Dude I just did. There is no such thing as a 6500 with a 6.6 duramax! I will bet my truck and everything I own on it. I live and breath the gmt-400's, -800's, and -560's.

I have been wrong before, but Im not wrong on this. If you are so sure, get some hard info (not a typo in SI) and prove me wrong, make me look like an edit

ben

 

OK, so without getting into the flame battle over the 6.6 or the kind of oil in the transmission, what to you mean when you refer to the 400's, 800's and 560's - are those platforms?

Peter

 

Ok, boys... take the argument to the PM's if ya wanna keep on...

 

yes, body style/generation/platform/whathaveyou.

The 88-98 GM body style fullsize trucks and SUV's (better known as the "C/K trucks") is known as the GMT-400 platform. General Motors Truck - 400.

the 99-07 body style trucks and SUV's are the GMT-800 platform. The 07+ is the GMT-900.

The 03+ medium duty topkick/kodiak GM trucks are the GMT-560's.

within each one of those families is more specific designations, ie, GMT-820 is the 02-06 Escalade, GMT-805 is the 01-06 avalance, 01-07 GMT-835 is the crew cab silverados, etc... I might have some of those numbers wrong, I dont have the service manual in front of me, tahts just off memory.

GM usually has the truck/SUV platforms on a roughly 7-9 year life cycle. Half way through which they each receive what they call a "mid cycle enhancemnt" (MCE). This is usually where the base design stays the same, but enough features are changed to "freshen" the design up. Think of it as a mid-life crisis I guess.

Like in 1995 the GMT-400's MCE included the completely redesigned dashboard, got airbags, got CD player, got new seats, etc. BUT the chassis and base platform design stayed the same.

The GMT-800's had their MCE in 2003. The silverado got the angry slanty-eyes front end update, the entire electrical architecture was completely overhauled and every electronic device in the whole truck from the window motors to the tail lights became integrated on a common computer data bus network. They also got bose stereo, digital dual zone climate control, steering wheel audio controls, driver info center, 120mph speedometer (woohoo!), XM radio, and factory rear seat DVD.

I guess the dodge equivalent to a GM MCE is the change between the 97 and 98 2nd gen Ram's. (the new dashboard, dual airbags, etc.)

sorry im taking this thread way off track.

ben

 

In the 560 series there's teh 4500, 5500 and 6500. I've been trying to figure out what the difference is between the 5500 and 6500 since both can be configured at 26,000.

Peter

 

6500, 7500, and 8500 are in a higher class all around. They have different hoods as well and look "bigger". Air brakes are available in the 7500-8500 models. The 6500+ trucks have bigger brakes, bigger allisons, and an availible eaton-fuller manual tranny. Two speed rear axle is another big difference.

AND OF COURSE. The other MAIN difference when you go from the 5500 to the 6500 is that the 6.6 dmax is NOT AN OPTION. The only duramax you can get in the 6500+ trucks is, as Ive said many times but some people still dont beleive me, the 7.8 liter inline 6 cylinder duramax.

http://www.chevrolet.com/mediumduty/kodiak/

Ben

 

10characters

 

Thanks durothemax, that's helpful information - sounds like it is worth getting the 6500 over a 5500 if your going to run fully loaded a lot. I'm still trying to figure out exactly which cat is in this truck.

So this a 2003 6500 26,000 truck with 5,400 miles and 16' dumping flat bed for $34,000. Seems like a hell of a deal to me - is it?

Peter

 

Its either a Cat C7 or 3216E. I think they switched mid-year 03, or 2004 to the C7, I forget exactly.

That sounds like a good deal to me. What other options does it have? ie, two speed rear, traction control, etc?

I think the 6500 would suit you better than a 5500.

ben

 

If I can impose on everyone's expertise a little more, while pricing the 6500 I came across this

International 4200 Stakebed
Make: International
Model: 4200
Year: 2006
Miles:50,010
GVW and GVWR:12360/26000
Bed: 21’ Stakebed
Liftgate: Yes - Maxon
VIN# 1HTMPAFM26H220640
Engine: VT365
Horsepower: 230
Transmission: Eaton-Fuller 6 Speed
Tank Capacity: 55 gallon
Wheels: Steel
Tires: 11r22.5 – 65% tread

How does this truck compare to the 6500? It's almost $10,000 cheaper and probably still under warranty. It is my fervent hope that this will not cause some new kind of flame-a-thon.

Peter

 

That has a 6.0 in it even better lol

 

I am partial to International, I have also been working on them for 26yrs. With that being said I would run from this 4200, the vt365 is a 6.0, all though not as many problems as the 6.0 set up in the ford, it is by no means a medium duty engine. If the GM you are looking at has the 3126 buy it, the Cat is a good engine.



Tim

 

Thanks Hvytrkmech,

That's what I was thinking but I it's good to hear it from a professional. I went to the International site and could not find the 4200. Was it replaced by the 4300?

Peter

 

there is no 4200, I just did not want to get another contest going. 4300 is the base model medium duty from I/H. The 4300 replaced the 4700.




Tim

 

I would get the chevy. The cat is much more of an engine than the 6.0 PSD.

ben