To say this couldn't come at a worse time is a bit of an understatement. Two weeks ago, International stopped production of the their new 6.4-liter twin turbodiesel made for the new Ford Super Duty because Ford is suing International for a good chunk of money.
You don't need a long memory to remember back to just four years ago when Ford had quite a few upset Super Duty owners up in arms with horrible 6.0-liter turbodiesel V-8 problems. And now Ford is looking for some kind of reimbursement from International in the form of a discount on the cost of the current 6.4-liter twin turbocharged Powerstroke diesel. Although exact figures haven't been released, some have speculated Ford lost millions of dollars in Super Duty buy-backs between 2004 and 2005. Combine this event with a very active and vocal diesel enthusiast base (not to mention the use of the internet), and you can image how quickly this information has spread. Add to this that between 70 and 75 percent of all Super Dutys are ordered with the diesel Engine option (typically between a $4000 and $8000 premium) on THE highest-profit-margin vehicle in the entire Ford portfolio, and it's not surprising that Ford had to move fast. Initially, that meant an injunction to force International to keep their engine plant making motors they needed to put into new Super Dutys--that just went on sale three weeks ago. Right now, the Kentucky truck plant is running at limited capacity until they get this resolved, and that's got dealers frightened. More than that, it has quite a few people at Ford headquarters frightened. Something will have to get done quickly and since these two companies have had a long relationship, we're predicting something will have to happen in the next few weeks, if not next few days. There is too much at stake here.
Ford Truck, more than anyone, should know what can happen to their heavy-duty truck status if they don't make sure their Powerstroke turbodiesel option is not only one of the strongest players in the field, but it also has to be available. Can't help but think this has Cummins and Duramax people smiling.
I remember a few issues when the 7.3L came out; and know quite a few more serious "Isuzu nay-sayers" who were suddenly trying to trade in early 6.0 PSTD's on GM "Duramax" rigs. Now the Ford incarnation of the 6.4 TD is out. What could one expect??
In computer-speak, this is called "general public beta-testing"; and I for one wouldn't dream of paying that much money for the opportunity to be a guinea pig for a consortium with that kind of track record! After a generation of two, the 6.4's could turn out to be one of the greatest diesels in the LT market..... Until then, or even later when they come out with a new bodystyle that isn't so horrendously FUGLY as the '08 Super Duty's; they shouldn't have to worry too much about having engine supply meet consumer demand.....