In about ten months I'm going to try to start my own biz wich will force me to get a pick up truck. I cant really throw saws, 2x4's, and dirt in the back seat of the maxima. I realy like the f-150. I was thinking getting the small v-8 w/5sp. Its still almost 11 sec to 60mph which is a long way away from my maxima. I don't have the money for a lightning or SVT F-150. I thought about a blower but b/c its for work I cant risk hurting the reliability. I could get a POS little truck and keep the maxima, but then I have 2 insurance payments. Any one have any input?

 

If its for business you should get your truck, but i dont have any recommendations...

 

Buy like a standard longbed 97-2000 silverado or F-150. There are plenty of trucks to choose from I suggest shopping around.

 

are you looking for something brand new? i personally would go for an older lightning if you cant get a brand new one.

 

get a atock 4th gen cut half the roof off.... plenty of ground clearance plenty of room and plenty of power

how abut getting a Nissan hardbody pickup? KA24s arent too shabby for a small truck but yea... I'd go witha Chevy/GMC 96 and above with the Vortec V8s freshened styling and new dash (94 new exterior styling well freshened, 95 new interior with airbag, and 96 new line of Vortec V8s)

 

I like the nissan trucks alot but they are not really my idea of a work truck. They seem more of a car with a bed in the back for the weekend yard work and helping your friend pick up a TV from best buy. A XLT f150's max payload is almost 1000lbs higher. Has anyone here owned a later model ford or gmc truck, esp a 5sp?

 

the Nissans are tough little trucks but if you need the payload of a fullsize... I'd go GMC/Chevy dmontzmax has a '93 GMC Sierra 5.7L 5spd that truck is bullet proof and now I know the meaning of low end torque
I know alot of people with Tahoes/Escalades/Yukons basically GM pickups.. they are all in love with them they really are great trucks

 

my friend's dad got a new Dodge Ram 1500 with the outdoor package, comes standard with 20" rims and it sits VERY high, and is pretty quick... the new Dodge Rams rule...

 

Get a Dodge truck with the VIPER Engine, you'll have your truck, a damn fast one!

 

"I need a truck, but I want speed(aka my maxima), what should I do?"

get a mazda... zoom zoom..

 

Ford SVT Lightning
Ford F-150 Harley Edition

 

If the lightning is on your mind then I assume you don't need four-wheel drive. A ll sec 0-60 sounds more like the V6 accleration time rather than the V-8. The reason I say that is that my father has an 1998 f-150 with the 5.4l engine and it makes 230 hp and it's faster than 11 seconds to 60mph. Now the 4.6L motor makes 230 hp and the 5.4L makes 260hp. Don't forget with pick-up trucks you can choose your rear axle ratio which influences acceleration. Cab configuration and bed length are also considerations. I think a two-wheel drive with the 4.6l engine, low rear axle ratio, and 6 1/2' bed won't dissapoint you to much.

Other options include a toyota tundra with the v-8 (no stick) or a dodge dakota R/T. I'm not familiar with the payload and towing ratings for the R/T model though.

 

OK here comes Mr practical: Buy a hitch and a 4x8 trailer.

 

Dodge 2500 with the V-10. It's fast and it will still pull our house off it's foundation

 

only things thats gonna happen when going WOT in a mazda pickup is others zooming by.

 

I'd go with the option of keeping the Max and getting a used truck for work. Ask your insurance co. about getting a multi-vehicle discount.

 

If the truck is for business, you can deduct it from taxes including insurance, gas, etc. Keep the Maxima also. IMO, I wouldn't waste my money on a hard to find 5 speed V8 F-150. The automatic trucks are quicker than the manuals. I've driven a ton of F-150s, Chevys, and Rams for work and the Chevys are by far the fastest and the F-150s are by far the best put together. With a work truck, it's going to get beat up no matter what you do. I don't think "performance" would be my biggest concern in a work truck. I'd be concerned about utility. Making a full size truck into a hotrod never made much sense to me. It takes a lot to get a fullsize extended cab 4X4 to run in the 14s.

Questions to ask yourself:

Do you need the biggest engine available?
Will you be towing?
Do you need an extended cab?
Do you live where 4WD is needed or will you be driving to sites that will be muddy?

