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TexasRedNeck:
So its time I fully matured and grew up.

My part time truck is a 2001 LB7 CCLB Dmax LT with 37s, a 12 inch Full Throttle Suspension lift, Weld Cheyenne Evo wheels, Longhorn Fab traction bars, side dumped straight exhaust and PPEI tuned and a few other mods.  Its a long story, which I will gladly relay, but the bottom line is I can't really use it for its intended purpose with a loading height for the tailgate at around 50 inches.  The plan is to neuter it and replace the 37s with 35s and the 12 inch lift with a 6 inch lift.

Here it is with the drop hitch for reference,  IIRC that is an 18 inch drop hitch...and a picture next to the LML dually for size

So, first for a little background.....

stlaser:
Gigantor!

TexasRedNeck:
I bought a 2001 K2500HD LT Victory Red and Graphite leather new in April of 2001.  I got the 6.0 gas because I was scared of the first gen Dmax.  Kept it and drove it for 11 years.  One day during a hurrican evacuation it hit me.  There was no gasoline and people were on the side of the road throwing rocks at each other while rednecks with their diesels were rolling up to the pump and getting fuel.  That's when it hit me.  I needed a diesel with an auxiliary tank.

Now my beautiful baby girls had grown up in that truck from babies and loved that truck because with a 6 inch lift and 34s they could see out of the truck in their car seats and see over most of the other cars.  When I mentioned selling it they cried.  So as I searched for trucks I ran across many diesels but decided between a 2003 7.3L Ford and an exact replica of my gas Chevy.  The girls voted for the Chevy.  It was the same year, same LT model, same color combo.  The only difference was the diesel engine and a long box bed.  It was in WA state and I discussed over the phone with the dealer who seemed reputable and because it had only 125K on it I assumed it was a safe bet that it was in great shape.  My gasser only had 130K on it after 11 years so I was pumped about getting the same truck with potential for many more miles.

So I wire the money and they agree to deliver the truck to the house.

This picture is the day I sold the gasser.  My little one was balling hysterically

They arrive with the truck and the first thing that I notice is that it looks MUCH bigger in person than it did in the pictures.  Apparently the long bed masks the true size.  It dwarfed my gasser short box with a 6 inch lift and 34s.

It was in great..no phenomenal shape.  The interior looked unused and the body was perfect as was the paint.  The tires were brand new Toyo OC MTs and I was pumped.

The very next morning I went to start it and .....spinning but no start......

And thus began the crash course in modern diesels.....

TexasRedNeck:
So I was a bit panicked and depressed by a purchase that was not working.  I decided that I didn't know enough about diesels to really asess the situation so I thought I'd find a diesel shop to give it a thorough going through to help me understand if the issue was minor or if there were any other issues present. 

My intent was that if there was an issue, I'd send it back and squash the deal.

So the mechanic I chose went through it and pronouced the issue to be filter head losing prime and a weak CP3.  He also pulled a P0700 code which he said was no big deal because lifted trucks often through that code. (remember that little tidbit for later in the story)

I worked a deal with the dealer to split the cost of the repairs and went ahead and had the mechanic throw the ADII165 on it and a Banks Big Head turbo wastegate.  All was well in the world and since the split of the expense with the dealer came with a settlement agreement which meant they were washing their hands.

So....3 months later I connect it to a 10,000 pound trailer for the first time and about 150 miles away from home......I learn what limp mode is.

Apparently that "nothing to worry about" P0700 code was a clue to the previously limped transmission.  At this point I really begin to reseach and learn about modern diesels.  I settle on a shop 140 miles to the East in Sulphur LA, Calvin's which is also home base to Kory Willis of PPEI tuning.

I drop the truck off and $6000 later I have a bullet proof built tranny capable of holding well over 850HP at the wheels and EFI Live tuning with DSP 5 switch.

Suddenly I love my truck again.... despite the fact that Kory tells me that balance rates are not bad, but at some point in the future I'll be needing injectors.....

A year later, I'm back for all new Bosch injectors, all new injector lines, cups pulled and resealed...and another $6000 bill

So now I'm nearly $40k into a truck that's worth 18-20K.  Real smart financial move but I got a great education on diesels,right?

It gets better.  We decide on buying a trailer...a fifth wheel.  Well, that makes using the LB7 impossible without lowering it and doing a bunch of other work since the fifth wheel we want is really more than the truck is rated for.  Thus I become the proud owner of a new LML dually...and decide to keep the LB7

So 3 years into this truck and it runs great looks great and I put a total of 7,000 miles on it.

We bought a weekend/hide site and all the driving back and forth is putting too many miles on the LML.  Thus I want to be able to use the LB7 and drive it more often without looking for parking garages with 8ft clearance....

Dawg25385:
You've probably got one of the nicest '01 LB7s in the country Charles... Will still look awesome dropped a bit too. The first gen front ends are still my favorite to this day.

My uncle has an 02, exactly like my LBZ in color and trim, but long box, with less than 75k miles on it. I told him don't you ever trade that in... Just call me


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