Hi all,
I applogize for this being off topic but I need the honest assessment from you diesel experts here. My wife loves our diesel cars (123 and 124) and wants a diesel pickup. We have had Fords for the longest time but always gassers. We mostly want a long engine and transmission life. So, its come down to Ford or Dodge (1990-2001 models).
What are y'alls experience and recommendations?
Clint

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81 300D N/A 130K miles (Nelly)
87 300D Turbo 80K miles (The Scalded Dog...because it runs like a scalded dog)
95 e320 Wagon 104K
2003 Sprinter 47K miles.
1999 Tandem Bicycle
One beautiful low miles wife (who likes diesels) (that's my wife holding the sign)

My son and I fixing Nelly's odometer

I've read several posts that mention this forum: www.thedieselstop.com

From folks that have had both, I've heard the Cummins engine is hard to beat and Ford has it with the rest of the truck. So I guess the ultimate match would be a Ford chassis with the Cummins engine.

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Sam

84 300SD 350K+ miles ( Blue Belle )

I agree with Sam, however, I'll just note that I've watched the Ford owned by my machinist over the past five years and he's not had any engine issues. The transmission had some issues under warranty but that's about it.

The one thing that also needs to be noted is the noise. That Dodge will rattle your brain in short order. The Ford is much quieter both inside and outside.

If you really want to listen to "quiet", the GM has them all beat. Too bad the engine is a POS. My cousin has the GM and the injectors last about 70K. Wouldn't be all that bad, but you've got to pull the heads to change them. GM extended the warranty to 200K and he'll be on his fourth set shortly..........to the tune of $4K per set..........and you wonder why GM is going bankrupt.........he's got to sell the truck once it gets over 200K to avoid eating one of those $4k bills. But, other than the engine problems, it's also a very quiet and comfortable truck.

Thanks for the info. My impression was the same...Cummins is king but the Ford is better in other departments. I got spoiled w/ the simplicity of my 123 N/A. From what my wife found, the PSD engines have trouble living much beyond 250K. This sounds awfully short-lived. Any opinions, etc?

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81 300D N/A 130K miles (Nelly)
87 300D Turbo 80K miles (The Scalded Dog...because it runs like a scalded dog)
95 e320 Wagon 104K
2003 Sprinter 47K miles.
1999 Tandem Bicycle
One beautiful low miles wife (who likes diesels) (that's my wife holding the sign)

My son and I fixing Nelly's odometer

i'm not into the duramax but if i remember correctly you don't pull the heads ,you pull the valve cover,just like on the powerstroke fords.and they have cured alot of the inj problems,just don't buy a 6.0 ford they have major issues.can't beat a cummins but like brian said the truck is junk as far as i'm concerned.friend of mine has a 97 ford and that has been one heck of a truck for him,think he's put in one set of glow plugs and a crank sensor and thats about it for damn near 10 yrs worth of abuse.you do have to watch what kind of oil you use,if it tends to foam up it will affect inj operation.i know there is one particular brand that he was told to stay away from,i'll have to see what it was.

I grew up in my dads 1988 F350. A very nice truck, Banks Turbo, Crew Cab, 5 speed, 4x4. it has the 7.3 Diesel and has a lot of power and torque. With that said I'd buy the Dodge. The ford 7.3 was a good engine and the current 6.9 is a good engine... both built by International. But the Cummings is even better.

My friend who is a "Cowboy" is an all Dodge family him, his mom, and dad all driving the Cummings trucks with no problems... regularly they go on outtings with family friends who own Ford trucks. and the ford trucks get a little better then half the mileage of the cummings... thats pulling horse trailers and RVs.

My dad on the other hand wound up with a lot of problems in his 7.3. about 3 years ago he pulled the engine and rebuilt it (at around 130k miles) because it was having odd valve sounds. when he took it apart heres what the machine shop found: micro cracks in the valves heads and pistons. the truck was still running when the engine was pulled... it was about ready to blow its self up. My dad rebuilt the engine and is still driving the truck.

My dads truck also had a lot of problems with the front end. he had to add stearing dampeners to the front end and has to chang them regularly or the truck will beat the crap out of the driver. My mom is only 5'4" and she came home one day looking like she had gotten jumped... black and blue marks all over from the truck loosing control and her having to fight to pull it over.

I'm sure the newer Ford don't have all the problems that i talked about, but i know the newer Dodges seem to be built better then the Fords.

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My grandfather has a Dodge...Banks power pack, auto, 2wd, and I drive an f450 powerstroke. The Dodge will drag that f450 all over town even with my grandfather driving it, and he never gets into boost..lol. The powerstroke has been in the shop several times and the Dodge....well..never and I mean NEVER. I can only dream of the day I can cram that cummings into my w123..haha from what I've seen, wow what a truck and I don't like Dodge. Besides wait a little and you will see cummings in Fords, since International has lost the contract...Soon...Good Luck

I've got over 200K mi on her and she runs good. Mine is one of the first 24 valve. I started with "enhancements" at about 50K. First thing was a complete set of guages, then bigger injectors and then a computer mod (Edge). There are some issues with the casting of the block to watch out for. Read up on the website: www.turbodieselregister.com This web site is much like this one but does require a $35 charge. It comes with a quarterly magazine (good) and the $35 will allow you to post, read back in time, and search the archives. Well woth the money if you are seriously considering a Cummins powered truck. The block casting is a certain series that was manufactured that had a weakness that could crack. I don't remember the particulars, but if I was shopping, I'd make sure I didn't get one of that series.
My truck has a manual 5-speed, though I'd prefer one with a 6-speed manual. If you want an automatic, it will need beefing up.
There are good folks on that website's forum. They are who led me to consider the Mercedes Diesel, and now I own two! If you have any specific questions, fire away!

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Steve Ayscue
'83 300D
'87 300SDL
'98 Dodge Ram Diesel
22' Hydrasport

the dieselresource is free.and from most of the people on there the dodges have a wicked bad steering set-up on the 4wd's,not uncommon to have steering rebuilds every 70,000 miles or so.

here's a good site for cummins power that's free.

http://www.dieseltruckresource.com/dev/index.php?

i have a cummins in a stepvan,(the 4bt3.9 4 cyl.)and it is a good motor. it is the 4 cyl version of what they use in a dodge.
i've always been a ford guy, but you cant beat the cummins 12 valve(95-98.5)for getting cheap power out of. throttle plate, injectors and exhaust will go a long ways for around a grand.

watch for the 53 castings if you get an early 24 valve- about half were made in a different place(argentina??)and are prone to cracks- i believe 98.5-00

the 12v are mechanical, like a benz, but the 24 v are electronic.

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1984 123.193 372,xxx miles, room for Seven.

1999 Dodge Durango Cummins 4BTAA 47RE 5k lb 4x4 getting 25+mpgs, room for Seven.

I just spoke to a ranch manager friend of mine this morning about his new Chevy 350 Dura-Max with the Allison trans. He just came back from hauling a 30 ft. trailer full of cattle about 80 miles and couldn't get over how well the truck did. He said that even loaded the truck is as quiet and as smooth as a car. He said that the Allison trans is the only way to go. He has had Ford and Dodge but swears he will never go back.

My cousin feels the same way about that truck, but, the issues with the injectors would certainly cause some pause. Maybe that's finally resolved. His truck is about five years old now............