RE: Reports: Chrysler, GM discuss merger,
DETROIT - Published reports say General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC have held preliminary talks about a merger or an acquisition of Chrysler by GM.
Oh......Yuck!
RE: UPDATE Oil at $60 a barrel?
As one of the posters said back a few posts..........Oils going down and so's my retirement fund.........
I didn't even want to look at the few meager stocks I've had for years........Couldn't believe how low they are! :(
Looks like SS and my Union pension is going to be my main-stay unless the market upswings in the next few years.
I'm just a middle class married man who just makes it each month on our budget and squeezes in a TT vacation ever so often.
Hope me and the wife will have our few investments in retirement make and up-swing before it's too late for us. :(
Got a few friends/acquaintences that own oil stocks and just plain gloated over the $147.00/barrel price back in July. I had mentioned to them how hard it was on our budget each month with the price of fuel. They just gloated and told me they were sorry it was hard for me, but were glee-ful that their oil stocks were going up, up, up. I don't know how happy they are now. ;)
RE: Dodge Ram 2500
My duramax is so bad on one trip the pistons changed holes because of the light rods. Still works but more power with the firing order. Just kidding but cummins is building a V-8 so how bad is that? Engines are built many different ways so who cares how?
chevman
Exactly!......& I'm a Cummins owner.
When you make the power with more cylinders you don't need as beefy rods as you are making the same power distributing it to more pistons/cylinders. Never the less those Powerstroke and Duramax rods didn't look too bad either.
Still, those Cummins rods are impressive to look at.
I'm salivating, waiting for the three new smaller displacement diesels from Ford, Dodge, and GM. Should be interesting. :)
RE: Dodge Ram 2500
The ideal truck!
Ford body, Cummins engine, Allison Transmission... There is a guy in Missouri doing these conversions if your wallet can handle it.
Yesterday I saw a new Freightliner FL series with the cummins/allison package and a "Dixie" Customs interior conversion. NICE!!!!! I asked the owner how much he saidn he preferred not to answer because his wife would shoot him on the spot. LOL
Once upon a time the Allison was "the" automatic........
Not anymore........the Dodge 68RFE, and the Dodge/Aisin Automatics(4500/5500) are as as much or more than the current Allison.
RE: Dodge Ram 2500
I have a 96 7.3 Powerstroke so take it for what it's worth. I hate Dodge. Rented 2 brand new ones(gas) and the truck was garbage. But you are talking about a Cummins. As a whole, though not every year, best diesel on the market. The way I look at it is it's a great engine wrappred in a peice of s***. It's still a Cummins. I sure wish I could by a Ford or Chevy with a Cummins in it, if that tells you anything. Good luck to you.
P.S. this is not to start a Ford vs. Chevy vs. Dodge thread. JMHO.
Good luck trying not to start a war with a post like that.:R
You have a very narrow minded view indeed. The place I used to work at had a fleet of primarily Ford trucks (cheapest bid, and we got what we paid for). Interior pieces falling off in your hand, dome lights that wouldn't turn off, driveshafts coming loose, airbag system problems, diesel engines giving us problems..... I could go on, but the list of problems was extensive. If I were to use your line of thinking, I would say the whole trucks were "garbage" even the engines!
But, I am an adult and I realize that not all trucks from any brand are garbage. Sure we had some bad luck with the Fords, but there are many happy Ford owners out there. And by the same token, there are many happy Dodge fans out there. You would be wise to remove your blinders and step into the real world.
Explain to me your defintion of narrow minded. I simply posted what I have been told by word of mouth and my expeirences. Your explanation of the Ford's interior was my problem with the two Dodges(brand new). I had a 94 Jeep that was great but Jeep had a bad repuation at that time. Did it mean they were all bad. NO.Did I ever say all Dodges were bad? If I did please point it out. You might have a difficult time but please do try. The other guy and you assumed that is what I meant. Once again, you know what they say about assuming. If they were all bad, Dodge wouldn't be in business. You got your feelings hurt because you are a Dodge owner and thats ok but maybe you sir should try and take the blinders off. When my Ford takes it's last breath I will more than likely be a Dodge owner because that is all I will be able to afford.
