General Questions
#1
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Virginia
Posts: 0
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
General Questions
Hello all, I know I don't post much but keep a close eye on here. I finally came off the road and now have a local driving job for a pipe laying co. delivering equipment and supplies to all our job sites. I must say, it sure is nice to be home every day of the week!! My signature is now wrong as I don't drive a Freightliner any more, mostly drive a Ford 900 or a Mack Superliner w/ a 500hp V8 tri-axle that bellows out black smoke worse than anything I've ever seen. Anyway, on to the subject; I am ready to sell my 95 F-350 gasser and get a diesel. I need to find at least an ext cab or 4 door 3/4 ton or 1 ton and won't be able to pay much more than about $5500. My question is this: What should I stay away from? Of course, I will be looking at 80's & 90's Fords, late 80's & 90's Chevs and early 2nd gen Dodge. I feel fairly knowledgeable on the Dodge (Thank you all!!) I used to drive the old 6.9 Int'l and thought at the time they ran well (a looong time ago). Can a turbo be fitted to these? What about the non turbo 7.3's? What about the 6.4 Detroits? I know they have the reputation about stretched head bolts, how about the 6.5 Det turbo and non turbo? The only thing I have heard about those is they lacked power. Can all of the above be turned up? I doubt that I can find a Cummins powered truck in my price range. I need some advice and info concerning the above mentioned motors. I pretty much know the trucks they came in. Please help!! Thanks ...Dan
#2
DTR's 'Wrench thrower...' And he aims for the gusto...
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Smith Valley, NV (sometimes Redwood City, CA)
Posts: 2,668
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
2 Posts
Dan,
A turbo could be fitted to most anything but putting one on a 6.9 is really asking for trouble. And it would not be cheap. I had one that was stock with a automatic and it went through an injection pump, several water pumps, and had TWO cracked heads in 100,000 miles! Plus I rebuilt the steering twice, broke a tooth off the ring gear, front brakes four times, and the second tranny was in serious trouble when I got rid of it. Whew! Never again!
Do what you have to do to get a Cummins! You'll never regret it. The second and third gen trucks are much more modern than the 1st gens (I have a '93 too), but they are all great. I loved the power my '93 has but the suspension and other things are really old fashioned.
Wetspirit
A turbo could be fitted to most anything but putting one on a 6.9 is really asking for trouble. And it would not be cheap. I had one that was stock with a automatic and it went through an injection pump, several water pumps, and had TWO cracked heads in 100,000 miles! Plus I rebuilt the steering twice, broke a tooth off the ring gear, front brakes four times, and the second tranny was in serious trouble when I got rid of it. Whew! Never again!
Do what you have to do to get a Cummins! You'll never regret it. The second and third gen trucks are much more modern than the 1st gens (I have a '93 too), but they are all great. I loved the power my '93 has but the suspension and other things are really old fashioned.
Wetspirit
#3
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 202
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ditto on the Cummins advice. For the price range you're looking to spend you should be able to find a decent 1st Gen Dodge. 2nd Gen truck bring a little higher price.
When I was looking at trucks I spoke to a good friend who is a maintenance foreman for a large construction company. They have tried all the "big three" trucks, and the Dodge was the only one that proved to be reliable. They even use the Cummins in a lot of thier construction equipment and have had excellent luck there, too.
Personally, I wouldn't even consider a non-turbo'd truck. They're dogs stock, and by the time you install a turbo you could've bought a nicer Dodge.
When I was looking at trucks I spoke to a good friend who is a maintenance foreman for a large construction company. They have tried all the "big three" trucks, and the Dodge was the only one that proved to be reliable. They even use the Cummins in a lot of thier construction equipment and have had excellent luck there, too.
Personally, I wouldn't even consider a non-turbo'd truck. They're dogs stock, and by the time you install a turbo you could've bought a nicer Dodge.
#4
DTR's 'Wrench thrower...' And he aims for the gusto...
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Smith Valley, NV (sometimes Redwood City, CA)
Posts: 2,668
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
2 Posts
Dan,
A turbo could be fitted to most anything but putting one on a 6.9 is really asking for trouble. And it would not be cheap. I had one that was stock with a automatic and it went through an injection pump, several water pumps, and had TWO cracked heads in 100,000 miles! Plus I rebuilt the steering twice, broke a tooth off the ring gear, front brakes four times, and the second tranny was in serious trouble when I got rid of it. Whew! Never again!
Do what you have to do to get a Cummins! You'll never regret it. The second and third gen trucks are much more modern than the 1st gens (I have a '93 too), but they are all great. I loved the power my '93 has but the suspension and other things are really old fashioned.
Wetspirit
A turbo could be fitted to most anything but putting one on a 6.9 is really asking for trouble. And it would not be cheap. I had one that was stock with a automatic and it went through an injection pump, several water pumps, and had TWO cracked heads in 100,000 miles! Plus I rebuilt the steering twice, broke a tooth off the ring gear, front brakes four times, and the second tranny was in serious trouble when I got rid of it. Whew! Never again!
Do what you have to do to get a Cummins! You'll never regret it. The second and third gen trucks are much more modern than the 1st gens (I have a '93 too), but they are all great. I loved the power my '93 has but the suspension and other things are really old fashioned.
Wetspirit
#6
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Virginia
Posts: 0
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I agree, I know I would be happiest w/ a CTD, but around here, they run minimum in the upper $8,000's and higher. The 1st gen's, just never cared for the body style but could probably get used to it w/ nice wheels and tires. I mainly wanted to know what kind of problems are known about all the rest except what I already mentioned. The problem I have is I must sell my truck to pay off some bills and what will be left over should be around $5k. I do like simplicity so maybe I should look a little closer at a 1st gen. Thanks very much and keep the opinions and facts coming! Thank you........Dan
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
engcogod
Performance and Accessories 2nd gen only
17
02-03-2005 08:49 PM
lucey
3rd Gen Engine and Drivetrain -> 2003-2007
2
01-27-2004 05:33 PM