LBZ met a hill it couldnt climb today.

[tanman_2006]

There could be a change coming on the farm. More than doubling our acres, kinda tripped over a lease opprotunity that will leave me less time for my out of state custom work and double up on our own stuff. The Dmax will stay IF it works out.

This will stay one of my primary towing rigs mainly due to the fact that it gets decent mpg unloaded between jobs (and so far my 6.5's arent as reliable but getting very close). If I can justify keeping it and money keeps flowing I might turn it into a pulling truck when I get it paid off (this will be a few yrs).

I am thinking deaver rears w/ air helpers as far as suspension.

What about injectors (mine are iffy and need tested probably), tranny build, and possibly a turbo? I'd like to build the tranny once and forget about it, with the thought in mind of truck pulls later in its life (should be broken in by then lol). If stock injectors are the best bet when loaded heavy then I will just get new OEM from a vendor but if larger wont kill me on EGT's then might do them (i assume they can be cut back to tow with EFI Live), and as far as turbos I want to stick with single VVT tech but if there is a slightly bigger option that tows well then I might save for that.

I am just looking for ideas of how ya'll would set this truck up for the job (I don't want to hear get a bigger truck, its still not a very do able option). I can spend hours looking at parts on websites but I wanna know what works for my needs.

This wont be an all at once project, more like:

1st: fuel issue (EFIlive, Air Dog, Lines, Filter head, Shims, whatever it takes)
2nd: Suspension (slightly taller, alot heavier)
3rd: TRANNY (Keep the beast from chewing it up)
4th: Turbo
5th: Injectors (if they test okat a shop i will keep using them)

Thanks, I appreciate all the advice and critisizm. Sometimes it takes hearing the things you dont wanna hear to make you open your eyes.

 

[tanman_2006]

Set the truck on stock programming :sick: until i figure out the fuel issue. I think I just need a rail shim but might as well do the Airdog too, also could be a couple bad return rates on injectors as I have 2 (#1&8 iirc) running +1 at warm hay hauling idle in park now and 2 others reading +.7, OH BOY

I ordered a set of HD 3in lift Deavers #3500 each compared to the #2200 OEM and have a date with a set of 305/55R20 Mickey Thompson ATZ's next week and a bale bed in 3-4 weeks. They are behind on orders but i'm on the list, they owe me some price cuts because my bale bumper on the dmax bent my frame and is a POS, been in the shop for repairs 4 times in 5 months.

Fuel and tuning are coming up but i can get by as is if i take it really easy. Hauled 300 bales of hay off a field today, 14 +2000# bales at a time and only limped 1st gear once goin up a big sand hill, no codes set tho just lost pressure i think, it happens when i'm bout to get stuck loaded.

Anyways, if anyone has any input on what to stay clear of and what is worth the money I'd sure appreciate it. I'd like to make this thing run like ya'll say it can.

 

[BoostN]

If you don't want to spend the money on a built trans, I would buy a GOOD used pull out from a wreck and swap them. Like said, a good (virgin, non tuned) Allison should last a very good while if taken care of.

 

[tanman_2006]

If i can find a used one for reasonable, I'm not shy and will rebuild my self. I just dont want/need much down time. I dont doubt a properly tuned and maintained allison will last another 100-200K miles but a budget build and good converter just makes sence while its out.

I have some cash and can do the work (as long as cash flow continues). Banker says I'm upside down in my truck and can't get rid of it and am maxed out on credit. I have a decent down payment/pay in full saved for an older truck to pull with so I will use it to get my other rigs going.

Cost break down from since i bought the truck 11 months ago until now:
Truck: 18,000
Water Pump: ~300
Diamond Eye 5" STRAIGHT: ~300
Tires: 1880.50
Front end: its gonna need something, i can smell it coming.
Rear Leafs: 700 (havent checked what shipping was from OKC)
Allignment: Turning Tbars up, its gonna need it

I'm running amsoil in everything but the rear, just got cheap severe gear and flushed until I get a finned pan and refill with amsoil.

 

[GM Guy]

the milage kills the value, but I would think that truck in its rust free state would be worth more in the rust belt.

did it come with the 20 inchers? IMO, aftermarket wheeels and the tires that go with them are a budget killer. nothing but extra cost. also, what is the load rating of those wheels?

also, why the t-bar cranking?

 

[GM Guy]

(damn free internet and damn 15 minute cutout! )

on a side note, that LBZ 1 ton is still for sale, and there are allisons on craigslist for 995 up here (most likely 2wd high mileage though) but its under the boise idaho craigslist under auto parts, if he isnt sold out.

good luck in whatever you decide!

 

[tanman_2006]

T bars are getting cranked to keep the tires from rubbing, the truck came with 20's and I dont have a problem with them besides I hate chrome. They are rated over 3,000 so no problem there.

I can't buy a whole mother truck at the moment. The body is not straight on my Dmax, its a work truck and looks the part. I put nearly 50k on it 11months and it killed my value at the bank.

 

[jhornsby3]

there are allisons on craigslist for 995 up here (most likely 2wd high mileage though) but its under the boise idaho craigslist under auto parts, if he isnt sold out.

There is one that is always posting DMAX parts on CL. He always has trannys and motors for a good price. This being the land of the cummins, he doesn't move things very fast.

John

 

[RayMich]

If I am understanding your original post correctly, your truck went into limp mode because the transmission slipped due to the load pulling up the hill. Sounds to me like you need to have the transmission rebuilt and beefed up while you are at it. there are several reputable Allison techs that should be able to take care of you. Or you can buy a transmission and torque converter from SunCoast and have your own tech swap them. Rebuilding or replacing the tranny will be a lot cheaper than buying a new truck.

Just sayin'....