Went too far with the truck...

[JCleary]

Now I'm ready to get rid of it. I'm not enjoying the demeanor of my truck any more, and I'm really tired of shifting. I don't race, I don't sled pull, and I never even turn the boxes up over about 1/2 way.



I'm thinking of ordering an '06 3500 QC 4x4 Laramie and taking advantage of the 0% financing. As long as you place an order for the truck before the promo expires, it's valid when you take delivery (about 6 to 8 weeks).



So, here's my idea:



1- Take out the SPS66, ATS manifold, Banks Technicooler, TST, MP-8, gauges, A-pillar, etc. Keep the wheels/tires.



2-Leave the AFE, exhaust, FASS and clutch in. Include stock wheels w/285's.



3-Install a used Juice/Attitude for the next guy. Gotta have something in there to justify the clutch, eh?



Should I expect KBB good condition price, equipped like this:



'03 Laramie w/ 41k miles

Juice/Attitude

FASS

Kore Chase suspension

SBC Street DD

AFE stage I

Banks turbo-back exhaust

BFG 285's with about 10k miles on them





What do you think?

 

[05mxdiesel]

unless you are saving a ton of money from the 0% you are going to lose all that hard worked money on your mods and you'll have to sepnd some serious dough on a upgraded auto. You could atleast sell me you dd clutch and kore chase kit. :-laf

 

[RMalone]

J. Cleary did you have a near death experience or something? Keep the truck you have, your already in too deep, and buy something else for daily driving. Take your current truck out when you want to abuse some ashpalt or tires.



I know what you mean though, at least somewhat, I have looked at my truck and wondered why I keep screwing with a perfectly good vehicle. When it was stock I didn't worry about boost and egt, or fuel pressure, or the trans etc. And I do agree with you that every power mod makes the truck a little less of a gentleman.

 

[CBrabec]

I'm sorry to hear you feel that way about your truck. I agree the bombing thing can get away from you, and one never thought they'd get as far as they did w/ bombing when they first bought their truck. You have a very nice setup, I wouldn't change anything. At least you have a QC, mine is a Reg Cab and no room for additional family.

 

[GaryCarter]

Yeah, been there done that before myself. Modded the truck to where reliability became a concern. Needed peace of mind when far from home, so away she went. Still miss that truck sometimes, but I sleep better.



Gary

 

[CMullen]

I have been told that the deal you make when you pick up the truck is the one that counts, including rebates and financing, hope im wrong for you

 

[coobie]

Now I'm ready to get rid of it. I'm not enjoying the demeanor of my truck any more, and I'm really tired of shifting. I don't race, I don't sled pull, and I never even turn the boxes up over about 1/2 way.



I'm thinking of ordering an '06 3500 QC 4x4 Laramie and taking advantage of the 0% financing. As long as you place an order for the truck before the promo expires, it's valid when you take delivery (about 6 to 8 weeks).



So, here's my idea:



1- Take out the SPS66, ATS manifold, Banks Technicooler, TST, MP-8, gauges, A-pillar, etc. Keep the wheels/tires.



2-Leave the AFE, exhaust, FASS and clutch in. Include stock wheels w/285's.



3-Install a used Juice/Attitude for the next guy. Gotta have something in there to justify the clutch, eh?



Should I expect KBB good condition price, equipped like this:



'03 Laramie w/ 41k miles

Juice/Attitude

FASS

Kore Chase suspension

SBC Street DD

AFE stage I

Banks turbo-back exhaust

BFG 285's with about 10k miles on them





What do you think?

I think you should hang on to the old girl. I have moded my truck also. LIST as follows,afe stage 2,Fass 150 gph,BD powerpup with outlook monitier,autometer fuel Press,gauge,BD X-monitier,new bridgestone revos,westin tube bars,crome gas cover,manik brush guard,factory seat covers,5100 bilsteins,PIAA fogs,stainless foglight covers,and a new goerends brothers transmission VB & TQ coming april 12-14. To much hard work and money invested IMHO. Call me crazy or more money than brains,I love this truck Oo. coobie

 

[klenger]

No flaming intended, but I would not expect to get top dollar for the truck. Basically, you have truck that should have a 100K engine warranty and 70K drivetrain warranty, which is all void because of the mods. I'm a stock guy and would not even consider a truck with performance mods. You've heard the saying, "if you want to play, you've got to pay". Now it's time to pay.

 

[Diesel Nut]

I think its up to what the market will bear. I know someone in your area will be willing to pay top dollar for the truck. Question then becomes how long are you willing to wait for the right buyer to come along? I would look around your area and see what similar trucks are going for and price yourself accordingly. And no worries about the auto trans. You can make em pretty tough for about twice the cost of a dual disc clutch. My Suncoast parts will be here thursday!

 

[RDusch]

I felt the same way about mine, i got a little carried away, so i just pulled the dual disk and installed an FE, and i've got the twins for sale, I'm going to replace them with a nice moderate single turbo.



You've got a nice truck there! pull the clucth and go for a smaller sinlge, she'll get her driving maners back.



