i'll be looking for a duramax this fall sometime and am always seeing llys more so than lb7's. my question is are the llys really that bad? i see alot of people are happy with them but some are not. should i get one or find a good lb7 or maybe just spend the money and get an 06 since they'll prolly be giving some good deals to get them off the lots?


thanks chad

good luck finding an 06 with a duramax. I know my dealership cannot keep them on the lot. I love my LLY. Buy whatever fits your budget. Every vehicle will have it's little quirks. If you max out towing these tend to overheat, it's fixed for $1000 if needed.

Someone correct me if I am wrong but the only major problem with the LLY's are overheating issues and the 01 and 02 and some 03 LB7's had injector problems which are covered 7yr/200k. I love my LB7, it has worked great for me with no problems.

I have on 05 lly and love it. However I have never owned a lb7. I have almost 18000 miles on mine and no major problems. I have towed a good bit of those miles. 5000 or 6000 lb 5er to 5 NASCAR races and alot of other things also. Had I know that the LBZ was comming out I probally would have waited. You are in the right spot to find out what people think and problems that people have had. I think that the reason that you are not finding many LB7s for sale is 1) That they were the first DA s out there and that people were waiting to see what they were going to be like and 2) Those that did buy them love them. There were injecter problems in some of the early LB7s but you will find out about that if you look around here a little. Just my .02

I have the LLY no problem with it what so ever.

good luck finding an 06 with a duramax. I know my dealership cannot keep them on the lot. I love my LLY. Buy whatever fits your budget. Every vehicle will have it's little quirks. If you max out towing these tend to overheat, it's fixed for $1000 if needed.

Drove past the local lot today ane they had two LBZ s on the lot. They are out there you just have to look.

Have an 04.5, most miles Fl to NV and back. Not too many in town miles, about 500 in 4WD, 29K on odometer. So far (knock on wood) best running vehicle I've owned. MPG a little over 18 and usually hauling 22 to 2,300 in the bed and running 69 to 70 most of the time. Not ready to change.

I love my lly so far. It hasn't been back to the dealership since the day I bought it. I have never OH, but the tranny runs warmer than I'd like. But that is even within it's limits. Add a programmer and these trucks flat out haul a$$.

I'm really sore about the whole overheating thing but with that said, I really do love the truck otherwise. If I were in your shoes knowing of an existing problem like the overheating, I would get an LBZ.

Drove past the local lot today ane they had two LBZ s on the lot. They are out there you just have to look.

06's or 07's?

I know the reg cab that was there is an 06 because it has been sitting there for a couple of months and the other x-cab sb I don't know.

36K on my LLY and no problems. Gets as good mileage as my buddies LB7, never had any overheating problems, only warranty work was to fix an intercooler leak.

I know the reg cab that was there is an 06 because it has been sitting there for a couple of months and the other x-cab sb I don't know.


reg cab has got to be a fun truck :)

I love my LLY but if I would have known that the LBZ had an extra geare I would have gone with that. Although I don't think I could have gotten a better deal on mine. Only reason for going back to the dealer is for a leak in the rack and pinoion, warrenty deal. I have 32k + and lovin it.

My late LLY (April 19th '05 build date) at 27k+ miles has given me NO trouble. Went to Montana and down to Utah in record heat pulling 12k lbs. and could not get it to over heat. The wife was pissed, saying I was asking for trouble, but I had to see how far I could push it. In 113°f heat, it topped out at 245° ect as recorded on the Edge "all time records". I love my truck and if LLY is your choice, I would stay to late production year '05s because of the OH issues I've only read about. I can't speak for the LB7 or LBZ, I'm sure those owners will chime in.

reg cab has got to be a fun truck :)

Yeah I though about stoppin at the dealer and taken her for a ride but I thought that would only cost me $$$$$$$$$$$$$ Cause I know that I would want one.):h

04.5 36k no problems :) except my right foot

No problems here...except for that damn intercooler hose... ):h

Seriously though.mu warranty issues have been...

