I know all about that Kev-when I knocked the tranny out of my diesel I was so sick about it all I pulled it behind the barn, and it sat for 2 months before I could work up the ambition to tackle it. Let me know when you start working on it if you need some tools/tech stuff-maybe I can work out a road trip. Somewhere here I've got all the factory diagnostic manuals for '03 in electronic form.

I've gotta run to Edmonton and parts in between tomorrow Mike-so I'll miss you. Found a used turbo for that stupid '06 project, a VGT HE351 for my truck's rebirth, a front driveshaft for the '01 to replace the one that spit off east of Olds. Which motor did you pick to rebuild? I have to pull the head off my original '01-it was windy, but maybe I can hone & replace the pistons. If not, I'll bore it and go from there. Where are you having your machine work done? Need to talk to someone about 275 RV spec pistons etc.

Jason

 

The motor that I'm rebuilding is a VE motor. The pistons are for a 370 marine cummins. As for parts, phone Harry at Peak, he gave me a smoken deal on pistons, as I'm on a time crunch.

I'm going to Moores, they are the only guys that I know locally that can do use a deck plate for boring and do alignment hone on the block. I'm going with the wider bowl of the marine, I''m using big injectors with 155 deg angle. Lots of bowl area is required for the spray angle, amount of fuel that going to be used. My build is pretty boring this time around. Almost everything is done to spec, so I can learn each time that I do a rebuild. I'm putting in lots of piston to cylinder clearance, as the piston will get hot. More than spec.

 

Call Harry for (cheapy priced) pistons stock. He's the man. He set me up for my build. I would also slam in a colt cam stage 3 cam. You want to use the truck for towing? Take some pics of the tear down buddy, I'm curious to see how that motor failed. Also look at the condition of the oil cooler jets?

 

Jason,
Why not stick with the proven 5.9? Get a low mileage dually with a stick. No emission crap. Throw a smarty Jr on it and you'll never look back.
Andy

 

Good point Andy. A 3500 earlier 3rd gen would be a nice find/scoop. Could always install an exhaust brake at some point. Hard to find real clean decent 3500 trucks SRW-SB-quad 4X4 laramie. I've looked. Its almost as hard to find a nice 6.7L set-up the same. Definately nice trucks, in a mega cab size.

The exhaust brake on the 6.7L and six speed auto transmission is a nice set-up. Once you delete the emission stuff, its a pretty decent truck. I towed my RV on the weekend, running a stiff headwind and some decent hills, I ran cruise at 100-105kph. Rarely shifted out of 6th, but did occur. My only real complaint is the poor fuel mileage, once I do the deletes,

 

Hey Andy-long time no see. I see in your signature you upgraded again-I saw your other one for sale and was pretty sure by the description it was yours.

The G56 trucks with the 5.9s have a terrible overdrive gear ratio-they finally fixed it with the 6.7s. Also, the 04.5-up 5.9s seem to have a little problem melting pistons when leaned on just from poking around a few forums. I know myself-sooner or later I'll be twisting up whatever I end up with. I'd rather deal with the emissions issues on the 6.7 than having to replace a short block down the road.

It's not any easier finding a 5.9 Mega dually with a stick-I have found a grand total of 1 of those so far. After poking around my brother's truck again, it's gotta be a Mega-Quad Cab isn't going to cut it. I'm not in a panic-something will come along here sooner or later.

Jason

 

The G56 has an OD ratio of 0.79:1. NV4500 is 0.76:1, NV5600 is 0.73:1 and the G56R is about the same. So the ratios aren't all that different. The taller tires will make up for the difference. I figure when I put the G56 in my truck, it will cruise at the same RPM's as my dually does on the 235's.

 

I'd still rather have the taller OD and the ability to slow it down with taller tires. The 325 hp 5.9s are just not blowing my skirt up with their reliability. Is a 6.7 any better? Time will tell. Like I said, I'm not in a hurry-I'll wait for what I want to come along. Maybe by the time it does, I will have talked myself out of it. I got my cousin's '06 reassembled and ready to go-3rd gen stuff blows to work on compared to the 2nd gen stuff. I imagine the 4th gen stuff will be that much worse again. Maybe the true answer is a 1st gen crewcab with a 12 valve/5600 combo on airride. Tough as nails, easy to fix, don't see yourself in the parking lot everytime you turn around.

 

I don't think the 5600 is the answer. When they break, they break hard. And those go for a mint. My G56 was a little more than a third of the price of what 5600's go for.

 

Still think the iron case is stronger than the aluminum G56. I probably wouldn't have killed mine if I hadn't run it out of oil . Last TDR issue, the engineers were talking about a 7 spd stick. That's my cup of tea-bring on the RoadRangers!

Are you back at work again? I am on a little break here taking care of some projects and trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up.

 

I think that dodge hit the nail on the head with the RFE68 gear ratios. Once the aftermarket fixes the little problems, I think that the RE48 will be a distance memory. Of course you stick guys still don't believe.

You single stick guys, just get a family and go try out a manual truck for a weekend. Watch the rpm's scream at that point....

 

No family here buddy, no worries.... I did like the '09 stick I drove better that my buddies '07 auto-but I went in with preconceived notions that I would as well.

 

Amen brother. I've had all sticks till the 08. The 68 has good ratios and works well for the family ride. IF the tranny builders get a handle on the overdrive portion of the tranny for larger power I may spring for it. Other than that a decent Torque Converter should do the trick for what I use it for. Just running the SW5 90hp bump right now.

 

All my trucks were sticks after my one try at an auto in 96 and it bled out in my driveway...cheap plastic connectors etc. I ordered a 98 stick and when it arrived I got talked out of it [last of the 12 valves] and I regret that. I got one of the first 24V' rigs and ran a few more sticks til 07. Reason I changed was after the 04 blew up I rode with a friend in his auto 06 and that was nice. I bought the 07 auto 5.9 when I got home. Then, I drove a 6.7 with the auto and found what I wanted and do not regret it one bit. This truck has been the most trouble free rig I have owned. I am about ready to sell MEGA mega and move onto another project through the winter. I am really torn on whether to do this or not but the idea of building what I want really is of more interest to me now.

I wonder if I could put a 6.7 68 auto in an older version of these trucks if I had all the electronics. hmmmmm

 

IMO, there would be a huge market to swap the 6 speed 68RFE auto trans into the older trucks.
As I mentioned to Mike Holmen at a GTG, if we could figure out the electronics we could sell a ton and retire!
Since the 48RE bolts directly behind an 6.7L, a 68RFE should bolt directly to a 5.9L.

The 68RFE gear ratio's are excellent, better than the 6 speed Allison ratios IMO.

I did test drive a 68RFE in a 2009 6.7L. It is very nice but I would still only buy a manual trans which rules out any Duramax & 6.7L Powerstoke
as no manual trans option exists for the GM & Ford diesels.

All our vehicles are manual trans. Truck, Mustang & my wife's Acura. Wifey can drive my truck no problem but not when towing.