mudcat
Platinum Member
Thinking of trading my truck in on a new family car and buying an older diesel pickup. Maybe early to mid '90s. Any models that stood above the rest? Are there any particular yrs/make/models I should stay away from?
What not to get?
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Spark_man
Bronze Member
My sons have had 3 Fords Diesels - two F350s and an F250 - both of them have had transmission problems (1 4-speed stick, 1 5-Speed stick and 1 O/D Auto) 
I drove a 98 Dodge for about 6 months and know a bunch of people that have them - the interior isn't much to speak of but the Cummins is hard to beat. The only mechanical thing I am aware of on some of the early ones is a problem with the differential bearing seals.
I currently drive an 04' GMC Duramax with the Allison transmission and I wouldn't trade it for anything but a new one.
I drove a 98 Dodge for about 6 months and know a bunch of people that have them - the interior isn't much to speak of but the Cummins is hard to beat. The only mechanical thing I am aware of on some of the early ones is a problem with the differential bearing seals.
I currently drive an 04' GMC Duramax with the Allison transmission and I wouldn't trade it for anything but a new one.
InlineDieselFan
Gold Member
I would stay away from the non-DuraMax GM diesels. Either you had a terrific no problem 6.5 turbo diesel or it was in the shop every other week. My mom's was great my brothers stranded him in almost every state west of the rockies and western Canada. If you go old enough the 6.2 GM diesel was gutless.
The Fords had some tranny problems but any truck can have that depending on how they were treated.
the Dodges had some automatic tranny problems, especially if they added some extra power. going with any Diesel I would try to get a manual transmission unless you get the Allison in the GM's. If you go with a 24 valve Dodge/Cummins they have lift pump problems, but if you leave it at stock power you are most likely okay, though.
For me I wuld find either a Ford or a Dodge in those years, and I hate to admit it but I would lean towards Ford, ONLY because too many of the dodge owners are very proud of thier trucks and they price them that a way.
I think that you could find a good deal on a mid 90's Ford, maybe even a Dodge.
the Dodge 12 valves are awsome on reliability and ease of repair if there is a problem.
steve
The Fords had some tranny problems but any truck can have that depending on how they were treated.
the Dodges had some automatic tranny problems, especially if they added some extra power. going with any Diesel I would try to get a manual transmission unless you get the Allison in the GM's. If you go with a 24 valve Dodge/Cummins they have lift pump problems, but if you leave it at stock power you are most likely okay, though.
For me I wuld find either a Ford or a Dodge in those years, and I hate to admit it but I would lean towards Ford, ONLY because too many of the dodge owners are very proud of thier trucks and they price them that a way.
I think that you could find a good deal on a mid 90's Ford, maybe even a Dodge.
the Dodge 12 valves are awsome on reliability and ease of repair if there is a problem.
steve
DieselPower
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Take my advice (as a previous GM diesel mechanic) and the previous advice and stay away from 6.2 and 6.5 GM diesels. Hand grenades just waiting for the pin to fall out.
6.9 and 7.3 Internationals in Fords and 5.9 Cummins in Dodge are both safe bet's. Both have had their problems over the years but they are both good dependable engines. I sold a Ford p/u 2 years ago that had a 6.9L International diesel in it and it had close to 300,000 miles on it. Engine still ran fine, body was about to fall off though.
Both Ford and Dodge have had some serious problems with automatic transmissions over the years. If the truck has had a fairly recent high quality rebuild installed or a good performance trans installed you should be ok. Your best bet is to go with a manual transmission though. Ford has had better manual transmissions then Dodge over the years IMHO. I have rebuilt way to many Getrag Dodge transmissions and very few Ford ZF transmissions.
The B series 5.9 Cummins engine found in older trucks is the most durable engine and has the largest amount of aftermarket parts available. I have a friend that has a 5.9 in a pulling truck that Dyno's just a little under 1500HP. Yeah, it's blue printed and balanced with a aluminum head but the crank and block are factory stock with only blueprinting done to them. Try to get 1500HP out of a International 6.9/7.3 or Detroit 6.2/6.5 V8 engines. Not going to happen.
6.9 and 7.3 Internationals in Fords and 5.9 Cummins in Dodge are both safe bet's. Both have had their problems over the years but they are both good dependable engines. I sold a Ford p/u 2 years ago that had a 6.9L International diesel in it and it had close to 300,000 miles on it. Engine still ran fine, body was about to fall off though.
Both Ford and Dodge have had some serious problems with automatic transmissions over the years. If the truck has had a fairly recent high quality rebuild installed or a good performance trans installed you should be ok. Your best bet is to go with a manual transmission though. Ford has had better manual transmissions then Dodge over the years IMHO. I have rebuilt way to many Getrag Dodge transmissions and very few Ford ZF transmissions.
The B series 5.9 Cummins engine found in older trucks is the most durable engine and has the largest amount of aftermarket parts available. I have a friend that has a 5.9 in a pulling truck that Dyno's just a little under 1500HP. Yeah, it's blue printed and balanced with a aluminum head but the crank and block are factory stock with only blueprinting done to them. Try to get 1500HP out of a International 6.9/7.3 or Detroit 6.2/6.5 V8 engines. Not going to happen.
bx23barry
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X2 stay away from 6.2 and 6.5 GM diesels.
