I would like a 99 to 04 ford with a older 12v in it. Commonly called the cumminstroke. My ideal truck. However, since I have no time and if I even tried to hint at another truck before the kitchen renovation, I would be living in the 5th wheel. Stinking black walnut cabinets, I could have puked when I got the bill for the millwork alone..... Good side to that is that i have to pull it with the truck....LOL

 

the '98 psds suck. bwahahaahah

 

i liked the 98 3/4 ton trucks. VERY hard to find.

 

Okay what are you two smoking? (besides diesel fuel)

 

Wow!! You guys have a ton of info! Amazing! Thanks. What an "obs" in reference to the powerstrokes. Old body style?

 

Well, I am pleased with mine so far. it has 137K miles and i just replaced the cam sensor and the fuel pump. Other than that, and routine maint. its never been in the shop.

 

Yes OBS=Old Body Style

 

To answer the reliability question in one word...
VERY !

 

nope. its still 425. they didnt make any changes in the torque until the SD.

<TABLE class=wikitable><TBODY><TR><TD>7.3 L Diesel V8</TD><TD>1992-94</TD><TD>185 hp (140 kW)</TD><TD>360 lb·ft (490 N·m)</TD><TD>IDI</TD></TR><TR><TD>
7.3 L Diesel V8
</TD><TD>1992-94.5</TD><TD>190 hp (144 kW)</TD><TD>390 lb·ft (531 N·m)</TD><TD>IDI Turbo</TD></TR><TR><TD>
7.3 L Diesel V8
</TD><TD>1994.5-97</TD><TD>215 hp (157 kW)</TD><TD>425 lb·ft (575 N·m)</TD><TD>DI Turbo, Powerstroke</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

oh, i know. im just using the 6.0 and 6.4 as examples of ford makes some POS stuff too. we all drive fords because we like them. i would own any year dodge cummins before id buy a 6.0 or 6.4. there are some things that are just ***** and no matter how good you take care of it, it wont last. like the chevy vega, chrysler K cars, ford 6.0, 6.4, etc. but the dodge truck isnt one of those. drive on rough roads, youll have to replace ball joints sooner or later, no matter if you have a ford or a dodge. and for years, both ford and dodge used dana rear ends. but fords is some how better because of the emblem on the grill?

if you want to build a good truck, its better to use a specialist on certain parts. if someone can build something better than you can, then using them will make your product better. chevy uses allison trannys and isuzu diesels. ford and dodge used dana rear ends. dodge uses a cummins engine. ford uses an international engine. etc.

that being said, ford and international jointly build the f-650's and 750's. but yet the only engine options are caterpillar and cummins.......if international would rather use a cummins than their own engine, that means they must be pretty good. and the only automatics offered on the 650's and 750's are made by.....allison. so to the original poster, both trucks have their good and bad points. both will last just as long if you take care of them. and both the cummins and the 7.3 are virtually bulletproof.

 

You forgot the Pinto / Mustang II

 

i didnt forget them, i just didnt want to type a laundry list of the crap ford has rolled out lol. or how about the cologne engine family of v-6s where the heads would crack if you just looked at them wrong. the 2.3 that the lifters would start ticking and need to be replaced before you could even get it home from the dealer. the pinto that would explode if someone rear ended you. the mustang that the gas tank would explode and cover all occupants with gas and fire in a rear end collision. the c3 tranny that the front seal would fall out causing all the fluid to drain out and fry your tranny before you knew it. the cruise control switches that would catch on fire and burn your car(or house) up. the ignition module switches that would catch on fire and burn your car up. had that one happen to me. its always fun to look outside your window and see your car engulfed in flames. the 5.4 that loves to shoot spark plugs through the hood. the cps on the 7.3 that will leave you stranded at any moment. we can go on with these for days. so replacing ball joints or a rear axle bearing on a dodge truck doesnt sound too bad when you really think about it. at least they dont catch on fire just sitting in your yard.

 

The sticker on my 96 says 225 hp.

 

mine says 225 too and its a 97. but ive seen several that say 215. so not sure on that one, or where the extra 10 hp is coming from. but every site ive looked at has all of the obs rated at 215/425 and then jumping up to 250/525 with the superduty.

 

the 215 hp was on the 94.5-95. 96-97 had the the 225 hp supposedly due to improvements in electonics