New guy here, and new to owning diesels.

I just bought an early build 2004 4x4 quadcab SB with the 305 HO engine and 3.73 gear.

My previous diesel driving experience has been with my work trucks.
At work I currently drive a 2003 Ford F250 crew cab 4x2 LB with the 6.0L Powerstroke engine. I don't want to get into a 6.0 Powerstroke bash fest but the Ford 6.0 work truck has been one problem after another to the point it is restricted to local driving only because it's soo undependable.
But I will give credit to the truck, when it is running right, it is an absolute rocket with VERY strong acceleration
My Cummins doesn't seem to have the neck snapping acceleration off the line that the Ford does.
I don't think my Dodge would hang with the Ford work truck in a drag race.
I'm fairly knowledgable on gas engines.
I'm assuming the Cummins powerband and performance is similar to the old straight six gas engines with a very smooth powerband with a very flat tourque curve building power at lower RPM's as compared to a V8 engine which needs to get up in the RPM's to make power.
I believe the redline on my Powerstroke is 1000 rpms higher than my Cummins.

The Cummins seems to be more of a workhorse type pulling engine while the V8 diesels seem to be more of a performance engine.

I know there are folks here who modify their Dodges and get impressive performance out of them, but stock for stock are the V8 diesels stronger in acceleration, or is my particular Dodge just a dog?

Thanks.

 

I think you basically have it figured out. The V8 diesels definetly have longer legs than the I-6 Cummins, but have a narrower torque band which makes the Cummins the superior motor for towing. Out of the box I think the Ford is faster, but that can be fixed with a downloader.

 

If your truck is an automatic, the stock torque converters are not the best. Alot of your power is not making it to the ground until it locks up around 50-55mph or so.

Buy a Smarty downloader, and it will definately wake it up.


My brother in law has an 05 powerjoke and it is pretty quick, but it definately doesn't have the low end torque of the cummins. He will admit that and is very impressed with the cummins pulling power.

 

Couple of other points of info on the Cummins.

---it is all gears...there are no timing chains in the engine.

---it has 7 main bearing caps to support 6 cylinders instead of 5 to support 8 like the v-8 diesels.


---40 percent fewer moving parts than the v-8 diesels.

Rated from Cummins to 350,000 miles to rebuild...but most last much longer with reasonable maintenance. The block, connecting rods, crankshaft etc are just built for more demanding use......commercial applications....off-shore boats, generators etc.

 

Also it makes full torque at only 1600 rpm and it's pretty much flat to 2700 rpm...

 

And my favorite....they shake like crazy when you turn them off! LOL Seriously, I added a Superchips downloader for $325.00. Woke that Cummins right up and brought up the fuel milage. Thats cheap for that many smiles.

 

They are the very BEST !!!

That Is All You Need To Know !! LOL

I had to put that in there

 

Coming from a 2005 GMC Duramax, I can tell you the Cummins feels alot stronger. My Duramax was at 400hp and 800tq and I will tell you that my stock Cummins feels stronger.

 

Thank you for your honest impression in that. You know many folks wouldn't admit that. Welcome to DTR! We're gonna make you love your truck even more than you do now.