And The Winner is... 2500HD 6.0L

sahls01gmc · July 14, 2015

True, the new Cummins ISV will intrigue a wide variety of buyers!

KARNUT · July 14, 2015

You’re making a bunch of faulty assumptions.

First, there’s nothing “cheap” about re-tooling assembly lines. There is nothing cheap about redesigning the powertrains of an entire line of vehicles in order to use a different engine. The fact the engine itself may be a few dollars cheaper because it is used elsewhere is really small in the big picture. Virtually always, the “cheapest” thing to do in manufacturing is to never change the design.

Second, even if they do plan to spend the money and do the change, these things take time. Just because you don’t know of it happening within the first year or so of the engine being widely available doesn’t mean it’s not in the works.

Third, there are many reasons that have been listed in this thread why they may not want to do it which have absolutely nothing to do with losing a race up a hill. Premium gas requirement, LNG compatibility—feasibility, etc.

I agree, it would be great info. Unfortunately we’re separated by a couple thousand miles….

I expect this conversation to get even more attention in the coming years as Nissan comes out with the XD specifically targeted at the “fence sitters” which I do think is a pretty decent percentage of both markets. Hopefully that will inspire some of the magazines to do some comparisons combining the two categories instead of always separating them.

The hard part is done putting the engine in is the easy part for a company like GM. GM used to be the easiest for shade tree mechanics to do engine swaps. I use do it all the time, can't imagine they stray to far from that formula. Developing the engine it's self is the hard part. That's done.

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Cowpie · July 15, 2015

True, the new Cummins ISV will intrigue a wide variety of buyers!

Nothing Cummins will intrigue me. There was a time it would. I really liked there N-14 motor, but after getting burned on a couple of ISX's, I am pretty firmly set that I want no Cummins product in any vehicle I own, irregardless of size or application. Was checking out some semi truck listings from a couple of dealers in my area. Anything with Cummins in it was quickly overlooked.

sahls01gmc · July 15, 2015

Cummins is the industry leader in diesel technology. What about the ISX has burned you so much?

To each their own, there's a reason why there's more than 1 engine manufacturer....

Cowpie · July 16, 2015

Sad testimony isn't it? But it is easy to state such things when you don't have to shell out $30,000 for engines like some of us do when things go wrong. Yes, go down to Cummins and check the price for a ISX crate engine installed in a semi truck. Cummins smaller stuff might be pretty good. I will never know. You burn me pretty bad and it is doubtful I will even do business with you again. Cummins is in that position with me. And price the replacement of a SCR or DPF unit when you are paying the bills. And when you are in business, downtime is lost revenue. You not only have the cost of the repair, but the $1000 a day the truck is losing money. like I said, Cummins burned me pretty bad on a couple of ISX motors. That is two chances. They don't get a third time at bat.

But, given the emissions stuff and such on diesels now, I would have to be up against a wall with no other choice left to consider a diesel in any vehicle anymore. I don't have any other real option, based on my commercial operation, than to use diesel, and I don't have any pressing need for a diesel in a pickup that a gas engine can't also do the job just fine. I don't buy engines based on fads or status symbols and put stickers in the back windows letting everyone know I have a diesel. If and when the day comes that I have no other choice than to get a diesel in a pickup, Cummins will not be on the list.

sahls01gmc · July 16, 2015

Cliff, thank you for your explanation. I actually work for Cummins so I was very curious as to your position. I can't speak to specifics on what happened in your case, but I understand why you feel the way you do. It's good to hear that you are happy with your current tractor, and hopefully it continues to treat you well. I'm in the same position as you as far as a pickup, I have no need for a diesel and won't own one with the current EPA emissions garbage on there.

kstruckcountry · July 16, 2015

The 5.9 12 valver in our work truck only made it to 340k... yes, hard towing/hauling/hot/cold miles, but still not impressive to me considering it had head work before 250k and various other issues with the actual engine. Surprisingly enough, the cab and chassis were both in good condition for the mileage and use. The new one is a 2011 "Ram" with the 6.7. I would have like to try a gasser dually instead really...

sahls01gmc · July 16, 2015

Interesting point Dan. We had a 5.9 24 valve that lasted to 550,000...it was the body and chassis that gave out on that one!

I'm not out to puff my chest any either. I actually enjoy hearing real testimonies from people who have/had Cummins products in the past, and how they have treated them.

kstruckcountry · July 16, 2015

Well by chassis I mean frame... Diffs, steering, trans all were worked over or replaced. Cab corners were still solid and interior wasn't bad.

The truck had a bale bed and spent a lot of time in the pasture and towing. It still drives but has issues. We'll see how the "new" one lasts deleted/blocked.

'01LS1 · July 16, 2015

This is way off the original topic, but inline with the Cummins commentary.

I called on some used 2011 Pete 386's(class 8 trucks) a dealer was getting in. Apparently there were 20 units, all spec'd the same with the same Cummins ISX. These were the last of the engines built before the SCR/DEF was mandatory. So DPF only motors. Not sure what the serial or series it is for them, but think that is the cm871? Anyway, all trucks had around 500,000 miles & ALL trucks had been rebuilt by Cummins in the 300,000 mile range. They told me complete in frame with new liners installed & were selling it like it was a bonus. It scared the hell out of me. Didn't ask another question about them. Maybe I over reacted & missed out, but will stick with my '03.

Not saying the above to be argumentative or disrespectful to sahls01gmc.

The greater problem is the EPA keeps forcing escalating regs at the engineers faster than they can get the bugs worked out. Much less meeting an ever changing standard.

sahls01gmc · July 16, 2015

No worries. I work on the Generator side, so I'm not too familiar "under the hood". I agree, the EPA sure isn't making anything easier! It's hard to beat the pre-emissions motors. If the engines were to be rebuilt, it works in your favor that they were rebuilt by Cummins. "Over reacted and missed out?", hard to tell. Anything is possible, but a factory rebuild certainly doesn't hurt anything.

Cowpie · July 18, 2015

Those ISX motors had had inframes before 500,000 miles. Let's compare that to many of the previous Cummins N-14's have gone well over 1 million miles without being opened up for a major repair. My last Cummins N-14, I took to 1.4 million miles, only got 1 new injector in that time and an accessory drive seal. Original turbo. It immediately went to work for the next owner using it in a farming operation. That is the reason behind considering the Cummins ISX. Well, that was a hard lesson learned.

And to be fair, any issues may not extend throughout the product offerings.

If I knew then what I know now, the Cummins N-14 I had would have been used as a core exchange for a fresh, factory remanned crate motor. Matter of fact, I am using a factory remanned crate motor in my 2013 Frieightliner now. I ordered up the truck without a motor or transmisson, and dropped in a factory remanned Detroit Series 60 motor and factory remanned Eaton 18 speed. That truck now has 427,000 miles on it and I could not be happier. All perfectly legal and avoided all the emissions junk.