- intercooler hose ( my fault, boost stick)

- buzzing thing a ma jig over my head

- rotors warped early (my fault though, i figured out that my trailer brakes were wired incorrectly by the place the installed my brake controller)


This in a very hard driven 16K miles and a year and a half...

:ro)

I love my LLY, no OHing either... :muahaha:

I have owned all three in crew cab DRW configuration, a LB7, a LLY and a LBZ.

I loved the LB7. It was the best truck I ever owned. It got the best mpg and was trouble free for over 130,000 miles. Only one trip to the dealer and it was for a loose ground to to insturment cluster.

I LLY is another story. It was one of the overheaters, and a bad one at that. In august of the first year it overheated pully a motorcycle trailer with 3 harleys. A measley 4000 pounds or less of trailer and bikes. In Sept I overheated it pulling 7000 pounds of skid steer and trailer, it was only 87 degrees out side. Dealer still said they could find nothing wrong on Tech II. GMC stated nothing was wrong. In October pulling my RV in 70 degree weather I overheated it, a 12000 pound trailer. Again GMC said nothing wrong and dealer had no idea how to fix. I put 25,000 miles on that truck before I could get out of it.

I now have a LBZ. I have had no issues with it so far. I have 7000 miles on it.

I would either get a LB7 or LBZ knowing what you know. Some LLY have problems that GM has not been able to fix. They have a fix for the injectors on LB7's.

LB7 advantages, if its not a CA truck no cat, and no egr. Also better fuel mpg than tha other two.

LBZ advantages, more power in stock trim. An extra gear in the transmission. A quieter engine and smoother drive line.

These are just my opinions from owning one of each engine and pulling the same trailers.

I also owned all 3 lb7 lly and lbz. I loved my lb7 chipped it would get 20+mpg all day long. Never had one problem except for the rattling dash(chevy) My lly(gmc) was stock and got easily 19mpg no problems. Lbz(gmc) has only 2K miles so I'll give it another year so far so good. It's getting about 18+mpg I'll see how it is at 25K.

My LBZ has had more problems than my LLY. I like my LLY a little better anyway. But the LBZ will out run it:cool: Both are stock (no chips)

My LLY is a late build also, 05/05, and it does NOT overheat...

I have 33,000 miles on my LLY and have had no problems with the motor itself. I have had no overheat troubles and have pulled as much as 18000 lb in 85+ degree heat (did lose two trailer tires that day though). I have only had minor warranty issues, shakey mirrors, intermeadiate steering shaft, chipping clear on wheels. Other than those minor things I haven't been happier. Best truck I have ever owned or driven.
:ro)

My LLY was built 06/04 and now has 41,000 trouble-free miles on it. Does not overheat towing (10K) but will get some fan operation with OAT's above 90. I've never seen the gas mileage other's claim to get. I get at best 17 MPG highway.

Mine seems to be identical to towin43's, almost 41k no OH issues, never towed over 10k lbs but it was through Tx on I-10 in July 105-110 and only intermittent fan operation. Only warranty issues were Int. Steering Shaft, power steering pump hose weeping (replaced) and the re-flashes. great truck , but I just wanted the six-speed ally and got a screamin deal. Whoever gets my LLY will be extremely happy with it.
Tommy

No problems with my 06 LLY and it has worked as hard as any this summer, pulling 12k trailer in 106 degree weather and no temp issues. I do have to keep slowing down for my friends Ford PS but I can live with that...

In 45,000 miles, my LLY has been to the dealer for service every 5,000 miles and that's it......other than a steering shaft clunk, NO problems of any sort and no complaints. Build date was 4/28/04. It was used for towing only a couple times - abou 7K pounds - but I don't remember even looking at the engine temps. At 75mph on the highway, during winter weather (35* or so) the Attitude monitor says 187* engine temp. Otherwise, whether it's 75*or 95* the engine temps run 196*.....the AC will add 2*to that. I don't know if towing heavy would make it overheat. It drives and handles beautifully and had tons of power to begin with, the Edge makes it even better. I've been undecided about getting an '07LBZ and don't know if it would gain anything.....this is really good truck and I don't want to sell it.

