We’re driving out to Vegas tomorrow to inspect the truck and likely make an offer on it. I’m bringing a Tech 2 hoping I can check injector balance rates. I will be smelling dipsticks, checking for blowby and checking for blown head gaskets. Crawling all around it. Bringing a BFH to bang on rust spots on the frame, etc.
Wife offered to drive me. She just had cataract surgery Monday on her left eye, but she’s good to go.
First and foremost, I hope the wife continues a fast recovery on her eye. My mom is in her 70s, she had both eyes done in a matter of months. She is doing real well with hers. Brother and law had his done, he's mid 60s, he doesn't need glasses anymore, doing well with his.
Anyway, let me get back on subject here. I hope the truck your looking at works out for you. The LBZ Duramax is a pulling beast, I think of the modern Duramaxes it is about the best one to have. No particle filter, no DEF fluid, yelp it's got that true diesel smell coming out of the exhaust, ha, ha. It's not rated as powerful as the new ones, but 360 hp and 650 ft/lbs of torque will do about anything I need to do. Mine only has 102,000 miles on it, so I can't advise a whole lot on it, but I will tell you about any issues I had with it. Biggest thing is, years ago the turbo went out on it, probably my fault from a lack of driving, maybe it rusted up in there, not sure I didn't tear it apart. I had a newer Garrett turbo put on there, it has a whole different turbo sound than the original one, but it works just fine.
Next thing was the EGR motor stuck, probably due to being cruded up, that's happened at least once, maybe twice.
Oh yea, the transmission lines have those little crimps on the end, they are prone to leak around the cooler/ radiator area, mine has leaked some mostly in colder weather, it's not been real bad, I just watch the fluid level. Seems like it's not as bad lately, I keep a piece of cardboard under it in the garage, going to put a new piece of cardboard down to see if it's still dripping. Dealership said they could replace the lines years ago for X amount of dollars, but I wondered if their fix would cure the problem, has the newer lines been improved? You can read online there are fixes and repair kits for that issue.
Glow plugs, years ago, one would go bad about every October for some reason, I assume because it was starting to get cold weather again, triggered it. After dealing with that a couple of times, I just had the rest of them replaced while the mechanic was at it. So, yea, all 8 glow plugs have been replaced, knock on wood, no glow plug issues since then.
Next thing was a coolant leak around the valley of the engine, I think it was a hose clamp or small hose maybe, I'd have to go back and check my records. I had been smelling anti freeze and had been loosing anti freeze and having to add some time to time. I had that fixed, no more issues with that.
Last but not least, some 2006 and other year models had the dreaded transfer case pump rub. I assume the truck your looking at is 4 wheel drive? A faulty clip design allows alot of movement of the pump inside the transfer case, allowing it to rub the outer case, eventually rubbing a hole in it in on some trucks. So far, knock on wood, I've not had that issue, but there again I'm only at 102,000 miles, so maybe I could be on borrowed time. There is a fix for it, they sell a kit to repair it, naturally you have to tear the transfer case down to do it. You can search the net, there's a ton of info on it.
That's all the issues I have had, that I can recall. I must add, that the oil level on the dip stick has always been full, I've never had to add a drop of oil between changes. Hope I'm not jinxing myself and it starts using oil.
I am looking at a 2006 LBZ for purchase in the Henderson area of Las Vegas. It has 199K miles, owner has owned it 8 months and it was his first diesel truck and is his daily driver. He has since bought a 2020 for better looks. It previously started life in Montana, then Washington before he bought it in Nevada. It has some rust on the frame and he provided photos. I want the input of the forum here on the amount of rust.
It has seen plenty of salt. What does the body look like? Can you pull the plugs in the cab to peek inside of the rockers and cab corners. If you have a bore scope, you can run it into the front fenders from the front to check for rust above the wheel we'll inside. Go from under the hood.
