Ihave had a 6.0 powerstroke and have a 6.6 lly dura love the duramax will never own another diesel

 

if your looking for a durable motor all i got to say is 7.3 powerstroke

 

I upgraded from a 05 2500hd 6 liter to my first Dmax and let me tell you it is like night and day. Stock my truck was plenty powerful to haul my way over loaded 28k lbs gooseneck. But with just the Edge Evo Race and the 4in Tback exhaust it turned it into a sports car. Before I could chirp the tires levaing now I can loose the tread in all gears.
And as far as it against a ford there is no comparision I beat a 6.0 powerjoke all the way to 70 by several lenghts and he had the 6-gun.
And anyother truck doesnt ride anywhere near as nice as a chevy does its like comparing a Cadillac to a Geo

 

The 6.0 gas motor is just a sled all together. Breaking tires loose is what i am looking for. Not everywhere i go, but i want to have it if i ever want to use it. There things to watch out for when modding the D-max ?

 

I like the Fords with the 6.0 motor and know all about their big list of problems.

You just made up your mind in that sentience right there. Buy a Duramax

I love my Duramax and that's all your hear from the guys on the Duramax forum. You can make a great plow truck and make it fast but at a price. If you want a good work truck for plowing go with a Ford solid axel front and rear but I don't plow so I don't need you may want that. There are so many ups and downs to each brand but you have to look at what you will use it more for and then weight out the ups and downs of each brand. It really comes down to personal preference.

 

Ya i hear ya with the solid axle. I plow in the winter but i do not want that to drive me towards a Ford. I like the looks of the Ford for sure. The ones i do like though are the 6.0 so i do not think it would be a smart choice from what i have read

 

Yeah i mean i love my Silverado. That 6.0 Gasser is no good though. I am really wanting to lean towards a D-Max. Is there certain years or models to stay away from ? I was looking into getting a 01-06. Are those ok years to work with ? I really like the whistle of the turbo. Is there much to be done to get that killer sound amplified ? Thanks again guys !

 

Look for an 06 LBZ great motors with a nice 6 speed.

 

Is 06 the only year they have that setup ? How would i know if it a LBZ or the other models ? I thought they were all 6.6's

 

Had a 7.3L ford.. LOVED IT.. Got a 6.0L when a new one was needed... KILLED IT.. Despite what was done of course she still didn't make it past 75,000 miles without 2 turbo's.. Head bolts... and just felt like it got slower as it got older.

Sold that did lots of research of the big 3 and didn't want to do another ford powerjoker this time being it was a new 6.4 and then they come out with this new scorpion.. I'de be pissed if I just bought a new truck and a year later it is an old motor.

Sure enough my new LMM is more than I ever thought it was going to be... no joke.. don't let the ford bodywork suck you in like it did to me. Buy a Duramax.

 

Had a 7.3L ford.. LOVED IT.. Got a 6.0L when a new one was needed... KILLED IT.. Despite what was done of course she still didn't make it past 75,000 miles without 2 turbo's.. Head bolts... and just felt like it got slower as it got older. Ya i have heard bad things about the 6.0 Fords. Then i also heard " Ah no big deal Block the EGR and get the Head Studded and you have a bulletproof truck for over 300,000 miles.

Sold that did lots of research of the big 3 and didn't want to do another ford powerjoker this time being it was a new 6.4 and then they come out with this new scorpion.. I'de be pissed if I just bought a new truck and a year later it is an old motor. Ya no kidding

Sure enough my new LMM is more than I ever thought it was going to be... no joke.. don't let the ford bodywork suck you in like it did to me. Buy a Duramax.

Ha its funny you say that. It is the bodywork that was selling me on the Ford till i read some nightmare stories. Someone also tried to tell me the 4 Wheel Drive system is better on Fords since you can lock the hubs manually or something of that nature. He was saying that since i said i wanted to make sure whatever truck i picked was built for pushing snow in the winter

 

dont get me wrong i love my d-max and i have had all three diesels but for longevity working in stock form you will not beat the 7.3

 

There's nothing like a push of a button to have 4 wheel drive on a cold winters day from inside the cab compared to getting out and locking the hubs in and out.

