I'm looking into the diesel market, and I'm kinda stuck between these two. I'm looking at F250s and F350s up to high 90s (most pre-powerstroke) and 89-97 Cummins. I'm looking for the most reliable, with easy mods to get more power out of. I know the Cummins has cheap mods to get big power, and has better fuel mileage. Anybody got ideas what I should go with? Hoping to spend less than $5,000.

Thanks

 

personally, Id go with the cummins, you have the 89-93 cummins with the VE Rotary pump, and in 94 they changed to a piston pump, and I think cummins in the most reliable compared to powerstrokes, now I like the OBS 7.3L Turbo Diesels, I like ford, and the cab they have, and I dont have to many complaints about the 7.3L except they are cold blooded.

 

Ditto on the Cummins man!! Can't go wrong with them. My 17 year od brother will be driving to alaska next summer when he is 18 and he is taking his dog and his 95 Dodge Cummins with nearly 330k on it right now. Will probably be around 350k by the time he starts his trip. Scan over craigslist before you buy anything though. You would be amazed what deals are on there. My brother paid $3,000 for his truck with no tailgate, the rear bumper was chewed up like bubble gum, the front end was SEVERELY out of alignment, the windshield was cracked, and the tires were bald. I saw one just like it a week later that was silver with new all terrain michelins, new front end alignment, and pipe bumpers on both ends for $3500. The only reason it was so cheap was you had to jump off the starter to make it start and the passenger side window would not roll up. Those parts were about $100 all together. Good luck to ya, and let us know how it goes!!

 

For that era I would go dodge all the way, at that age either truck is going to need work but either Cummins of that generation (VE or P-pump) are good engines. The P-pump will make more power but either are capable of way more power than the IDI 7.3 engines.

Where are you located? In the northeast you would have no problem finding a diesel for that nice...but it will be a rust bucket.

 

Thanks for all the feedback, guys!

I'm up in the NW, trucks especially are rather expensive up here.