Thanks I think im gonna get a dodge. Like a 03. Replace the Franky. 4" straight pipe and tune it. And I drive a 2009 chevy f2500 gas for a company truck everyday and everytime I drive over anything that's not flat the hole truck cracks and half the time I think its gonna break. My opion of the best truck is a ford frame and body. Chevy allisson 1000 tranny and a dodge cummins. Give me that and id like to see that truck stop running . And im buying this truck because I just want a toy but its also gonna be my dayly driver. Hey I got one more question anybody ever got a ticket for straigt pipe outside of a emissions test

 

not on a diesel. i dont think its required. not too many with them around here

 

i plow and tow with my chevys and gmcs and i think there just fine that crack your hearing in the 09 i think is cause the suspension is stiff ive driven fords and dodges and they just feel loose as a goose like they sway all over the place. just my.002

 

I would either get an 06 and up LBZ or LMM Dmax or a 5.9 Cummins backed by a 6 speed. But Im just not a fan of Dodges, either their bodies or interiors. For a daily driver, I would get the Dmax. The only ones that had injector problems were the 01-04 LB7's, and also the LLY's (04.5-05) had a few problems. But by the time the LBZ came out, they really had them sorted out.

 

Combining a Ford and a cummins is a great idea but you run into all kinds of problems getting everything to work right.....and with smog laws here in california the visual test would not pass if there are any sensors on at all. Also, its not cheap to do it. I looked into a couple places that do the conversion and its crazy expensive. Cheaper to drive one into the ground and rebuild it twice or more!!

 

Just depends on how well you can scratch your head and engineer. If you stick with a 12v and a Dodge tranny, it is much easier (and cheaper) to do. Everything I bought from the minute I started the project til I drove it out on the highway ran me right at $3200. Sold back my old engine and tranny, and some parts off my donor truck, dropped down to around $20-2100. Of course if you pay someone else to do it, its going to be considerably more.

 

I vote 06-07 classic body style LBZ!!!!!!

 

I'm a DURAMAX guy, HANDS DOWN! but if i had 20k to throw around, i would purchase a 03 to 04 cummins, and then throw an after market trans into it. (allison aftermarket is the way i would go) IMO the dodge has a very aggressive look to it and frankly i dont think there is a diesel guy out there that can argue that the cummins is a rock solid, bullet proof eng, and when it comes to after market, its cake to work on vs the stroke or DMAX.

On the other hand, if you want a truck you are going to purchase and do nothing with after market wise, and just use the truck to drive around town. i say go with the DMAX. over all IMO the 04.5 and up DMAX's have the "best" eng/trans combo on the market. when it comes to the frame and it being weak. I have to disagree, granted its not a FORD frame, but the my 2500HD handles alot and i havent had any major problems. My wife uses it to haul her 3 horse trailer and it pulls it like it isnt even there. Ive also hauled a 30 ft bumper pull camper for my folks with out any problems.

Have to say something about FORD too. I grew up driving powerstrokes. I took my drivers test in a 1998 F350 Extended cab, long bed 7.3 Powerstroke (some how i pasted). my parents used the truck for years on the farm hauling cattel, round bales, and farm equiptment. Never had any major problems with it minus the fuel pump. my folks then traded it for an 04 6.0 Powerstroke Excursion. Drove that for a while, it was awesome. Dad got smart and decided to go with some aftermarket (all banks i think, which isnt bad but there is better out there, also worse as well) after it was all said and done i think the excursion was somewhere around 400 RWHP and 600 RWTQ. Used it for alot of towing, 34ft bumper pull camper, hauling trailer (usually had our tractor on it), bass boat, and whatever else dad decided he wanted to tow. mom drove it to get groceries, and every once in a while she would race unsuspecting sports cars. Bottem line, the powerstrokes always treated my family good.

When it comes to your truck that you decide to do with, reseach the hell out of it. it took me a year to narrow down my search to what i wanted in a truck. Now i own my DMAX and i love it. My buddy will only drive CUMMINS, and other than having an eng that can destory the stock trans, they are good tucks. My family will only buy POWERSTROKES, (dads also a certified INTERNATIONAL MECH) and they have nothing but great things to say about them.

JUST PURCHASE SMART

 

Nice to see unbiased people hanging around

 

I've bought FORD, cause I like the looks & they gave me the better deal on a "NEW" truck