Bought a Duramax 6.6L Chevy

[Ncostello]

Call me a traitor if you must. But I've still got and will keep my 1st Gen because I just love that truck and I've got too much time and effort in it to sell it. Someday soon I'll have it like new and even better. But it just don't have any interior space. Especially for 4.



I'd looked at all brands of diesels lately. Considered the pros and cons of all of them. But after all the dust cleared and a years worth of test drives and brow beating dealers for the best price... I bought a 2002 Chevrolet HD2500 Extended Cab Shortbed 4x4. Charcoal Gray with Charcoal/Black interior.



Its a very nice truck that was SUPER maintained and all stock original. Its as clean as it can be underneath and has never had injector problems, head gasket failures etc. The interior is like new and so is the paint. Its an LT so its loaded.



It was between that and an 02 Ram 2500 SLT Laramie Quad Cab 4x4 longbed. Both were identical condition, color and miles. The Chev has 120K and so did the Ram.



But after my bout with my 99 and the VP44 and lift pumps... the bad taste in my mouth that was left tilted my decision to the Chevy.



I like the Rams no doubt. That ISB 5. 9 sound simply cannot be matched. Nor can the real power.



But I like the Chevy interior, interior space and layout... and the nice ride and handling. I also like the quiet power of the Duramax and the Allison is just a great transmission from what I've seen so far.



I wanted to try something different. A new challenge if you will. Just expanding my views in the diesel market. I also wanted the first gen Duramax LB7 code because it has no EGR, no Catalytic Converter, no variable geometry turbo, etc. Just raw V8 diesel power.



Oh well... I'll see how this goes. Its a pretty truck and I'm pleased with the power. The girls didn't like the noise of the ISB too. They are old enough now to really complain in that back seat about anything that disrupts the volume of the Spongebob DVD playing on trips.



We'll see. Just an experiment for now. Flameproof Proximity Suit is on!!!!

 

[Simplysmn]

We all have Blonde Moment's now and then some of us just like our Dodges Better then other's . The only thing I don't like about the Chevy is no Foot Room for Driver being tall you need every inch you can find Good Luck with the truck .

 

[FourBarR]

My truck got side swiped in Dec. not bad damage. Had a rental Duramax 2007. Drove it for a month never got use to it. All the controlls were way to complicated ,the thing was powerless unless you got the revs up,then it wasnt so quiet. Viz over the front hood was not nearly as good as the 2nd gen.

Lots of room in the cab ,but thats not important to me as I am mostely alone.

After a month I was glad to get my truck back.

Would not want to have to do much work on that v-8 ,have pity for the mechanics at GM.



Hope it works out for you, and your happy after the first year.

Enjoy the journey.

 

[SierraRam]

Traitor :-laf



Room for 4 with the extended cab? Must be aweful small people. Didn't like the VP-44 if you would have gone with a CR that would have been a CP-3.



Oh well good luck with your new Cheby.



SR

 

[Ncostello]

I'm 6'-1". I can sit in the back without too much problem at all. Much more room than the Ram 2002 Quad Cab I was also looking at. Just an inch or so less room than my former 05 1500 Quad Cab which had enough room.



Plus... I had to scoot the seat up in front to get comfortable. Plenty of leg room there for me.



Working on this particular LB7 engine isn't that much more complicated. Without all the smog stuff on this model... its pretty straightforward V8 work. In an hour I can have the topside clear of air cleaners, computer modules etc and do what I need to.



Still not as easy as an inline... but not too bad either.

 

[DeezelDood]

Call me a traitor if you must. But I've still got and will keep my 1st Gen because I just love that truck and I've got too much time and effort in it to sell it. Someday soon I'll have it like new and even better. But it just don't have any interior space. Especially for 4.



I'd looked at all brands of diesels lately. Considered the pros and cons of all of them. But after all the dust cleared and a years worth of test drives and brow beating dealers for the best price... I bought a 2002 Chevrolet HD2500 Extended Cab Shortbed 4x4. Charcoal Gray with Charcoal/Black interior.



Its a very nice truck that was SUPER maintained and all stock original. Its as clean as it can be underneath and has never had injector problems, head gasket failures etc. The interior is like new and so is the paint. Its an LT so its loaded.



It was between that and an 02 Ram 2500 SLT Laramie Quad Cab 4x4 longbed. Both were identical condition, color and miles. The Chev has 120K and so did the Ram.



But after my bout with my 99 and the VP44 and lift pumps... the bad taste in my mouth that was left tilted my decision to the Chevy.



I like the Rams no doubt. That ISB 5. 9 sound simply cannot be matched. Nor can the real power.



But I like the Chevy interior, interior space and layout... and the nice ride and handling. I also like the quiet power of the Duramax and the Allison is just a great transmission from what I've seen so far.



I wanted to try something different. A new challenge if you will. Just expanding my views in the diesel market. I also wanted the first gen Duramax LB7 code because it has no EGR, no Catalytic Converter, no variable geometry turbo, etc. Just raw V8 diesel power.



Oh well... I'll see how this goes. Its a pretty truck and I'm pleased with the power. The girls didn't like the noise of the ISB too. They are old enough now to really complain in that back seat about anything that disrupts the volume of the Spongebob DVD playing on trips.