In closing, please tell me where I said they were are all garbage. Quote me if you must but do try. Thanks!
The way I look at it is it's a great engine wrappred in a peice of junk.
You didn't say "garbage" but you used a pretty similar synonym. ;)
RE: UPDATE Oil at $60 a barrel?
May be, just may be, next year I and the wife can take our TT from California on that long trip back East to Ohio and then back home through Iowa; visiting our two sons and their families out there, and not having to mortgage the house to afford diesel?
RE: Anybody got an '09 Ram yet?
After getting burned on a first year model or where the model was radically changed and not just a re-skin, I had nothing but CEL's, and other warranty issues to take care of. Whoever got my car after I traded it in, probably got a very reliabe vehicle, as I ironed-out all the first year bugs, with numerous trips to the dealer.
We had this same thing happen to us when we got our Titan in '04. I've learned my lesson to never buy new again!
Those new Rams do look nice, though!
I frequent the Titan forum often, and check out various topics including the "problems" one. My heart really goes out to a lot of Titan owners of the 04-05 models. Some of those owners have gone through 2-3 Nissan designed - dana 40 rear ends.
I know that the Titan owners over there are pretty upset with the possibility that the upcoming 1/2 ton Titan may have Dodge running gear, but then again, it maybe a good thing for both companies, as Dodge will get the Nissan Versa's platform to do a gas thrifty Dodge model.
I came so close to buying a 2005 Titan back in 05, but the dealer wouldn't budge much in negotiations, so I actually walked next door to the Dodge dealer, and went home with the 2005 3/4 ton Dodge Ram Diesel. I realize that Dodge has it's quirks, from year to year, but I think Nissan Titan owners have really suffered through some rough times; especially the early year owners. I'm not one to bash owners of other makes. I think the Titan platform is a solid one, but it's been a tough road for the early Titan owners. Not all of them of course.
Thank you very much for feeling that way. When I usually say that, I'm flamed by people that tell me I hate Nissan!
Our truck visited the shop quite a few times after we got it for bad brakes, seats, etc. The icing on the cake was when that rear axel went. We were just getting ready to head out east with the TT and thankfully we were just under the 60,000 mile powertrain warranty. We made the trip out, but on the way back we decided that we had enough with it and picked up the Ram.
Our Titan was a really nice truck when we first got it. It rode nice, was really roomy, and man did it look good! After the problems though, the nice qualities wore off!
And what is a shame, is that likely Nissan has those bugs worked out and the Titan is likely a great truck now. Those early problems though cost Nissan some sales over the years.
The only concern that I did pick up on the Titan forums is that the Dana 40 rear end should have been upgraded to a Dana 60.
Quite a few Titan owners actually replaced their Nissan designed Dana 40's with aftermarket differentials that are much stronger.
It wasn't that many years ago that 1/2 tons came with Dana 40's, but I don't think that the Dodge/Ford/GM 1/2 tons have been using Dana 40's for sometime, especially with the towing weights going up to 8,000-10,000 lbs. I thought that Nissan would have gone to a beefier rear end after the 04-05 model years, as their dealer service departments were inundated with rear end failures. I sure hope that Nissan will cover the cost of any failures on these early Titans that are out of warranty.
I went through something similar years ago with a 968 Porsche. The 92-95 Porsche 968's had a rear Getrag transaxle, 6 speed manual tranny, that was notorious for failing. The Getrag folks over tightened the pinion gear/bearings, and many of these 6 speed transaxles were gradually burning up their bearing races, and timken bearings from just plain old over torquing clearances.
My Porsche failed at 29K miles, but my 3 year 36 month warranty had expired by 3 years and a few months.
Porsche summarily refused to fix/replace my tranny. It cost me over $2,000 to have that tranny torn down and bearings and bearing races replaced!
You wouldn't believe how many of these manual 6 speed Getrags failed! To this day, Porsche North American has not fixed one out of warranty failure, and has basically "blown off" the 968 owners that encountered this very expensive factory defect.
