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2004 diesel 2500/3500 pickups

Every diesel offering in the data for 2004. Ratings are the highest offered across the trucks in each row, and transmissions are those of the whole year range shown, so they may differ for 2004 itself; check each range's notes.

FordGeneral MotorsRam / Dodge

Horsepower

  • Ford · Ford 6.0L Power Stroke V8
    325 hp
  • General Motors · Duramax 6.6L LB7 V8
    300 hp
  • General Motors · Duramax 6.6L LLY V8
    310 hp
  • Ram / Dodge · Cummins ISB 5.9L 24-valve
    325 hp

Torque

  • Ford · Ford 6.0L Power Stroke V8
    560 lb-ft
  • General Motors · Duramax 6.6L LB7 V8
    520 lb-ft
  • General Motors · Duramax 6.6L LLY V8
    605 lb-ft
  • Ram / Dodge · Cummins ISB 5.9L 24-valve
    600 lb-ft

Ratings are the highest offered in each row; see the table below for exact year ranges and notes.

BrandTrucksEngineRangehp / lb-ftTransmissions
FordFord Super Duty F-250, Ford Super Duty F-350Ford 6.0L Power Stroke V8 2003–2004325 / 5604-speed automatic (4R100), Manual
General MotorsChevrolet Silverado 2500HD, Chevrolet Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra 2500HD, GMC Sierra 3500Duramax 6.6L LB7 V8 2001–2004300 / 520Allison 1000 automatic, 5-speed NV4500 manual
General MotorsChevrolet Silverado 2500HD, Chevrolet Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra 2500HD, GMC Sierra 3500Duramax 6.6L LLY V8 2004–2006310 / 605Allison 1000 automatic, 5-speed NV4500 manual
Ram / DodgeDodge Ram 2500, Dodge Ram 3500Cummins ISB 5.9L 24-valve 2004325 / 6004-speed automatic (47RE), 6-speed manual (NV5600)

What stood out in 2004

Editorial opinion, based on the criteria listed.

Pick: Dodge Ram 2500/3500 with the ISB Cummins (325 hp / 600 lb-ft)

Runner-up: Chevrolet Silverado / GMC Sierra 2500HD/3500 with the Duramax LLY (310 hp / 605 lb-ft, from mid-2004)

The Cummins 600 (325 hp / 600 lb-ft, introduced mid-year; earlier 2004 trucks were 305 hp / 555 lb-ft) matched Ford's 325 hp and led its 560 lb-ft by 40, and it came within 5 lb-ft of the new LLY's 605 while beating it by 15 hp. Weighing both measures together, it edges the LLY, but a torque-first reading would favor GM. Editorial pick; a close call.

Criteria: Peak rated torque; Rated horsepower