Community Forums

Half Dimes · 01-23-2011, 12:06 PM

The horsepower and torque specs for the new 6.7 for pickup trucks are 390 and 735 respectively. The same engine in the chassis cab is rated at 300 and 660. Source for these numbers are the latest Ford on-line catalogs found here.

My question is why the difference? Tow ratings seem to have a similar discrepancy also. I've asked this question at two Ford dealerships and don't get much more than a shrug of the shoulders. Almost seems like the pickup numbers are puffed up for competitive purposes.

RustyJC · 01-23-2011, 12:54 PM

Fleet owners and hotshot drivers (the primary market for C&C trucks) are more interested in long term cost of ownership, not necessarily the highest BHP and torque ratings on the block. As consumers, at what point is enough, enough? My pore ole 350 BHP/650 ft-lb Cummins does everything I need to do (by the way, the same engine in the Dodge C&C is also derated to 305 BHP/610 ft-lb). I guess to a lot of people in the consumer market, ratings and magazine tests sell trucks, though.

To each his/her own.

Rusty

Half Dimes · 01-23-2011, 04:53 PM

The only reason I bring this up is that we've had considerable mechanical problems with our current tow vehicle to the point I have little confidence in it. So, I've been window shopping.

Determined that the new F350 4x2 supposedly has about the same fifth wheel towing capacity (20,800 lbs) as my older F450. At least that's what the pickup specs say. When you check the F350 chassis cab version, the number drops to 15,900 lbs. My rig weighs in at 16,500 lbs. Believe the F350 pickup specs and I have a comfortable margin. With the chassis cab specs, I'm overweight.

The new F450 pickup is now nothing more than an F350 with slightly larger brakes and a higher axle ratio and can't be had in a 4x2. And the numbers on that model are just as suspect.

Frankly, I'm just annoyed at the numbers game where calculations seem to be made in the sales dept instead of the engineering area.

yogi154 · 05-04-2011, 06:45 AM

Dave ...I tought the same thing so I posted the question on a Ford owners web fourm. The Chassis trucks have a differant Turbo so less Hp and Torque.
I was looking to have an F 550 built with all the bells, including air ride. The problem was the custom builder said they reprogram to 395 Hp. That was a Lie, it can't be done as per Ford in Dearborn (email). I know the F 550 would be a Great Truck but I hate being lied to. The cost of the F 550 was a whopping $ 92,500 with All the Bells and it looks Great.
That being said I shelved the whole thing for now.

Wayne

Mekanic · 05-04-2011, 07:13 AM

As rusty pointed out there are different customers. hence the different ratings. Drivers of the commericial trucks sometime are just hired drivers and thus the need for more reliability/longjevity Vs power.
If they did change the turbo it was probibly to get it to spool up quicker not to limmit the HP and TQ. that is very easly done on the new ones with a computer chip.
395 HP is very possible (no matter what Ford tells you)with just a computer reprogram, HOWEVER it would very likely shorten the life of the smaller turbo and void the warrenty on the engine.

aspeyrer · 05-05-2011, 05:49 AM

Get a used Freightliner sport chassis, it will be twice the truck the F550 is in capacity, and you could find a used one for 60k.

Quote:

Originally Posted by yogi154

Dave ...I tought the same thing so I posted the question on a Ford owners web fourm. The Chassis trucks have a differant Turbo so less Hp and Torque.
I was looking to have an F 550 built with all the bells, including air ride. The problem was the custom builder said they reprogram to 395 Hp. That was a Lie, it can't be done as per Ford in Dearborn (email). I know the F 550 would be a Great Truck but I hate being lied to. The cost of the F 550 was a whopping $ 92,500 with All the Bells and it looks Great.
That being said I shelved the whole thing for now.

Wayne