I'd argue that GM forgot how to build trucks a long time ago. My first truck was a '66 3/4 ton long bed Fleetside and I wish I hadn't let go of it, but they haven't built a truck in 30 years that I'd want. I just did an informal survey, and the result was unanimous: GM trucks suck root.

Which really just means that my wife agrees with me.

 

I look at it this way as far as diesels, dodge has the cummins which is a great thing because dodge cant screw up the motor because all they have to do is put it in the truck, and the cummins is a better motor if you plan on dropping money into to make more power, there is a reason why pretty much any dyno day has dodges walking away with most power on the dyno.

The older fords with a 7.3 are pretty darn reliable and will run damn good, not to much money into the motor and you have something that will have enough power to please most, yeah to me fords looks like ****, but if I had a chance at a 7.3 it would be in my driveway.

Dont know much about the chevy diesels, all I know is if you had a ford frame, with a dodge body, cummins motor, and allison tranny, you would be set

 

They are called Bastard trucks! Beans Diesel Performance will build you one for 20 grand and bring them the Ford truck, and they drop in a Cummins, Allison trans, and give it about 650HP

 

But thats running a ford body....and IIRC you can get a cummins motor and all the neccesary items to drop one in an older ford for around 4k, and the install is supposed to be really easy.

I will soon know how easy a cummins is to drop into a ford though, if everything works out right I will be helping a friend swap a 12valve into his 95 F150, we will also put a dana 44 out of a dodge under it