candlelit

iTrader: (21)

Thinking about getting out of the fbody hobby for the 3rd time, and into my first diesel pickup. I'd be looking to get a Duramax or Cummins. 2500 or 3500, 4x4. Eventually put about a 6 inch lift on it. And all the other good mod stuff. Think driving a 5spd/6spd truck that has over 600 TQ would be pretty sweet.

So, my question is... have any of you had the LS1 : diesel truck experience? Or maybe you own both? If you drive the truck mostly now days, do you miss the LS1 car much?

I'm also sure there will come a few times that I could use the truck for it's purpose as well, as I can think of one already. Being the kind of person I am & growing up in a small town have people asking me why I drive a car lol.

chevy8806

I never personaly owned a diesel truck but know more people than i can count that do. Everyone has a Dodge with the Cummins either 12 or 24 valve. All i can say is the Cummis motor is sweet with a lot of performance potential. After all i've seen with my friends and thier trucks, the motor does not offset how shitty dodge trucks are. Now idk much about the Duamaxes but i heard they have some issues, like any motor, and more expensive to upgrade.

danhr

iTrader: (18)

stick with both.... use the diesel as a DD and to tow the f-body, if need be. Gives you a lot more room to expand on the f-body project. and the diesel is A LOT of fun. with just a crappy programmer (diablo predator) and a 5" exhaust, my 03 dodge 3500 cummins made 450+ rwhp and 900+ torque. They are definetly fun to play with and respond easily to mods. but you will miss your f-body if you try to replace it with the truck.

2000SS1979

iTrader: (16)

I own both. I use my '04 6.0 Powerstroke to pull my car to the track. But, I use the truck all the time as my DD.

It is good fun whooping on a lot of people in a supercrew F-250.

Mods it has:
Innovative Diesel Custom Tunes
AFE Cold Air
Full MBRP Turbo back Exhaust
Injectors
Head Studs

I run 13.6@97MPH in the 1/4..

But, I would never give up my f-body for the truck.

I say play with both, if you can afford it.

danhr

iTrader: (18)

12v cummins are going for cheap!!

nmcqueen469

iTrader: (24)

+1. 12v cummins are always the dyno kings. They can make stupid power.

Before I bought my current car, I had a 7.3 powerstroke. In comparison to almost every other current diesel on the market, it was a turd in the performance dpeartment, but you can't beat a crew cab superduty on long fishing/hunting trips. I did the three "must have" mods on it, air intake/exhaust/programmer and it was a lot of fun to drive.

I do miss it once in a while, but the GTO is a completely different animal for sure. Ahhhh, the memories:

candlelit

iTrader: (21)

that's the thing though guys, I won't be able to afford both, it'd either be one or the other lol. a low 13 or eventually a high 12 second diesel with a stick I think would be totally worth it for me

danhr

iTrader: (18)

save your pennies... iirc a 12v cummins can be had easily under 10k

candlelit

iTrader: (21)

... only problem is my taste is a little bit more expensive lol




along those lines

EPP

iTrader: (22)

I have both. My diesel is a 2001 Dodge 3/4 4x4. It hits 35 psi of boost and is an automatic. The auto trans is weaker than the manual, but this truck can leave traffic from a stop light. EPP use to have a '96 Dodge dually that was a stick. The first two gears just got the truck moving, so I decided to go with an automatic this time.
It would be hard not to have something with an LS engine in it. Bob

candlelit

iTrader: (21)

what do you all think comparing a powerstroke to a cummins or duramax (except making less power). especially nmcqueen & 2000SS...

my cousin has always only drove powerstrokes (around an 03-05 model), and they're much cheaper... I'm sure there's a good reason why

nmcqueen469

iTrader: (24)

Depends on which powerstroke you get, 7.3/6.0/6.4, they all have their own positives and negatives. You really have to decide what you want to get out of the truck and go from there.

danhr

iTrader: (18)

if i were to get a powerjoke, it would be the 7.3L. IMHO it's the only half decent one from ford.

here's a question... why do you want a diesel? most people just get them to join the "diesel bandwagon"

halucinator

iTrader: (3)

Which Powerstroke has the head gasket problem?

nmcqueen469

iTrader: (24)

The 6.0s. AKA Six Leakers.

candlelit

iTrader: (21)

I understand the 7.3 obviously can out perform the 6.0 & 6.4, but don't think I would go that big.... wouldn't mind sacrificing a little power for better HWY mpg.

To answer your question (gasoline vs diesel), I always have liked the turbo'd diesels. More powerful, love the sound of them, and from my experience of borrowing my sisters 04 4wd Cummins it got better HWY mpg than my brothers Ram 1500 5.7L. I pulled a Firehawk 4 hours down the interstate on a uhaul trailer at 70mph and got 22 mpg about 6 months later it blew a head gasket and she got rid of it

I used to drive my dads truck a lot (99 Cummins dually 5spd) and even though some look down on the first two gears, I like many, never even used 1st gear. So guess you could say it was like driving a 4 speed manual lol. It was a nice truck, but I like the newer body styles much better.

nmcqueen469

iTrader: (24)

You have it backward. As far a power output goes, 6.4>6.0>7.3

7.3s get great fuel mileage and last forever because they don't rev high. That motor is very widely used in fleets, such as school buses, garbage trucks, etc.

CHRRRIS

I don't see the reason for getting a truck if you're not gonna use the bed or pull stuff... I mean, your TA has to be in the 10's, why would you give that up for a stick truck that goes 13's and is not nearly as attractive and has no handling.

Now maybe if you were going for a Lightning I would understand...

danhr

iTrader: (18)

it honestly sounds like you just want one to have one.

a) a 04 cummins (even the 6 speed w/ 3.73 gears) dont really get 22 mpg... the overhead gauge is not accurate. If you use the good old fashion pen and paper and fill up the tank everywhere you go, it will be realistically more around 20 mpg.

b) who would take a 6.0 over a 7.3? i mean seriously.....

c) displacement doesn't have too much to do in term of performance in turbocharged diesel motors... the biggest contenders (the 5.9L) actually have the smallest displacement, and least amount of cylinders.

d) sounds like you just need a new toy

candlelit

iTrader: (21)

hmm well I didn't read up on the hp numbers for those motors, just an assumption. I figured it'd be like the cummins. Guys I've talked to seem to get better fuel mileage with the smaller displacement Cummins engines (5.9) than the larger ones (6.7).

as for my TA, for one I bought it with a welded in roll cage that I'm not fond of, looks cool & what not but cars' plans were not to drive at rapid speeds or drag race it much; two it is an automatic... I'd rather shift gears; and three they're a pita to work on. so why did I buy this one? right color, right model, & too good of a deal to pass up.

dan... I actually never measure my fuel mileage by a computer monitor. in fact you're correct, it was a little higher than when I calculated it by filling up. maybe I didn't get quite exactly 22mpg (21.7 or 21.8, but roughly close to 22)... that gauge you speak of said I was getting 23 to 24 while cruising down the highway.