Well I've been fighting tooth and nail with this old truck of mine. I had some issues with a miss and after plugs wires a coil pack and a new injector I decided to take it to the garage and I have a dead cylinder but the cause is still unknown. However when it was being loaded onto the rollback I found out that the back end of my frame was so rusted out thu couldn't even hook up to it and then when I tried to cut the wheels my steering arm snapped in half due to rust. So at this point I've decided to just get rid of the truck and start shopping for another one. The truck has went from a money pit to a safety hazard so it's time to spend a little cash and get something nicer. I'm gonna call about a 2006 extended cab fx4 charcoal grey with the 5.4 with 83000 miles on it. Their asking 13900 for it any thoughts on that price i know this is the forum for 97-03 so feel free to move this if deemed necessary. Moral of the story is ALWAYS look under a vehicle. I made a stupid mistake because I was excited and ready to have a truck so anyone looking to buy, learn from my costly mistake

 

For a few thousand more you could be going home with a 100K mile, 04-06 4x4 6.6L Duramax that will get 21 mpg with an indestructible (West Texas boys can't blow 'em at least) Allison tranny. Probably worth 10.5 or 11. Least that's what I'd start with.

 

Yeah but I have no intrest in chevrolets

 

your loss.

 

To each their own I guess. I think the Allison transmission is wonderful I don't know much about duramax engines but I'm just not a big Chevrolet fan in general. I'm not trying to put em down. I just don't care for em personally.

 

I'd buy a Cummins 5.9 first, a Duramax 6.6 second. The Powerstroke doesn't even compare to the two. The Duramax makes power and hauls ***. The Cummins makes up for lack of power with torque and economy. Duramax's are more expensive new than a Cummins, but depreciate quicker making them a much better deal. Same front suspension set up as an F150, just a lot beefier. Simple tune on any 05 and up makes a big difference in power. A friend of mine makes 460hp and 750 lb-ft in his 06, gives it complete hell. Really has impressed the hell out of me as I was a straight Cummins guy before I met him.

 

I'll agree that Duramaxes are bad ***, but they don't even get close to 21 mpg.. More like 17 if you really baby it.. My work truck is an 07 (new body) 2500 HD Z71 with 86,000 miles, and I've never gotten above 17, even with all highway. But as far as speed, power, and drivability, you can't beat a Duramax.

 

The 06 sounds good, check how it shifts, make sure 4x4 works, oh and spark plug changes in the 5.4 can run $500-$800 at the dealer if plugs start breaking. make sure rear end isn't making noise nor leaking. Oh, and look under it for rust

 

The 6.6 duramax at least in the 01s had a lot of injector problems

 

Cut every bit of emissions out as well as the muffler, you will. That's why LB7's are so hard to find. No emissions from the factory. My buddy gets 21 in his LBZ (same engine as yours) with a 4" lift. I pull 29 in my fathers 06 5.9 Cummins which is completely stock other than the oversized tires.