Diesel truck question
 

Ok, so I've had my eyes open for the right deal to come along on a diesel truck. Eventually I'll most likely ditch the body and use everything else under another project I have so I'm mainly worried about the motor/chassis combo.
Basically, I'm not hellbent on cummins/duramax/powerstroke so I'm looking for opinions from people who have dealt with them all. What's the best diesel truck platform as far as durability/power potential?
Opinions welcome. May buy something soon, or not for a year, but trying to decide what to look for?

I believe in this you would have to figure out what year vehicle you were looking for... Because I know through the years some were better than others @ a certain point... Or 1's rear end was worse etc..

i have a duramax...perfer duramax...but i know they do have problems with the older ones with the fuel injectors...but thats the only problem i have really heard of

yea after 2002 the fuel injector problem cleared up. so i wouldnt get any duramax before that. like him ^ i also prefer duramax and have delt with them before. but i also like the powerstroke to. id say if you were planning on gettin rid of the body id go with cummins cuase they are known for good motors and shitty bodys. but just my opinion

^x2
i dirve a 08 duramax and love it. its quiet has plenty power and no problems in a 100k, but as for mods im not sure whats out there. my brotherinlaw has 2 of the 24v cummins (pre 2000 i think) and with simple mods put down crazy #s.

the 08 is starting to get some but the 06-07 LBZ duramax is most popular for afternarket parts...stock numbers are like 360hp/650tq?? at the crank

for the dmax just need the ppe+2 tuner, intake, exhuast,and a trans go shift kit and they turninto a beast.

My only issue with the duramax is I've never been a fan of isuzu products and the fact that you can't get a solid front axle in any of them. I think gm really dropped the ball there.
So that's leaving me at a cummins or a powerstroke. Been for a ride in a healthy stroke before, and well, there's joes truck lol.
My biggest issue there is if the powerstroke is so great then why do they offer kits to swap in a cummins?
But, I have an intense dislike for dodge automatic trannies. So I'm in a quandary lol. I'm leaning towards a 94 up cummins truck with a stick. But the fords are much cheaper and easier to come by. Not sure what to do but want to research and be sure I'm happy cause whatever I get will be the base of my next project after the 68 is done so I can't exactly trade it in for something else if I'm not happy...

rather be cummin then strokin....

I vote cummins or powerstroke. Talk to powerstroke joe though.

The 08 and 09 powerstrokes suck for gas mileage. Our work trucks barely get 9 to 10 mpg.

Are they 6.4's?

Go Cummins, get a later year 12v with the NV4500 stick. Amazing combo. 12v Cummins can make nasty power. From what I have heard from a Cummins tech you can make 700 horses with just a screwdriver on the old mechanical pump motors. Plus cummins just sound the best.

if you wanna race the truck get the cummins if you want the best all around get a duramax if you plan on pulling the truck apart and replacing head studs etc get a powerstroke. duramax's you can use a programmer up to 100hp then the tranny needs to be done they are the only weak link on the truck. powerstrokes weak link is the head bolts they don't take extra boost well and it is a serious pain to change. cummins problem is the whole dodge truck is gonna fall apart around it lol

agreed. the allison trannys are good for great power as they are...doesnt take much to make them good for 1000hp i know the new ones are food for like 850 or 900tq stock..one of the sales guys at work took me for a ride in a 2011 without letting it spool chirped first second and third it awesome lol

Ill stick with the only diesel made by a real diesel motor company. Cummins. And Duramaxs are still Izuzu hybrid motors. Thats their biggest problem LOL

Ive seen them all blow up or break. Not one brand doesnt have issues.

...well everything has the possibility of breaking and blowing up lol just part of the game

I guess at this point I just need to whip out a tape measure and see which chassis will fit best with the body I plan to eventually drop on it. I can go any direction depending on the day lol

If you put a 3rd gen body on that chassis I will drop a grenade in it...

^WHAT HE SAID!!!!

How about a 4th gen then? :D


But seriously, NO! I have an 83 ramcharger that my dad bought in 83. I grew up with the truck. It currently sitting on a 3/4 ton chevy chassis and had an olds 455 in it. Been sitting for more years than I care to count and needs some serious love. But, the truck has lots of sentimental value and I think a new diesel chassis would be the perfect way to update it and make it more fun/useful.
Figure I'll start shopping now for the right deal so when I start on it in a year or two I'll have what I need.
Plus a nice diesel work truck would come in really handy in the meantime :)