Primary Damage MECHANICAL, but WILL IT RUN?

[@colin8532]

URGH, I think I'm in love! That's my favorite color too. My 2006 that I just sold was that color, with the HD hood. I prefer the 2003-2007 classic better myself, just because the wiring is completely different, and I already understand it. Also, the gauge clusters are rebuildable. the 2000-2002 clusters you can't do a lot with them. You can sort of repair the air core motors in them, but if they're dead, you have to find a parts one since they're not made anymore, or new old stock (45 bucks a piece). The 03-07 went with stepper motors and are available everywhere and fairly cheap. That being said, I'd love to have this truck for a rebuild. This is exactly what I would want. A 2500, with a 6 liter, manual trans and transfer case. Throw some air bags in the back, a 5th wheel/goose neck setup and some HD tires for the extra weight.....Oh buddy, that's what dreams are made of right there. I would convert the clutch fan over to electric though. I hate the sound of those things just blowing away all the time. Personal preference though. Maybe some steps for the sides to keep the new seats from getting the edges broken down on them again. Replace the carpet with a vinyl floor out of a work truck level model, but put some dynomat down first. Pull the stock stereo out and put in a double DIN touch screen with Android Auto. Hmm, maybe sloppy stage 2 cam? It would almost be a shame to break the seal on such a low mileage engine though. Oh, I can't wait to see what your plans are with this truck. Something tells me this is going to be an epic build!

[@MohawkMotors]

Thanks Colin! I thought for sure someone would be willing to pay more than I won it for but I'm pumped I got it. I really prefer the 06 and 07 classic body styles, the electrical systems I can go either way, and I like the 06 and 07 classic gauge clusters the best as well. This isn't a dream truck for me, but it's close and will help generate the funding for dream trucks if/when I find them. the 2 dream trucks that I'm hunting are unicorns, I want an 06 Crew Cab Long Bed with a manual transmission and Duramax engine, it's the last year you could get a duramax with a manual, and it's the best version of the duramax before emissions stuff got added to them. I also want an 07 classic crew cab short bed with a 6.0 and a manual, but again, last year for that drivetrain and super rare. I'm thinking a lot of the same things you're thinking. Some updates to the interior, double din touch screen, cam and a few other upgrades to the engine to improve low end torque, obviously fix all the sheetmetal, electric fan conversion, and a few other things.

[@colin8532]

@@MohawkMotors - I'd love to learn about the duramax engines. I know absolutely nothing about them, except that fixing them can get very expensive. Ya, I'm not sure I've ever even seen a crew cab long box. If I have, it's been a LONG time. I'm betting most were used for construction trucks and were pretty beat up. As for standard transmissions.....there just doesn't seem to be a lot of them out there. I drove stick for SO many years that I'm kind of over it. But, for the right vehicle.....

[@MohawkMotors]

The crew cab long beds are definitely the most uncommon, I think like you said also, a lot of them that are out there are work model trucks that have been beaten and abused their entire life. Agreed about there just not being a lot of standard transmission trucks. Lack of demand is why gm stopped offering them, then ford, dodge held out the longest but even they stopped producing trucks with manual transmissions in 2018, largely due to lack of demand. I really want them because I enjoy driving them and I want to be sure my kids are able to drive them as well.

[@andrewtranter3177]

To answer your question, the Duramax wasn't available until 2001, so the only manual available was the zf with the duramax. They brought out the 2500hd and 3500 in 01. That's why you can find obs gmt400 1 tons in 2000.

[@MohawkMotors]

Ahhhhhhh, That makes so much sense. Thank you very much!!

[@andrewtranter3177]

@MohawkMotors you bet bud. You're new truck is one of my dream rigs. An ecsb 6.0 nv4500 4x4 that isn't a base model is a needle in a haystack. Keep us updated on the progress!

[@valleharley71]

Thanks!

[@MohawkMotors]

No problem! Thank you!

[@rickytaylor5076]

👍

[@MohawkMotors]

thank you!

[@skunkworks9-3]

I'd love to snag a V6 with a manual and swap it over to a 5.3L. Is the nv3500 the same for the 4.3 and 5.3 or is the bell housing different?

[@MohawkMotors]

Yes, the NV3500's in the gmt800 platform are all the same. You'd just need to get the correct clutch and flywheel for the V8.