#3986693 - 08/14/09 10:26 AM
Re: Which were the best/most reliable 90's diesel trucks?
[Re: Impulsive]
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UglyValiant
Post Master Sr
Registered: 10/09/02
Posts: 6364
Loc: Milwaukee, WI
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Well, technically, as a late 90's deal, you wouldn't be looking at a duramax...just the awful, underpowered, not very efficient...but very simple and reliable GM 6.5 diesel. It more or less goes without saying to avoid anything with this engine at all cost.
Really, when it comes to either the 12V cummins, 24v cummins, the 7.3 powerstroke, and the early duramax engines, you can't go wrong. Engines themselves are all very rock solid and reliable...duramax might get a slight edge in mpg, but the cummins were pretty good to depending if it's in a 2wd vs 4wd, and if you've got 3.54's vs 4.10's (being so efficient making torque, I'd only look for the 4.10's if I was looking to tow over 10,000lbs). The 7.3 isn't a world beater in fuel efficiency; it has a good edge in non-towing, and of course, blows away gasoline engines towing fuel efficiency.
All are simple to work on...but a big inline six is always the easiest.
The transmissions are all strong units, each being able to take moderate modifications of the engines before you begin to reach the breaking point. Of course, each trans needs good/correct service, especially the much maligned dodge trans.
Looks is your preference. I'd always really like the dodge and fords...both look tough just sitting there. During that era, the Dodge is the oldest of the three (unless you really do look at late 90's GM trucks, which again, with HD trucks, there is no reason...they were a relative non-player in the HD truck segment).
Myself personally, if I had the time and money, I'd probably look for the real old style dodge ram (89-93) with a cummins, extended cab, manual trans, and 4WD. The trucks were relatively light and configured as such, could pull down as much as mid 20's with conservative driving. Find a clean one (they'll still get 5-8G clean!), go through with tires/brakes/etc/etc to make like new again and enjoy.
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1979 Dodge Lil' Red Express Truck 1989 Shelby CSX (#500/500) The most powerful production minivan money can buy.
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#3987721 - 08/14/09 02:04 PM
Re: Which were the best/most reliable 90's diesel trucks?
[Re: UglyValiant]
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NHRATA01
Post Master
Registered: 10/05/01
Posts: 2030
Loc: New York
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Yeah Ugly beat me but I'd say avoid the GM trucks with the 6.5, and hurts me to say that being a GM fanboy, but the Powerstroke and the Cummins are both superior. Always been leery of Chrysler transmissions though.
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2001 NHRA Trans Am M6 2012 Buick Regal GS
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#3987733 - 08/14/09 02:06 PM
Re: Which were the best/most reliable 90's diesel trucks?
[Re: NHRATA01]
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NHRATA01
Post Master
Registered: 10/05/01
Posts: 2030
Loc: New York
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Also FWIW I'm pretty sure you're looking at the old style GM trucks ('88-00) if you go diesel. The GMT800s came out in '99 I believe for the 1/2 ton, but the 3/4 and 1 tonners didn't start until '00 or '01 I believe. Which means thats when the Duramax finally appeared.
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2001 NHRA Trans Am M6 2012 Buick Regal GS
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#3990542 - 08/15/09 11:17 PM
Re: Which were the best/most reliable 90's diesel trucks?
[Re: NHRATA01]
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GOTXQSS
Poster
Registered: 10/15/03
Posts: 222
Loc: Vegas
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What a perfect vehicle choice to ad to your collection.. Lets see a diesel truck.. You don't tow, don't do mexican yardwork, need to carry anything but rims which thebeater van works great at already..
What's the point? New family vehicle?lol
"Id rather be cummin then strokin"
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Project Collector
RIP "The Balls Challenge"
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#3991187 - 08/16/09 02:14 PM
Re: Which were the best/most reliable 90's diesel trucks?
[Re: UglyValiant]
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Quad4_driver
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 09/28/02
Posts: 11119
Loc: B.C. Canada
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Well, technically, as a late 90's deal, you wouldn't be looking at a duramax...just the awful, underpowered, not very efficient...but very simple and reliable GM 6.5 diesel. It more or less goes without saying to avoid anything with this engine at all cost.
Really, when it comes to either the 12V cummins, 24v cummins, the 7.3 powerstroke, and the early duramax engines, you can't go wrong. Engines themselves are all very rock solid and reliable...duramax might get a slight edge in mpg, but the cummins were pretty good to depending if it's in a 2wd vs 4wd, and if you've got 3.54's vs 4.10's (being so efficient making torque, I'd only look for the 4.10's if I was looking to tow over 10,000lbs). The 7.3 isn't a world beater in fuel efficiency; it has a good edge in non-towing, and of course, blows away gasoline engines towing fuel efficiency.
All are simple to work on...but a big inline six is always the easiest.
The transmissions are all strong units, each being able to take moderate modifications of the engines before you begin to reach the breaking point. Of course, each trans needs good/correct service, especially the much maligned dodge trans.
Looks is your preference. I'd always really like the dodge and fords...both look tough just sitting there. During that era, the Dodge is the oldest of the three (unless you really do look at late 90's GM trucks, which again, with HD trucks, there is no reason...they were a relative non-player in the HD truck segment).
Myself personally, if I had the time and money, I'd probably look for the real old style dodge ram (89-93) with a cummins, extended cab, manual trans, and 4WD. The trucks were relatively light and configured as such, could pull down as much as mid 20's with conservative driving. Find a clean one (they'll still get 5-8G clean!), go through with tires/brakes/etc/etc to make like new again and enjoy.
I wouldn't call the 6.5L reliable. They are pretty bad on injection pumps, and the heads like to warp.
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#3992224 - 08/16/09 10:36 PM
Re: Which were the best/most reliable 90's diesel trucks?
[Re: Quad4_driver]
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UglyValiant
Post Master Sr
Registered: 10/09/02
Posts: 6364
Loc: Milwaukee, WI
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I wouldn't call the 6.5L reliable. They are pretty bad on injection pumps, and the heads like to warp.
I'm basing it off it's fairly reliable track record in the military...of which I'm not aware of any head warping issues.
IIRC, the military hummer's do use a different injection pump; for the light duty GM trucks, there is a fairly permanent fix for issues related to the injection pump failures. Again, not aware of any persistent issues in the military Humvee's related to injection pumps, though I could be wrong.
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1979 Dodge Lil' Red Express Truck 1989 Shelby CSX (#500/500) The most powerful production minivan money can buy.
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#8877158 - 12/10/16 09:03 PM
Re: Which were the best/most reliable 90's diesel trucks?
[Re: UglyValiant]
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00Formula
00Formula
Unregistered
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The only experience I have with 90's diesels is a friend had a 3/4 ton Ford. It had a ton of miles but was very reliable until he totaled it. He used it to tow when he had a mowing business.
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#8877294 - 12/11/16 02:20 AM
Re: Which were the best/most reliable 90's diesel trucks?
[Re: ]
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SE-RKilla
Poster
Registered: 09/30/00
Posts: 228
Loc: 10 cars in front of an SE-R
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Sure wasn't any Nissan diesel.
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1991 CRX Si Bone Stock SE-R's Worst Nightmare Q: What's an SE-R say to a CRX? A: Nice taillights!
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#8978802 - 03/20/17 09:57 PM
Re: Which were the best/most reliable 90's diesel trucks?
[Re: SE-RKilla]
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ypMs
Jr Poster
Registered: 03/20/17
Posts: 80
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