Need Diesel Advice

[aggie97]

would you like a picture of what is left of my dash?

If I ever get hit and it totals my dodge, Im buying it back and dropping the engine in a ford.

Sure. Ive put 65k on my 04.5, 85k on the 08 1500, 48k on the 2010 and this 08 2500 has 65k. Only problem on any of them was the ball joints on the 4x4 and header bolts on the 2010 hemi. Otherwise solid trucks but i am anal about maintenance...

[Baron Von Crowder]

Sure. Ive put 65k on my 04.5, 85k on the 08 1500, 48k on the 2010 and this 08 2500 has 65k. Only problem on any of them was the ball joints on the 4x4 and header bolts on the 2010 hemi. Otherwise solid trucks but i am anal about maintenance...

apparently you dont keep them long enough.

[Cooter]

the 06+ dashes are a lot better than pre-06, but the 06+ AC sucks even worse, so it's a toss up

the AC in my Mega Cab SUUUUUUUUUCKED

I test drive a lot of 3rd gens for my buddy to shake them down before he releases them to customers, and I absolutely don't miss them. I love having instant ice cold AC

[jw33]

It seems like diesels have gotten way too expensive to buy/own latley compared to a gasoline truck.

[Rotortrash]

I've own my 07 6.0 for almost 5 years. First thing I did was egr delete, bulletproof diesel oil cooler & ficm and 4" turbo back. I run innovative diesel tunes on stock bolts and change my fuel filters every 10k. 180k miles and the only part to go out on me was a water pump last month, a bitch to change btw.

It's been a good truck, but I guess I got lucky and it was built on a Monday. Everyone else I know who's own one bitchies about them always breaking.

'06 6.0 here. Mines stock, only thing I've done is flush out the ford gold coolant, and replace it with ELC. No problems at all so far with 65K on it. Oil every 5k miles, filters every 10K.

[Cooter]

It seems like diesels have gotten way too expensive to buy/own latley compared to a gasoline truck.

They're expensive

I miss the hey-day when fuel was cheap and the trucks were bulletproof and got killer mileage.

But I'm able to blur the lines between luxury and necessity and keep driving these things... I make my living off of them, so I can't exactly show up in a gas rig. Which I'm fine with because after almost 15yrs of driving diesels, I can't imagine going back

[psdtech]

The 6.0's are good trucks if the maintance has been done on time, every time. I recomend picking one up and having about 5k in your pocket for any repairs. If it needs head gaskets or injectors that should cover it. if it need nothing and you found a good truck you still have 5k in your pocket. If you have any questions on what to look out for or want to bring one by for me to look over feel free to give me a call. Eric 817-240-7286

[aggie97]

apparently you dont keep them long enough.

I guess my point is people seem to bash them as if they have problems from day one. If the expectation that a 3/4+ ton truck is to be perfect after 85k miles I guess I just don't see it as being reasonable. I've worked around used cars for most of my life and experience has told me that after 80k miles, shit starts failing. With new technologies, I could see that milestone moving to 100k miles on newer built cars but it's always been my experience that these trucks usually live hard lives, ride like shit and vibrate things apart. Throw in the fact most owners don't maintain their vehicles at all and yeah, stuff is going to age and fail. Not sure what the expectation is on plastic parts left in the sun in Texas actually is but 5 to 7 years of heat cycles and driving is going to turn ANYTHING to crap.

I've worked on just about every major brand of car, truck and SUV out there and I guess I just don't see where there is that big a difference. In my mind, they are all crap and have good and bad features.

I know Forrest thinks I am crazy as I don't mind the 3rd gen dodge interiors and can't stand the fords. To each their own and we each go with what we know.

I would still like to see the dash pics you offered as well as the mileage/age. Curious as to what I might see if I keep it long enough!

[Baron Von Crowder]

I guess my point is people seem to bash them as if they have problems from day one. If the expectation that a 3/4+ ton truck is to be perfect after 85k miles I guess I just don't see it as being reasonable. I've worked around used cars for most of my life and experience has told me that after 80k miles, shit starts failing. With new technologies, I could see that milestone moving to 100k miles on newer built cars but it's always been my experience that these trucks usually live hard lives, ride like shit and vibrate things apart. Throw in the fact most owners don't maintain their vehicles at all and yeah, stuff is going to age and fail. Not sure what the expectation is on plastic parts left in the sun in Texas actually is but 5 to 7 years of heat cycles and driving is going to turn ANYTHING to crap.