 

I hear ya i have the same setup on my Silverado but i was hearing well they fail all the time you can not trust computer stuff. Manual stuff will not fail you

 

And yea the locking hubs thing is a pain in the A. There 4x4 works here and there but when you really need it you need to go lock it, when it may already be to late! As low as the Duramax is stock too worked awsome. I'll lift it within time :rockin

 

O no comparison to the gasser haha. Just put it in 4 lo and let it idle haha. Even just having that weight on the front makes such a difference. Also I think I like the dmax BECAUSE it has a low front end to push more pressure forward that when my ford was lifted and even stock was really tall it put more on the top.

 

Here is some info on the differences
Duramax V8 engine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The LBZ has the most potential in bone stock trim. All you need is a built trans, lift pump, EFILive tuning, minor front end reinforcement and some driving skill and you'll be running high 12s.

 

That is killer. Now if i can not find a LBZ can i still make another D-max a rocket ? What more would i have to do to have the high 12s results ?

 

Not much. They all have the potential to get there. The LLYs have a bit of an airflow restriction issue that can be fixed with LBZ parts. The LB7s are very durable. They do have injector issues though. Its really all about the trans and tuning.

 

Ok so they are all very good trucks. Some just have better tuning. Now you say it is all about Trans and Tuning. When should i look into a different trans ? Also what would say is the best tuner out there ? EFI ?

 

You could get buy with the stock trans but I agree with Chris on this one get it upgraded the minute you plan on getting EFI Live otherwise you will be upgrading the trans shortly after you get EFI Live.

 

Ya my buddy with a 02 D-max just has a exhaust and a programmer, Not even EFI, and he says when he stomps on it and holds it down, it will hang up on 3rd. He says it is a protection in the trans and says that causes the death of it because it will just get stuck in 3rd eventually. What should i look to spend on a aftermarket trans ? Is EFI a tuner with the different power levels or is it different ? Sorry im just new to the tuners and all. My other friend though with a D-mas 01 he has $ 5000 into his motor a tuner ( not sure which one ) straight exhaust and maybe a intake not sure and he can light up the tires from a 35MPH roll and he even says its all about the Tranny. Will it shift all hard and lose the nice ride of the truck with a different trans ?

 

You can get kits for the trans for around $2500 or so with a torque converter and then you just need to find a shop to install the kit. EFI Live is a program on a computer that you load on to the ECM. It is the best software out there and you can fine tune anything on the ECM and TCM. The allison is a smart transmission it learns how you drive and adapts to your style of driving even with a built transmission my truck still shift smooth and fast when I drive normal and real nice and firm when Im racing or pulling.

 

No hard shifts here. When you are on it, you can barely tell its changing its so smooth and fast. I would say firm, but not hard. Expect to spend around 4k installed.

EFILive is a custom tuning suite. You can read more about here
http://www.duramaxforum.com/forum/efi-live/30321-atten-interested-efilive.html

 

So let me get this right. I get a tranny built ( im guessing Suncoast ? ) Not sure what level to get and get EFI Live and ill be rippin tires and get kicked back into my seat ? Also can i just buy tunes with the EFI Live with the version for $ 749 ? With the tranny should i get the kit to make it a 6 speed if i can not find one that is already a 6 speed ? Thanks again boss !

 

had to chime in on this.. my first diesel was a 2003 Powerstroke 6.0 (for those of you that dont know, thats the first year for the 6.0) Now i cant speak about the 7.3 cus i've never owned or driven one. That truck was the biggest p.o.s i've ever owned in my life! I had problems with the turbo, pcm, 4 cam sensors, interior lighting, the tranny shifted like it was filled with rocks, etc.. It left such a bad taste in my mouth that i'll never go near another ford for as long as i live! I hope that truck is at the bottom of a river right now! ah.. I feel better. Anyway.. Got a 2007.5 2500hd LTZ crew cab, love the Duramax

 

Ya the more and more nightmare stories i hear of the 6.0 Powerstrokes the more i want to stay away from them.

 

If you're interested in a 7.3 Powerstroke, I have one for sale. It's a '97 with 74K on her, oil changed every 3K, never in an accident, and she'll burn peanut oil if that's what you want to feed her. I don't know where you're from as you didn't fill out your profile, but the truck is in northern New Jersey.

