gm buying dodge?

[Robert_in_NY]

Keeping the rods in that hemi must be like Triton engines trying to Keep spark plugs in the head?

Can you explain this more? I have heard other people make mention of this but most cases they are all second hand accounts. What is the actual problem with them? The reason I ask is that we have two Triton engines and have never had any problems with them or the spark plugs. The plugs are a pain to change in the 4.6L in a 98 F-150 though and it has made me want to throw them but the motor never has. The other motor is the 5.4L Triton in a 2002 F-250. The 4.6L has 138k and the 5.4L has 80k+. Is it something that happens with higher mileage motors or was this a problem on the original Tritons or is it just a rumor?

 

[Chuck_Lind]

Regarding the spark plugs rocketing out of a Ford F-250 with a 5.4 Triton; my neighbor across the street had exactly that problem: Two spark plugs were jettisoned out the head while he was driving about 70 mph.

The worst part was having Ford admit they have a real problem; Ford tried to blame him for driving the truck too hard.

Now I know why I sold my Ford and got a Chevy.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

But why did they come out and what year F-250 was it?

 

[dgl24087]

Can you explain this more? I have heard other people make mention of this but most cases they are all second hand accounts. What is the actual problem with them? The reason I ask is that we have two Triton engines and have never had any problems with them or the spark plugs. The plugs are a pain to change in the 4.6L in a 98 F-150 though and it has made me want to throw them but the motor never has. The other motor is the 5.4L Triton in a 2002 F-250. The 4.6L has 138k and the 5.4L has 80k+. Is it something that happens with higher mileage motors or was this a problem on the original Tritons or is it just a rumor?

The issue was primarily Ford's use of a sparkplug with a shorter number of threads, as far as I know, the problem was solved by using a longer (2-3 threads) plug.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Thanks, so it wasn't nothing serious, just a bad day for an engineer who thought up the idea. I wonder if he is the same one that designed the door open switches and put them in the fenders????

 

[Volfandt]

To add to the Triton plug problem, it was limited to the 5.4 and NOT the 4.6. It was also for a limited run of engines, 97 to early 98 I believe. In late 98 and up the Tritons went to a redesigned head that included additional valves per cylinder which gave about a 10-15% increase in HP.

It's amazing how these stories grow.....

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Thanks for the added information. I will admit I wish the spark plugs would blow out of the 4.6L in the 98 F-150 when I had to change them out. Half of the cylinders are either under the dash or buried under parts on the engine. You have to dismantle half of the engine and have about 5 nuckles on 10 different length extensions just to reach some of them. After the only time I changed the plugs I decided it is easier to pay the Ford garage to do it.

 

[Volfandt]

When I had the plugs changed out on my 98 4.6 Romeo at around 90k, it was the 1st and so far only time I've paid someone else to R&R a plug in any vehicle/machine I've owned.
To further add to the confusion, the Tritons were either made at the Romeo plant or Windsor plant and there were MAJOR differences between them. So much so that certain parts won't interchange between them.

Don't want to hijack this thread but we all know that these threads can go off on all kinds of tangents

 

[joes_427_vette]

RobertN; MB is dumping Chrysler due to the old designs and red ink. Granted, Jeep has value. What did Chrysler due to improve it besides buying the name years ago. Don't forget they also own American Motors Corporation. Maybe they can get another Gov't loan and the tax payers can bail them out. I don't think anyone is serious about buying them. They live in the past with racing names and elephant motors. How are they going to fund the Challenger when they can't keep the doors open ? I hope you have several in your drive. Keep them well oiled and they will sit there for years to come. Better grab a couple V-10s. I hear the museum is looking for a operating example. Another great engineering feat. ( ever try trading one of those ? )

 

[workinallthetime]

The only value item for Dodge is the Cummins? How about Jeep. And the Hemi branding. And the Challenger coming out before a lagging new Camaro(both late in reality, to the Mustang). The Chrysler line has definitely come out with some decent designs, like the 300, the Ram(consider they had a really poor truck line before), the Viper, the new Jeeps...

What has GM come out with?

All the manufactuers copy each other, leap frogging along, and not just the "Big-3".

Right now, GM is not so hot, and having too many of it's own problems. Ot is only a step ahead of Chrysler, in that GM is wholly owned, not a subsidiary.

