Calling light truck GURUS (selection)

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Guess I'm confused. You asked what the gotcha's were in these vehicles. They are being pointed out. Doesn't mean as a class they aren't durable...

Guessing if you asked for problems with Corolla's, people could point out the common items to look for on them. Doesn't mean they aren't durable either...
 
Originally Posted By: MNgopher
Guess I'm confused. You asked what the gotcha's were in these vehicles. They are being pointed out. Doesn't mean as a class they aren't durable...

Guessing if you asked for problems with Corolla's, people could point out the common items to look for on them. Doesn't mean they aren't durable either...


Oh, sorry. Didnt mean to come across that way.

I now understand why the Fords are cheap. I might be better off actually going even older to get one that has made it through the 10year old $10,000 and needs repairs baptism by fire. Heck, a $3000 truck might have had the kinks worked out and had the replacememts done.

I always manage to do that... Foolishly buy "about the best" I can afford to find out it is on the fringe of the repairs needed zone.

Im other words I should giggle with boyish delight and actively seek out a fella selling because he's , " put too much $ into it" because he's done my work! LOL
 
Good grief! Every 6.0 GM doesn't have manifold bolt issues and every Ford doesn't have bad phasers. For instance, we have an 05 Chevy 2500 6.0 at work with 200K on it and the manifold bolts have never been touched. When you're looking at $7-10K/ 10 yr old trucks you're rolling the dice no matter what brand and model you're looking at. You're doing a good thing looking for known issues but there are no guarantees any given truck will or won't have a particular problem. OK, maybe the Ford spark plug thing is something to stay away from.

If you're going to make your buying decisions based on a few comments from anonymous BITOG members then maybe you'd better stick with your tried and true 200K Corollas.
 
Originally Posted By: AZjeff
Good grief! Every 6.0 GM doesn't have manifold bolt issues and every Ford doesn't have bad phasers. For instance, we have an 05 Chevy 2500 6.0 at work with 200K on it and the manifold bolts have never been touched. When you're looking at $7-10K/ 10 yr old trucks you're rolling the dice no matter what brand and model you're looking at. You're doing a good thing looking for known issues but there are no guarantees any given truck will or won't have a particular problem. OK, maybe the Ford spark plug thing is something to stay away from.

If you're going to make your buying decisions based on a few comments from anonymous BITOG members then maybe you'd better stick with your tried and true 200K Corollas.



wink.gif
 
How about this, buy another Corolla, preferably newer so you have that awesome reliability and no need for repairs for a while, stick a trailer hitch on it and get a cheap little trailer and pull it when needed?

I have a 4x8 trailer that I mounted a truck bed to that I use when I need to haul stuff, that's how I get away from needing a truck.

If you still want a truck, id get a Silverado with the 5.3.
 
Avoid ANY of the F150's with the 5.4l's. Nothing but trouble. The 4.6, while being of the same architecture, did not have any of the same spark plug or cam phasers.


That said, I'm particular to GM trucks personally. If you're ok with something slightly older, I honestly think the GMT400 (90's) trucks are by and large better built chassis than the early 2000's GM's. However, the LS based engines are more powerful and have fewer ignition & fuel injection related problems. There is ALWAYS a give and take. Nothing you buy used is going to be trouble free. I can't seem to get that thru my roommates head either.

My advice - find something thats clean & reasonable, and in reasonably good shape. Buy it with the expectation of needing to do $1-$2k worth of maintenance in the short term. There has to be SOME reason these nice used trucks are for sale, right??
 
Originally Posted By: SumpChump


Ok. Sounds like they are pretty much bullet proof and i can expect no green puddles due to a common issue I could have avoided by changing my search criteria.


You're talking about decade old + trucks with over 100K miles. You could buy it with no green puddles and then next week have one.

Lots of LS engines do not have the original WP. They made a green (or rather orange) puddle. That doesn't mean don't buy one. Just take care of it, fix it when things break, and it will be fine.

If you were going to exclude trucks based on avoiding common issues for that model, you might end up with no choices. There is almost always something. That's why your best plan is to weed out the ragged out junk, then pick your favorite among the nicer condition trucks you find.

That's not to say don't be aware of potential issues, but on trucks produced in the millions, you really need to pay attention to condition first.

For example, on the '03 4X4 F-150, I would want to see the work order for the recently replaced engine (used? reman? from where? ancillary parts replaced?), and I want to see what's under those awful seat covers in the front.
 
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Originally Posted By: AZjeff
Good grief! Every 6.0 GM doesn't have manifold bolt issues and every Ford doesn't have bad phasers. For instance, we have an 05 Chevy 2500 6.0 at work with 200K on it and the manifold bolts have never been touched. When you're looking at $7-10K/ 10 yr old trucks you're rolling the dice no matter what brand and model you're looking at. You're doing a good thing looking for known issues but there are no guarantees any given truck will or won't have a particular problem. OK, maybe the Ford spark plug thing is something to stay away from.

