Where did you learn about the Duramax? [Archive]

mdrag

12-08-2004, 17:38

I first heard about the Duramax while reading Motor Trend - the Silverado HD was MT's 2001 TOTY. I was considering the 8.1L, and Motor Trend got me interested in the Duramax with statements like this:

"We've already extolled many of the (402 cu-in.)
Duramax 6600's virtues, but it will make believers out of many diesel naysayers. Its 0-
60-mph time of 8.4 sec (in 4x4 trim) is only one-tenth slower that the (4x2) 8100 V-
8, while delivering about twice the real-world mpg. In our overall testing, it returned
about 18 mpg versus the 8100's 9-10 mpg. That's impressive!..."

I found TDP forums, and ordered a Dmax a few months later... :D

Kennedy

12-08-2004, 18:25

Right here on The DieselPage. Actually saw "The Duramax Power Tour" when they stopped by MP's place in MT at for the Rendezvous in 2000!

Steve Rapp

12-08-2004, 18:46

Neighbor bought one and I ended up going on a 1200 mile road trip towing a loaded car trailer through the California grapevine and Grants Pass and after seeing the truck, with the AC on pulling these grades with no increase in engine temp passing most who were crawling up the hill, I was sold on this truck! Was referred to this site by another site after asking where to read about the Duramax.

Rock

12-08-2004, 21:00

...from a friend who has an 02 D/A. Used it to pull our atv trailer...had stars in my eyes after witnessing its performance over in the Rockies. Never skipped a beat. Passing 6 cylinder SUV's pulling a trailer up the mountain passes...it was beautiful...had to have one for myself. Traded in an S10 ZR2 manual for the new rig. Face hurts from smiling every day I get to drive it.

DonG

12-08-2004, 21:53

I heard about the Duramax from a GM Magazine I received at the time since I owned a 1998 GMC. I was looking for more towing capacity so I started to research the Duramax.

The Diesel Page provided much data for my research. I have not been sorry.

Don

Phase 3

12-08-2004, 21:56

I knew about the Max...found your site and called you for the scoop!

DarylB

12-09-2004, 04:53

The dieselpage back when it was the www.62-65-dieselpage (http://www.62-65-dieselpage) or something along those lines.

Chris Curran

12-09-2004, 05:02

I didn't "find out" about the Duramax - it found me. I was getting some warranty service on my previous truck when I saw Goliath sitting on the lot. Once I drove it, that was it. Never heard the word "Duramax" before I read it on the truck. I found TDP via Google.

crafty

12-09-2004, 06:12

I heard about the Duramax in the fall of 99 at a big farm show. I was driving a 86 half ton with a 6.2 4 spd and I wanted to replace it. GM had a display there and the factory reps told me about the new engine that was coming out the next fall. My choice then became, do I wait till then to buy a truck or take a 6.5 in a 2000 model. As you all know, I waited and the rest is history. Great truck General Motors!!!!!! :D :D :D

KODA

12-09-2004, 06:59

Right here on the good ol Diesel Page :D :D

Heartbeat Hauler

12-09-2004, 09:49

Ditto. I was driving a '94 7.4L CC dually and looking for a gasser website. Lo & behold I now have my Dmax.....and there was much rejoicing.
JP

crew84

12-09-2004, 11:51

Right here on the Diesel Page from the get-go.

Inspector

12-09-2004, 12:36

Here :D :D :D

Jomar

12-09-2004, 17:53

Heard rumors back in the late 90`s. Heard there was one out on the road for testing with the old body style but with a Cat. engine in it, but would be too expensive to change front end in new body style. One came into the Chevy dealer in Grand Juction, Co. after coming over Loveland Pass, to have some repair to the clutch. It was pulling a trailer and GCW was 17,000 #. It was the 99 body style with the Durmax engine. The Techs who worked on it said there had been no problems with the engine, and I didn`t asked where the test had started. In late 99, if I remember correctly, before the dealers could order them, I was invited to a demo. at Sea World here in San Antonio and got to drive one pulling a 7500 # trailer, and one with the bed loaded to capacity. From then on I was hooked, but waited for the 02`s before buying one. My son had bought an 01, and he told me about the Diesel Page. The rest is enjoyable history.