Here is another satisfied customer - "knock on wood".

Mine is March 05 build, and only has about 18,500 km (12,000 miles) on it. Totally stock except running boards.

Only thing done under warranty so far was a wheel alignment, the left front was noisy turning right.

I get 13-13.5l/100km (17-18 US mpg) empty on local 2-lane highway (65 mph) with lots of lights, and 18-19l/100km (12.5-13 mpg) with the camper on (3000 lbs), including some 4x4 backroads.

It is quiet, comfortable, runs and rides as well as you can imagine for a 3500.

Sorta fun passing cars up steep hills with the camper on. Pulled a 10km 6.5% hill at about 85 kmh (55 mph) in 95 degree OAT last week, fan came on first stage, but temp guage hardly moved. Used tow/haul so tranny locks in 4th.

Only other problem is - the wife likes to drive it too!!!

The build date on my engine is 5/?/04 (I can't remember the day, and I rode my motorcycle to work today). I wonder if the really early LLY's did not have as much trouble with OH problems. Didn't they make a boost in torque output shortly after introducing the LLY? Maybe thats when the OH problems started? Hmmm

I think the guys who have owned all three are giving good advice. The early LB7's did have injector problems, but they are warranty to 200K. Some of the early LLY's have had heating problems. LBZ's have by far the most power in stock trim.

When I got my 02 it had 7,000 on it and came out of Canada, it had more hours on the engine than the miles would have suggested and came from Edmonton area, lots of winter idling. I got 22mph freeway driving without towing. I have since modded it pretty much to the exteme. I have 100K on it now and still get 17mph if I don't have the tune turned up and my foot in it.

My stock rwhp is about 440hp now, turned up it will be close to 600 or so, I dynoed 546 in Spokane last weekend but could not get more than 30psi of boost. I build close to 50 on the road with the hammer down. I have a 9,000 lb trailer and it will tow it all day and up most hills without down shifting, I get about 11-12mph towing. EGT's stay below 1200 degrees and engine temps always 192. Tranny temp will get to about 200. I have ran the crap out of this truck and it has taken it all. I did blow a head gasket but that was my fault when I was running propane and water/meth together. Don't do that.

If I were going out and buying a different truck I would get an LBZ. They are flat awesome for a stock truck, stock Fords and Dodges can't come close. I do however, think the later 07's once they change to the new emissions standards are going to be a big disappointment.

The LLY only seems to have the overheating issue when pulling a good sized trailer PLUS climbing a hill PLUS high outside temps(over 90). When I say a hill, I don't mean the kind normally seen in central Illinois, I mean a 6% grade. Those of us in AZ and CA seem to have the right combination of these factors and can make our trucks overheat at will. If I only encountered the issue once or twice a year, I could probably live with it. Problem is, I own a 5th wheel trailer and live in Phoenix - we try to get out a couple of times a month to escape the heat. As has been said many, many times during these discussions, we paid high dollar for our trucks and I'm not asking it to do anything it wasn't designed for. I used to have a 2002 GMC with the 8.1 and I could climb the same hills all day long and never see the temp gauge move. That's not the case now and GM needs to either fix the problem or buy back the trucks it can't fix.

I thought I should add that I never overheat when towing in town - stop and go in 115 plus will not make the temp gauge budge. The fan gets noisy but that doesn't really bother me. In all other respects, I love the truck. I had an oil pan gasket leak early on but that was fixed and there have been no other issues with the truck. If you have no need to pull heavy or climb real hills, I see no reason to NOT consider the LLY.