I don't own a Porsche anymore. I gladly sold the car. I just can't afford that kind of car anyway. It nickel and dimed me for every little boo boo that it had. Just replacing a hydraulic clutch cylinder hose was $300.00!
Anyway, Nissan should have upgraded to a heavier differential in the Titan......I'm glad the the more recent Titans don't seem to be encountering as much differential problems and the earlier models, but I'd still be a little skiddish about towing a fairly heavy TT with a Dana 40 axle. I realize many are doing this with no problem. I just read so many sad, heart ache stories on the Titan forum. They'd hear a "Pop!". Maybe Nissan has a monstrous stockpile of Dana 40's and that's why they didn't go to a heavier rear end in the later year Titans?
RE: Dodge Ram 2500
It will have same power /torque, just it's torque will come on at lower rpm's which in my opinion is better for towing. Don't count on any better mpg really, unless you get an older pre DPF model. I think some of the modded Duramax's get the best mileage, from what I've read.
See how the same power gets distributed across six rods instead of 8, look at the thickness of the Cummins rod to the old model Ford and GM diesels. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v495/Hotelcali/rods.jpg
This is so out dated......Chevy 6.2l. :)
Mav
P.S. Size of the rod doesn't equate to power. Length of the rod and diameter of the piston do.......at least when boost isn't involved.
Mav
The picture of those connecting rods has nothing to do about the power of the engines. Look at how much beefier the Cummins rod is. What does that tell you?
The Cummins also has 25-30% fewer parts than either Ford or GMs diesel.
I'll take fewer,more HD parts any day.
I'm a Cummins owner, and very pleased with the powerplant, and I've seen this rod/piston comparison photo over the last couple years.
I will say that if you have 6 cylinders instead of 8 to make similar displacement and power, you would naturally have to have heavier rods and a larger bore diameter, and most likely longer piston stroke too.
The need to have rods on the 8 cylinder that are as beefy as the 6 cylinder seems like it might be overkill, as you are distributing out the power amongst 8 cylinders instead of 6.
Maybe we should look at the rods/pistons of a 300 CID Ford I-6, and compare them to a 302 CID Ford V8 rod/pistons. Would the I-6 pistons be larger in diameter or have a larger bore size, or would the I-6 rely on just a longer stroke to make up the displacement?
I think if we are considering similar compression ratios, the ford 300 CID I-6 might have beefier rods.
Think about it? You've got 6 pistons and cylinders making the same power as 8 cylinders and pistons, and they all have similar compression ratios, but the 8 cylinder is able to distribute-out it's power production amongst more cylinders.
Seems like rods as heavy as the Cummins 6, wouldn't be necessary.
I'm sure if you compare the powerstroke and duramax rods to an equivalent displacement gasser V8 the powerstroke and duramax rods will be appreciably beefier.
As far as medium duty and a lower duty diesel goes........I'm not an expert in that area. I've heard from many that their is a duty rating to these diesels and Cummins is higher rated, but I haven't the foggiest notion of where those ratings came from.....i.e. What agency rated one diesel medium duty and another lower than medium duty.
I will say, that an I-6 should have less moving parts, and I would assume frictionally is more efficient than an engine with additional cylinders. Of course 4 valves per cylinder will also add to the number parts versus a 2 valves per cylincer engine.
Is the Powerstroke and Duramax 4 valve per cylinder engines like the later Cummins? If so, we are looking at 32 valves versus 24 valves.
I would assume for breathing purposes, so that both types of diesels put out similar h.p. and torque numbers, that the Cummins valves would probably be larger diameter than the 8 cylinder.......That doesn't make the Cummins better, just a result of it's design in order to make the same or similar power/torque.
RE: Anybody got an '09 Ram yet?
After getting burned on a first year model or where the model was radically changed and not just a re-skin, I had nothing but CEL's, and other warranty issues to take care of. Whoever got my car after I traded it in, probably got a very reliabe vehicle, as I ironed-out all the first year bugs, with numerous trips to the dealer.
We had this same thing happen to us when we got our Titan in '04. I've learned my lesson to never buy new again!
