2500 4x4 diesel questions/ need opinions

whitesnake

Ok, let me start by saying I am looking for a new truck. I am looking for a crew cab short bed 2500 4x4. I can only spend about $17.5k at the most. I don't want something that has over 175,000 miles. I want a diesel, I've never had a diesel so I would like some of y'all's opinions who have and have had some of the trucks I'm looking for. I have always been a gm guy so a Chevy or gmc is one of the tucks I'm looking for. I would really like a lbz but haven't found one in my price range, so I'm tryin to figure out which of the other dmax motors are better/ less problematic, the lb7 or lly? What to look for or look out for. Also looking at 03 and up dodges. Opinions, concerns, comments, things like that. Truck will be used for daily driving and pulling my crawler. I want to be a me to get decent mpg's and have power whenever I'm pulling something. My mind is made up between these 2 trucks but I just can't decide. I've found some decent deals on both but am still having trouble so I figured I would come to y'all and get some feedback. Thanks in advance guys & gals.

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Rigless

dag4566

LLY over the LB7 for sure, the injectors on an LB7 in my opinion are just not worth messing with. Be careful there are 2004 LB7's. Some say the LLYs overheat when towing heavy but that is curable with a few minor mods.

I know for a fact that the 04.5-05 LLYs with a 5 speed get better mpg on the highway than an LBZ with the 6 speed. Cant explain it but from what I've read its pretty common. A tuned LLY will most likely need the head gaskets replaced at some point (150-200k miles). Not a crazy huge job if you catch it leaking before you get the motor hot and are able to just R&R. Parts run about 1k with studs and everything else you would need to do it the right way.

Here are some 05s I found in your price range.

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?zip=78363&endYear=2007&fuelCo des=DSL&listingType=used&driveCodes=4WD|AWD&listin gTypes=used&sellerTypes=b&mmt=[GMC[][]CHEV[][]]&driveCode=4WD|AWD&makeCode2=CHEV&showcaseOwnerId= 0&startYear=2005&makeCode1=GMC&maxMileage=100001&n umRecords=100&searchRadius=500&bodyStyleCodes=TRUC KS&listingId=329359157&listingIndex=64&Log=0

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?zip=78363&endYear=2007&fuelCo des=DSL&listingType=used&driveCodes=4WD|AWD&listin gTypes=used&sellerTypes=b&mmt=[GMC[][]CHEV[][]]&driveCode=4WD|AWD&makeCode2=CHEV&showcaseOwnerId= 0&startYear=2005&makeCode1=GMC&maxMileage=100001&n umRecords=100&searchRadius=500&bodyStyleCodes=TRUC KS&listingId=331490956&listingIndex=67&Log=0

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81 K20 (Hunting Rig)
1995 F250 SCLB 2wd Powerstroke
2008 Grizzly 700

whitesnake

Thanks for the links dag, I have been looking at that maroon one already, not a fan of the color but I might could like it.

What kind of mods you talking about for the lly? Exhaust, intake, stuff like that?

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Rigless

Rebelrider

Quit being a fag and buy a cummins already.

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94' Toyota
LQ4/Atlas/Tons

whitesnake

Lol. I was waiting for your comment......

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Rigless

RandoTX

What's your price range on a lbz?

obijuan

he has a point.

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When I grow up I want to be like fourwheelerjeff

dschack

So the motor can last 4 times as long as the truck its in?

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Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power -Abraham Lincoln

2005 GMC LLY 6.6 4x4, intake, 5" exhaust and some visual junk
1979 k5 beater

Rebelrider

Well, yea. Then we can swap it into something cool.....

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94' Toyota
LQ4/Atlas/Tons

whitesnake

Like to stay under $18k, just cause thats where i need to be to be able to have the payments where i want. I have found some in that range but there either work trucks, lwb trucks, or have over 250k miles. Plus I'd rather have one with leather, but not a necessity.

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Rigless

whitesnake

Would love to do something like this Clint, but don't have the space or time righ now....