If I was going to be towing, I'd get a used Ram Cummins turbo diesel. From a performance stand point, you can make these trucks insanely fast. I know 3 guys at the track that are running 13s and 14s in their Cummins Rams. For everything else, I'd get an extended cab F150. Whether it would be 4WD depends on where I went with the truck. Remember that 4WD doesn't mean you won't get stuck. I've gotten stuck numerous times in 4WD trucks on slick grass/mud. If I got 2WD, I'd want LSD and some excellent off-road/highway tires. The later model 4.6s are more than adequate in power (especially in 2wd) and get better MPG than the 5.4s.


Dave

 

no
probably not
No, and I dont like the way the look too
No


I need the truck mainly for the utility of the bed. I don't realy need the long bed either. Just a place to put larger power tools, interior and exterior non structural building supplies (tile, cement, paint, wood, doors, etc). I'll also be hauling dirt and landscape materials from time to time. Does any one know of any good f150, sierra, or c/k 1500 forums? I searched a little but didn't find any that good. Thanks for every ones help too, I dont know jack about trucks.

 

Here's my opinion. Get the Chevy.

We have the 2500 xcab Silverado with the V8 Vortech 454 5.7L Engine. Let me tell you, this truck get's em up. Let's just say we ate a mustang for breakfast one day and the guy was pretty ****ed.

We have towed many a cars with this truck and hauled all kinds of things and have never had a problem.

 

Oh and Try http://www.gm-trucks.com/cgi-bin/ib3/ikonboard.cgi for a good chevy forum.

 

my brothers chevy truck [5.7L] can beat me up to like 90 mph

 

what about Nissan frontier??

 

i am former owner of a 91 chevy full size, it could carry quite the load, til i pulled out 2 of the leaf springs (to lower back end) cheapest drop ever. but it wasn't exactly built for speed.

 

Thank you that site helps a lot.

 

Depends on how later of a model you are talking....

Our current Chevy is a 97...and we also have an 83...both great trucks.

 

Hmm 454 5.7 liter engine eh?? Thats odd, the 5.7 liter is the 350. The 454 is 7.4 liters.


Anywho, they don't make 350's anymore for trucks or cars. The engines they have nowadays are based on the LS1 platform and the truck engines come in 4.8, 5.3 and 6.0 liters. Whatever you do DON'T get a 2000 or 2001 Chevrolet truck with either of those engines. The engineers really blundered on the design of the bottom end and left the bearing clearences way too lose. Hundreds of Chevrolet drivers are experiencing a bad rod knock on startup. Pickout a truck that you feel is right for you but try to avoid those particular models.
As for the Dodge V10; jeez talk about overkill and a gas hog. If you need a truck that moves mountains you should stick with a Dodge Cummins diesel. They have unsurpassed reliability and are virtually bullitproof. I know a couple of people who have theirs beefed up and are making over 800 lb. ft. of torque on 100% stock bottom ends.

And don't forget that Nissan is going to be producing a full size truck for the 2004 model year. It won't be a halfway done job like the Tundra. This thing is supposed to be as big as the Chevy and Ford but probably smaller than the Dodge. It will come with a 4.5 liter 300hp V8 derived fromt he Q45. If you think you may be interested in that then you should settle for a used truck now so you won't get hurt too bad on trade in time.

 

Fullsize: V8 or Diesel
pros: unlimited torque = cargo/towing
cons: fuel consumption

Compact: 4banger or V6
pros: easier to drive = more fun
cons: it's still a truck

what are you looking for ?

 

If you can afford a s/c on a 5.4 liter F-150, do it. Ford made an awsome automatic transmission on those rigs. I personally have a F-350, weighs in at 6,000 lbs exact. it has the 5.8 liter small block Ford V8. I have done little to the 100,000 mile engine, however I had the axles rebuilt with 4.56:1 ratio gears, and posi in both ends. with 33" tires, the truck does low 17 second 1/4 miles.


Good luck!
Tony

 

take off your 20's


good to see others have the good idea of the 488ci Dodge V10, those are actually mellow sounding engines.

a few days ago a brand new dodge ram 1500 RT came and filled up at a gas station next to me, i coulda sworn that it has aftermarket exhaust, he said it wasnt, well ****!