BTW, I have had three 7.3's, and none ever gave me any problem. Unfortunately, Ford got branded with the 6.0 as a bad engine. The older 7.3 was/is not a problem.

 

Ya thanks for the offer but i have been looking for a D-Max. Only a fan of the 6.0 year and though it is a nice looking truck, ill pass on the headaches.

 

Bottom line is the 01 through 03 had injector problems good trucks but injectors are very costly 04 and 05 the injector problems were eliminated but these engines had an air restriction However an easy fix less then $200.00 and 30 minutes of your time and you have an awesome truck. 06 a step up from the 04 and 05 models but not alot of change Air restriction has been eliminated from the factory a little bit of tuning difference (No biggie in my book if you are going to buy a tuner anyway) And a six speed trans. These were the years that you asked about. Dollar for dollar i would stay away from the 01 through 03 although great trucks because of the injectors The 04 and 05's was my choice as the 06's are still very pricey. I like the older 7.3 power strokes but they won't hold a candle to the duramax when it comes to fuel mileage and cold starts.

 

Ok so look for the 04-05's which is the body style i was looking for. Also does the GMC Seira Diesel have the same setup ? What does the injector problem cost anyways to fix with the bad years ?

 

Yes it helps for sure i know what years to stay away from for those prices. That would be a built tranny from what i have read. Do you have mods done to your D max ? If so do you get that push you in the seat power ?

 

I havn't done the mods yet but plan to in the next couple of weeks I will be taking the truck to one of the forum sponsers shop and showing some support for those who support us. My list of mods will include EFI Live, Lift pump, 4" exhaust' Gauges, PVC reroute and of course a trans. I have drove modded diesels for the last several hundred thousands of miles and yes the mods make a day and night difference You can actually blow the doors off of most of the sports cars out there with just the mods mentioned above. Not bad for a big ole heavy 3/4 ton 4 door 4x4 pickup in sleeper form. I am told i will be looking at 12.6 to 12.9 1/4 mile times with these mods. Most of the mustangs today run a mid to high 13.

 

Yes they will hold up nicely if tuned by a reputable tuner The lift pump supplies a steady flow of fuel and helps with fuel delivery as well as cheap insurance for the injector pump as cavitation is their worst enemy The PVC reroute which is very inexpensive to do prevents oil from entering the intercooler There is also a EGR block that can be done however you can also shut the EGR off with the EFI live. I might also mention that tie rod sleeves and a few other steering mods are a must for hard 4x4 launches. You can throw as much money at these as you want to.

 

Ya i am sure you can dump some money into the hobby for sure. What do you mean a tune by a reputable tuner ? I thought that is what EFI Live is for. Cant i buy tunes for the EFI Live that know the best recipe ? Also i plow snow also with my current silverado 6.0 gasser. The tie rod sleeves and all would that help me also in that aspect ? What are you looking at for the mod list you have together ?

 

There are several experienced tuners on the site that sell EFI live You will want them to custom build your tune or tunes for you and then you can install them with your EFI live. You can build your own tunes however i don't reccomend it as these guys offer that as part of their service when you buy EFI live from them and they have many many hours of experience of trial and error behind them. As far as what i am looking at dollar wise on the mods mentioned above i have a bid from one of the sponsers on the site for $6525.00

 

Ya thats good then i can just get the tunes from the tuners that sell it on the site. Also what stage tranny are you getting is it Suncoast ? Is that parts and labor that bid ? Warranty ?

 

It really doesn't matter which one you get, as long as there is a bowtie on it.

 

Ha. I just was not sure. They have a few different ones i have seen and read about. Didnt know what stage was the right choice

 

Sorry also what hp/tq will you be getting with that setup. That thing im sure will be a rocket for sure.

 

No way to tell. every truck is different.

Not sure on the stage but he told me i won't have to worry about it breaking and it should handle about 600hp (more then i will be putting out) I believe that is Suncoast parts and his shop building the tranny. That is me taking the truck to him dropping it off and frying the tires when i leave his shop which he can be assured that i will do Get the camera ready!!!!

And you will be like the people who dump 10k into their truck and have no idea what to do with it when you get it back.

An no, at the power level you say you will be at, nothing willl be reliable.

Pick your parts right, spend 7k and go faster than if you spent 10k.