Off-Topic DiscussionsThis is the area for general banter/chat. There are rules for this section, please read the sticky post in the section before participating. The short rules: Only work safe discussions, no religious/political debates!
A large Michigan EMS provider who has been a faithful powerstroke user (they must have 100's of rigs as they service about 5 countys ) have placed their next order with GM for Gas Chassis.
Apparently between reliability issues with the 6.0 (they run the older 7.3's over 300,000 miles as a front line units their maintenance department is state of the art). The cost of the diesel, cost of diesel fuel, fuel use of the 6.4 and all the emission stuff on the new engines they are going to run gas again (I still remember the burning gas ambulances of the early 80's.
I was in one of the older 7.3's the other day that had over 400,000 miles on it and still going.
I am kind of floored by the switch, they have been die hard ford powerstroke users and a gas ambulance is just wrong but they really do their homework, so apparently they have what they feel is good reason to switch.
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2007 GMC HD CC lbz dmax/allison 6 speed superchips, Bully Dog Exhaust, PPE Airbox Mod, Nav Radio, 285 Revo's lots of other stuff. wow this thing flys!
SOLD 2005 SD250 CC 6.0 Auto Black SB loaded 315r-17 BFG KO. MBRP duals, Pace Edwards Jack Rabbit & tooltop toolbox, Garmin StreetPilotIII, XM Radio, Motorola Handsfree.
Traded 2004 Ford SD250 CC 6.0 Auto Blue/Silver, Edge, 285 Revo's, MBRP Exhaust.
99 SD250 sc swb 4x4 psd auto 3.73ls,lariat, oxford white, leather, loaded, curtis snowplow 110,000 miles
No MMR in Central Michigan. Saginaw, Gratiot, Isabella, Crawford, Shiawassie and others I forget.
Apparently one of the other big issues is the new diesels with all the emission stuff are just very complicated and expensive to work on.
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2007 GMC HD CC lbz dmax/allison 6 speed superchips, Bully Dog Exhaust, PPE Airbox Mod, Nav Radio, 285 Revo's lots of other stuff. wow this thing flys!
SOLD 2005 SD250 CC 6.0 Auto Black SB loaded 315r-17 BFG KO. MBRP duals, Pace Edwards Jack Rabbit & tooltop toolbox, Garmin StreetPilotIII, XM Radio, Motorola Handsfree.
Traded 2004 Ford SD250 CC 6.0 Auto Blue/Silver, Edge, 285 Revo's, MBRP Exhaust.
99 SD250 sc swb 4x4 psd auto 3.73ls,lariat, oxford white, leather, loaded, curtis snowplow 110,000 miles
> Apparently one of the other big issues is the new diesels with all the emission stuff are just very complicated and expensive to work on.
I think you hit the nail on the head. Not only will 2010 diesels have even *more* emissions stuff to break, but engines left to idle extensively (PTO or otherwise) are going to consume both fuel and urea! (plus states are adding anti-idle shutdown laws just to make life interesting for aftermarket conversions)
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2008 F-450 Lariat Job 1 w/ 4.88, 98 gal. Transfer Flow tank in bed, Tekonsha P3 brake controller, TrailerSaver TS3 air hitch, all for a 2007 Glendale Titanium 36E41MPRV toyhauler (fulltiming about half the year, lots of driving in the Rocky Mountains)
SOLD 2006 Silverado 2500HD LT3 (LBZ Duramax)
> Apparently one of the other big issues is the new diesels with all the emission stuff are just very complicated and expensive to work on.
I think you hit the nail on the head. Not only will 2010 diesels have even *more* emissions stuff to break, but engines left to idle extensively (PTO or otherwise) are going to consume both fuel and urea! (plus states are adding anti-idle shutdown laws just to make life interesting for aftermarket conversions)
your right, these guys don't really have stations, they move around all the time as other rigs go on calls. They idle all the time... Good point.
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2007 GMC HD CC lbz dmax/allison 6 speed superchips, Bully Dog Exhaust, PPE Airbox Mod, Nav Radio, 285 Revo's lots of other stuff. wow this thing flys!
SOLD 2005 SD250 CC 6.0 Auto Black SB loaded 315r-17 BFG KO. MBRP duals, Pace Edwards Jack Rabbit & tooltop toolbox, Garmin StreetPilotIII, XM Radio, Motorola Handsfree.
Traded 2004 Ford SD250 CC 6.0 Auto Blue/Silver, Edge, 285 Revo's, MBRP Exhaust.
99 SD250 sc swb 4x4 psd auto 3.73ls,lariat, oxford white, leather, loaded, curtis snowplow 110,000 miles
Michigan must not require ambulances to meet the industry-standard Federal "Star of Life Ambulance" specifications. The latest verison of these regulations require diesel power.
