[HBarlow]

Speaking of Hogwash, let's analyze the statements made in the post above.

The actual diameter of a 19.5" tire is only a fraction of an inch taller than a standard LT235/85 R16. The tires are essentially identical in gearing effect.

All the Furd manual transmissions I remember seeing have been marked on the shift knob as "Low", "2", "3", "4", "5", and"OD."

The Dodge manual transmissions I have seen, driven, owned, or heard of do not have so-called granny or ultra low first gears.

V8 diesels, in fact V8 gas burner engines also, do not produce any torque until they ae revved above 2000 rpm, above 2500 rpm in the case of the Sick.Ohh Furd/Navistar engine. It is a result of the fundamental design. Anyone who has driven one like the posters in this thread have recognized the fundamental difference between the Cummins engine and the Furd V8 diesels. There seems to be only one Furd guy who doesn't recognize this.

I wonder why all modern large displacement diesel engines used to power OTR tractors are in-line six cylinder designs, not V8 or other V configuration?

There is no V8 diesel manufactured by any manufacturer with any name installed in any truck that can be launched in first gear with a manual transmission simply by releasing the clutch at idle rpm as is done with all inline six cylinder engines like our little Cummins B motor.

Cummins publishes the "clutch release torque" figures for the ISB engine in their website. When I owned an '01/HO 6 spd I think the Cummins site said the engine produced more than 350 ft. lbs. of torque at clutch release rpm. I think I read the new ISB6.7 produces 375 ft. lbs. or perhaps 400 ft. lbs. How much does a Furd Sick.Ohh produce?

I wonder why Furd and GM don't offer their V8 diesel engine with manual transmissions since early in the Furd/Navistar and GM/Isuzu experience or even produce off idle torque figures.