Seasoned Diesel Guru's,

I'm currently in the market for a diesel truck, either a 05-07 5.9 Cummins or a 07 LBZ Duramax. I'm looking for the pros and cons of each engine and personal experiences with them as well.

I'd like to buy stock and customize the engine...so I'm looking for advice in that arena as well. Can anyone help me out? Thanks.


-Lucky13SGT

 

What are you using the truck for? Both will be good trucks.

If you are using it for a DD, and like comfort, tow occasionaly, I would go with the Dmax. If the trucks primary purpose is towing large loads, 5.9 Cummins with a 6 speed behind it. With good tuning and airflow improvements, both will get pretty good mileage.

Chevy
Better quality truck than the Dodge, nicer interior, better auto tranny.

Dodge
It has a Cummins, option of something besides an auto tranny.

If your looking for a refined, smooth riding, more luxurious truck with an auto, go with the Dmax. If you really want the 6 speed behind the Cummins, and dont mind giving up some ride and comfort, go with the Dodge.

My .02

 

I'm going to use the truck as a DD, just want to build a rig capable of anything. I'm setting myself up long-term; dependability, capability, reliability and fun factor. Just need to know which of the 2 better fits the bill.

 

I think they both fit the bill, both will be dependable, capable, reliable, and fun, it just comes down to preference...... do you want an auto or stick? And do you want a really nice interior and ride, or would you give those up to have the Cummins?

 

So the Cummins is just hands down a great / better engine? I'm really digging a manual to get that big rig feeling, but I don't want a trans not capable of handling upgrades. Can I upgrade the suspension for. A better ride?

 

The suspension in a dodge is rougher but it rides like a truck should imho. I dont like riding in a truck that feels like a caddy and what you should do is just go test drive em both and see what one you like better and which one suits you. And yes the cummins is the better motor and their manuel trannys are fine and their autos arent bad either it all depends on how you drive it our 06 has over 160K on it and its never been touched and pulls everyday, and my new 03 has 140K on it completely stock and pulls and shifts just fine.

 

True, I'm looking for a truck, not a car. It's good to know you've got two dodges tried and true. Have u seen people modifying them though, what mods and how do they stand-up?

 

A dodge auto will handle a small tune everyday, big tunes or other upgrades and you'll need tranny upgrades. If you get a standard, with a big tune you'll just need to upgrade the clutch. If you want a handshaker, thats what I would definately go with.

The LBZ Dmax is a good motor. Basically problem free, and can make close to 600rwhp with just EFI live tuning, lift pump, and tranny upgrades. Up until the LBZ, each Dmax had its set of problems (LB7-injectors, LLY-hg and overheating) but they really got it right with the LBZ.

Like skinny said, go testdrive a couple and see what you like more.

 

Either one would be good. I had a cummins and now have a LBZ. I like the LBZ overall a lot better. Makes more power with less upgrades. My favorite part though is the fact that the Banks speedbrake works extremely well on it. It slows the thing down like you would'nt believe. I had a manula trans cummins and I enjoyed it and thought that no automatic would be better, but honestly, wtih the mods I have, this auto now works better than the manual.
Not as easy to work on, took me a couple hours to put a downpipe on the lbz while it takes 15 minutes on a cummins.

 

i have modded them up and have many friends that mods them as well and if you dont drive it stupid or throw huge tunes at it they will handle em just fine even the allison tranny will fail if you throw a big tune at it. We run the cummins because it is a tried and true motor and the chevys just felt to weak to us. Now im not bashing chevy or gmc just saying for us they didnt work. Everyone has their own opinions and some like chevys some gmc, some ford, and some dodges. Forgot to add the mods we have on the two stated above are the smarty jr,Fass kits,s&b CAI, and straight pipe exhaust. Now on my 06 i ended up shelling a tranny at 110,000 but that was my fault because we got stupid with it and turned a smarty sr up on it and ran the **** out of it so i wont blame dodge on that one