PickupTruck.com V6 Work Truck shootout.

[Stew]

http://special-reports.pickuptrucks....roduction.html

Very interesting read. GM seriously needs to put the Camaros 3.6 in their 1500 trucks and Dodge really needs the Pentastar. I also find what happened with the Tundra that was supposed to be there funny yet sad at the same time.

[Dan@showstopper]

Wow, I didn't know GM still made the 4.3 liter V6. That engine is terribly underpowered.

[TheCaptain]

Originally Posted by Stew

I also find what happened with the Tundra that was supposed to be there funny yet sad at the same time.

Accelerator must have got stuck or something eh?

[rayhawk]

It will be interesting to see if V6 truck sales begin to make up a worthwhile percentage of half ton truck sales, my guess is they wont. The reality is most people buying trucks don't want a 7000 rpm car motor, they want something with a healthy low end. The Ford 3.7L motor only produces 18 more ft-lbs than the 4.3L motor, and at 4k instead of 2800 rpm. Displacement is important to pushing around a heavy truck and to the perception of over working the engine to the driver. With that said, in a drag race the 3.7L motor will be pretty far ahead of the others. I don't see it competing well against the smaller V8 offerings though due to the expectations of people who use these trucks.

I will agree the 4.3L is out of date, but it is not terribly out of place and actually is a good fit for how many people use their V6 powered half ton trucks.

The question is not if the 3.7L motor is ahead of the competition, the question is, will enough people care to make it worth the cost to upgrade to the other manufacturers.

[zebra]

Originally Posted by Dan@showstopper

Wow, I didn't know GM still made the 4.3 liter V6. That engine is terribly underpowered.

it's pretty freakin great nowadays for a Gen1 design. heck, the 1/2 tons using this engine ain't the ones usually going for the best 0-60 or hauling horse trailers on a daily basis. shoot - my old 4.3 felt almost the same just putting around town (like most v6 full-sizes do) as the 5.3 that's in it now. when geared properly, it's a very capable engine. i've got factory 3.73s & pulled a couple decent loads when i had the v6 without a problem. would i have used it for my PCS in sept (when i had 1000lb in the bed & pulling a 4700lb trailer), probably not, but is it an adequate engine for the average joe to have - absolutely.

not to mention, it sounds WAY better than them SOHC/DOHC engines - especially for a truck

[DGthe3]

Wait, the newer truck with the newest engine won? That's craaaazzzzzyyyyy ...

[Sax1031]

Originally Posted by DGthe3

Wait, the newer truck with the newest engine won? That's craaaazzzzzyyyyy ...

lol

[bigearl]

People underestimate how many v6 trucks there are out there. Most are fleet purchases though. But ya, shocker- the newest v6 wins. That Dodge 3.7 has been around forever- I'm surprised it did as well as it did.

[Noturday]

pretty cool test, would be great to see GM drop the Camaro's V6 in a single cab.

now what i really want to see is the Camaro's V6 in a Colorado, that would be a mean little truck with a 312 hp v6. plus you get the benefit of better fuel economy than the 5.3 v8 they offer in it now. sure its powerful, but it sucks gas like a full size!

EDIT: its also interesting to note that the Ford won at Fords proving ground....i would hope so, otherwise it would be a major embarassment

[Stew]

I think the Ford winning was a bygone conclusion, the new powertrains are pretty sweet. That said I think all 3 trucks have a lot to offer. I like the interior/exterior look of the Ram, the GMCs well sorted suspension, and the Fords Drivetrain. At least none of them spontaneously combusted on the way to the test hahaha.

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by Noturday

EDIT: its also interesting to note that the Ford won at Fords proving ground....i would hope so, otherwise it would be a major embarassment

Meh ... pavement is pavement, hills are hills