulls. My father has a duramax with the allison and that motor pulls strong (truck and camper) seat of the pants, stronger than my cummins (although he does have more hp and tq). The duramax is nothing to be dismissed it is a strong motor. I have also not really been hearing a lot of negative experiances with it either. Now if only GM would produce a truck with a solid front axel and better ground clearance....

 

Definitely agree with you there. Solid Axle, and more of a heavy duty looking truck and they'd really sell those things. I know personally that having IFS under it along with the not so attractive styling is hurting sales, because i'm one of them not buying it! I've got a friend that calls the D-max junk, or crap...whatever....I have yet to call him out on it and back it up point out exactly why he says that. And he wants to sell his 03 CTD for a 7.3 excursion. Yeah, he is stupid, you don't have to ask me! lol