I hate to ask questions that I am sure all the answers are here on the forum if I wanted to spend hours or days surfing, so a thank all of you in advance for your help.

I have a work truck (F-450) (b4 they were called 450) 7.3 deisle for my plastering business that I bought new in 89. IT has served pretty well in most areas for a little over 220K. It will need to comply to new smog rules in CA starting in 2014. I have the choice between having those improvements made, or replacing the truck. I lean towards Ford but only because I am used to them and know them a bit better than the others. So, I am looking for year model recommendations. I know that Ford, switched diesle engines from International to Cummings which was a good switch (or so I have heard) also I am leaning to an automatic trans, now that I am getting old and lazy. I am concerned about the longevity of the automatic though. I have heard that (Ford anyway) used wimpy automatics in their trucks. I usually am well weighted down and work in hilly areas. Not knowing what years changes were made or what changes were good ones, I am looking for recommendations on a replacement truck say 2007 or older (for cost reasons) Also I am not hung up on deisle as long as I have good reliability. Also I need F450 0r 550 size range, but am open to other brands than Ford, maybe even the Japanese 4 cylinder types. Any thoughts and comments are appreciated.

 

Now you started the war.
Being 7.3 F450 owner I say, that the 7.3 PowerStroke is still above competition in reliability.
Than newer engines offer higher HP. Not to many gas engines in the models you want.
Good luck on weighting it all up.
BTW what California law you referring to? Never heard about it?

 

Neither have I....from all I've read an '89 is exempt from the new emissions regulations.

 

fords don't have cummins,they built there own and are in the 2011's.

 

Its been years now but my understanding was that Dodge had the exclusive on the Cummings until their deal with Cummings expired. Then Ford started using them sometime in the 90's. I do know for sure that the engines started sounding like the Dodges.

The law pertains to businesses. There were 2 deadline dates one was in 2010 I believe for business with more than 1 truck and 2014 for only 1 truck. I don't have much info on it but the state has sent me notices about it occasionally. I have not kept any of them because 2014 is a ways off.

 

they have been using International thru 2010.Had some issues,now they built there own.

 

thanks for the correction on that. Perhaps the change I am refering to was when they came out with the powerstroke? In 89 they only had the one 7.3 engine and it was not a turbo. They did make a change a few years later to an engine which I believe was stronger and and more efficient. I never got better than 11 MPG. Anyone know what year that first change was made?

More info about the laws are found here... www.arb.ca.gov/dieseltruck however, the site seems to be down at this time.