1961-71 Dodge Sweptline Truck Forum
Sweptline Showcase
Sponsored Links
I never had a bad Mopar vehicle but it seems that they always got bad reviews in Consumer Reports rag and other "consumer' propaganda publications. A few days ago I read an online article titled "ten best cars and ten worst cars in 2010", with credit given to CR and Forbes mags.
DTA Home•
Photo Albums•
Archives•
Best of Forum•
Poly Headers Buy•
Jim's CD•
Easy-Street Parts•
Power Wagon Gear
Re: Things are looking up for Chrysler.
Posted by:
MoparNorm
(Moderator)
Posts: 1,441
Posts: 1,441
Date: January 21, 2011 04:28PM
Certification of engines cost about 1 million dollars for every engine. Generally the manufacturer will know before hand if the engine is going to pass. Changing the chassis, transmission, etc for a diesel might cost in excess of 500 million dollars, for each vehicle model. Given that they just emerging from bankruptcy, they are going to proceed very cautiously.Quote
JimmieD
Seems to me there must be a way to come up with several diesel passenger cars, regardless of restrictive emissions standards.
The Dodge truck Cummins 6BTA engine manages to pass all emissions requirements. The 4BTA is identical to it, except it is 3.9L, instead of 5.9L & 4 cylinder instead of 6. Simple to clone 5.9 emissions equipment to 3.9, and use it in a large passenger car getting 35-40 mpg. With a well used 4BTA I pull 32 mpg average on a bad day in a 44 year old truck weighing about 7,500lbs, spinning a Dana60 HD rear with an NV4500.
All the power I want and much better torque, cruise at 75. I sure as heck never got a heavy tire chirp power-shifting into 4th gear with a gasser V8, but the little Cummins manages it any time!
Way more than enough to push a midsize Chrysler. Then downsize it one more step to abut 2.5 and use it in smaller cars pumping out an easy 45-50+ mpg!
The Cummins B engine (6.7 and 3.9) only pass emissions in trucks over 8500 GVW. The 3.9 is too heavy, too large and too antiquated to meet emissions standards for 2016, in cars. But fear not, new Cummins V6's, V8's and small Fiat diesels are just around the corner. Soon the Euro standards will match US diesel standards and the certification issue will be a thing of the past. Chrysler already builds every vehicle except Challenger with a diesel for export. Just as soon as the certification hurdle can be economically overcome, we will see diesels here.
Manufacturers are hesitant to bring diesels to the US because they don't think they will sell here. I think they are full of fear and too timid, but if the manufacturers and dealers are pressured by customers to sell diesels, then the diesels will come.