I know gasoline is about 20% cheaper to buy, but they will never see the lifespan of a gas engine equal a diesel.
A 7.3 was a 300K engine and the Cummins 5.9 was often a 500K engine but I have found many a 6.0 totally rebuilt at 100k or less. A V-10 gasser or big block GMC can go 100K.
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Too much junk/toys to mention, ever changing due to too getting bored too quickly. I need a 10 step program!
Want to call? I'm in the book. Want to argue....First explain the square root of negative one....lol
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Too much junk/toys to mention, ever changing due to too getting bored too quickly. I need a 10 step program!
Want to call? I'm in the book. Want to argue....First explain the square root of negative one....lol
Michigan must not require ambulances to meet the industry-standard Federal "Star of Life Ambulance" specifications. The latest verison of these regulations require diesel power.
KKK codes, (if this is followed, you "may" put a star of life on your ambulance). Section 3.6.3.3 mentions diesel powered ambulances, it also states that the agency may utilize a gas engine. Gas engines are refered to in section 3.6.3.4. Honestly, I don't think we have a "star of life" on our ambulances. I am even wondering if you are required to meet KKK standards. You may have to for a federal bid, but not for a private agency or local fire dept or district.
We bought 5, type 3 E450s with the 6.0 about 2 years ago. we have just taken delivery of 2 more, same type. I have worked for 4 different private ambulance companies since 87, and one fire dept. since 99. I have been on the committees to spec rigs as well.
One of the largest companies I worked for insisted on 360 cubic inch Dodge vans. It was a money thing. They latter went to Ford modulars, (type 3's), now, they seem to be split between vans and type 3s, all Ford 6.0s. Point being, it can be money, or personality of the owner or management. Another private agency I worked for was changing from Ford gas to Dodge gas because he had never owned anything but a Dodge in his life, and when he took over, it was HIS WAY. We have had very good luck with the 6.0s, and the only other rig we thought about was an International Medium duty. In the county where I work, and the neighboring ones as well, (including City of Seattle), Ford E450s are the vast majority. On the user end, I do not see that changing around here.
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03 F-250xlt 6.0, crew cab, 4x4. ALSO 2000 Windstar, lite green, brown leather, 3.8liter V6, K&N filter (Tymar didn't make one for it) Auto with OD. 69 Shelby GT500, 428 Cobra Jet, 4 speed toploader. IAFF 3520 http://www.eastpiercefire.org/index2.htm
67 Fairlane 500, 347 Stroker, AOD trans, 3.25 rear end... work in progress. I am looking for parts that I thought I had so carefully put away...............
Work "Truck" 110 foot, 1999 Spartan/ LTI quint, Detroit Series 60, Allison auto. Work "Engine" 06 Pierce Arrow, Detroit Series 60, 475 horse, Allison Auto. Work Medic unit, 05 E450 6.0 by Northstar.
Also some smaller Srpinter Ambulances are coming on line. The Sprinter really is a nice van for many things.
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Too much junk/toys to mention, ever changing due to too getting bored too quickly. I need a 10 step program!
Want to call? I'm in the book. Want to argue....First explain the square root of negative one....lol
You know,maybe Cadillac can start converting some of those Escalade ESV's that are collection Dust on dealer lot's into Ambulances....
__________________ 2005 F250 XLT wedgewood blue 4x4 C/C SWB,6.0L PSD, Auto.(Member of 05 STC Failure Club ) 2006 Expedition Eddie Bauer,5.4L (Wife's) NRA Life Member. TSRA Life member.
I find it to be no longer the case that a gasser is shot at 100k miles. I see way to many GM and Ford PU's running the road pushing 200K. I think 150 to 175K in a gasser now is very attainable. And so what if it goes down. If the truck is still in good shape you can shove another engine it one for little of nothing, the engines are just not that expensive.
I find it to be no longer the case that a gasser is shot at 100k miles. I see way to many GM and Ford PU's running the road pushing 200K. I think 150 to 175K in a gasser now is very attainable. And so what if it goes down. If the truck is still in good shape you can shove another engine it one for little of nothing, the engines are just not that expensive.
Check out the build price on a big block GMC and then check out the build price on a 6.0!!!! One of my contractors just replaced a 6.0 and it was $12,000!!!! I think ya could do a FEW 8.1's for that?
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Too much junk/toys to mention, ever changing due to too getting bored too quickly. I need a 10 step program!
Want to call? I'm in the book. Want to argue....First explain the square root of negative one....lol
2005 F250 XLT wedgewood blue 4x4 C/C SWB,6.0L PSD, Auto.(Member of 05 STC Failure Club 
) 2006 Expedition Eddie Bauer,5.4L (Wife's) NRA Life Member. TSRA Life member.
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