Earthroamer - why Ford over Dodge?

[lowenbrau]

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If the new Ford-built diesel is as good as initial impressions indicate there is less reason than ever to consider Dodge. The new engine is quiet, which should be highly desirable.

There is reason to be hopeful that Ford has things figured out with this new engine but based on their last two releases of Navistar engines there's no way I'd trust Ford enough to drop a quarter million on a rig built on their platform. Not until a couple of years have passed and it has proven itself.

 

[Piet]

3 Ford vans and 5 transmissions later... I am not to keen on a full size ford.

 

[charlieaarons]

It seems there is a little problem with Ford.
Eathroamer is a cab-over camper.
The (in)famous 6.0-6.4 engine series has ahd a high incidence of serious engine problems.
Ford in its' great wisdom designed things so to get at the sides and back of the 6.0/6.4, the cab needs to be removed (hard to do in the field).
How does one do that, even at a dealer, with the cab-over?
This is not a design I would want to take around the world or outside N. America away from Ford's dense dealer network.

Charlie

 

[Maddmatt]

It seems there is a little problem with Ford.
Eathroamer is a cab-over camper.
The (in)famous 6.0-6.4 engine series has ahd a high incidence of serious engine problems.
Ford in its' great wisdom designed things so to get at the sides and back of the 6.0/6.4, the cab needs to be removed (hard to do in the field).
How does one do that, even at a dealer, with the cab-over?
This is not a design I would want to take around the world or outside N. America away from Ford's dense dealer network.

Charlie

Actually, Ford designed the 6.4 series to make it easier to remove the cab, not required. Everything can be done with the cab in place - in fact I used to have the number of the TSB memorized, back when I cared about such things. Any quality Super Duty service writer should know it off the top of their head by now, it's been a few years.

 

[dzzz]

..........
This is not a design I would want to take around the world or outside N. America away from Ford's dense dealer network.

Charlie

There's quite a few ford dealers in south america, although I don't know if they will ever see the new diesel.

 

[haven]

Here's how to remove the cab of the Ford with Powerstroke 6.0L. This text is adapted from information provided by a Ford master mechanic. To be fair, this procedure is recommended only when removing the heads to replace the gaskets, or to tear down the engine internals.


remove the rear seat if 4 door

remove all the cab bolts 6 for single cab 8 for super can and 4 door.

disconnect the ground cable on the passengers side of cab,

remove the air intake, both batteries,the abs module (under the battery tray) and the bracket bolts.

remove the intercooler pipes, power steering line from the tank to the pump and the psi line at the gear and the return line at the booster.

remove the radiator support bolts, drain radiator and remove upper and lower hoses.

disconnect several wire connectors on the drivers side fender well

disconnect the main harness from the engine at the pcm.

disconnect the body ground at the passenger side fire wall and a ground next to the battery on the driver's side

remove the e-brake cable connector under the drivers door and remove the cable from the cab support.

remove the shift cable from the trans and the trans bracket.

remove the battery cross over cable on top of the radiator, disconnect from core support and lay on the lh side of engine.

remove the brake master cylinder and leave the lines connected, the master and the abs module will not need to have lines disconnected.

remove the bolt from the steering colum at the gear box and collapse the column until it is up next to the booster.

remove the fan shroud. If it has not been cut you will have to cut it at the seperation line with the two holes on each side the shroud will seperate the the upper comes up and the lower will come up as well. Be careful of the radiator nipple. The fan and stator will stay with the engine. The radiator stays with the truck.

evacuate the a/c and remove the line from the accumulator and the upper line from the condensor as they will stay with the engine.

disconnect a few extra wires as you start to lift the cab.

More information here
http://www.justanswer.com/questions/z9bv-cab-removal-04-f250-6-0l

 

[ujoint]

What problems are they having with the 6.4? Besides the bad fuel economy.

 

[Regcabguy]

Actually, Ford designed the 6.4 series to make it easier to remove the cab, not required. Everything can be done with the cab in place - in fact I used to have the number of the TSB memorized, back when I cared about such things. Any quality Super Duty service writer should know it off the top of their head by now, it's been a few years.

I saw a youtube technical video of a poor Ford tech hoisting the cab to changout an inaccessible turbo o-ring. This was quite awhile ago. Maybe they've discovered a way to access them now.

 

[bajajoaquin]

Call me ignorant, but wouldn't it be easier to pull the engine than the cab?

 

[RR1]

This is not a design I would want to take around the world or outside N. America away from Ford's dense dealer network.

Charlie

There are Ford dealerships in Australia, South Africa, Europe...however, me personally I wouldn't take a Ford around the world.

A Toyota, Mitsubishi, Isuzu, Mercedes definitely.

 

[lt1fire]

Ford F550's can be had with a Cummins engine in it if desired.

While there are Cummins plants all over the place there are also international owned facilities also so getting parts for the Navistar wouldn't be that hard.

Also the Chassis of the ford is much tougher than that of the dodge. :victory:

 

[ujoint]

Ford F550's can be had with a Cummins engine in it if desired.

Any more info on this? I think we'd see more on the road......


Ford has been doing the cab removal for many years. Even on SUV's. It's easier for the tech's when it comes to major engiebe work. They have the cab/frame separated in a few hours.

 

[cwsqbm]

Ford F550's can be had with a Cummins engine in it if desired.

Any more info on this? I think we'd see more on the road......

The F450/550 are NOT available (as least in North America) with a Cummins - only the gas V-10 or the new 6.7L Powerstroke V-8. Its the F650/750 that come standard with the 6.7 ISB. I can see the confusion, since both are the same displacement now.

 

[SuperCal]

taken from a ford press release about the new 6.7 powerstroke:

•The new engine architecture enables easier service work for all major engine components, potentially reducing downtime. On turbocharger service, for example, the body/cab no longer has to be removed from the frame to access the turbo; also, the high-pressure fuel pump, EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) components and thermostats are directly accessible from the front of the vehicle.

 

[deserteagle56]

Another reason for Ford over Dodge might be Chrysler Corp's horrible replacement parts system.

My job is buying parts for one of the world's largest mining companies. The company I work for - and all other mining companies in Nevada that I know of - run fleets of Ford vehicles, from Explorers to F650s. I'd hate to say how many F250s and F350s alone that we own. In 2008 we bought a couple new Dodge 5500s with the Cummins to use as service trucks. They have been a nightmare to keep running - and its because we can't get replacement parts for those trucks from Chrysler. Half the time we get our fuel filters from NAPA because the Dodge dealer can't supply them. I have had a couple u-joints on order since May and Chrysler still lists them as backordered. I could go on with more examples but you get the idea. That's not the way to support the vehicles you sell if you want to sell more vehicles! Whereas with Ford, there's not a part that we can't get overnight.

My personal truck is a Cummins Ram - but it leads a pretty easy life and so far I've not needed any parts other than filters and I get those from Geno's!