Just my 2 cents, love my LLY, we have 5-6 on the lot now LBZ's, if I didnt like it would be gone by now. Here in the northeast OH is not an issue. LB7's on the other hand would not make enough heat in the winter months.

Out of all three the LLY seems to be what I see the least in drivabilty, check engine light stuff. LBZ's have been a little more of a headache on some early programming issues, but no big deal.

If I was a new buyer im sure I would go with the most updated powertrain. (LBZ) But if I found a good deal on a LLY i would not pass it up.

The LLY only seems to have the overheating issue when pulling a good sized trailer PLUS climbing a hill PLUS high outside temps(over 90). When I say a hill, I don't mean the kind normally seen in central Illinois, I mean a 6% grade. Those of us in AZ and CA seem to have the right combination of these factors and can make our trucks overheat at will. If I only encountered the issue once or twice a year, I could probably live with it. Problem is, I own a 5th wheel trailer and live in Phoenix - we try to get out a couple of times a month to escape the heat. As has been said many, many times during these discussions, we paid high dollar for our trucks and I'm not asking it to do anything it wasn't designed for. I used to have a 2002 GMC with the 8.1 and I could climb the same hills all day long and never see the temp gauge move. That's not the case now and GM needs to either fix the problem or buy back the trucks it can't fix.


Hey when GM buys back all those trucks, can we get the sent to Vermont. ):h Its cold up here.....:D

I'm afraid that by the time GM buys them all back, we'll all be driving levitating vehicles and the LLY's will be museum pieces.

No issues..
Never been in for warranty work other than a re-flash ( because of my exhaust change and to get the fuel filter monitor) and to align the front bumper when brand spanking new.

27K and still very happy.

52k miles on my 04.5....Jan/04 build date, So I guess it was one of the first ones....

No overheating.....

18 mpg.....

I'm happy...

alright you guys are making me feel a little better about the lly. stopped in at the dealer today and now they have $5000 off the price of the lbz because he said he cant move two of them! i find it really hard to believe but anyways thanks for the input about it and you've only made my decision harder:lol: chad

You want to think about this. My local dealer has a brand new 05 Long Bed Crew Cab for sale. I am sure you could swing a very good deal on this truck.

alright you guys are making me feel a little better about the lly. stopped in at the dealer today and now they have $5000 off the price of the lbz because he said he cant move two of them! i find it really hard to believe but anyways thanks for the input about it and you've only made my decision harder:lol: chad


The LLY is a really good engine and those are really good trucks. But if the difference between an LLY and the newer LBZ is only $5000, I'd get the newer one.

what about hte guys with the hot (performance wise) LLY how do they run?? which is bettter there

what about hte guys with the hot (performance wise) LLY how do they run?? which is bettter there

It depends on what you do. If mild mods are all you do then the LB7 is the best. Not much out there yet for the LBZ but it will be. The LLY was sucking hind *** for quite awhile until EFI Live came along, now the hot programers are making it fly. Two of the members here, Idaho Rob and McRat have their LLY's running in the 11's in the 1/4 mile on straight #2. If you were to decide to go with twin turbos, it is my opinion that the LLY is a better turbo from which to build twins due to being able to program the vane angle degree with EFI Live. When you are getting a 7000 lb +/- pickup to do 11 seconds in 1/4 of a mile you have get it humming.:ro)

yes sir, awesome times from McRat

My 2 cents worth....We've got a 2500HD LB7 and a 3500 Dually LLY and love them both! We pull the trailer (33' tag toyhauler) with either one, and really the only difference is the dually feels a little more stable on the highway. Hers (LB7) does get better mileage in town (21 vs. 15). As for the LLY overheating.....we live in Arizona and have never had a single problem, even pulling up I-17 towards Flagstaff in the middle of July.

That's my 2 cents worth.