If you're going to make your buying decisions based on a few comments from anonymous BITOG members then maybe you'd better stick with your tried and true 200K Corollas.
pretty much every 6.0 Ive ever heard of has had the manifold bolts replaced. Its gonna happen, you just dont know when. Some go 50k, one might make it to 150k before it happens. At work we have 30+ 6.0s and theyve all had it done.
 
Originally Posted By: AZjeff
Maybe it has to do with climate? A co-worker has an 06 Sierra 2500 with 140K, I asked him about his and he's never had to replace any either. Do you just replace them all as preventative maintenance or wait til they break?


climate is a huge factor. you wont find rusted off manifold bolts in Arizona. Move to the midwest or the northern states and you will find rusted manifold bolts on all of them. Ford. Dodge, Chevy, Toyota it doesn"t matter. The Chemicals used to remove/prevent snow rusts metal.

This is the reason why I try to buy vehicles from the south.
 
There is a big difference between a 150 and the heavier models, both in terms of gas mileage, and in ride comfort.

Unless you need the hauling capacity for the heavier models, stick with the lighter 150 type trucks.
 
I use my dad's 1999 chevy 2500 6.0 about 4-6 times a year to move clap traps around, it has been very solid, this holiday the original radiator finally gave out, the alternator chipped like a cockatiel in heat, and the belt was glazed. All were easy peasey to swap.

My personal opinion on trucks is they are glorified wheel barrows and have no business on the road as a luxo barge to commute with. You live in salt country, good luck trying to save money when it comes to vehicles.
 
Originally Posted By: AZjeff
Maybe it has to do with climate? A co-worker has an 06 Sierra 2500 with 140K, I asked him about his and he's never had to replace any either. Do you just replace them all as preventative maintenance or wait til they break?


It's not climate, It has a lot to do with how the truck is used, If it tows at max GCWR alot...It will pop heads off manifold bolts. I guess they can only handle so many extreme heat cycles??

It generally starts with the driver side rear bolt, Losing that one doesn't always create a exhaust leak right away, Its when the next one pops, The driver realizes there is an issue.

This is not isolated to the 6.0L, It effects 5.3L & 4.8L engines as well, They use the same manifolds, Not to long ago, I had a '06 K1500 5.3L come in for a transmission rebuild, It only had 2 bolts in each manifold, So it had 8 broke bolts, He declined the repair & I declined to find out why it runs like [censored]....Try explaining why you cant trouble shoot drivability problems with major exhaust leaks....

I would replace them with ARP bolts as preventive maintenance, Rarely does a customer heed the advice.
 
All those trucks are very durable, I know people with fleets of each that make a good living with them. Since they also make money they replace them, that vintage of truck is on the second or third tier contractor wise. The guys making money are on to 2013+ already.

The problem is they are getting to the point in their life span where they will need work. Most won't, some will.

It sounds like you really don't need a truck either, since your all over the map.
 
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Originally Posted By: clinebarger
Originally Posted By: AZjeff
Maybe it has to do with climate? A co-worker has an 06 Sierra 2500 with 140K, I asked him about his and he's never had to replace any either. Do you just replace them all as preventative maintenance or wait til they break?


It's not climate, It has a lot to do with how the truck is used, If it tows at max GCWR alot...It will pop heads off manifold bolts. I guess they can only handle so many extreme heat cycles??

It generally starts with the driver side rear bolt, Losing that one doesn't always create a exhaust leak right away, Its when the next one pops, The driver realizes there is an issue.

This is not isolated to the 6.0L, It effects 5.3L & 4.8L engines as well, They use the same manifolds, Not to long ago, I had a '06 K1500 5.3L come in for a transmission rebuild, It only had 2 bolts in each manifold, So it had 8 broke bolts, He declined the repair & I declined to find out why it runs like [censored]....Try explaining why you cant trouble shoot drivability problems with major exhaust leaks....

I would replace them with ARP bolts as preventive maintenance, Rarely does a customer heed the advice.


Was the 6.0's manifold bolt issue ever fixed in later models?
 
Originally Posted By: Nate1979
Was the 6.0's manifold bolt issue ever fixed in later models?


No, The bolts are too small (8x1.25mm) And just don't have the tensile strength needed. GM isn't going to spend the money on Chrome moly bolts, And the fact this rarely happens during warranty.

8740 Chrome Moly ARP bolts are cheap, $32 for a set HERE I recommend using Blue Loctite upon reassembly.
 
Originally Posted By: donnyj08
Originally Posted By: AZjeff
Maybe it has to do with climate? A co-worker has an 06 Sierra 2500 with 140K, I asked him about his and he's never had to replace any either. Do you just replace them all as preventative maintenance or wait til they break?


climate is a huge factor. you wont find rusted off manifold bolts in Arizona. Move to the midwest or the northern states and you will find rusted manifold bolts on all of them. Ford. Dodge, Chevy, Toyota it doesn"t matter. The Chemicals used to remove/prevent snow rusts metal.

This is the reason why I try to buy vehicles from the south.


Moved to Az from western Pa, yeah I understand rusted underbody. It sounds like a combination of environment and heavy use. Good to know, I'm looking for a good 2500 6.0 Suburban.
 
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