New truck... but what truck?

You've obviously had some time with your new truck now and I'm curious as to how it's working out for you. Specifically, your choice of the 550/2050 ISX. Does it pull like you expected it would or was the other poster right when he said an N-14 500 would out pull it? Fuel mileage better or worse than expected? Any problems? I have a 579 on order w/ that engine and an 18 speed ultrashift+ so I'm curious as to what to expect.... Thanks,

 

i think its funny how guys are always saying "go for the big hp". hp doesnt do anything in a truck. its the torque. and in new trucks you get just as much if not more torque then a older truck but you do it at 3/4 the hp so you get better fuel mileage.

 

exactly what i have been saying for some time.
But you know the thing that is hardest to change in life is attitudes.

 

Thats why I ordered a 550 instead of a 600. If Cummins offered a 500 w/ 2050 torque, I would have got that, but they don't. 550 is minimum HP for 2050 torque.

 

There is a correlation between HP an torque. You are not going to get large torque without also getting some higher HP's. True, torque is what puts on over the hill, but there are some advantages to higher HP that can be somewhat beneficial. And also be more economical. There are lot of folks that are putting down some very serious HP and beating the socks off of lower HP setups in fuel mileage. My 12.7 pre-egr Detroit 60 is higher than OEM specs currently by being set at 550 hp and 1850 torque. But I do like the 8 mpg average I can get out of it. Everything is in how you use it. But you have to have it first before you can use it wisely and get good results. The idea that lower HP means better fuel economy is equally a faulty idea.

 

Aero truck for HH.....Thats funny