If the big 3 auto maker want to impress and sell as much trucks as possible, why not make an engine that has 900 or 1000 ft lbs? Why go for the 45 ft lb increments? Just curious.

 

Cost.

To make power yet still meet emissions, durability, and driveability takes research, development, and testing. All these cost money. Why spend more than you need to?

 

It would be cheaper for them to use the CAT I-6 (C-7 I believe....or 3126???).......with 330 HP and 860 ft-lb of torque.

 

The engine can handle more but other parts of the drivetrain can't. More expensive parts to beef up the rest of the drivetrain means higher price to the consumer. More power would likely also mean higher EGTs and tranny temps so they'd have to add an EGT probe and a tranny temp probe and some programming (either automatic power reduction or a gauge and a warning light) to keep the uninformed drivers from cooking their engines and automatic transmissions. Again, additional cost. Sure would be nice to have more power and some gauges as a factory option, though.

 

With any engine, power and durability are trade-offs.

You can't continuously up one without losing the other.

 

My buddy who is a Ford Fan just told me that the 6.0L Powerchoke will be getting a increase in power. (350 HP, 650 Torque) Anyone hear anything about that? Not that we would really care, but just curious

 

I wouldn't doubt it.

There seems to be a contingent of buyers who simply must have the truck with the most horsepower, and as long as there are enough of them to trade every year or two to satisfy their wants, the manufacturers will give them what they want, and cheerfully take their money.

 

I wouldn't doubt it either. It'll be rated at that when they sell it then they'll have to do a bunch of flashes to fix problems and the result will be reduced power (but they'll continue to market it as a 350Hp/650ft-lb engine anyway).

 

nope but I hope they address the broken cranks before they add more power.

 

I agree, one should be happy with the kind of performance that a Cummins can give. I have friends that would love to trade = - =. One has a "p#$%! - stroke" and is still trying to find a reason to convince his wife that they need a new Cummins.