My FIL is 80 and still goes like the energizer bunny. He has a 2k 2500 4wd auto 3.73 ext cab LB and now he's got the bug for a later truck. As awesome and simple as the 03-04.4s are, I'm thinking he might as well get a later ctd - 05+. At first I was steering him towards the 03-04.4s because the mpg of the 325s seems to be all over the place but his 2000 mpg sucks, so I think a 325 is worth a chance. He has a phobia about power mods and the 03-04.4s need some mods to really wake them up so that's another reason to try a 325. The 325s have a better turbo/4" exhaust and he would surely like the pep of a stock 325, compared to his slug/stock 2000. He tows about a 27' - 28' TT and will never go much heavier than that. He can go auto or manual and he will most likely add an ex. brake to whatever he gets. I like my nv5600 but wouldn't expect anyone who's on the auto/manual fence to be happy with the stiff shifting. Isn't the g56 shifting better? What build date did the G56 start (I think 05.5) and what build date did they go to the faster OD? I've heard bad things about the G56 clutch - no good slipping chattering POS. Is that true? Now for the autos. Is there a 5spd or 6spd with a 5.9 and can any of them (build dates, if known) take an ex. brake without any mods, like lockup? What build date did tow/haul start? He lives at Ft. Morgan Co. - no emmissions test. Is there egr on any of the 5.9s? Do they get loud or drone if the cat is removed - he's not going to want much noise but a little more than stock will probably be OK. I've already warned him about the AC damper problems. Did I miss anything? TIA! Craig

 

Only the 06' and up will be approved for an exhaust brake for the automatic. The 05.5 is when the G56 started. With stock power the clutchs are fine up to around 75,000 miles. Moded trucks are a dual mass flywheel eater over time. NO EGR.

 

The G-56 with the higher 0.74 ratio came in around May '06 or so I believe. They have an AE in last two letters in the sticker on the passenger side of the transmission. The build date is located on the last line of the sticker at the lower part of the door edge. You'll see an MDH: 120500 (that was mine for example). That means the truck was built Dec 5 at Midnight.

The clutch isn't the strongest but if hes staying stock he should be alright for a good while as Spooler said. I've been running the Smarty on SW3 for about half the trucks life and it was on SW1 most of the other half. Mine is ok so far, but I drive it pretty easy.

Shouldn't get loud if the cat is gutted or removed, the stock exhaust is pretty restrictive. I've got a Corsa and its about the quietest aftermarket exhaust I've seen. No drone whatsoever! More expensive than others though. Its really well made and the muffler is straight through.

 

the flywheel if your lucky will last maybe to 60k on a stock truck thats when mine started going out.as far as the higher overdrive it was in late 06 like maybe nov or oct that the higher ratio came cuz i have an 06/ 06 that does not have it and the 07 i bought in 09/06 did not have it either

 

Rich is correct, the date I gave for the AE G-56 is I believe when they actually started making them, it took a while before they got into the trucks. Sorry for the confusion!

 

Thanks guys - that helps a bunch. Is there a 5 or 6 spd auto w/5.9? Will the 06+ auto take an e-brake without any mods - just the right e-brake controls? Can the pre 06 autos use an e-brake with lockup control or are they totally SOL on the e-brake idea. Thanks again! Craig

 

Just talked to MIL and they found an 07 auto QC LB 4wd with 57k miles so they should be in good shape. Craig

 

Is that a 5.9L or the 6.7L? 6.7L came in about 07.5 or so.....

If he doesn't get that one, have him go drive some manuals. I had an '06 with the G56 and hated it! I didn't know about the better overdrive ratio coming out. Mine was slow enough that I had to stay down around 60 - 65 mph for mileage. I also didn't like how it shifted.
A friend has an early '04 with the NV5600 and I really like it! So, I don't know what to tell you. I would also worry about the mileage variance. If he can, have him take it for a weekend or better and check the mileage while he has it! It would cost him a tank full of fuel, but would be well worth it! I'll do this from now on with any vehicle I buy. The one I currently have is a low mileage maker... Wish I had thought to take it out for an extended test drive!
Most of your other questions / answers have been right on!
The pre '06 autos could have an exhaust brake, it just had to be able to activate the converter to lock up. He definitely wants to have one!! Everyone should as far as that goes!! I have a Jacobs and love it!! In '06 they did reprogram the shifting and it does work better with an exhaust brake.
Some mid '90s 5.9L in Ca. had an EGR... No other 5.9L did. I think when the 24V hit, even the Ca. models didn't have EGR anymore. All the new 6.7L has EGR.
The 3rd gen 5.9L only had a 4 spd auto available (It was the 48RE). The newer 6.7L has the 6 spd auto.
On the exhaust: everyone is so different; there again he may have to test drive a few... I made a set of 'clamps' to pull the joints apart on my exhaust. I will share pics and how to if anyone wants. I did this so that I could use the wide band clamps (Like big rigs use on their exhaust) to hold my exhaust together. This allows you to take it apart very easily to make changes. I did this in case I didn't like my muffler or set up. It will also allow me to put the OEM system right back on if the smog ****'s come around 'sniffing' as they are rumored to here. I had a bad drone in the cab pulling with the first 'glass pack' straight through muffler I had on my QuadCab. It was only in the drivers seat! (At least his wife won't mind! Funny story: I ran it about 3 hours or so that way. I couldn't stand it any more, I was getting a head ache. She asked why I was slowing down. I hated to 'plant' the idea; but told her why anyway. She told me that it was fine as far as she was concerned. I was puzzled until a few days later when I had accidentally sped up above 70 and then reached over to her side for something. That is how we figured out the drone was only in the drivers seat. That is why it was fine with her! I figured she would want it quieter than me!) I have also been told that starting in '06 they used a better 'donut' to hang the pipe and muffler. Supposedly this cut down on drone in the cab. On my MegaCab I have a pretty loud muffler with the OEM resonator and it is fine under 80 towing. (Above 80 it is bad... But I only know that because that dam ricer sped up while I was passing him climbing a hill! Some peoples kids!!) I have also found that the length of the 'tip' and how the tail pipe is angled, will help with the drone in the cab!

 

I'm not sure but I think it's a 5.9... so it's a 48re, then. I don't know what ratio it has yet. Is the r&p ratio in the vin numbers? There were complaints about the 48re/3.73 and too high of OD with the first 48re's or did they fix that too? He has an e-brake on his 2000 and will put one on the 07. Craig

 

Sounds like it's probably a 5.9. As far as the ratio, it should list it on a sticker in the glove box, or in the build sheet when a dealer runs the VIN. I haven't heard anything about the "too high of over drive w/ 3.73" complaints, but I think the 3.73 is a very good, well rounded, all purpose ratio when compared to offeres of the past. 3.55 was nice for unloaded running but tended to be too high for towing. 4.10's are great for towing but not the best in mileage. In that sense, 3.73 is a nice medium.

IMO, the 06 - 07 5.9's are the most reliable of the common rail trucks. Everything has been finely tuned and adjusted on to where it's been perfected, from the fuel pump design to the tow/haul mode.