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Nov 26, 2018 | 08:56 AM

#46

'65Ford

Cargo Master

Joined: Jan 2016

Posts: 2,672

Likes: 373

Quote:

Originally Posted by baddad457

Yea, that's the difference with a diesel. It makes it's torque at half the rpms a gas engine will.

Yeah, kinda. Diesel makes power where it makes it and that's it. My 2002 diesel is unstoppable to a point and then my FE will leave it behind. Gas torque curves can be moved higher or lower in the rpm band with cam and timing changes. Gas generally has about twice the power band width as a diesel...diesels work hard around 1600 to 3200 rpms. My particular FE works hard from 2500 to over 5700.

Gas can be made to lug... the 300 I6 was a lugger. It also ran out of breadth around 3500 ....like a diesel. There are benefits to a diesel for sure though an FE will do all that's needed in a classic pickup.

I'm guessing this thread is about finished since it got lost in the weeds.

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Nov 26, 2018 | 03:27 PM

#47

baddad457

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Joined: May 2003

Posts: 11,141

Likes: 25

From: south louisiana

Quote:

Originally Posted by '65Ford

No, it's not "kinda" It is what it is. A diesel makes it's peak torque at the lower rpms where it's needed to get a load moving. That's the whole point. And it does it with half the fuel because diesel has a higher heat content. There's a reason diesels won the race in heavy haul applications and gas burners died out as a breed. I drove both. gas burners were slow to get a load moving, if you didn't over rev it and toss a rod through the block doing it. Seen that happen more'n once. Ford's HD series engines were famous for that.

Nov 26, 2018 | 11:42 PM

#48

'65Ford

Cargo Master

Joined: Jan 2016

Posts: 2,672

Likes: 373

Quote:

Originally Posted by baddad457

You're still kinda right...
Diesels provide more work per gallon and generally last more hours. They use about 70% as much fuel...not half. That's why they're chosen for HD trucks.

Gas engines can be built to make their peak torque just as low as diesel (and have) but nobody wants to sacrifice the mid- range power. If diesel power bands could be made wider and moved up a little, we would do that but it can't be done with compression ignition.

Enter the ecoboost...Torque per cubic inch is approaching that of a diesel and variable timed overhead cams widen the power band. Diesel still wins the mpg but it takes a lot of miles to offset the premium purchase price, higher fuel cost, DEF, and higher maintenance cost.

I really wasn't looking to argue diesel vs gas...just wanted to discuss building FE's for older pickups because I have one. (And I have a diesel pickup, BTW).

Nov 26, 2018 | 11:53 PM

#49

baddad457

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Joined: May 2003

Posts: 11,141

Likes: 25

From: south louisiana

Quote:

Originally Posted by '65Ford

When I see eco boosts with 300K on their odometers, un-rebuilt. I'll buy one. As for the costs of a diesel, it's not that much different vs a gas engine. I change the oil in my 7.3 once a year regardless of miles I put on it. It's got 313K on the odometer now (1999 year model) No DEF. One water pump and a turbo in that time (and that was my fault) Diesel currently is about the same price as premium gas so the mileage difference cancels that part out. Don't get me wrong I loved my FE's but they have their place too.

Nov 27, 2018 | 10:11 AM

#50

maxtor

Posting Guru

Joined: Jul 2003

Posts: 1,287

Likes: 3

I agree with Baddad457 in that we do all love our FE's or we would not be on this website. Again, with the poor mpg of our FE's most of us use our FE engines as toys. If you factor in the longevity of the diesel "as Baddad457" eluded to, the diesel engine truck is by far the best all around choice for a working hauling truck.
That being said, if the budget does not include a newer diesel truck, then a Ford FE is the next best truck. This subject has been discussed many times, but facts are facts.