Those new Rams do look nice, though!
I frequent the Titan forum often, and check out various topics including the "problems" one. My heart really goes out to a lot of Titan owners of the 04-05 models. Some of those owners have gone through 2-3 Nissan designed - dana 40 rear ends.
I know that the Titan owners over there are pretty upset with the possibility that the upcoming 1/2 ton Titan may have Dodge running gear, but then again, it maybe a good thing for both companies, as Dodge will get the Nissan Versa's platform to do a gas thrifty Dodge model.
I came so close to buying a 2005 Titan back in 05, but the dealer wouldn't budge much in negotiations, so I actually walked next door to the Dodge dealer, and went home with the 2005 3/4 ton Dodge Ram Diesel. I realize that Dodge has it's quirks, from year to year, but I think Nissan Titan owners have really suffered through some rough times; especially the early year owners. I'm not one to bash owners of other makes. I think the Titan platform is a solid one, but it's been a tough road for the early Titan owners. Not all of them of course.
RE: Dodge Ram 2500
I am looking for a new(used) diesel tow vehicle. I noticed that the Ford and Chevy's have V-8 engines, while the Dodges have I-6 (inline) engines. Does the I-6 engine have comparable towing power to the V-8's? Since it is a six cylinder, does it get better fuel mileage?
Actually if you talk to saavy mechanics or engineers in the automotive field, you'll find that the I-6 design in both gasoline or diesel configuration has the best natural harmonic design for anti-vibration. Also you can configure in a 7 main bearing crankshaft too.
The V-configuration both in V6 and V8's allows for a shortened block length-wise, as you are not lining up one cylinder behind the other, but instead are off-setting them via the V-design. This allows the V-cylinders to actually overlap the linear spacing compared to straight line spacing. Result: You can fit the same displacement engine in a smaller engine bay length wise, but it will be a wider engine because of the V-design.
For instance, a Cummins I-6 will likely have a longer block than a V8 or V6 diesel block of similar displacement.
I'm not sure, but I believe that the full block weight of the Cummins I-6 is a bit heavier than the Ford Powerstroke or GM Duramax diesel.
I don't know why, unless the Cummins block has heavier internal webbing, and somehow heavier internal components.i.e. rods, rod caps, and of course the crankshaft. Even though there are two-less rods, pistons, rod caps, less valves & assembly, it is possible that the six major components that make up the internals still has more overall weight or mass in iron/steel than 8 pistons and their components in the two V8 diesels.
I'm sure some diesel mechanics could chime in that have worked on all three diesels.......the Cummins I-6, Powerstroke V8, and Duramax V8.
RE: Anybody got an '09 Ram yet?
After getting burned on a first year model or where the model was radically changed and not just a re-skin, I had nothing but CEL's, and other warranty issues to take care of. Whoever got my car after I traded it in, probably got a very reliabe vehicle, as I ironed-out all the first year bugs, with numerous trips to the dealer.
I really like the 2009 Dodge Ram exterior and interior and it's powertrain offerings.
I just don't want to be the owner of one of the first one's off the assembly line anymore.
I realize that it isn't always the case with first year models or major change years, but my "almost/lemon" had made me skittish. I would go for year number 2 with the new Ram if I was in the market.
Of course if everyone followed my formula Dodge wouldn't sell any 09 Rams. ;)
RE: Check out these Dyno numbers - 08 Diesels
I just caught the mention(?)of the problems with the 48RE. I agree with it being an issue when buying a Dodge. Not to be repeatative from another thread but, CHRYSLER could have stepped up and fixed this tranny by upgrading the torque converters and solenoids, instead coming up with BS excuses as to why it broke and leaving owners to pay the bills themselves. It's not an Allison!
Your "48RE" negative comments are showing up all over the website.
I think if you took a poll of 48RE owners here, you'd find that your travails with your son's tranny are very rare.
Didn't one of your posts mention that a dealer had rejected warranty work because they suspected that an after-market tuner that bumps H.P. and Torque had been installed at one time in the truck?