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Rigless

Rebelrider

Ok, back on track. The dodge is an awesome truck.......as long as you don't sit in the seats or bring it outside.
Maybe some more dmax guys will chime in, as I don't know anything about them. I think the truck itself is the nicest, hands down.

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94' Toyota
LQ4/Atlas/Tons

obijuan

when dmaxes come down in price then maybe ill look at them. by then the dodge will be ready to be scrapped.

18k can get a really really nice dodge.

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When I grow up I want to be like fourwheelerjeff

12vctd

I personally wouldn't be scared of a LB7. The injector issues were mainly due to the fuel filtration issues and todays crappy diesel that we pay a high price on.
After my first dealer injector swap on my old 01 GMC I never went thru andy more injectors. I added a Fass fuel system and put additive in every tank as I do with all my diesels. I ran that truck after the injection swap at 36k miles to 220k when I sold it and I ran it hard and modded the snot out of it,

My first question before suggesting a truck would be what do you plans for the truck include? Are you going to modify and what power range are you looking at if you do?

As far as the dodges I also recommend using a better filtration system and adding something to lube the fuel system. There are issue with these as well.

Again mods and future plans will dictate alot of my recommendation.


My personal opinion is go with a Dodge but im a Dodge guy. I would recommend if your not used to diesels thou that you take whatever your looking at to a good shop and have it checked over very well. One thing about diesels it the parts are not cheap.

dag4566

1) Turbo mouthpiece (either AFE or LBZ) 100-300 depending where you get the parts.
2) EGR blocker or EGR delete (delete is more for higher performance, blocker is easy/cheap-15 bucks)
3) PCV reroute - 80 bucks
4) Tuner (EFI live w/ DSP5, stay under 100HP max with stock trans) - $300

5) LBZ only - transgo shift kit. Reasonably easy to install.

Got bored lol

2007 Chevy Diesel HD 4x4

2006 Chevrolet 4x4 Duramax 2500HD

Reduced!!2004 GMC 2500 4x4 Diesel Crew

Or buy my 2012 so I can find a clean LBZ-LMM

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81 K20 (Hunting Rig)
1995 F250 SCLB 2wd Powerstroke
2008 Grizzly 700

whitesnake

I would like to find one with a stock motor. Yes I would do some mods, don't know which ones but I would like to do some. I'm not gonna start racin or sled pulling but I want to get the best mpg I can and have enough power to pull my crawler as fast as I want. Maybe that makes since?????

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Rigless

whitesnake

Thanks dag, those were the mods that I had been reading about. I hear lots of good things about efi live.

Thanks for the links, I haven't seen those first 2 you sent.

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Rigless

mudskipper4x4

Not going into which is better than the other but I will say to make sure you are happy with whatever you decide on. It really sucks to settle for something and then not like it 6 months later when for a few g's more you could have had what you really wanted...

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Wanted : D60 spring plates, hydro assist ram, dodge road armor rear bumper... Or a money tree

LightBndr

If you are mechanically inclined and do all of your own work I suggest a dodge hands down. You can create the most power for cheap and stay within your buying price range. Auto transmissions don't last in them. Ive had to build every one I have owned as soon as I get it. For hauling I would gladly trade for a 6 speed. Everyday driving I deal with an auto.

If you aren't the most savvy under the hood I suggest a duramax strongly. I would stick to an 05-05.5 LLY. They will allow injector swaps externally and will not require injector programming per cylinder like the 06+. I would stay away from LB7 mainly because WHEN you have injector problems, it requires a lot of tear down and forces you to do the entire bank at one time if you wanna be smart so you're looking at a hefty bill just for an injector issue.

I suggest the duramax because it is the only truck you can truly get into, load up and put your foot to the floor and have no worries about trans or fuel system issues assuming filtration is taken care of. Though being in your price range is real tough for a duramax because most will be ragged out or high mileage.

You asked for opinions. I maintained a fleet of 4, 05 LLYs. All run into the ground by illegal immigrants. Overloaded daily by at least 8-10k pounds. All automatics. In 4 years, I never replaced a transmission, an injection pump, or any high priced item. These trucks were literally beaten to death.

