LMM: 09 3500HD 269k Duramax work truck Diamond in the rough

TheBac

Why do I keep doing this?
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Apr 19, 2008
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I would just buy a take-off bed for around a grand and call it a day. They are available on CL or FB Marketplace all the time.

Tried to get your pics to show up, was able to but they are huge so figured, "leave well enough alone". LOL
 
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Dozerboy

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Jun 23, 2009
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What did you end up paying?

I would do a fuel return test to make sure the fuel system is in good shape. Or you could get it good and warm the hammer on it a bunch. If it doesn't go into fuel limp mode. You should be in good shape for a while.

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pitbull14218

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Apr 25, 2018
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What did you end up paying?

I would do a fuel return test to make sure the fuel system is in good shape. Or you could get it good and warm the hammer on it a bunch. If it doesn't go into fuel limp mode. You should be in good shape for a while.

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Well I test drove it twice and got on it a decent amount. Cold start no black smoke, full throttle at operating temp no black smoke, just ran nice, shifted smooth not as firm as I would have thought but it drove great.
 

pitbull14218

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What did you end up paying?

I would do a fuel return test to make sure the fuel system is in good shape. Or you could get it good and warm the hammer on it a bunch. If it doesn't go into fuel limp mode. You should be in good shape for a while.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

6.5, which was a bit higher than I wanted to, I probably over paid but as long as the truck is good mechanically, I am not that worried about the body situation, I can paint it myself if need be, I have a welder too, although really the bed I'm just gonna replace.
 

pitbull14218

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One thing I noticed when driving, not sure if the brakes are bad, or if these trucks normally just don't stop as good because they're heavy. I need to fix the ABS light and the BRAKE light too but I'm sure the ABS is wheel bearing or speed sensor related, the brake light, idk, maybe the emergency brake?
 

ikeG

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Apr 19, 2011
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2010 & older frequently have weak brakes. Freeing up all the slides and making sure the brake pads are hitting the entire rotor will go a long way to help it. Then do an automated bleed with a scan tool.
My personal beater is a 06 with 252k. Company truck for the last 8 years. Body is not banged up as bad as yours but really rusty(Pennsylvania). Luckily the injectors are in good health.

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pitbull14218

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2010 & older have weak brakes. Freeing up all the slides and making sure the brake pads are hitting the entire rotor will go a long way to help it. Then do an automated bleed with a scan tool.
My personal beater is a 06 with 252k. Company truck for the last 8 years. Body is not banged up as bad as yours but really rusty(Pennsylvania). Luckily the injectors are in good health.

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ah that explains the brakes, it doesn pull to one side when hitting them, so I'm gonna have to check the sliders and grease everything up.


How do I know if I have an injector problem, would it be black smoke and poor running? I'll have to get them checked, but I figured I'd ask, because it seems to run perfectly. It has a pulley thats chirping and is annoying, the driver door needs door pins.
 

ikeG

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ah that explains the brakes, it doesn pull to one side when hitting them, so I'm gonna have to check the sliders and grease everything up.


How do I know if I have an injector problem, would it be black smoke and poor running? I'll have to get them checked, but I figured I'd ask, because it seems to run perfectly. It has a pulley thats chirping and is annoying, the driver door needs door pins.
Lbz & lmm are notorious for injectors being worn out & returning so much fuel to the point that it will not hold rail pressure when worked hard. And that's really the only symptom. Run it hard empty, it may or may not show it. But hook a trailer up and do the same thing and that will tell the tale.

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pitbull14218

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Lbz & lmm are notorious for injectors being worn out & returning so much fuel to the point that it will not hold rail pressure when worked hard. And that's really the only symptom. Run it hard empty, it may or may not show it. But hook a trailer up and do the same thing and that will tell the tale.