The 5.9 Cummins in Dodges is the best diesel ever in a light duty IMHO and I think dodge makes the worst truck out there.
None of the autos (no allisons in the 90's) will hold the diesel under load for long. If you don't tax them they will hold up ok but I would get a 5 speed.
I think the 7.3 Fords are the best all round package. Good engine, good 5 speed. good truck
The 5.9 Cummins in Dodges is the best diesel ever in a light duty IMHO and I think dodge makes the worst truck out there.
None of the autos (no allisons in the 90's) will hold the diesel under load for long. If you don't tax them they will hold up ok but I would get a 5 speed.
I think the 7.3 Fords are the best all round package. Good engine, good 5 speed. good truck
RobertN
Super Member
bx23barry said:
Curious on your thoughts there. I was previously a Ford guy, but got a RAM/Cummins in '01. I still really like Ford trucks, but so far my Dodge has done very well all around. I had heard stuff about cab ergonomics, seats etc, but have found my truck well laid out and very comfrotable. The only thing I would really change on my truck is 3.55 gears instead of my 4:11's, and a manual instead of auto(I got the auto for ease of driving at the time, due to an injury).
bx23barry
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Dogde just seems to have light frames/body panels along with cheap interiors. they rattle and the paint falls off. At least from my experiance. The running gear might be the best but the rest of the truck is worse than chev/ford. I think ford has the best body/frame/build quality (most heavy duty) but maybe the worst engines (the desiels are navistar) while chev is mid-pack body/frame/build quality (nice driving/riding though) but does have the best gas engines. I have worked with/on them all in a large fleet and this is my opinion. They all work and they all break. Just some are better than others in different areas.
RobertN
Super Member
Interesting. I know Dodge did have some issues with paint a few years back. However, so did GM; I had friends with Chevy Trucks and Camaro's that got new paint because it was so bad.
I am afraid I don't understand the cheap interior; at least in my expierience with my '01 2500, and my wifes '04 ram1500, the interiors are pretty nice. We have cloth, mine with mostly power options. I'm at 90k miles, with 0 issues(although the front brakes wear fast...).
I was a little concerned when I went from my F250 gasser to my Dodge; I always liked Fords and still do. I have'nt found the Dodge, at least in my case, to be behind in any areas.
I am afraid I don't understand the cheap interior; at least in my expierience with my '01 2500, and my wifes '04 ram1500, the interiors are pretty nice. We have cloth, mine with mostly power options. I'm at 90k miles, with 0 issues(although the front brakes wear fast...).
I was a little concerned when I went from my F250 gasser to my Dodge; I always liked Fords and still do. I have'nt found the Dodge, at least in my case, to be behind in any areas.
LoneCowboy
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I wouldn't go any older than 94/95 on any of them.
and if you want a diesel, the chevy's are out of it until 99. The pre-duramax chevy's are just junk.
So, that limits us to Dodge and Ford.
The Ford 94-98 body style is pretty unkillable, but it's steering radius is AWFUL. If you don't have to do tight turns, you can beat the **** out of this year's ford. It's 'got the 7.3L PSD which is a great motor and really has few flaws. HOwever, the auto-transmission can't take the torque of the PSD, ti's a known weak point, all the way up until the torque shift in 05. So, 94-98 Ford's with a stick shift are pretty good. very work truck.
The new Dodge Ram came out in 94, thus I would go with a 95. Same problem with the auto (actually all Dodge autos are LTO), but they sold a lot of stick shift Cummins Diesel. The Cummins gets by far the best mileage of the 3 diesels and the same amout of power. The dodge steers the best. It wears out front brakes quickly (20 to 30k if you aren't careful) and is going to feel a lot more modern than the 94 Ford. It's a much physically higher truck esp in 4wd versions than both Ford and Chevy and that can cause some problems towning.
there are lots of Dodge's out there from the mid90's, no major issues. That's where I would look first. I think 95's with diesels go about 10 grand up to about 15 grand in a 2000 or so.
HTH
and if you want a diesel, the chevy's are out of it until 99. The pre-duramax chevy's are just junk.
So, that limits us to Dodge and Ford.
The Ford 94-98 body style is pretty unkillable, but it's steering radius is AWFUL. If you don't have to do tight turns, you can beat the **** out of this year's ford. It's 'got the 7.3L PSD which is a great motor and really has few flaws. HOwever, the auto-transmission can't take the torque of the PSD, ti's a known weak point, all the way up until the torque shift in 05. So, 94-98 Ford's with a stick shift are pretty good. very work truck.
The new Dodge Ram came out in 94, thus I would go with a 95. Same problem with the auto (actually all Dodge autos are LTO), but they sold a lot of stick shift Cummins Diesel. The Cummins gets by far the best mileage of the 3 diesels and the same amout of power. The dodge steers the best. It wears out front brakes quickly (20 to 30k if you aren't careful) and is going to feel a lot more modern than the 94 Ford. It's a much physically higher truck esp in 4wd versions than both Ford and Chevy and that can cause some problems towning.
there are lots of Dodge's out there from the mid90's, no major issues. That's where I would look first. I think 95's with diesels go about 10 grand up to about 15 grand in a 2000 or so.
HTH