Would you rather have a 2003 7.3 or 2005 Duramax?

[BigMan]

I own the 7.3 but a considering trading for the Duramax. I like the FORD but the GMC steers much easier.

Mileage on odometer is about the same on each truck.

Which of the two would you go with?

 

[bnorth]

D-max. Much better cold weather starting and much better trans, interior is nicer in those years as well.

 

[LoudHandle]

Not a Ford guy, anymore. But I do own an '05 Duramax and 99.9% of the time it runs great. It's that 0.1% that drives you nuts. As GM skimped on the wire length / quality of the connectors for the injectors. The ones that are usually responsable are the passenger side rear and the drivers side front. The ECU occasionally does not get the feed back signal it is expecting from the injectors and shuts down that bank of cylinders. At some point the computer resets and al is well again, but in the meantime you are running on four cylinders and dragging the other four, hence relagated to about 20 miles per hour sometimes more if you can trick the transmission into upshifting. The free Internet fix is to carry a ice pick and you push it thru the connectors to expose new contact surfaces to the injector connector. This does work for a while (in my case about two years) but will eventually come back to haunt you. GM sells an extension for about $300 but it still will happen again. You can get just the new connectors for $20-$30 thru places like rock auto and other discount auto parts stores. I would like to find a permanent fix for the issue and not have to think about it anymore.

Wondering when it will rear it's head yet again. Other than that a trouble free truck.

For what it's worth

 

[Blk88GT]

I went from an 02 7.3 to an 06 Duramax about 4 years ago.

Things I miss:

Fuel economy (the 7.3 was slightly better on fuel when pulling)
The "big truck" feel
No fear of blowing the front end apart when offroad
No check engine lights for 95000 different sensors
Changing wheels and tires don't always require a lift kit
Enormous center console for storage
Less braking effort than the Duramax

Things I like better in the Duramax:

6 speed transmission is leaps and bounds ahead of the 4 speed when towing
Interior is more comfortable for long drives
Power (I have EFIlive tuning)
Handling is more like a car (Bilsteins on the new truck)
Starts easier in cold weather
Ability to manually shift the truck with the paddle shifter

 

[BigMan]

Are headgaskets a concern on that year Duramax?

 

[Blk88GT]

It depends who's tune is/was on it but it's a concern.

Injectors are something to keep in mind as well. I did all 8 of mine after I bought it. 3 were toast but I didn't want to deal with any further issues. It wasn't cheap.

 

[LoudHandle]

Are headgaskets a concern on that year Duramax?

Not to my knowledge.

Additionally they fixed the injector connector issue with the new series duramax that started in '06, so the previous posters '06 engine experiences are irrelevant to the '04.5-'05 series of Duamax's.

In hind site I wish I had got an '06 instead. Pre-emissions and very build able if desired, without all the little things that plagued the earlier years.

 

[Blk88GT]

I agree, go for an 06 if you can find one.

 

[AKSNOWRIDER]

Not a Ford guy, anymore. But I do own an '05 Duramax and 99.9% of the time it runs great. It's that 0.1% that drives you nuts. As GM skimped on the wire length / quality of the connectors for the injectors. The ones that are usually responsable are the passenger side rear and the drivers side front. The ECU occasionally does not get the feed back signal it is expecting from the injectors and shuts down that bank of cylinders. At some point the computer resets and al is well again, but in the meantime you are running on four cylinders and dragging the other four, hence relagated to about 20 miles per hour sometimes more if you can trick the transmission into upshifting. The free Internet fix is to carry a ice pick and you push it thru the connectors to expose new contact surfaces to the injector connector. This does work for a while (in my case about two years) but will eventually come back to haunt you. GM sells an extension for about $300 but it still will happen again. You can get just the new connectors for $20-$30 thru places like rock auto and other discount auto parts stores. I would like to find a permanent fix for the issue and not have to think about it anymore.

Wondering when it will rear it's head yet again. Other than that a trouble free truck.

