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I am considering a diesel and have been thinking a lot about finding a 12v Cummins and putting it into an older chevy 1-ton. I really like the late 90's-early 2000's F350's with the venerable 7.3, but the price tag is ridiculous for such an old truck.

I will probably look for a non-running 71-72 Chevy C20 or early 80's C20/k20 GM truck and drop the 12v in it. I can have a great work truck, that looks great, simpler than new stuff to work on, and would be a great work horse. Pretty sure I can do it for significantly less than the F350 with 7.3 would cost as well.

Strictly engine? Cummins. Hands down. The problem is, it's in a Dodge. Everything else will fall apart around it.

Best all around diesel truck? I'd say Ford with the 7.3L.. less issues IMO...as long as you're OK replacing a trans every 150-200k..

Cummins 4bt and 6bt conversions are very popular.....aftermarket support is pretty good for an older engine..

Thanks fellas.

Cummins is more reliable because it is a simpler straight 6 design.
Bearings between every pushrod and simpler injection.

In 2001 I test drove a lot of 1/2-3/4 ton diesel trucks before buying one to tow my 30 ft 5th wheel.
Ford: Drove like a U-Haul Rental truck.
Dodge: Rattled like there were ball bearings in the crank case.
Chevy: Drove like a Cadillac, shit stereo.

Bought the 2002 Silverado LT 2500 HD CC 4X4 Duramax long bed. Every option except climate control.
Most trouble free vehicle I've ever owned.
Still my daily driver after 15 years.

I'd buy another except I'm never spending that much on a vehicle again.

sportsdad60 wrote:So....Dodge is the Cummins only? I see a 6 cylinder diesel out there now in trucks? What's the story on it?

I'm guessing you are asking about V6. Dodge has offered The 3.0L V6 EcoDiesel engine (VM Motori manufactured) in their half-ton trucks since 2014.
Incidentally the motor is a bit older design than that and has seen sales before 2014 in other markets.

Dodge heavy duty Cummins powered trucks have been inline 6 cyl since introduction.


6 in a row, ready to tow. 8 in a vee, you probably sit down to pee.

If you're really into some sleuthing, research and overseas shipping.....
Ford and international had a fallout many years ago. Long story short, a 6 cyl (believe 4.6) diesel that was destined to go into the F150 was on the drawing board. International made gobs of those motors.
Once the fiasco with the 6.0, lawsuits and warranty claims caused both to tell each to pound sand, those engines went to other countries were they were used in generator and boats. Maybe vehicles even, I don't know that though.
Now picking up an older 150 and dropping a 6 cyl diesel would be balls great! Hell, even an old Ford Highboy would be great.
Don't be scared of vehicles using DEF. Yes more to maintain and more parts to fail at some point, but there's nothing nicer than to stand on the go pedal on a diesel, haul ass with buckets full of torque, and not have even as much of a wisp of smoke out the tailpipe. I loathe the people that think it's funny to smoke out everyone with black soot, don't find it funny at all.
I spent a good amount of time, money and running on all my earlier diesels to generate as little black fog as possible. Even when continually spending money on programs, injectors, turbos and anything else to barely blow smoke, I still wasn't happy.
Having an emissions compliant vehicle that even the wife will drive has been nice..

STED9R wrote:If you're really into some sleuthing, research and overseas shipping.....
Ford and international had a fallout many years ago. Long story short, a 6 cyl (believe 4.6) diesel that was destined to go into the F150 was on the drawing board. International made gobs of those motors.
Once the fiasco with the 6.0, lawsuits and warranty claims caused both to tell each to pound sand, those engines went to other countries were they were used in generator and boats. Maybe vehicles even, I don't know that though.
Now picking up an older 150 and dropping a 6 cyl diesel would be balls great! Hell, even an old Ford Highboy would be great.
Don't be scared of vehicles using DEF. Yes more to maintain and more parts to fail at some point, but there's nothing nicer than to stand on the go pedal on a diesel, haul ass with buckets full of torque, and not have even as much of a wisp of smoke out the tailpipe. I loathe the people that think it's funny to smoke out everyone with black soot, don't find it funny at all.
I spent a good amount of time, money and running on all my earlier diesels to generate as little black fog as possible. Even when continually spending money on programs, injectors, turbos and anything else to barely blow smoke, I still wasn't happy.
Having an emissions compliant vehicle that even the wife will drive has been nice..

