If you can find an older mechanical injected Dodge with a manual without a zillion miles, I expect that it would serve your purposes well. The only thing I don't like about the Ford is that the V8 is so darn hard to work on. The Cummins is a piece of cake to get around under the hood.

I had an early nineties Dodge Cummins, 5 speed and loved it. You have to put up with a crappy body, but if you're using it for a truck and not a show car, it won't pose any problems.

Good luck,