I've worked on just about every major brand of car, truck and SUV out there and I guess I just don't see where there is that big a difference. In my mind, they are all crap and have good and bad features.

I know Forrest thinks I am crazy as I don't mind the 3rd gen dodge interiors and can't stand the fords. To each their own and we each go with what we know.

I would still like to see the dash pics you offered as well as the mileage/age. Curious as to what I might see if I keep it long enough!

Ill snap one tonight. 03 d2500 4x4, lifted, 136k. Dash looks like a scene from the mars rover's camera.

Buddy of mine has an 03 2wd that didnt have a single crack untill a few months ago. Guy he bought it from kept it in the garage, and had a covered space at work.

Im with you on the expectation of trucks. I was a bit pissed when mine got broken into, it wasnt cracked untill the thief broke it, and it didnt take long for it to comepletely fall apart. Not the end of the world, I picked up a plactic cap to put on it, just need to paint it and get it on. I work the hell out of my truck, it hauls the race cars, campers, engines, anything I need it to. The AC doesnt get cold quick, it gets stuck on heat every now and again, and the fresh air flapper is hanging half way open. Either way, it is comfortable, gets me around 20mpg mixed, and if fun a hell to goose on when I want to. Nobody fights me for a parking place either.

[Rreemo]

what's the cheapest configuration for a cummins/ford swap? guessing 12v in a 99-04?

Too bad it's not a crew cab, but I'm betting this is still a cool truck.....

http://dallas.craigslist.org/sdf/cto/3687817422.html

OBS has always been my favorite body style.

It seems like diesels have gotten way too expensive to buy/own latley compared to a gasoline truck.

They have gotten to be more to own for sure....however after owning quite a number of them over the years, now I always find myself missing a diesel when I try to go back into a gasser. I don't DD mine anymore though...I could see that being a lot less practical. I use mine for towing, hauling car parts, bad weather days....and anytime we have a need to seat 6-7 people....otherwise it camps in the side driveway.

[zemog]

Sounds like your buddy didn't have the right person do the fix.

If someone says they can do it with the cab on, there's a high chance of failure.
The other trucks may not have HG issues, but you'll be spending money on the trans. The 5r110 is a strong transmission.

why is there a high chance of failure if you leave the cab on ??
i did mine in my driveway with the cab on, only had to knock a small area in on the firewall for a stud to clear when pulling/putting the head on.....not a big deal at all.

on my 96 and 2005 dodge diesels i did have to have auto trans rebuilt at 150k miles, but both have last an additional 150K and still going, the 05 ford f250 gets crappy fuel mileage compared to our dodges either hauling or empty.

[crapstang]

The 7.3l is a dog, but it'll haul and will never break.

[WesB]

Too bad it's not a crew cab, but I'm betting this is still a cool truck.....

http://dallas.craigslist.org/sdf/cto/3687817422.html

OBS has always been my favorite body style.

I doubt you remember, but me and my dad came from Tyler and met you at a mall here to buy that 96 F150 on 33s from you and followed you back to your house to do the bill of sale on. Sadly, that truck got thrown into our service fleet and had an old man pull out infront of it and total it. I really wanted that truck and had it survived another few months it would probably still be in my driveway.

[Rreemo]

I doubt you remember, but me and my dad came from Tyler and met you at a mall here to buy that 96 F150 on 33s from you and followed you back to your house to do the bill of sale on. Sadly, that truck got thrown into our service fleet and had an old man pull out infront of it and total it. I really wanted that truck and had it survived another few months it would probably still be in my driveway.

Oh yeah, I absolutely remember. Sorry to hear that!....that was a clean F150, that's too bad. I still buy just about every clean OBS F-series that I come across...I'll even occasionally buy a 92-93 if they are clean and a good enough deal. I bought an exceptionally clean 97' Dually a while back, but I just couldn't bring myself to flip that one....so it's my personal hauler now.

[Skidmark]

So, did you ever get the delete and tuner on?