Posted by Jonas on Monday, November 01, 2004 at 9:37PM :
In Reply to: what's the story on IH Int'l Harvester trucks? posted by wally on Monday, November 01, 2004 at 7:12PM :
I like them both equally. I think IHC made a better truck from a Mechanical standpoint, but Dodge Trucks are better looking.
IHC is even more underrated by everyone than the Dodges are.
Look at it this way.
IHC first offered Factory 4x4 in 1953 in thier civillian bodied trucks.
About 50% of IHC trucks with 4x4 came with a power-loc rear axle, and many scouts came with power-loc front and rear.
Marty can comment on the comparison between the 2 ton 4x4 trucks of the late 50's. It's nice that the IHC has 6.1 axle ratios where as the Dodge has 6.88's.
IHC made lots of OTR tractors, and made many of them with a driving front axle(automatic, part time). Those were called the unistars.
In the early 70's the 3/4 ton IHC 4x4 came standard with Dana 70's front and rear, used 4.56 gear ratios, and had power-loc's.
The big selling point of IHC trucks was that you could order any combination you wanted from the factory. Want a '64 1 ton 4x4 with a crew cab and power-locs front and rear... No problem. IHC will build it.
Post '59 Sheetmetal is abysimall, you can watch it rust away. just as bad if not worse than Dodge sweptline trucks of the same vintage.
IHC had a light truck diesel option long before dodge also, heck you could get a scout 80 with a turbocharged 4 cyl gasser in the mid 60's!
IHC trucks are very reasonable to buy now, because people think parts are scarce. They really arent any more scarce than power wagon parts of any vintage and quite a bit less expensive to buy. The prices on IHC parts now are right where Power Wagon parts were 20 years ago.
Would I trade my PW for a IHC? No Way. But I own 2 IHC's now anyway and would like to find a '60's crewcab short bed with a 6 cylinder engine to put a set of IHC dana 70's under to make my sons first vehicle out of.
Go to www.oldIHC.org