I am going to go for the 5.9 since its been mastered since my first gen, i am open to going with an auto since the manual seams hard to find and do a built transmission when it comes time. when the u-joints go have you guys found a brand that holds up better than say a napa cheap-o? thanks very much for putting up with the questions! just want to be sure on what ill be expecting and whats under the paint of these trucks

 

The engine is the least of the worries, everything that controls it is where the gotchya's are.

You may not have problems now but it is inevitable. Then again, if you have an early 06 it is not as sensitive because it doesn't have the CAN communications all the way thru.

If you don't have a break out box for your trailer plugs you have my sympathy.

The OP is coming from a gen 1 that will run and drive with a 1 wire 12V source. There is a HUGE difference in what you can do and how you do it between years.

The hard parts and engine are very reliable on a CR. The electronics have always been the achilles heel and thats info you had BETTER have when upgrading.

 

Given the auto trans is good, there is about $300 worht of upgrades that will solve most of the common issues. Another $1000 for a TC and flex plate and it is rock solid.

Don't scrath the paint too hard you find the recycled beer cans they use for body panels. The gen1's were much heavier in that area.

The Precisions and Spicers are about the best joints and last the longest.