I am curious as to what temps you are getting on your LLY and what was the OAT, grade or elevation gain and km of your truck. I am having issues with my LLY and feel GM should ship my truck to there testing facility as summer is over, I never experienced any problems until 37000 km but also moved to a warmer climate. Regards

Drove past the local lot today ane they had two LBZ s on the lot. They are out there you just have to look.
Is it Chevy 21?

how are the LB7's reacting with the EFI Live compared to the LLY's??

I love the chevy but hate the LLY. Mine will overheat if I don't baby it and any time its 80 or warmer out and I pull 10,000lbs or more I have to baby it because the EGT's get over 1350. Not all of the LLY's do this but it seems there are several that do. And from what I have heard the EGT's are a problem on most of the stock LLY's if you do any pulling in the mountains.

I like mine:D

I have an LLY(dually) and it's been great except for the fan problem when it's over 90* outside. I am planning on fixing that next week with a TD-EOC from Killerbee. Can't wait.

I have the LLY and have experienced NO problems. Pulling in the mountains or otherwise. THe only time my fan runs when it is hot is a stops, but quits as RPM's increase.

how are the LB7's reacting with the EFI Live compared to the LLY's??

I guess that depends on who you talk to. I think EFI Live has gotten more out of the LLY than the LB7. LLY's were really lagging for a while, takes more efforts and mods to make them run due to the increased emmisions crap on them. You can make the LB7 pretty fast with just a tuner, intake and exhaust.

I have the 06 lly w/6sp and I love it. Just under 6k and could not be happier.
I not as quick off the line as my old truck but you can feel the power. I have not done anything to it yet but exhaust/intake/tuner are in the works along with gauge pod so we'll have to see what happens.....G

2005 LLY, no issues, 27K miles, 6K pound 27-foot travel trailer. No clutch fan noise. Solid.

Just my 2 cents, love my LLY, we have 5-6 on the lot now LBZ's, if I didnt like it would be gone by now. Here in the northeast OH is not an issue. LB7's on the other hand would not make enough heat in the winter months.

Out of all three the LLY seems to be what I see the least in drivabilty, check engine light stuff. LBZ's have been a little more of a headache on some early programming issues, but no big deal.

If I was a new buyer im sure I would go with the most updated powertrain. (LBZ) But if I found a good deal on a LLY i would not pass it up.

Hey,

So for us folks in the north there should be less of a worry buying a used LLY? I am pondering my options, and still cannot decide between LB7 or LLY. But it would be nice to know not to fear getting stuck with a used overheater. Cannot swing the payments on a LBZ, so that is out of the question. I guess the best thing to do is once I find a truck, run the VIN at the GM dealer before I buy it?

Hey,

I guess the best thing to do is once I find a truck, run the VIN at the GM dealer before I buy it?


That is a very good Idea!... Not only for a LLY but also a LB7.. I know of one running around that had 2 sets of injectors and a knock in it.. Running the Vin Number is cheap insurance... Especially since the good people on this forum do it for free!

That is a very good Idea!... Not only for a LLY but also a LB7.. I know of one running around that had 2 sets of injectors and a knock in it.. Running the Vin Number is cheap insurance... Especially since the good people on this forum do it for free!


Hey,

Will a Canadian VIN come up on a dealer computer in the US? That would be awesome if one of the awesome folks here could run it no matter the location?

Hey,

Will a Canadian VIN come up on a dealer computer in the US? That would be awesome if one of the awesome folks here could run it no matter the location?

You betcha..A GM product is a GM product. My truck came out of Canada and checking the VIN was no problem, there was an issue at TTS when programming a new ECM and my dealership one time on a reflash but can remember exactly what it was. It was easily resolved is all I remember.

Well there is not limit on what you can do to an LLY with EFI live and all the other upgrades out on the market. You might as well wait for the 08 with the new body style and more emissions to deal with

Hey,

Will a Canadian VIN come up on a dealer computer in the US? That would be awesome if one of the awesome folks here could run it no matter the location?

Here is the link to the section where you need to post a request... http://dieselplace.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=72

Look over a few of the posts and see how it's done :)