Granted the Dodge Ram CTD 47 series Automatics before the 48RE may have had a higher incidence of repairs, but the 48RE is one solid/strong Automatic with a very good frequency of repair record; meaning very few.
RE: 2005 DODGE RAM 3500 CTD WITH 48RE TRANSMISSION
I know there's a lot of 05/48RE's with exhaust brakes......even some that were dealer installed, but officially, Chrysler said our year 48RE was not designed to work with an exhaust brake due to a very inexpensive, tranny part that was changed in 2006 models to allow warranty coverage.
If this "inexpensive" tranny part is part of the problem, why couldn't the tranny be "upgraded" as part of the kit for the EB? I know my EB makes a huge diffence on how much I use the service brakes, even through the mountains loaded.
Inexpensive part, not inexpensive to remove and replace.;)
RE: 2005 DODGE RAM 3500 CTD WITH 48RE TRANSMISSION
Will this "fix" have any impact on the availablilty of an exhaust brake install on 05's?? I was looking at an 06 and an 05 at the same time but decided to buy the 05 because of better looking headlights and upholstery. When I found out an exhaust brake is not available thru Dodge as an add on because of torque converter lock up issues I was very disappointed. I really would like to have an exhaust brake although with the compression so high on this 5.9 diesel I think it does much better than my old gas 460 Ford on long downhill runs.
The exhaust brake is available for 06's with no warranty problems thru Dodge Dealers. Not for the 05!! Maybe they will reconsider now if the OD can be locked out. Anybody know for sure before I go argue with the service dept manager??
Definitely a good question!
Supposedly, if you put an exhaust brake on my 05 CTD 48RE, Chrysler won't cover warranty issues with my Tranny or possibly other driveline parts.
With this "flash" that allows manual lockout of OD, or allowing it to engage, I wonder what Chrysler's official statement will be.
I know there's a lot of 05/48RE's with exhaust brakes......even some that were dealer installed, but officially, Chrysler said our year 48RE was not designed to work with an exhaust brake due to a very inexpensive, tranny part that was changed in 2006 models to allow warranty coverage.
Do we have anyone that has official connections with Chrysler that can give us the official "skinny"?
I've held off getting the exhaust brake because I didn't want to mess with voiding my warranty in anyway.
RE: 2005 DODGE RAM 3500 CTD WITH 48RE TRANSMISSION
Since the trans is designed to tow in OD and considering the low end grunt of the Cummins, why would you wan't to lock it out of OD?
Also, wouldn't it do the same thing to just take the selecter out of "D" and put it in 3rd? :@
I couldn't agree more!
I tow a 10,000 lbs TT, and very-much like the fact that in Tow/haul OD available.
When I'm towing on the flat at 55-60 mph, my 48RE tranny will drop 99% of the time go into OD, and my overhead mileage goes up, and that means I'm saving $$, and extra wear on my Cummins with lower RPM's per mile.
Now if there is a considerable headwind or a upgrade it may or may not drop out of OD, but in most cases I leave it to the ECU-brains of the truck that was engineered by Dodge over thousands and thousands of testing miles before my year truck was offered for sale to the public.
The Cummins inline six, diesel has a very flat torque curve with good numbers(ft/lbs) throughout it's operating RPM's, and that means you've got pretty smooth power output under any operating condition.
It's not at all unusual for my 05 with 48RE to want to stay in OD, while int tow/haul, towing our 10k lbs. TT up a grade.
As long as the tranny isn't overheating, and engine temperature is normal, it works just fine for me. :)
RE: Check out these Dyno numbers - 08 Diesels
Heh heh, I was editing and adding that as you replied....:)
Thank you for the additional info on your initial post/page.
I can read that very clearly. I'm living with tri-focals as result of numerous eye operations. ;)
********
By the way, the Cummins Torque curve is about as flat as one could possibly get across the total RPM span. Thats very impressive!
The fact that the Cummins is over 500 ft/lbs of torque at 1,750 rpms, is impressive, as that is very close to where my towing rpms are when cruising on the freeway around 55-60 mph., and the tranny is in OD while also in Tow/Haul mode.
