I just saw an ad for the new 345hp Hemi Dodges, and i gota tell ya, thats a slick truck. Honestly, how do the new Fords, F-150 all the way up through the bigger trucks, how do they compare? The new 300 hp Chevy and the 345 hp Dodge, do they have us beat now as far as the best truck built?
I worked for the city last summer and had the pleasure of driving a 2002 Chevy 1/2 ton with teh 4.8 V-8, and a 2001 Dodge x cab wtiht eh 5.3. The Chevy could out-accelerate a Ford, but was extremely light duty and didnot have much pulling power when we loaded the trailer up. The Dodge, ok, but it was a pig. I found nothing special in it-better than the Chevy thoguh. It was always nice to hop in my Ford when the day was over thoguh.
Has anyone driven these new trucks? How do the Fords compare with the new Chevys and Dodges? Is this new "Hemi" engine a breakthrough or a marketing strategy to get people lured back to the "Hemi"? Give me your thoughts and experience with these trucks. I think we would all like learn on this issue.

 

That's why Ford is #1. Don't worry. When the new '04's come out next year, Ford will put the others to shame again. Just like when the '97's came out in '96.

 

I want to stick to the topic here and not stray from it too much.

-Whats in store for the 04's? How will it stand up to Chevy and Dodge's Hemi?

- How about these Toyota V-8's. Are they a real truck, or more of a light duty joke?

 

didn't you hear, ford is introducing the 3 valve heads, it will be very much like a hemi but with far less weight.

 

I don't think that the new Dodge HEMI is any kind of break-through. Heck, the Escorts of the 80's were hemis, the 6 cyl. Jaguars of the 50's were too. I believe that all DC is doing is using the hemi head to gain more power as they did in the 50's. Then their marketing people got hold of it and are playing it for all they can get out of the 'mistique and reputation' of the old big blocks that everybody loved.

In my opinion, DC is trying to do what Cadillac marketing did with 'the Northstar' system. If I remember right, all that 'Northstar' stood for was the code name of the new engine while it was in the development stages. They linked it with some good marketing people, and the rest is history. Now people go..."Oooo, it's a Northstar!" Ford uses the Triton name, but I don't think they've pushed it to the public like GM did, or that now DC is doing.

Just my $0.02, take it for what it's worth.

 

Our 5.4l trucks should be pushing 300hp when it's introduced in the 3 valve. I believe that the plan is to have the 4.6 and the V10 in 3 valve configurations too. I think that will make the Fords look better in the HP game.

The Hemi does seem like it's stout. I'm sure it is. Don't go looking for that motor in a light duty pick up just yet. Right now it's only avaliable in the HD trucks with no planned date for it as an option on the LD trucks.

The GM's might have thoes high HP numbers, at the crank, but what are they putting to the wheels? I hear that the drive line loss is twice that of the Fords. If that's true then Ford is still on top with actual usable power.

So far I still think that Ford id the best for me. Now all they have to do is figure out how customer service works.

 

i come from a long line of dodge fans ,and i dissapointed my pop when i came home with a ford,but you gotta do what the wallet tells you to do!

....but pop had a '02 1500 with a 360, and it was quick as hell but it wasnt enough for him, so he went and got a 2500 with the hemi and WOW, its awsome, ive never felt power like that. next year or '05 the hemi will be in the ld and the durango, so thats when mom trades in her 5.9. r/t for the hemi durango

just my .02


moose

 

One Question--why doesnt Ford go ahead and install 4 valve heads on their new trucks? Why not skip the 3 valve stage and jump right to 4 valve heads?

 

4-valve heads are only good for higher RPM power. They do not provide the low-end torque that Ford is known for (pulling power). Hence the 3-valve '04 engines. Look for the '04 5.4 to produce over 300 HP.

 

A four valve head also needs dohc, ford can save tons of weight by not going that route.

 

FORD has the 310 hp 6.8L V-10!

 

Actually, if you read Dodge's website & kbb.com you wil see that the Hemi will be available in the 1500 early next year. According to the local Dodge place, they are no longer accepting orders for 5.9L trucks.