I'll start by saying I'm not a porfessional. However, its my understanding that the reason Isuzu, Mercedes, VW etc all did so well internationally with diesels is due to their lack of emission regulations. Most of those motors are way more efficient and have lasted forever for the Europeans and others. It seems Diesels werent meant to be regulated way down and reburn every bit of exhaust and such. By nature they are a little "dirtier" if you will. Up here in Skagit I have no concerns of emissions as we have no testing. It'd be pretty hard to convince me there is a better "HD" diesel motor out there than a 12 or 24v Cummins. The rest of the truck, I am not naive, it suits my needs. Emissions be damned! I dont purpose smoke people out either, unless theyare in a prius or have a hillary sticker on their Subaru, but its just part of owning a diesel.

I'm not advocating smoking people out, and am in the process of selling my soul to buy a better turbo and injectors to clean my trucks exhaust up. That said however a smoke screen is very effective on tailgating asshats. It's pretty much a non issue anyway if you don't take an all or nothing approach with that skinny pedal on the right.

For what it's worth my father purchased a new duramax, and while it is smooth as silk with plenty of go, and has all the bells and whistles you could ever want. My 1990 12v with the injection pump modified and whatnot absolutely gets better mileage loaded or not. My buddies 07 dodge 1 ton 4x4 is good for 20+, I see 15-20.

DEF = more power. It's the particulate filter on 07+ Diesels that is the killer.

stompah wrote:DEF = more power. It's the particulate filter on 07+ Diesels that is the killer.

Def doesn't help build power. It is injected pre SCR to just said in cleaning exhaust.
In reality, having a vehicle that takes def actually lowers your mpg as fuel is used to generate heat in the exhaust. Whether it is injected within engine or exhaust manifold, fuel is burned without any added power.

laneends wrote:I'm not advocating smoking people out, and am in the process of selling my soul to buy a better turbo and injectors to clean my trucks exhaust up. That said however a smoke screen is very effective on tailgating asshats. It's pretty much a non issue anyway if you don't take an all or nothing approach with that skinny pedal on the right.

For what it's worth my father purchased a new duramax, and while it is smooth as silk with plenty of go, and has all the bells and whistles you could ever want. My 1990 12v with the injection pump modified and whatnot absolutely gets better mileage loaded or not. My buddies 07 dodge 1 ton 4x4 is good for 20+, I see 15-20.

So is an electric valve on the black water holding tank of your travel trailer.

That's nasty....

Had a buddy from Arkansas, bought an old car from a moonshiner that had a switch that injected oil into the exhaust manifold.
He tried it out one time and was pulled over by the cops.
They thought his car was on fire.

Guntrader wrote:Had a buddy from Arkansas, bought an old car from a moonshiner that had a switch that injected oil into the exhaust manifold.
He tried it out one time and was pulled over by the cops.
They thought his car was on fire.

Its easy. When we were kids one of my buddies had an old honda car and he took the hose that goes to the windshield squiters on the hood and cut it and rerouted it into the carb with a couple zipties.

He would mix a half quart oil and gas and fill the washer reservoir with the mixture.

The old honda had a two barrel carb kinda like a 4 barrel. It would open the secondaries up if you floored it. We would sit at stop lights and he would give the washer a few squirts and then floor it. BIG smoke cloud! It was great.

Our favorite was to back up to folks pumping gas at the station. Back right up to their bumper, squirt, squirt, squirt, VAROOM!! You wouldnt be able to even see the pumps, let alone the car pumping gas!

Boy we were punks!

I bought some carb out stuff in the 80's for my VW bug.
Said to pour it in the carb while revving the engine.
The tail pipes were at my feet and it made so much smoke the parking lot disappeared.
Didn't pour much more in as I was choking pretty bad.

My ex had a 79 rabbit diesel. Floor that thing hard it would bellow out a decent cloud of smoke!