I put water pumps, EGRs, 1 high pressure relief valve (fuel rail) and fuel filters at every 6k miles at oil change. I did a set of head gaskets at 125k because a water pump dumped early in the morning and the bastards kept driving all day on it. Pinion seals all the time because they were overloaded and burning the lips on the seals.

Basically as long as they are not neglected when it comes to maintenance especially fuel systems, I would put my wife in a duramax hauling cross country.

I wouldn't put her in my dodge with an automatic hauling anything.

I hope this helps. I love my dodge. I just deal with her quirks and it's cheap to own

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Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go.......

dag4566

I agree with everything, but with his budget IMO its best to avoid an LB7. The fact that it takes 15 min to swap an LLY injector and 8 hours to do an LB7 injector is enough alone. The cost of seals and gaskets alone is prohibitive. The 03+ trucks have better electronics all around.

I think I put about 100 gallons of 2 stroke oil through my LB7 to keep the injectors alive for the last 50k miles lol

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81 K20 (Hunting Rig)
1995 F250 SCLB 2wd Powerstroke
2008 Grizzly 700

LightBndr

Oh also, if you end up going for a dodge, I would shy away a little from 03-04 just because most of them have fried a lift pump once or twice which is mounted to the side of the motor then replaced by an in tank unit. So at least a couple times the injection pump has been starved. Not a huge worry but something to think about plus most are real high mileage.

The 06-early07 has some factory power mods and came with the in tank unit factory so they failed less and have a better chance of lubing the injection pump. I would suggest as late as you can afford without buying the 6.7. You're asking for trouble unless you immediately wanna do egr dpf deletes and turbo swaps.

Sorry, I sound like a know it all prick!! I just wanna help you based on experience not Internet searches. :-) lol

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Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go.......

whitesnake

Thanks for all the comments guys.

Mudskipper, this is why it's taking me so long to get a truck, I'm making sure it's the one I want this time

Tbastm, thanks alot for the info very helpful

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Rigless

RandoTX

I agree on the leather. I got my 06 loaded Sierra lbz with 110k for 21.5k. A little more wont change your payments by much at all to warrant out another 2-3k. Just my 2 cents. Kinda of like when I had my STi I had a WRX for 2 weeks before I kicked my self and returned it for the STi. Payment changed maybe $50 for a lot better package. 05 lly is the same as the lbz just a few bolt on oem lbz parts and lbz tune and u got a lbz.

TornadoTJ

So, my 03 came with the lift pump in the tank. Later they went to the engine bay, then they went back to the tank. So you are almost right. I won't call you a know-it-all.

I've had an 03 and now have an 06, and no issues at all with the trucks. So the comments about the truck falling apart are unfounded. I've also had a 1996 2500, and it was nowhere near the truck the 03 and up are.

Right now blue book on my 06 is around $27k. There's a demand for the 06 trucks, and KBB shows it. My truck has gone UP about $6k in the last two years.

06s with higher miles than mine can probably be had in your price range. I highly recommend them. I will note that I have the 6 speed, I have no idea how the autos in the 06s hold up. I don't read the diesel forums, and don't care to. I only care about MY truck, and it's great.

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'97 TJ - '01 XJ - '06 CTD

Turbos10

I have an 03 LB7 Duramax. My injectors were done under warranty at 135K and I am 185K now. I have been told by other owners that the second sets of injectors that were installed later have lasted from then on. I dont know if something was improved in the latter ones or not.

I have owned older dodges and I really like the dmax alot more. If you can get a newer one that is not LB7 that would be nice, but I would even get one of them if the owner has proof that the injectors were done recently, which I did when I got mine.

It fit my budget at the time, so I went with it and have loved it ever since. I am running a Diablo Sport tuner on full tilt and it is all the power you need. I hardly ever stand on it hard because the tranny is a little quirky with the tuner turned all the way up. My cousin has a later lly that has the same quirks with the tuner bumped up.

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CJ2 fiberglass and tube buggy, L67 supercharged 6, RVB Art Carr 700R4, 3.8 Atlas, 60's welded/detroit, 40" Sticky Creepies, and a whole lotta SLOW because I dont want to break any more.