Opinions on trucks

[Dmace]

In an interesting reversal of tradition for trucks, the premium engine for the light-duty F-150 will be a V-6. The new rear-wheel-drive version of the 3.5-liter, six-cylinder EcoBoost gasoline turbo direct-injection motor will occupy the top slot.

Yeah, now I have to worry about replacing a $1500 turbo every 50,000 miles and get major turbo-lag off the line when I am trying to pull a load from a stop or up a hill. That motor will be sack-less when not building boost so all low-end grunt is gone. No Thanks! A supercharged engine makes sense in a truck but a turbo-charged engine does not.

A 5.0l V8 with 400hp/400lb.ft. would be impressive but I highly doubt it will come from Ford, one thing they can't do right is build a small displacement powerful motor. They still don't have a motor making at least 1hp per cubic inch, not even the big V10 6.8l (362hp-415cu.in. = 0.87hp per cu.in) or V8 5.4l (330cu.in-320hp = 0.94hp per cu.in.). Dodge 5.7l (390hp-345cu.in 1.13hp per cu.in) and Chevy 6.2l (403hp-378cu.in = 1.06hp per cu. in) have done this and the HEMI has been doing this since 2002. It's time for Ford to catch up.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Yeah, now I have to worry about replacing a $1500 turbo every 50,000 miles and get major turbo-lag off the line when I am trying to pull a load from a stop or up a hill. That motor will be sack-less when not building boost so all low-end grunt is gone. No Thanks! A supercharged engine makes sense in a truck but a turbo-charged engine does not.

A 5.0l V8 with 400hp/400lb.ft. would be impressive but I highly doubt it will come from Ford, one thing they can't do right is build a small displacement powerful motor. They still don't have a motor making at least 1hp per cubic inch, not even the big V10 6.8l (362hp-415cu.in. = 0.87hp per cu.in) or V8 5.4l (330cu.in-320hp = 0.94hp per cu.in.). Dodge 5.7l (390hp-345cu.in 1.13hp per cu.in) and Chevy 6.2l (403hp-378cu.in = 1.06hp per cu. in) have done this and the HEMI has been doing this since 2002. It's time for Ford to catch up.

I guess you have never driven a diesel or anything with a turbo? Both my PowerStroke 6.0's and even my Dmax spool up quickly. My old 7.3 was a little slow but was plenty powerful.

I am sure Ford will find away to make it a non event. The 6.4 with its inline turbos is seamless. I have driven a few on test drives and never noticed any turbo lag.

As for the Hemi, I bought into the hype and funny commercials when I had mine. My 2500 4x4 Hemi was a gas hog that lacked low end grunt. Had plenty of power around 3,000 rpm and above. Boy, what a disappointment. Yes, like I have said before it makes good power, just in the wrong place for a truck engine. It should have never found its way into a truck. The big displacement GM motors, the Ford 5.4 and V10, and the Toyota 5.7 and Nissan 5.6 all out shine it as far as desirable power in a truck. What Dodge should have done was build upon the 5.9 360 cu inch or just built a truck motor. I would have no envy of a Hemi in a truck, in a car like a new Challenger or Charger, yes. But not in a truck.

Chris

 

[WilliamBos]

Turbos belong on DIesels, not gassers!! There are rare exceptions, like the 3.8L buick, but still, I stand by my statement.

 

[Dmace]

I guess you have never driven a diesel or anything with a turbo? Both my PowerStroke 6.0's and even my Dmax spool up quickly. My old 7.3 was a little slow but was plenty powerful.

I guess you have never driven a GAS powered turbo charged engine... A diesel makes so much compression and has such a large displacement that the turbo is spooling even at idle and making a few pounds of boost. Even a variable vein turbo will have trouble spooling on a small 3.5l V6.

The HEMI makes 225lb.ft of torque at just 1600rpms and over 350lb.ft. torque at just half it's rpm range. Where's the Ford and GM dyno? Dual plugs per cylinder, high compression and hemispherical heads all lead to good low end grunt. Granted a larger displacement motor should make more torque at lower rpms but if you really need more than that, get a diesel or get a lower rear end gear. I bet your 2500 had tall gearing like 3.73 instead of the 4.10 or 4.56.

 

[Builder]

As I said in a previous post, first gas motor for me since 89. I like it so far and it is doing admirably (I guess) for brand new, out on a 7 mile stretch of interstate that I travel each day... Anywhere from 16 to 17 and change, When I go into Southbridge, slow and hilly small city,,, it drops immediately to 12 and below to 9 depending how traffic is moving. Reading the book, this is normal... I got on it once from a dead stop.. It'll go quickly, but how fast is quick when all you ran were diesel pick ups, diesel tractor trailers and diesel tractors for so many years? I'm not going to mess with it,, No computer enhancements, no hot rodding, nothing... Leave it bone stock, drive it, and enjoy it for a change.. And, Builder is right... I am partial to Dodge, like them, even though this month I tried GM's-Chevies, and Ford 150's, and still stayed with Dodge,, We had this discussion months ago over DPF systems and Dodge's, and I said then and maintain today, one Dodge web site doesn't speak for all,,, I've been reading a couple of GM/Chevy pick up sites and it is the same thing... One site has mechanical problems to deal with and the other, paint and odd things to deal with,, Just the nature of the beast and which site hits your fancy...

That's my favorite thing about my truck. No hot rodding necessary. I know I have 360/650 and a 6 speed Allison trans. I never felt that my previous trucks of other brands had enough power or drivetrain.

 

[Builder]

From PickupTrucks.com:

By late 2010, the new standard engine for the F-150 will be a 5.0-liter, four-valve, naturally aspirated V-8, developed under the code name "coyote." This eight-cylinder engine (described as having "huge heads") will be shared with the new Ford Mustang. Power figures are said to be approximately 400 horsepower and 400 pounds-feet of torque. Fuel economy is expected to be comparable to the current 5.4-liter engine.

Great, but as always, years behind the competiton in power wars. Ford's almost always 2nd or 3rd in available power.

Ford's next diesel better be 400HP right from the start. If they come out at 350-375, I think they're making a big mistake.

In an interesting reversal of tradition for trucks, the premium engine for the light-duty F-150 will be a V-6. The new rear-wheel-drive version of the 3.5-liter, six-cylinder EcoBoost gasoline turbo direct-injection motor will occupy the top slot. Ford has officially said the EcoBoost engine will arrive next year with improved fuel economy and low-end torque with a broad, diesel-like torque curve through most of its power band. Our sources say it too will be rated at approximately 400 hp and more than 400 pounds-feet of torque. Gas mileage is expected to be at least 23 mpg on the highway.

I'd love to see it. Might put me back in a Ford, although I can't imagine only having 400 ft lbs when I have 650 in a stock DMAX right now!!!

 

[LBrown59]

They're still all to big.

 

[soarkrebel1]

They're still all to big.

I like BIG!!

 

[AchingBack]

Looking forward to the year 2016 when trucks must get over 30 mpg, makes me wonder if the bodies will be made of styrafoam.

 

[Duffster]

Looking forward to the year 2016 when trucks must get over 30 mpg, makes me wonder if the bodies will be made of styrafoam.

No kidding