Rick

 

[Big P]

Maybe it would be worth it to convert your current truck to an auto? From my own experience, I went from an 02 ETH to my current ride, for the same reasons you want to. I also said, I'm going to keep it stock. Well let me tell you, it was lifted after one month, and the rest of the mods by six months. It was hard going from my old ride with 475rwhp to a stock motor with a stock slushbox. With the beating I took on my old truck, to the beating on the new one, I look back and think I must have been crazy. I don't think you ever loose the bombing bug. I still miss that truck, it had character! It was all the gauges and parts and boxes and smoke and that sweet sounding exhaust that made it fun to drive.

 

[MChildress]

I was told when I ordered mine that the rebate and zero financing would stay even if the truck came in after it had expired. I was also told if the rebate increased before delivery I had the option to take the best deal. I was also getting a $300 comercial rebate from Dodge,but while waiting the 16 some odd weeks for delivery I joined the Farm Bureau and took advantage of the $500 rebate. I had to give up the $300 but gained $200. The sales man said I had to be a member of the Farm Bureau for 3 monthes when I was signing the papers,I smiled and showed my membership card dated 16 weeks earlier.

 

[MMeier]

John, keep what you have !! You know full well whatever you replace it with is going to go down the same route as that one!

 

[JCleary]

I was told when I ordered mine that the rebate and zero financing would stay even if the truck came in after it had expired. I was also told if the rebate increased before delivery I had the option to take the best deal. I was also getting a $300 comercial rebate from Dodge,but while waiting the 16 some odd weeks for delivery I joined the Farm Bureau and took advantage of the $500 rebate. I had to give up the $300 but gained $200. The sales man said I had to be a member of the Farm Bureau for 3 monthes when I was signing the papers,I smiled and showed my membership card dated 16 weeks earlier.

That's what I was told. You get to pick the best deal.

 

[JCleary]

John, keep what you have !! You know full well whatever you replace it with is going to go down the same route as that one!

Yeah, I know. I have no self control. I'm sure I'll have a full billet trans by the time my truck has 10k miles, because the turbo and other accessories will go on before I get to 5k miles.



That said, I'm frustrated I think mostly by the DD clutch, and the problems I've encountered after the install. A Fluidampr install that went bad, a driveshaft noise issue that is annoying me (driveline shop cut off the dampener), and all that noise from the DD. Especially in 5th gear. Add that to the fact that manual trucks are slow. I have the hardest time when running with someone unless it's a roll-on.



I understand I've got to pay to play, and that's why I'm not going to ask a premium for my truck if I sell it. Whoever buys that truck will have $7k or so of mods included. My truck is super clean. I think good condition blue book would be fair.



I called Imler Diesel today, and Ken suggested swapping out the clutch for a Zoom ZVT. Hopefully someone will want my street DD if I decide to go that way.



Anyway, I have until Friday to make a decision. That's when the 0% financing expires, so I have to order my new truck by then.



Thanks for the advice guys, keep it coming. I'm still on the fence.

 

[Big P]

Too bad you are under a deadline. I still think it would be worth while to make a few calls and see how much an auto coversion would cost.

 

[JCleary]

Too bad you are under a deadline. I still think it would be worth while to make a few calls and see how much an auto coversion would cost.

If I were to buy a 48RE, I could probably find one for a couple grand. Build it for $5k and have it installed. The installation is the problem. I need new front and rear driveshafts, as well as a new ECM.



I'd be better off finding a wrecked truck with an auto and buying it. Found one, but didn't have the $7500 he wanted at the time. It would have been great! Spare injectors, spare CP3, auto trans, spare transfer case, spare rear end, etc. Just didn't have it at the time.



Right now, the money lost trading up to an auto is less than the cost associated with converting mine. I like the idea, but it doesn't make sense financially.

 

[Task125]

The reason I got rid of my o3 was,MEGAcab I have a one and a three year old, the auto with approved exhaust brake. Like you said a box is only good on a stick while you are rolling,with the 6sp and 410s I can't shift fast enough from a stop. FFP pricing and 0% and farm rebate. and the icing was sunroof and dvd. Do what makes you happy. I look at it as this is my hobby. I love trucks and installing all the goodies

 

[MNielsen]

JCleary,

I believe whatever deal exists when you put your deposit down is the minimum guarenteed deal per DC when I ordered my truck 2yrs. ago. I do know how you feel to some degree, I lifted my truck with bigger tires and all now I can't park in underground facilities,etc. Good luck with your decision!

 

[Rams-n-Hogs]

Right now, the money lost trading up to an auto is less than the cost associated with converting mine. I like the idea, but it doesn't make sense financially.

Does that include the cost of any Mods you might make to the new truck, or are you going to leave it stock? I think if it were me, I would just start looking for the parts I needed and try and find the best deal, (at least if I liked the rest of the truck), and then do the conversion. But I'm one of those guys that doesn't want a cat, or a 3rd injection event, or any of that EPA stuff.





Jim