Hey guys I’ve been sourcing all the LMM hardware for a vender to build “NEW” Duramax SUV’s but they are armored cars for who knows who, probably over seas or something. So here is my question……

Do you folks think there is a cost effective market for a 2009 or 2010 “0” mile brand new 2500HD 4X4 6.6 Duramax Suburban LMM or LML with a 3yr 36K warranty?

This is no cheap budget minded truck the hardware is pushing 17K plus the shop time it would be a 22K premium over the sticker, Hmmmmm Barrett-Jackson may-be? Boy I would love to build it I just couldn’t afford to float it long.

What do you guys think???:rolleyes:

With a brand new vehicle like that you are going to have to find someone specifically wanting that I would think. You have a niche market right now. I think if their was a way you could possibly get your name out more and what ya'll do you could increase business and awareness. They are no doubt people out there that want what ya'll do. My wife for example would LOVE to have a "Duraburb". But we just dont have the need for it yet when we already have a CCLB Dmax. I will say I have seen more older body style diesel burbans as of late all over the place.

Two guys I used to work with found them online and drove accross the country to pick them up b/c they have 2 and 3 kids along with pets and have bumper pull trailers. One of them was taking his truck and trailer to wherever they went and his wife would follow in her van with the kids and dogs. So their is definitely a market for what you do its just getting your name out there.

Finding someone to drop 22k over sticker value of a burban.................Im sure there is someone that would do it. You just gotta find em.
Keep up the good work

I'd like a Duramax Sub some day. I know there is an outfit in Colorado that builds them. They will take your new Sub and install a Dmax engine, usually from a recent wrecked p/u. My 96 Sub is still working out well, but it would be nice to have a new body wrapped around a Dmax, especially if it rode better. Wife complains about the lousy ride all the time...

Jake

I suppose your right, I'll stick to what works for now since this isn't the economy to be unleashing those kind of big boy toys.
Jake your right about the ride quality of the GMT400 89-99 trucks, they were a vast improvement over the earlier generation but nothing like the 800 and 900 series, they are like luxury cars now-a-days.

I think it would sell pretty easily.

I wouldn't build one just to build it, but make it an option and maybe advertise you can do it once you get those pre-ordered ones figured out.

Eric it would have been an easier sell to my wife over the 04 tow Pro.Being a brand new suv we get ems employee discount. sell off gas motor recover some cash there not as expensive as it seems. An option for people with the money wanting new suv

the problem is going to be a new suv with no warranty because once you do this gm isn't going to cover it or its going to take a hell of a lot to make them think about but if you could make it with a warranty people would buy it

Yea the 3yr 36K warranty would have to be aftermarket not GM but I did have a guy call for an 07 LMM TowPro out of Michigan the other day and he seems very serious. He has 70K on the LTZ Burb and I agreed to do it at the GMT800 price so long as he let us video it for our YouTube channel. He would have the first and only true GMT900 Dmax burb. Tony's Yukon XL is the only other one (currently on eBay) I've seen in privite hands and its actually a 07 1500 2wd body on a 06 GMT800 4x4 frame that Mike Mash swapped a 08 LMM into to correct communication issues he was having due to the 07 Classic LBZ drive train. In the end it turned out nice but he has a but load of money in it.

Wow look on eBay at Tony's 07 truck it had run all the way to 50K
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/GMC-Yukon-XL-2007-YUKON-XL-DURAMAX-DIESEL-SUBURBAN_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem2a01e6cf23QQit emZ180420529955QQptZUSQ5fCarsQ5fTrucks

to bad you couldnt work in a deal with gm or a dealer like they do for conversion trucks like they did in the 90s

Eric, you may have covered this in one of your past threads and I just missed it or forget...... What do you do about VIN for the vehicle. Is there anything that needs to be done since it now had the diesel. And same goes for donor trucks that people sell with gasser instead of diesel. Didnt know if there is anything that has to be done.

I don’t do anything with the VIN since that’s the SUV’s identity, true it dose stipulate gas not diesel but all states have a provision (the method differs from state to state) to register and operate the vehicle for “personal” use only. So I don’t think the states want you using it for a taxi or hauling commercial freight. Co. seems to freak out the most and ironically that’s where most of these trucks go but once they wrap there DMV skulls around what and why there isn’t any problem. It’s sort of like taking your Chevy S-10 and stuffing a 350 in it, it’s still the same S-10 but it has been now modified from its original configuration. The one thing to be careful of is while the states allow for this some (like Ca, Co, Vt. & Probably others) do require you to at least meet emission standards set for diesel for the year of the SUV. This means no cheap LB7’s in a 06’ SUV. So we are careful to get the right series for the recipient.
As for the gassers they usually can’t be re-titled since they are typically CD trucks or certificate of destruction and can never be returned to the road but they can be parted out to recoup some of the expense. What you can get back obviously depends on how much you take out of the donor, case-in-point I have an 03’ C2500 that came in today and the LBZ 07’ Classic donor is 4X4 (the dealer wants the SUV converted) so by the time we strip the 4X4 mounts and mod the Burb frame there wont be much more then a spare 8.1 E/T and standard ¾ rear end left as the donor truck looks like a Rottweiler used it as a play toy:eek:, but it runs and drives o.k

Gotcha, that makes sense. I knew about most emmisions states required same model year or newer engine to keep up with emissions standards. I just didnt know how it worked out and what ya'll had to do when it came time for owner to insure and plate since things were different. You guys have something great going down there. If time ever comes for my wife and I (mainly my wife, lol) wanting a diesel burban.....I know who we'll be calling

Id like to find and 05 2500 4x4 burb to drop my lly into:D

Give Gerardo in sales a call, he passed on 2 last week because they were LS trucks but he buys them from all over the country. You can reach "G" @ 407-242-0875. I dont mess with sales anymore, just build.
Eric