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Thread: Cummins or Duramax

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Posts: 11-20 of 20
2012-10-09 16:46:21
#11
I wouldn't base your decision based on the engine only. Both are great engines. I work as a manager for a shop that runs 200 used cars a month so I have a bit of experience with lots of different vehicles.

Personally I think the larger duramax engine is better because it has a better powerband. The new bigger cummins engine feels a lot better though if you can spring for the extra $$$. I feel like the Chevy drives better without a load, and has the beefier running gear. With that said though the Dodge is usually less expensive, and being as they are both pretty close in my eyes I don't think you can lose either way.

I do work for a Ford dealer, and I despite my appreciation of Ford cars, I would never buy one of their trucks. The 6.0 diesel is the worst engine ever. The 6.4 is a much better engine but I don't think it's as bulletproof as the cummins and duramax. Maybe the 6.7 will be a tank, but only time will tell.
2012-10-09 20:10:41
#12
The Duramax is actually a Isuzu motor. The ford 7.3 is actually a International motor and is considered the best of all of the ford options but finding one might be a little hard now.
Last edited by kevwal on 2012-10-09 at 20-12-06.
2012-10-09 23:08:16
#13
Originally Posted by kevwal
The Duramax is actually a Isuzu motor. The ford 7.3 is actually a International motor and is considered the best of all of the ford options but finding one might be a little hard now.


The international 7.3 is still available, but I believe its in the larger ford f series. I believe the f650 actually uses a cummins though.

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2012-10-10 00:36:20
#14
might want to do a little research on the transmission that dodge puts behind that cummins and the front end.
2012-10-21 02:20:52
#15
cummins with a 6spd manual trans, programmer and stacks

Originally Posted by Cliff
Originally Posted by kevwal
The Duramax is actually a Isuzu motor. The ford 7.3 is actually a International motor and is considered the best of all of the ford options but finding one might be a little hard now.


The international 7.3 is still available, but I believe its in the larger ford f series. I believe the f650 actually uses a cummins though.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2


ummm, ford has underlying agreements with dodge that even though they manufacture the cummins that it can not be in a ford chassis
2012-10-21 02:29:30
#16
I have seen a cummins in the ford medium duty chassis.

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2012-10-21 02:45:06
#17
Cummins makes a great engine. It's just too bad that that Chrysler wraps a dodge truck around it.

The old 7.3L (International) PowerStrokes are workhorses. Not a fast or flashing engine, but they get the job done and keep doing it year after year after year. The 6.0L PS (Ford in-house) was a disaster. The 6.4L was a marked improvement. I've been hearing good things about the 6.7L.

The early Duramaxes had some of the same issues as the new PowerStrokes. Everyone is basically using the same high pressure common rail fuel pump and injectors, and combined with the changeover to ultra low sulfur diesel there were a lot of problems initially with injectors. The 2006+ Duramaxes are very solid (the old ones are too, if the injectors have been updated). Incidentally, the Duramax was initially a joint venture with GM and Isuzu, not a pure Isuzu engine, and GM eventually bought out Isuzu's stake.

All of the manufacturers are having some issues to one extent or another with the extra stuff in the newest models for emissions. Diesel Particulate Filters and the Diesel Exhaust Fluid (Urea injection).

If you want a manual transmission, the Cummins/Dodge is a clear choice.

If you want an auto, the Duramax with the Allison is the way to go.

I've got a Duramax. From 360-470hp and 670-800+ lb/ft depending on the tune I choose to run at a given time. 25mpg cruising on the highway, 18mpg loaded and towing to a race with my B13 on the trailer. 16mpg mixed as a daily driver. Crew cab, and all the nice little luxuries.

I've got a buddy with a Dodge with the manual, and he does the serious heavy stuff. Those are the things to have if you're going to haul 15,000# trailers, for sure.

I've got another buddy with a 7.3L Ford 1-ton DRW. He likes his truck a lot (but admits mine's a lot nicer to travel in). He also gets less than 1/2 my mileage. He does haul an enclosed trailer, which doesn't help. I came really close to buying a 3/4 DRW 7.3L.

Get what makes you happy.
2012-10-22 12:13:09
#18
^this guy.....is a trucker
2012-10-25 23:01:39
#19
Originally Posted by Big
I have seen a cummins in the ford medium duty chassis.

Sent from my Motorola Electrify using Tapatalk 2


im pretty sure that there was a claus in the contract between the manufacturer of the cummins engine(which was supposedly Ford) and dodge, and that it was that it could not be used in the ford trucks

Originally Posted by Vector
Cummins makes a great engine. It's just too bad that that Chrysler wraps a dodge truck around it.

The old 7.3L (International) PowerStrokes are workhorses. Not a fast or flashing engine, but they get the job done and keep doing it year after year after year. The 6.0L PS (Ford in-house) was a disaster. The 6.4L was a marked improvement. I've been hearing good things about the 6.7L.

The early Duramaxes had some of the same issues as the new PowerStrokes. Everyone is basically using the same high pressure common rail fuel pump and injectors, and combined with the changeover to ultra low sulfur diesel there were a lot of problems initially with injectors. The 2006+ Duramaxes are very solid (the old ones are too, if the injectors have been updated). Incidentally, the Duramax was initially a joint venture with GM and Isuzu, not a pure Isuzu engine, and GM eventually bought out Isuzu's stake.

All of the manufacturers are having some issues to one extent or another with the extra stuff in the newest models for emissions. Diesel Particulate Filters and the Diesel Exhaust Fluid (Urea injection).

If you want a manual transmission, the Cummins/Dodge is a clear choice.

If you want an auto, the Duramax with the Allison is the way to go.

I've got a Duramax. From 360-470hp and 670-800+ lb/ft depending on the tune I choose to run at a given time. 25mpg cruising on the highway, 18mpg loaded and towing to a race with my B13 on the trailer. 16mpg mixed as a daily driver. Crew cab, and all the nice little luxuries.

I've got a buddy with a Dodge with the manual, and he does the serious heavy stuff. Those are the things to have if you're going to haul 15,000# trailers, for sure.

I've got another buddy with a 7.3L Ford 1-ton DRW. He likes his truck a lot (but admits mine's a lot nicer to travel in). He also gets less than 1/2 my mileage. He does haul an enclosed trailer, which doesn't help. I came really close to buying a 3/4 DRW 7.3L.

Get what makes you happy.



i dont care what you say, the dodges have been the best looking "TRUCKS" since 98 or so...they actually look, and feel like a "TRUCK" not like a GM that it looks like and feels like the smaller jimmy/blazer or the newer fords that are like a car. they might have ball joint, front end issues but w/e
2012-10-25 23:28:25
#20
I've got an hx50 that I need to get rid of...great upgrade for the cummins.
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