Why should I choose a 6.7 over a LML?

[LandonP86]

Hi guys new to the forum, and am in the market for a newer '11-'13 truck. I have had a 7.3 for 10 years with the goodies tuner, bigger turbo and such. But am now trying to decide between a 6.7 or a LML. I use the truck for a sometimes daily driver but if not I am using it for farm work and towing sometimes around 35k so it gets a work out. I plan on doing full deletes on whatever I choose along with 5" exhaust, intake, and EFI Live on either truck. This truck will also be an auto so will have to do upgrades on that as well. Now that you have an idea what my plans are, I'm curious what you guys think as far as what are the positives of owning a 6.7 over a LML I know they all have good and bad. I've never been a Dodge person hearing that the truck could never keep up with the motor, but seems the newer ones are built a little better thanks for your opinions. Thanks Landon

 

[MattandLana]

Hi Landon,

If you read around on this and other forums you'll find that (barring some never-substantiated claims) the 4th gen trucks (2013 up) can't be deleted. For the sake of the delete diehards I'll add ... yet.

For 3rd gen trucks you may want to post on the 3rd gen forum.

Good luck with the project.

Matt

 

[SnoKing]

Get a 2013 or newer with Aisin transmission and just drive it. Open the hood to check and change the oil only! Just drive it and enjoy it. Snoking

 

[jacknife]

Forget all the delete stuff . as was mentioned get the Aisin transmission the gear ratio you want and drive it! With 865 torque you should not have a problem. Fit and finish are much improved. Been driving them since 94 and my 14 is the best i've owned' you can't beat an inline 6 for low end grunt.

 

[Ozymandias]

Twice - no upgrades needed for the New Trucks. Just drive it.

 

[jgillott]

I've never been a Dodge person hearing that the truck could never keep up with the motor, but seems the newer ones are built a little better thanks for your opinions. Thanks Landon

I will counter with this position. I had a 5 year stint with a 2005 Silverado. Worst excuse for a work truck I've ever seen. It was in the dealer 13 times in 5 years for front end part failures, steering issues, and a transmission that would stroke out and go in to limp mode at any load more than a basket of feathers. Unless the work you are going to do with a GM truck gets no worse than a paved parking lot, I would steer clear.

 

[jhenderson]

Sounds like you want a hot rod, not a work truck. LML probably a good choice.

 

[DonFitzwater]

Oh, feel free to delete. You may or may not have problems associated with your actions. Head gaskets on the 6.7 don't seem to fare well after the delete as the associated EGR system seems to manage pressure spikes in the combustion chambers of the engine. Without the volume of the cooler and plumbing, head gasket problems can happen.

 

[DHuffman]

Go out and drive them all. Don't buy a truck on others' opinions. As for the delete stuff, you are better off going with a Ford with a 6.4 if you are looking to do all of that stuff. Much better market and there is a ton of power available.

 

[RVTRKN]

I will counter with this position. I had a 5 year stint with a 2005 Silverado. Worst excuse for a work truck I've ever seen. It was in the dealer 13 times in 5 years for front end part failures, steering issues, and a transmission that would stroke out and go in to limp mode at any load more than a basket of feathers. Unless the work you are going to do with a GM truck gets no worse than a paved parking lot, I would steer clear.

Company truck in 05 was a DMAX 3500 and was a POC, it also tarnished my opinion of the Alison. OP, the Cummins and Aisin is the perfect combination for your 35K GCVW needs. I wouldn't touch a GM product today.

 

[Jim W]

Hi guys new to the forum, and am in the market for a newer '11-'13 truck. I have had a 7.3 for 10 years with the goodies tuner, bigger turbo and such. But am now trying to decide between a 6.7 or a LML. I use the truck for a sometimes daily driver but if not I am using it for farm work and towing sometimes around 35k so it gets a work out. I plan on doing full deletes on whatever I choose along with 5" exhaust, intake, and EFI Live on either truck. This truck will also be an auto so will have to do upgrades on that as well. Now that you have an idea what my plans are, I'm curious what you guys think as far as what are the positives of owning a 6.7 over a LML I know they all have good and bad. I've never been a Dodge person hearing that the truck could never keep up with the motor, but seems the newer ones are built a little better thanks for your opinions. Thanks Landon

OK; my son and two of his buddies own a diesel performance shop as a side business. They have worked on everything from a 7.3L Powerstroke to the 6.7L Cummins. There shop drag truck is a 2001 Duramax so they kind a know what to do.