And all, is going down in flames against Toyota.

what has gm got? well lets see i read an article on the 3 companies which talked about their troubles on cnn and in an automotive trade mag. both had the same thing to say about demand units, units that have to be ordered and are sold befor the customer gets to see them. crysler and ford have nothing in demand. gm however has the z06 corvette (which acording to road and track pretty much put down the ford gt and viper for 1/2 the cost), the pontiac solstice and even that ugly and ill admit pt copy hhr. even with all the problems with the 01 and 02 durimax they are still in high demand which is why you dont see to many rebates on the truck or gm lowering cost like dodge and ford have done to move their units. The hummer is also a huge seller for gm that demand has droped over the past year due to gas but they are still selling great, and lets not forget our boys in the sand right now driving h1's. watch tv and look around the world and see what vans they use in most countries besides europe they are chevy's. gm is still the largest auto comapany in the world and isuzu belive it or not makes more diesel engines than any other diesel company in the world including cat. how many dodge 3/4 ton 4x4 's have you seen with broken frames? ive seen about 30 that do pipe line constuction and only have 60k miles on them yet the same gm trucks that do the same work have no broken frames.
imitation is the highest form of flatery gm copy dodge naaaa
ohh and new venture is made in sweeden and i dont know who ones them

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Oh yeah,

well...

uh...

Well, My dad can beat up your dad ;-)

I just had to jump in on this one too. Have fun guys and don't get too upset as there are always going to be brand loyal guys out there who will claim one company copied the other and vice versa. It doesn't really matter though as we all buy and pay for what we want. Now if one of you guys wants to buy me a brand new GM with a Duramax diesel I will be more then happy to drive it around.

 

[workinallthetime]

my dads dead thas not nice

 

[RedRocker]

my dads dead thas not nice

Mine too!!

 

[Robert_in_NY]

my dads dead thas not nice

The point was some of you guys were sounding like a bunch of little kids over this topic.

 

[Chuck_Lind]

What if...in a couple of years, Toyota or Nissan comes out with a heavy duty pickup with a diesel engine? Would anyone buy it or would brand loyalty prevent a Toyota or Nissan purchase?

Just a hypothetical question...but you never know what Toyota or Nissan would come up with.

 

[joes_427_vette]

The point was some of you guys were sounding like a bunch of little kids over this topic.

You can always go read the newspaper. If the facts are not stacked in your favor..... you don't have to play.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

You can always go read the newspaper. If the facts are not stacked in your favor..... you don't have to play.

Honestly, I can care less if GM buys Dodge or who copied who. There is a reason so many threads start out and get locked down. Why keep pushing automotive threads until it gets to the point where we can no longer talk about trucks as they all go the same way as political and religious threads and they are banned from being discusses.

 

[Northland]

What if...in a couple of years, Toyota or Nissan comes out with a heavy duty pickup with a diesel engine? Would anyone buy it or would brand loyalty prevent a Toyota or Nissan purchase?

Just a hypothetical question...but you never know what Toyota or Nissan would come up with.

I would buy the Toyota Tundra -they are going to bring out a diesel as they have to in order to effectively compete against GM, Ford and Dodge's diesel trucks. Toyota bought a share in Izsuzu - apparently to get access to their diesel technology.

I bought a Tacoma 4x4 6 spd manual in late 2005. I love my truck-fast, quiet, decent mileage,smooth ride, great quality (no rattles) but I want my next truck to be a diesel. Apparently Dodge is going to introduce a bluetec diesel in their 1500 series trucks by 2009 that will meet CA emission standards.

The new Consumer Reports April 2007 edition suggests that some Toyotas, like the Sienna and my Tacoma, have 90% US content whereas something as traditionally American as the Mustang only has 65% North American content. The new Fusion and Chevy Avalanche are made in Mexico-it's a changing world.

 

[klm]

What if you had not liked your little Jap truck? Would you admit it? I doubt it. Personally I don't need Consumer Reports to tell me what kind of truck or any thing else to buy. I quit reading that piece of crap years ago.

 

[Northland]

What if you had not liked your little Jap truck? Would you admit it? I doubt it. Personally I don't need Consumer Reports to tell me what kind of truck or any thing else to buy. I quit reading that piece of crap years ago.

Yes, as a matter of fact I would say I wasn't happy with the truck, or anything else I bought, if I was dissatisfied.

BTW, the ratings in Consumer Reports are by actual owners...just like the comments in this forum. Good thing you know everything though....I was wish I was that knowledgeable.