Buy new or upgrade old???

[Cattletrkr]

In the last few months I have spent around $4K on my '04. 5 in repairs. Sure some of that was because the aftermarket stuff was more spendy than the OEM crap, but only about 15% give or take. I'm seriously debating whether or not I should spend some more and get this one setup to run another 170K or if I should just hold off and buy a new truck next year sometime.

If I decide to keep this one I'd probably spend another $1600 or so on a new turbo. I'm getting kinda nervous about the NV5600, especially after this: https://www.turbodieselregister.com...ions-2003-2007/187608-looky-what-i-found.html And of course there's always injectors to think about...

Whattya think. Spend the $$ on a turbo and hope the transmission holds up. Or stay status quo and trade.

I dont' mind small repairs, they're just a fact of life. What I hate is spending anywheres close to what trading would cost on repairs.

 

[JHardwick]

I'm gonna get 600,000 or more out of mine.



No major repairs to date.



clutch @ 190,000 (bad release bearing)



injector upgrade @290,000 (corroded connectors)



ujoints, brake pads etc etc



My biggest complaint to date would have to be the HVAC, and replacing the box everytime it breaks.

 

[LesStallings]

I'm waiting for the 4G.



Hopefully, by 2009 model which is rumored to be released early in 2008, the new generation will address some of the AC issues and certainly by then, the DPF problems will be sorted out.



I'm getting great service out of my 04, but would like to get the new 6-speed automatic. I'm doing more in traffic driving and less long distance, highway driving. The auto would be nice.

 

[AKaiser]

Mine has the G56, so I'm pretty happy with the transmission, but if I were buying a new truck, it would have the 68RFE in it. The manual is nice if you do a lot of interstate driving, but anymore, I tend to stay on the backroads and two lanes. I'm at 62K right now, and probably won't put too many miles on it before Dec 08, thanks to the Army. I bought it in Oct and have put 33K on since. It should be paid off by then and worth probably $25K with less than 75K miles on it at that point. That may be a high appraisal. I ran it today $26,300 on Edmunds.com for Dealer Retail, excellent condition, which is reasonable.

 

[Cattletrkr]

Well I decided to "fix" the transmission. Found a rebuilt for $2375 with a one year unlimited mileage warranty. I almost bought a C+C a couple weeks ago but I chickened out. I like the 11mpg I've been gettign lately and I know a new truck won't get that. At least not until it's broken in. Heck, this one didn't get that until a couple months ago.

Besides, I washed/waxed/polished my truck yesterday so now I have to keep it another year. Maybe I'll trade next fall so I don't have to wax it again. Man does that take a long time.

 

[DPKetchum]

Where did yu find a trans? Can we know just in case.

 

[MMeier]

Where did yu find a trans? Can we know just in case.

Yeah, let us know, when I needed one no one had a unlimited mileage warranty. Still need to have my spare 5600 gone through if I keep the '03... . or I could swap it into the '93, 'cuz that rig is not going anywhere anytime soon!

 

[Cattletrkr]

Midwest Transmission---888-824-2012

They didn't have any in stock so don't be swiping mine before I get there.

 

[MMeier]

Midwest Transmission---888-824-2012



They didn't have any in stock so don't be swiping mine before I get there.

"None in stock"... gotta love that phrase anymore! So, they rebiuld yours then or search around and hopefully find a buildable core?

 

[DPKetchum]

Just wanted it for a just in case ! Printed a copy for my records.

 

[Cattletrkr]

Maybe i should re-phrase that. They don't have any finished 5600's in stock, but they have cores sitting there. A week or two ago when I talked to one of the guys down there they had one ready to go. The day I ordered one, they had to run one thru first.

I'll be picking up a rebuilt and bringing mine back in later. I think she said the core charge is only $1000, but I'm assuming if I decided to keep mine it would be significantly higher. If not I may have a core for sale...

 

[BHolm]

I'm just curious as to what the $4k in repairs was for? You didn't really say what you had to have done. Would you mind sharing? Could be good info for those of us heading up in milage on our own trucks.

 

[Cattletrkr]

$2000---Moog adjustable ball joints upper and lower, axle joints and seals, pinion seal. All work done at dealer and yes I'm sure I maybe coulda got it done cheaper somewhere else but my dealer is one of the good ones. I love the new ball joints. Truck steers like new. Old ball joints must have been sticky for a while. Tracks straight as an arrow now too.

$1250--SBC Con OFE installed

$300 or so for the carrier bearing installed

$250 for new exh manifold incl. gaskets

$265 new front driveshaft

All #'s are rounded close enough.

So I've basically got a new front end, that should last me a good long time. New clutch I won't have to worry about hopefully ever again. I really like this truck and didn't want to trade it. Hopefully I made the right choice.

 

[KRozeboom]

I have been debating this recently, as well. My 47re is dying for the second time (warranty rebuild at 45k, now at 62k). So I have looked at new (Dodge, GM and Ford). Liked all, but not the price. My 2500 has been perfect except for the transmission (big except, of course). Never had a better vehicle - everything works, just as tight as when new. Only other repairs have been pinion seal and alternator bracket. Seats look uncomfortable but 14 hr days have proven otherwise. I am going to invest in a new transmission, do some power upgrades and drive it another 5 years.