Hello - I found this website by looking for information related to a purchase of a new pickup. There's lots of info out there, though most of it isn't all that useful. I've had lots of fun with my Dodge in my signature, but she's a bit rough riding on long trips (didn't notice this 13 years ago, hmmm! ). I don't haul too much, just an antique engine or two to an antique tractor/engine show a couple of times a year, or some bit of rusty iron back home again. BUT, I tend to keep my vehicles a long time and expect them to hold up with minimal big ticket maintenance items. My Dodge has been amazing, 142,000 miles and nothing done to it but normal maintenance and a paint job. Haven't done brakes yet, and the truck has been over Donner lots of times with a load on it. Stuff lasts a long long time when you run your equipment conservatively and nicely. It is encouraging how far diesel technology has come along in a few decades. I'm restoring a 1947 Peterbilt that has an engine that most Dodge guys could identify with in terms of mechanical operation. This engine puts out 200 hp and about 600 ft lbs at 1800 rpm and is normally aspirated (no turbo, no supercharger). It has a 'voice' that most hotrodder pickup owner's would love to have in their trucks. Today's class 8 Cummins engines put out more torque at idle at a stop sign than the NH200 does at rated rpm. An amazing increase in performance in only 50 years. I'm looking forward to seeing what's coming along next ... Cheers, Dave.
