I'm looking to get in a crew cab 4x4 duramax between 03-05. Around here (Georgia ) you find a busted truck with over 200k on it and they want $20k for it.
I've been looking at Louisiana Texas and Mississippi and the same trucks are in the $8,000 to $15,000 range and have anywhere from 120-180k miles. Even found a pretty decent one in Dallas and the guy says he will take $7k.
Is this pretty much the norm out that way? Or should I stay away from those trucks priced so low? Also noticed the gas burners are going for as much as or more than the diesel trucks what's up with that?


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Yes it is. Those years of duramax diesels have Injector problems out the Ying yang and usually are dead after 200k. Check the vin and make sure you're not purchasing a truck with the LB7 duramax. Which if you're looking 03-05 chances are that's what your gonna get. The LB7 was used from 2001 model year until mid 2004 model year. In mid 2004 the LLY series was released....so if duramax is what you want you gotta go 05+ or else you're buying a money pit. And it doesn't matter if you use after market Injectors and all the performance upgrades you can throw at a diesel truck. The LB7'S are just a flawed design. People might argue. But to me there's no disputing it. I've personally seen 9 different people try to upgrade these early 2000 duramax ' s with varying brands of parts and part combos, they all traded them in for newer models or switched to fords. All their upgrading was just really expensive band aids

It's simple. get a mud motor. shoot ducks in the face.

Only 200k out of a Diesel engine huh?
Better put my 5.3 vortec in a museum bc it's lasted as long as a damn diesel.
I know the lb7 has injector problems. That's why when I know it's in those years I ask about the injectors to see if they've been replaced yet.



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I agree on buying an 05+, although I don't think you'd have a bad truck if getting one that's older. I looked for a used duramax for a long time, and with prices what they were, I couldn't justify not buying new. If I were in your shoes I'd try to find a clean low mileage 2006-07 classic. But then your still looking at pushing 30.

LB7-injector problems
LLY-ran hot
LBZ-awesome
Anything after that is good but are emissions motors.

05-10, why is this you say. The bit in the ecm can be tapped, efi live allows the removal of said such emissions. The truth with a dmax is lb7 injectors are in the head, but first set no matter year or mileage is on gm, but a pita. LLY is ok but most will still have the 5 speed ally. LBZ had the highest tune from factory and just a good motor and tranny combo. The LMM has a lighter tune and two types of emissions one uses a 9th injector on dpf 07.5 to 09 in 10 began the def fluid. All this is removable an bypassed with efi live, add a pcv reroute kit, egr kit, and exhaust you have a badass reliable rig. Now older models you don't have to buy the exhaust, but you can actually scrap the dpf and cat for 400 bucks. Dodge are around 800 bucks. It will be hard to find a clean LBZ as everyone wants them, one that hasn't been tuned.... Even harder. What are you looking to spend? I ask because im in Bama and can tell you what you can get around here. My truck is worth the high 20s and it's a 08 with only 128k. So beat up for 20k no sir but a decent crew cab will cost.

Get some

2006+ is what you want. 2006 LLY (same motor as LBZ just lesser HP tune) is still a good truck just RPO'ed as lly, but has all the upgrades a LBZ has. LBZs don't get as good of mileage as the LB7, but they are good and reliable. Any diesel truck you buy check the coolant hose when the truck is COLD(as in sat overnight) to see if it is hard or flexible.. If it has pressure in the cooling system when it is cold you have a head gasket failure. I been down that road with my personal truck and I don't raw dawg it. Luck of the draw.

For the record these truck have gone up in value sine the newer models have emissions equipment. I have a 2007 Classic LBZ and I wouldn't take less than 25k for it as I stand. Good trucks hold value.

Sounds like I might be better off finding a 7.3


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I'm gonna be honest. That grey truck I had was a gas burner and my new one is a diesel. I think I'd be just as happy in a gas burner again. My duramax is nice, strong and all that, but for what I use one for, I could get by with a colorado (would never happen). Not to mention, a 1500 rides a lot better.

Check out in Arizona. Lots of used diesels out there and they have seen little use. Prices are less than what we have here on the east coast. I bought 2 from Scottsdale that were great deals. Both were still in warranty. You will have to fly out and drive it back but it's worth the savings plus the trucks haven't been in the mud or snow. The 2 I bought that belonged to women that towed their horse trailers to the horse shows. These are lease trucks that they turn in every 2 years. You also get the service records from the lease.
The drive back is a pain though.

I'm sort of in the same boat. I want a bigger truck but don't really necessarily need a diesel. I've been looking at the older 1500HD GM trucks. (Around 03ish) 3/4 ton drivetrain, crew cab, regular 6.5' bed.... They are gasoline but the 6.0/4L80E trucks with 4.10's did alright. Usually mid teens for mileage.

I've owned 4L60's since they were called 700R4's they will live with a few simple mode and good cooling. They aren't bulletproof by any stretch but they aren't made of glass like everyone says. I had a well built 60E holding 700whp in a 5000lb truck for several years. I pulled it for a built 80E and sold it to a friend who is still running it behind 500hp in a similar truck today.

The internals of the 80E dwarf the 60E's... The gear ratios of the 80E make it feel the way it does, that, and an 80lb torque converter... But there are more than a few holding upwards of 1000hp with a valve body mods and a cooler. Heat will kill ANY auto trans....

4L80's.... Not 4L60's

It's been done more times than I care to reference. Call any sort of BS you wish... I have nothing to gain by BS'ing anyone. Check out anyone out there in the GM truck drag racing scene that's worth a pinch of shit. 90% of them run 80's. The more serious go to TH400's... Everyone normally starts out by cratering their fair share of 60E's before they make the switch.

Also, this new transmission case you speak of... There's someone out there making aftermarket cases? News to me. They also don't make "everything billet inside the trans" there are shafts for the 80E they don't make in billet at all... Not to mention the drums etc are not billet. It's honestly a lot of factory stuff inside even the most high dollar built units. I've opened up most of the big name builds. I'm familiar with what's in them.


Edit: Flint, didn't mean to hijack your thread over some non related junk. Hope you find the truck you're looking for!!

I read it wrong SETX. I thought you were talking about the 4l60e holding 1000, I understand that an 80 will hold that with a few mods. Sorry for the confusion.

10-4

Dropping the hammer on a 4L60E behind 4 digit Hp in anything would be like pulling the pin on a grenade

I can say I have put 200k on two different 60e's with zero problems


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Yea I've had dozens on 60's with no problems.

That 5.7 vortec they used in the 90s ate 4l60e transmissions for breakfast lunch and dinner tho.


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4L80E>4l60e any day of the week. The 60e has a deeper first gear, but a big gap between 1-2 and a lugging overdrive. The 80e has less reduction in first and a decent overdrive that doesn't lug your engine too much. The 80e basically a th400 with an OD, yes there are differences but stock for stock they are comparable in 1,2,3 gears...
The 60e is a decent trans, but you put bigger tires without a gear change, and pull boats, and more than the trans can dissipate heat fast enough, it takes it toll.

No doubt about that. The 5.3 is a good motor. We have some 1/2 ton pickups with 200k+ miles that atill run fine. Trannys slip a little but the engines still run good. No knocking or tricking

It's simple. get a mud motor. shoot ducks in the face.

Nowadays its all 6 speeds. The 6l80e and 6l90e

.....and now the 8spd. It's getting rediculous lol

Don't be scared, get dat Duramax High Country

Buy a 5.9 cummins with a manual transmission and be done with it