For what it's worth

next time you run across one with these issues, try some of this(I have spent a lot of time hunting down electronic/computer issues on vehicles) this stuff will solve almost all connection issues and I use it on every connection on anything and everything from PC's, auto, sleds, hotrods..it works...
http://www.amazon.com/Stabilant-5ml-Kit-Makes-30ml/dp/B001E50GQS

 

[NDFARMER95]

As said above I'd go for a LBZ with the 6 speed. Otherwise the LLY will do good. They have a restricted mouthpiece and have some overheating issues when pulling. You can put on a LBZ mouthpiece but you gotta cut the stock intake. Otherwise AFE makes a bolt and go but its kinda spendy for that little piece.

 

[LoudHandle]

As said above I'd go for a LBZ with the 6 speed. Otherwise the LLY will do good. They have a restricted mouthpiece and have some overheating issues when pulling. You can put on a LBZ mouthpiece but you gotta cut the stock intake. Otherwise AFE makes a bolt and go but its kinda spendy for that little piece.

Good reminder, I did the AFE mouthpiece to my '05 (it pays to shop around, some places will sell it for about 2/3 of the list price which puts it in a tolerable price range). The AFE mouth piece gets rid of the sharp 90 degree corner feeding into the turbo.

I haven't had any overheating issues, but I'm in Alaska and I think most of the overheating issues are related to the stock intake mouth piece's sharp 90 degree corner causing the turbo to overwork itself trying get the intake charge in, which causes the incoming air to heat up too much. This is compounded when really working the engine. With the intake able to flow as it should I don't have any heat or overheating issues.

 

[AZ800]

Apples to apples I'd take the Dmax hands down. Loved mt 02.

 

[AndrettiDog]

I miss my '06 LBZ Duramax. I would pick that any day over the Ford. I know the Ford was a good strong reliable motor, but it was also very loud. Some people don't care but when riding in a buddies Excursion, it was hard to hear each other on the pass.

I don't think that the Duramax was available with the 6spd in 2005 was it? I thought that was new in 2006. LBZ's are gold if you find a good one!

 

[Jaynelson]

Agreed, 7.3L was a solid enough motor, but it's pretty loud and slow by today's standard...or compared to an 05 Dmax for that matter.

I've driven quite a few of each in my time at dealerships and I would take the Duramax without thinking twice. That's purely from a driving dynamics/comfort perspective.

Going down the list of what expensive part(s) break, on which years, of which brand of diesel pickup is 100% brain damage. Buy what you like and deal with the rest later....they can all be an expensive item to keep running regardless of brand or year.

 

[Powderboy]

I have a 13 dmax and a 96 7.3. I like them both. Just depends what kind of mood I'm in. The 7.3 is loud but gives you that cool old school diesel vibe. Warmed at operating temp and going down the interstate the 7.3 doesn't seem bad really.

 

[lacyroof]

I own the 7.3 but a considering trading for the Duramax. I like the FORD but the GMC steers much easier.

Mileage on odometer is about the same on each truck.

Which of the two would you go with?

7.3 better motor clip it real strong
gmc expensive to work on when injectors go bad

 

[Dogmeat]

If the mileage is the same and both trucks are in similarly good condition I'd be hard-pressed to not go with the 7.3 .... That generation of trucks is one of the best generation of trucks ever made.

 

[AndrettiDog]

What's the HP/Torque ratings on the 7.3? I just remember that when the Duramax came along it had quite a bit more. That was before the LBZ or newer Duramax's that had even stronger outputs.

 

[8hundo]

250hp/520lbft on the Stroke
I have had 8 7.3's - 5 OBS's and 3 SD's with autos and sticks in both.
I've had 2 LBZ's an 06 and 07(current truck).
Pretty much a Ford guy but no comparison for everyday driveablity or towing comparing them.
Sure miss the stance and big truck feel of the Fords though. 1995 F350 White CC Long with 5 speed was the best one-should have never sold it.