Main Differences between the 04's and the 04.5's??

[WAckerman]

Guys,

I've been lurking on the site for a few months now, while I have been looking for a truck, but what I haven't been able to figure out is what the main differences are between the 04 models and the 04. 5's. The wife and I have two kids in car seats, so we've decided that the 03 or newer is the way we want to go, but I'm wondering if I should be looking at the 04. 5's over the 04's.



Are there serious gains by picking up an 04. 5? Will I avoid some trouble issues going a little newer? What is the build date that would identify the 04. 5?



I don't plan on bombing the truck (yeah I'm aware that there still is a good possibility of that though! :-laf ) but I do plan on doing gauges, intake and exhaust.



Thanks in advance!

 

[BStoecker]

Unless you need the 8' bed, you may consider the mega cab. The '04. 5 is nice, but with the car seat in the back, our 4 year old has very little leg room between his seat and mine. After 3-4 hours of driving, it gets old telling them to stop pushing or kicking your seat... If you climb under and look at the exhaust, the '04. 5 will have a catylitic converter before the muffler whereas the '04 won't.

 

[MFalkinham]

The '04. 5 has a 3rd injection event for emissions reasons, as well as the previously mentioned CAT converter. I believe they may have a plastic end-capped intercooler as well, as opposed to steel for the '04. Overall the '04 trucks seem to get slightly better fuel mileage than the '04. 5 trucks. I believe the build date change was January, 2004.

If you decide to look at '03 trucks, be aware that they don't have headrests on the back seats like the '04 trucks do, which may be important with kids (I wish my '03 had the headrests).

If you are planning on getting a short bed then I'd definitely consider the new mega-cab like BStoecker suggested. Otherwise, to me the early '04 trucks provide the best overall package.

 

[klenger]

The 04. 5 introduced the CTD 600 (600 ft-bls torque / 325 HP). In early model year 2005, the torque was increased to 610.

 

[WAckerman]

Thanks guys,

I don't really need a long bed, but that is what I'm looking for. It's a little bit for looks and for functionality. We did look at a couple Mega-cabs, and were really impressed, but price is an issue and with stickers around 48k, a new truck just isn't an option (even a used Mega is out of reach for me).



Thanks for the tip on the headrests. I had not noticed that they weren't there on the 03's.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

I would definitely get an '04 over an '04. 5 if I had a choice between the two, since the early 04. 5s had startup smoke problems, miss, injector issues, etc. whereas the 04s did not.

 

[SP Diesel]

Another difference between the 04 and 04. 5 is the 04. 5 has an electronic wastegate. I believe the plastic intercoolers wern't installed until 05.

 

[Cummins Cowboy]

with the incentives out there now, It really makes no sense to buy a used truck especially one that is only 1. 5yrs old. Do the math run the #'s play with amortization charts, and see where you will be 4 yrs from now with a new truck vs and 04, you will be money ahead buying new, plus you also get alot better deal on the financing buying new, of course this means buying the new truck for the right price in the begining, you should be able to get 8-10k off sticker price on a new one. These trucks simply don't decpreicate enough in the first 4 yrs to make buying used a good choice. IMO

 

[RMalone]

Cumminscowboy is right, crunch the numbers and see which results in a lower payment and by how much. I bought my 04. 5 new in spring 04, 32. 6k. I still see my truck listed used at 28-32k.



If going used I would look at the 04 over the 04. 5, less emissions equipment and no 3rd injection event. Never mind the hp and tq difference on the stock trucks, extra power is pretty easy to get!

 

[OT-OF-HERE!!]

04.5 vs 04

04. 5 did not have plastic end caps on the Intercooler. It has 325hp vs 305 and 600 tq vs 555. It has a 3rd injection event which causes it to run hotter than a 04. Because of that it has different pistons, valves, valve seats, a bigger Intercooler, a different exh manifold, a larger turbo w/elec. wastegate, 4" exhaust (all the way) w/ a cat, I also belive the injectors are different. There is probably more but that's what I can recall.

 

[evldsl]

04. 5 did not have plastic end caps on the Intercooler. It has 325hp vs 305 and 600 tq vs 555. It has a 3rd injection event which causes it to run hotter than a 04. Because of that it has different pistons, valves, valve seats, a bigger Intercooler, a different exh manifold, a larger turbo w/elec. wastegate, 4" exhaust (all the way) w/ a cat, I also belive the injectors are different. There is probably more but that's what I can recall.

:-laf " YEA" and they haul butt.