So with that being said you can delete the new 2013.5 and up 6.7L Cummins they have done some with the EFILive tuners. You will need to find someone who knows what they are doing but it can be done; but very very expensive.

Now from a Engineering point of view a 6.7L Cummins 6 cylinder will be a more reliable engine than any V8- engine on the market. Why less moving parts. The more moving parts you have the less reliability there is just a simply numbers game. Another point is the Ram truck is easier to service and maintain then the V8 trucks also cost over time will be less. Less injectors to replace over time and no glow plugs to replace the Cummins uses a grid heater. Filters are easier to reach and service on the Cummins than the Duramax. I have checked for serviceability on the GMC/CHEVY and I can't even see the engine do to the routing of all of the tubes over the top of the engine. Check out the engine compartment on both trucks and ask your self which one would be less expensive to service.

Jim W.

 

[SnoKing]

"towing sometimes around 35k" sounds like the OP needs two trucks. A work truck and a toy truck! SNOKING

 

[Deleted member 995608]

These threads crack me up.

"Hi, I want to buy a brand new $60k pickup and the first thing I want to do is void the warranty"

If I had the money some of these guys do, I'd throw mine away.

 

[Gonzo 1066]

I did ALL the stuff to my 04.5 Cummins manual trans truck. Injectors,turbo,manifold, exhaust, cooler, locking hubs. Tows great, I bought a 2013 6.7 with the Chrysler automatic transmission, Towing the same load over the same mountain passes the 13 will run right along with the hot rod 04. It does better on fuel,drives better,is much quieter. Coming from the modded 7.3 you will be shocked how well the new truck handles the load. Being a diesel tractor puller it was difficult for me when I found out that my STOCK RAM does not need to be hot rodded. I would reccomend buying a new RAM, run it for a year or two then see if it needs to be deleted.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

As above, the '13-up Rams already have enough power. They don't "need" to be deleted because there is no fuel dilution of the engine oil, nor fuel "wasted" by the emissions system causing poor mpg. My 2004 had a lot of stuff, twin turbos, Smarty, injectors, etc. and while it did have more power than my 2013, the 13 has enough to do all I need, and I don't have to watch the egt all the time.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

I might also mention that while the competitors claim to have engines and transmissions "good enough for a pickup" I'd rather thave too good an engine and too good a trans.

 

[Newsa]

Go to you tube and look up frame tests. The '13 3500 & both '14 2500 & 3500 have the strongest frames out there. They will pull your 35k easily and never give a squeak or complain.

 

[LandonP86]

Thanks for the replies guys, I appreciate it. I messed up with my years I will be looking at '11-'12 Dodges. I do like the Cummins as there more open in engine and easier to work on and lots more torque than the D Max. Stock is boring so no matter what it is it's always funner when it's better.

 

[RVTRKN]

You should ask the opposite question on the Diesel Place. When I had my 05 3500 DMAX, I was a regular on the Blog, but I also had my 04.5 CTD and most members their are hardcore GM/DMAX/Alison and seem to bury their heads in the sand with the problems of their beloved DMAX. I was actualy blocked to let the others pile on without replies from me, then the Moderator emailed me to let me know that I was now unblocked, I emailed back and told him to stick his Web site up his ash. The DMAX is a quick engine and is also a smooth running engine, but it is not capable of 35K GCVW, but if you do, keep a close eye on the temperature, they run hot. Also the Alison detunes the DMAX to protect itself under certain circumstances, and passing another vehicle is one of those circumstances, I can't count how many times i was almost rear-ended when I had to pass a slow Semi, their seemed to be a 5 second delay from slow to fast.

 

[dcs1968]

All I can say is look at both engines and which one would you rather work on? Cummins all the way for me.