The fact that when I'm climbing a grade and my Cummins doesn't normally downshift unless the grade is pretty steep must be attributable to that continuous 500+ Ft/Lbs torque across the whole RPM spectrum.
Even though I own an 05 Cummins......I would assume that my Torque curve must be pretty flat also, but possibly a little lower in numbers than the 6.7 cummins.
RE: Chrysler to overtake GM Canada as production leader
A long time Chevrolet dealership in Alameda, Calif., shut it's doors yesterday. It was on the S.F. bay area news yesterday morning.
Apparently Tuesday evening they gathered all the employees in a room and told them, they were out of a job; the dealership is done.
We are talking about a major GM/Chevy dealership here in N. California!
I heard on the news that it is predicted that 1 in 5 dealerships will fold in the next few months.
I don't think its just the credit crunt doing this, as this dealership closing-thing was happening before all these big credit institutions started folding a few weeks back.
I think that the American car/truck makers are facing some tough cost problems........I.E. $1,500.00 worth of worker medical insurance tacked onto each and every vehicle built.......Something isn't right here.
Also, fleet MPG averages haven't improved that much for American makers either.
Evidence of this is easily seen in the S.F. bay area where I reside. Big old gas hog SUV's still are all over the place, and filling the used car lots by the bushels.
Somehow, automakers some years back got into this SUV building frenzy, and totally ignored or let the full size, mid size, and mini-size van market droop on the vine. Van's overall in their various itinerations are more utility-wise useful vehicles......I mean they can carry 7 -8 people with higher ceiling heights, can carry incredible amounts of cargo with seats removed, and in the mid-size bracket can crack off 25+ MPG's.
SUV's became in-vogue, and everyone had to have them in 4x4 configurations. Now we have Lincoln, Lexus, Caddilac, Chrysler versions with big a**ed engines and the makers brag about them now, finally getting 20 MPG's.
The American car industry builds some smaller fuel efficient vehicles, but they have pushed the SUV's and low MPG vehicles while Toyota, Nissan, Hyundai, and others continued to refrain from the big fuel surping SUV's......I do realize that the Armada and Sequoia, and large Lexus/Infinity SUV's are exceptions, but they are not as common as the Navigator/Escalade/type SUV's Detroit has been pushing on us.
So we have a couple domestic fuel miserly cars.......like a Cobalt....Whoopee! Now GM is getting wise and pushing up Cobalt production as well as other sedans and mini's.
The Chevy Volt is still not happening until 2010.......While even Hyundai may have a hybrid Sonata out before that, and Volkswagen had a 50 state legal diesel Jetta that's selling out at all it's dealerships quicker than they can replace them. Honda is going to introduce a higher MPG Hybrid Civic, and Toyota has a new Prius coming shortly.
So, Chrysler comes up with a big a** Aspen/Durango hybrid that gets about the same mileage as the Tahoe hybrid.......barely into the 20's mpg.. At least the Chrysler Aspen isn't stratospherically priced like the Chevy Tahoe hybrid.
I think it's a crying shame that Detroit has neglected the Mini-van and has succumbed to style over utility with the glut of SUV's. Seems like it just fed our vanity for style over substance.
Well, in capitalism, it does indeed self regulate. Automakers got shocked out of their britches back during the 70's OPEC oil boycott, and more fuel efficient detroit cars such as the Pinto's, Vega's, Gremlins, sold faster than supply, and big old full sized detroit iron sat on lots rusting away.
RE: Check out these Dyno numbers - 08 Diesels
Interesting dyno charts on the three 08 diesels from Ford/GM/Dodge.
As my eyes aren't too good at reading the fine print on these charts, could you summarize or list the H.P./Torque readouts at the different RPM ranges for each make/diesel for me or possibly others that our interested?
RE: ScanGauge II vs. Trans Temp Gauge
Called Scanguage, and they don't make a Scanguage for my 2005 Dodge Ram Cummins diesel. What a crock!
Have any idea how many 05 diesel rams exist? Can't understand Scanguage not offering their system to these owners, such as myself?