 

[MChildress]

Like OUT-OF-HERE said and its FASTER... . :-laf

 

[barleysoda]

:-laf " YEA" and they haul butt. #ad

Yep, I like mine and am glad I got the 04. 5 :-laf

Wakerman,
If you dont plan on bombing it then the 04. 5 is better because you have more power then the 04 and any of the problems previously mentioned are going to be covered by your warranty. If you arent going to be bombing it then you will still be able to USE your warranty.
I havent had any problems yet and other then I got it flashed to fixed bad gas mileage but it wasnt a problem.

You might get better gas mileage with the 04 verses the 04. 5

Actually thinking about what I just said... forget the warranty and it doesnt really matter which one you are going to buy. In fact dont make a mistake like me and buy an extended warranty on top of the DC 8/80.
The reason why is because you are already a member of the TDR and started a thread... so you are already infected by the Bomb virus.
You can thank guys like Tomeygun and Greg with DRC for contributing to the spead of "BV".
I tried like heck to fight off the virus but they keep showing me things like dyno charts, twin turbos, trucks with over 600 horses and those stinkin readers rigs galleries!!:{
For you there may still be hope... Leave now why you still have your family... and house! but for me its going to be a long road to rock bottom before Its over. By the time the virus is through with me, the warranty will be a distant memory.

All kidding aside, the 04 and the 04. 5 both have pro's and con's.
I have to go now and see if I can find something to sell so I can buy a new intake tube... kids shouldnt have left their bikes in the driveway... finders keepers!#ad

 

[DPKetchum]

8/80? its 7/70

 

[klenger]

I don't plan on bombing the truck (yeah I'm aware that there still is a good possibility of that though! :-laf ) but I do plan on doing gauges, intake and exhaust.

The 04. 5 and later have a full 4" exhaust from turbo back.



To answer the original question, the difference between 2004. 0 and 2004. 5 is 0. 5.

 

[WAckerman]

I have to go now and see if I can find something to sell so I can buy a new intake tube... kids shouldnt have left their bikes in the driveway... finders keepers!#ad

:-laf



Well I have good news or bad news depending on how you look at it. Went to the dealer talked about ordering a new 06, when they came back saying that the best they could do was 37k on a stripped down SLT, we left, but they had a really nice 05 3500 SRW with a stick! Wife wouldn't get out when we finished the test drive! Ended up taking it home... it looked lonely on the lot :-laf



So here's the stat's on the new truck:

2005 3500 Quad Cab 4x4 Long Box SRW 610 CTD 6spd 3. 73 Laramie 13k Bright Silver



Barleysoda, you said something about the reflash to fix the mileage. I know the the computers are not famous for being very accurate, but the computer on this truck is hovering at 14. 3 mpg... that's WAY to low for me! I know they had pulled off oversize tires before they put it on the lot, but I wouldn't think that tires would drop the mileage that much... If it turns out that this is really getting as bad as mileage as it looks can you tell me what exactly I need to tell them when I take it in? Is there a TSB for it?



Anyway, thanks to all who offered opinions! I'm off to update my signature!

 

[klenger]

Which 6 speed?

 

[WAckerman]

It has reverse in the upper right corner, so that makes it the G56 right? I know I saw a thread on the placement of reverse, but I can't find it to check... i hate when I do that!

 

[barleysoda]

8/80? its 7/70

Mine was 8/80 for the drive train and the I bought an extended for everything else. I bought mine used so maybe thats why its different.

 

[barleysoda]

:-laf

Well I have good news or bad news depending on how you look at it. Went to the dealer talked about ordering a new 06, when they came back saying that the best they could do was 37k on a stripped down SLT, we left, but they had a really nice 05 3500 SRW with a stick! Wife wouldn't get out when we finished the test drive! Ended up taking it home... it looked lonely on the lot :-laf

So here's the stat's on the new truck:
2005 3500 Quad Cab 4x4 Long Box SRW 610 CTD 6spd 3. 73 Laramie 13k Bright Silver

Barleysoda, you said something about the reflash to fix the mileage. I know the the computers are not famous for being very accurate, but the computer on this truck is hovering at 14. 3 mpg... that's WAY to low for me! I know they had pulled off oversize tires before they put it on the lot, but I wouldn't think that tires would drop the mileage that much... If it turns out that this is really getting as bad as mileage as it looks can you tell me what exactly I need to tell them when I take it in? Is there a TSB for it?

Anyway, thanks to all who offered opinions! I'm off to update my signature!

Congrats on the new truck!! I dont see any bad news in that. :-laf

As far as the flash, there was a TSB for the 2004. 5 trucks to fix a cold start problem and bad fuel mileage. I really couldnt tell you if it effected 2005 trucks or not. I found the TSB on this site under the TSB listings. You might want to look there to see it the 2005 has the same issue.