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I was researching cummins before I bought this truck, and the common rail 03-08 3rd gen years I heard when the injectors go bad the engine melts pistons. How are these trucks, does this happen with bad injectors? I'm not going to be towing much at all to be honest this truck is over kill for my needs. But the same truck gasser would be more than I paid for this so thats why I did it, also I did get a diesel bug in me, Just wanted diesel to have one. lol

Once I slowly fix things with the truck, I would probably delete it so it last longer. I'm in New York state though, so I don't know if I can get away with deleting it.
 

joshd472

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I was researching cummins before I bought this truck, and the common rail 03-08 3rd gen years I heard when the injectors go bad the engine melts pistons. How are these trucks, does this happen with bad injectors? I'm not going to be towing much at all to be honest this truck is over kill for my needs. But the same truck gasser would be more than I paid for this so thats why I did it, also I did get a diesel bug in me, Just wanted diesel to have one. lol

Once I slowly fix things with the truck, I would probably delete it so it last longer. I'm in New York state though, so I don't know if I can get away with deleting it.

They will melt pistons in any truck or wash cylinder walls if stuck up. You need to get a return test done.
 

Dozerboy

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Jun 23, 2009
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ah that explains the brakes, it doesn pull to one side when hitting them, so I'm gonna have to check the sliders and grease everything up.


How do I know if I have an injector problem, would it be black smoke and poor running? I'll have to get them checked, but I figured I'd ask, because it seems to run perfectly. It has a pulley thats chirping and is annoying, the driver door needs door pins.



Like I said

I would do a fuel return test to make sure the fuel system is in good shape. Or you could get it good and warm the hammer on it a bunch. If it doesn't go into fuel limp mode. You should be in good shape for a while.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk


The dmax can have white smoke while idling if the injector are bad, but that isn’t as common on the 06+ trucks. They normally have high fuel returns. Dmax almost never has black smoke with bad fuel systems.

The pre 2010s don’t have bad brakes they just ain’t as strong as the 10+. You have a problem with your brakes if it’s pulling.



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ikeG

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Do not overthink this, unless you want to. It's apparently not smoking nor missing, or you would have stated. So check balance rates, see if it holds rail pressure under a heavy load, and go from there. If you bought it to drive, then drive it. Address the issues as they surface, starting with brakes maybe. Like I said, it sounds like the engine is fairly healthy so unless you bought it to rebuild, I'd approach it this way. One of the next things to possibly pop up will be a clogged egr. I've had dozens of lmm's with clogged up egrs, especially ones that idled lots.

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WVRigrat05

Wound for sound
Jan 1, 2011
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On the brake thing, I’ve always hated the brakes on my 05’ and my current truck, I did a full fluid flush and put a PSC 14mm pump on, a bigger cooler and metallic pads in the rear and it stops like my wife’s car and the pedal is very firm, will it last, only time will tell.
 

pitbull14218

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Apr 25, 2018
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Well thanks guys! I might have a clean used bed dropped off tomorrow for $800 with tailgate. I have tail lights lined up and a bumper too, so soon it might not look as shitty lol
 

pitbull14218

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Apr 25, 2018
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O unbolted the bed, now just trying to get my lazy friend to help lift it off, really doesnt seem that heavy.


I was going to por15 the frame, unless anyone else has any recommendations on rust prevention.
 

TheBac

Why do I keep doing this?
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Apr 19, 2008
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Chassis Saver is kinda the same thing. Find three friends. :)

Once you replace the bed and all, put a for sale sign in it and make some money on it. Thats what I would do.
 

pitbull14218

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Apr 25, 2018
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I got a replacement bed and tailgate. the bed needs some surface rust repaired, so i need to figre out the best method to do that.

Any recommendations on what to use to clean the frame under the bed and rust proof it? anyone use por15, thats what i am thinking of doing.




https://i.imgur.com/A1SINrN.jpg
 

WVRigrat05

Wound for sound
Jan 1, 2011
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Better flip that bed upside down and get the rocks out of above the wheel wells and seal it with an ungodly amount of seam sealer to keep the rocks and moisture out, rocks get in somehow but you can’t get them out unless you flip the bed, tap the sides and hose the shit out of it

I’ve kept mine caked with so much oil it’ll prolly always be fine, my buddy has an 08’ with 60k and he’s painted his bed twice now, this last week he just finished up and it had a bubble a day later
 

pitbull14218

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Apr 25, 2018
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heres a picture of the replacement bed, I paid $800 for it with the tailgate delivered to me. Not sure if that a good idea, I know there isn't any rust coming through the wheel wells yet, but seeing the underside it has some surface rust that I will take care of since i want my paint job to last.

OBMv7hsh.jpg