My dads got a durango, its pretty nice, its a May 98' when it first came out with the 318ci.
my stepdad has a 1500 surbaban with the 5.7, it isnt soo fast but its also heavier, its a slower engine, the 318 really love to go.

fords, well ill let people have theyre opinion, i still dont like them much, just cause.

personally i like to be "dodge different" and i think a few of you have heard me say that before.

Nismo280 doesnt know what hes talking about so dont let him influence you. my maxima can take on harder stuff than his moms expidition and we still have to setup a durango vs expi and a maxima vs his F350 <- just for ****s and giggles, its funny when rice boys try to race him, those 4:56 kick theyre ***, who ever has seen a 93 F350 S.B. 351w beat little hondas and ****.

the funny thing is that he used to be 100% all ford, didnt care about anything else, had an arguement for everything, and his favorite line was "theres no replacement for displacement" well after a few rides and drives in the maxima, now he owns a 280zx, its funny as hell to watch him drive, there will be plenty of room to go (coming off a side street) and he will wait, hes soo used to his truck, its just funny ****, kinda like when the happy little VE hits 5000-6500rpm, huge as grin on this kids face.


all three are fine. the dakota R/T is fast and can still haul, while i wouldnt haul in a lightening.

MrGone

 

low 17 my ***, that was with open diffs, lock them and i garuntee that youll be running a 16. whats the top speed in your 4WD high? i know that everyone recommednds below 55, but i think thats because of traction sake, just do the ratio math, i swear that thing will do a 16.

MrGone

 

thanks mr. gone! (he knows I'm all Ford!)

 

search over j/k


This would work good, v-10, 24" wheels, 6sp stick, sub 13sec 1/4 mile times
To bad when they send it into production I would have to eat dog food and sell plasma 5 times a week for 5 years to afford one.

Back to the the real world, I think if I can talk my self out of getting a 5sp truck I'll look for a ck1500 style side with the 4.8L. If not I am going to get a f-150 with the 4.6L and a 5sp. The only problem I'll have is I will not really get my pick of color, opptions, etc due to the scarcity of the v8/5sp combo. I know I'll regret getting a v6 truck, but.. I might go with the f150 v6 and get a blower some day but thats a little to $$ for now I think. I did some reading and supposedly there is a company that makes a blower for the ford v6 and with the 5sp and agressive rear end gears it can out run a 5.4L f150, but I didn't get any numbers.

 

very purdy truck

ut oh, crap the maxima cant take this, ask nismo280, the maxima takes suchs a beating because i 4wheel in it, seriously, the last day of school, thank god the max is so high. to all stock 3rd geners, the maxima can successfully handle any curb along with small rocks (small compared to what we do in nismos truck), say about a curbs height and a half. btw, its alot of fun to test articulation of the maxima
ok ill go to sleep now!
MrGone

 

Anyone remember that old Mighty Max pick up that had a turbo eclipse engine thrown in it and then modded. I think it was on one of the random videos floating around. The guy was saying he could goto Home Depot, throw a bunch of stuff in the back, and then beat a vette on the way home.
The only trucks I've had so far was an 82 F150 and a 95 Mazda B series. Both were good trucks and served their purpose. Not really fast but the little mazda was kinda quick with a 5 speed. It just didn't have much torque. If I were you I would just get something I could beat up on and not worry about how fast it was.

 

Outside the Importxpression Auto Show at the BaySide Expo this weekend ...



(I have a Mazda B4000, nice engine, nice truck but slow with the 4.10 gears in the rear ! Only got the Zoom, missing the second Zoom !!! )

 

Oops my fault, you are correct. The 7.4 Liter is with the 454

And just to clarify what you said about the 350's....I assume you meant they don't make them anymore for NEW cars or trucks? However they still manufacture them...we just got a 350 crate motor for our 83 Chevy.

 

Yes, I meant for new cars or trucks. They're still putting them in some boats I think and they do manufacture them for varous other purposes. And for those who don't know, the LS1 is not a 350. I am pretty sure the last new vehicle to get a 350 was the '99 Silverado/GMC Sierra.

 

In ten months it will be a whole new year and lots of new choices.

 

The Max can only tow 1000 pounds on the trailer. Not much of a truck option if you really need a truck.

 

Trucks/SUVs