We'll see. Just an experiment for now. Flameproof Proximity Suit is on!!!!

Good luck with the Chevy. Nice trucks, good drive train. Stock radio is better than Dodge. I've owned a few Ford and Chevy gassers and looked at an '06 Crew cab Duramax (because of the Allison). Each brand has it plusses and minuses. I'm 6"3" and the lack of head room and leg room ended my search right there. Seat was also not quite right for my frame, back to short. The drive shaft hump appeared to be skewed to passenger side. When sitting in the passenger seat one has to subtly shift ones legs to the right. If the back seat is down (for the dogs) the passenger seat must be moved up a bit, further cramping the leg room. Go to one of the Duramax websites (Diesel place.com?) for info, but I think the '02 had a problem with fuel dilution, leaking injector fittings. Later versions have scalloped valve covers so the fittings are not inside the rocker arm space. "We buy the Cummins and the Dodge comes with it" but I have been very pleased with the fit, finish, ride, and overall quality of my '06.

 

[Moose Truck]

Didn't like the VP-44 if you would have gone with a CR that would have been a CP-3.



Oh well good luck with your new Cheby.



SR

Any rate, same fuel system for both trucks, Boch CP-3, did not aviod that bullet Diferent software however. No Smarty for you! EFI Live, but you have to program the fueling cruves for it. The Chevy does'nt use a lift pump how ever, Dodge does. But if you need more fuel FASS, Airdog and GDP do sell units for Duramax. Moose

 

[Ncostello]

Ya... that was another thing. NO LIFT OR TRANSFER PUMP!!! Finally a modern diesel pickup with only a hand primer on the filter head. Well worth it just for that... haha!



Seriously... I've ran down all the problems that can crop up on the 02. Mine is doing fine and has been babied alot. Not saying it can't happen... but alot of these trucks go for a long time without injector failures. I'm prepared... full well knowing however.



PS: I measured my 2006 Ram 1500 Quad Cab (company truck) interior space. The extended chevy has basically the same interior dimensions. Front of front door to back of cab measures almost identical on each truck. The rear seats are nearly the same size and have very close the same leg room. Dodge shortens the front door alot to get the front hinged rear doors on the quad cab. The Chevy front doors are much longer and make it easier for me to get in and out... just a little. So they use suicide rear doors so the B post position isn't a factor. But all in all the interior room is very similar. And I just LOVE the center console center and armrest buckets.



Again... I"m keeping my first gen. Its mine mine mine. After driving 2 Ram 1500 quad cabs since 2004 and 150,000 miles... I was just tired of the Quad Cab blah interior. My 05 work truck had great seats. But this 2006??? The seats since 2006 are flat and cheesy looking. They have NO cushion and downright horrible. The 05 Ram seats were so much better. My buddies new 08 Ram 2500 has the same cruddy seats... and cost him $40,000.

 

[SierraRam]

Wow you have a way of making me like you even more, now your knocking my truck.



Anyway good luck with your new truck. Some of my best friends drive Chevys, I have become real good at changing tie rods in the field!

 

[Ncostello]

I wasn't knocking your truck or anyones truck . The seats in my 06 SLT company truck are really pretty lackluster. After 70,000 miles... my rear and back are sure of that.

 

[Moose Truck]

Wow you have a way of making me like you even more, now your knocking my truck.



Anyway good luck with your new truck. Some of my best friends drive Chevys, I have become real good at changing tie rods in the field!

Try This: PPE GM Tie Rod Sleeves and Center Link Kit

 

[LSchulz]

No flaming coming from me. We have an '07 Chevy 3500 dump truck at work, and that thing is awesome. I've had it weighed down pretty well with our tractor behind it, and I'm convinced it will pull anything. Good luck with the new ride.

 

[Dieselnut59]

I have looked at the chevs, just out of curiousity and was not impressed. The controls are too complex and the front suspension seems cheesie (cv axles on 4x4, vs Ford and Dodge solid axle). Also, the frame hangs WAY low under the cab area of the truck, drastically reducing ground clearance. Again, this is an issue with the 4x4 models, as I will only buy 4x4 trucks. Not sure about the 4x2's. I also "must have" a manual transmission. I do not like the shift feel of the chev manual transmissions. To me it is too "car like". The engine is powerful and "punchy" but power comes on in the higher revs than the Cummins. I would rather have a Chev than a Ford, but I would much rather have a Dodge/Cummins. Good luck with your truck. At least you did get the pre-emission one. Same reason I went ahead and bought my '03 when I did: No cat, no EGR and no crank case blow-by vented back to the intake. I have been happy with it also. I just like the Dodge 6-speed better than the ones from Chev and Ford and of course the Cummins.

 

[Regcabguy]

My co-worker has a '02 2wd 3500 Duramax that has towed a moderate sized fifth wheeler many times all over the country. It sits most of the time,so most of it's life has been pulling. At 78,000 miles the alternator went out. It was an expensive fix,but that's been it so far aside from general service. Very comfortable seats and plenty of legroom for me and I'm 6'3". The Chevy's have a squarer cab and are easier for me to get into also. Best of luck!

 

[Missouri Mule]

So you went half way to the Dark Side. Glad you kept the 1rst gen CTD.

 

[AABEN]

Well at least you did not get a fart o that is ford.