BMDMAX

12-09-2004, 18:39

Dealership and trade rags.

a bear

12-09-2004, 19:32

Ran across it while reading a farming magazine.

pontiac_m18

12-10-2004, 22:42

I was at work when the rumors started & I sought th3em out & got to see some of the first one at the plant= Pontiac East. Howard_m18 :rolleyes:

AB_DURAMAX

12-11-2004, 11:04

The Duramax Power Tour....then found The Diesel Page.

OC_DMAX

12-11-2004, 17:05

First in Motor Trend Magazine (Truck of the Year)

and then on "The web".... here at The Diesel Page.

D-MAX

12-11-2004, 19:31

Dealership, Hammer Chevrolet Sheridan Wyo.
I was just about to buy a Ford F350 4X4 Diesel when I was told about the New Chevy Duramax .............. How Sweet It Is ;)

Seattle Steve

12-11-2004, 22:32

GM's website, then learned MUCH more here when researching.

Dewey Faircloth

12-12-2004, 12:40

Heard right here,read and listened.
Now very happy to own one.

WE SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!!!!

WLucas

12-12-2004, 13:31

Right here on the Diesel Page. Also saw the Duramax at the 2000 Rendezvous in MT.
Bill Lucas

MICKD

12-13-2004, 05:15

I searched the internet and found this site, spent about 6 months reading here and magazines. Bought one, been very happy with the truck since :cool:

WanaDmxsub

12-13-2004, 09:12

Here

Madd Max

12-13-2004, 18:22

From the salesman who sold me my 99 6.0 2500, back in May of 99. I loved that truck alot until test drove the D/A May of this year. WOW I traded my 99 the same day. :D :eek: tongue.gif

lineman

12-14-2004, 09:48

Here on the Diesel Page!.....Lineman

BlackMax 2001

12-14-2004, 12:41

From a friend at work. Bought the first one sold at the dealership. Haven't regetted it yet.

motovet

12-14-2004, 13:46

Right here of course!

Idahobidcaller

12-16-2004, 10:28

I was web surfing about 5 or 6 years ago and I came across a concept truck at a carshow site. I was either a GMC or Chev but had sliding doors, storage boxes in the bed walls with outside access and something called a Duramax. I think the 4-door truck was also called Duramax. It had some rather futuristic lines and the body resembled the current Escalade. The forward sliding front doors were different, I imagine that autoclosers would have been included. I later heard about the D/A combo comming out in crew cab HD trucks and had to have one. I still have the original truck, it only has about 57,000 miles, and runs like a top.

KGS

12-20-2004, 09:34

From right here on the DP, back in '00 :cool:
Was a member trying to squeeze more out of my 6.5td :rolleyes:
Now an '02 D-max owner w/ Juice and Attitude :D

ibelyea

12-20-2004, 20:26

Why Here, Of course!!!

Ken05Dmax

12-21-2004, 09:40

Hello All. I am new to posting on the board, but have been lurking for the past four years. All of your comments over the years are what helped me to decide on the DMAX. Thank you all . . .

I first came across the D/A at the GM Truck Show in Motion held in about 2000 at the old El Toro Air Base in Southern California. Once I saw it, and the Allison, perform on the portable dyno, I was hooked.
My first real one (another story for another time) was a 2003 EC LT 4X4 which my son now has in Utah. I now have a 2005 EC LT 4X4 that I use to pull my 30ft Montana 5th wheel, 20ft dump trailer, 28ft enclosed cargo hauler, and 23ft equipment hauler.

Fantastic Trucks. . .

I look forward to conversing with all of you . . .

Ken
(KB6KKW)

More Power

12-28-2004, 12:56

The Duramax 6600 design concept came together in early 1996. I first heard of the engine in June of 1997. An OEM (not GM) reported that he believed the engine was 6.3L or 6.4L, and had aluminum heads. He knew of several test engines that were currently running at GM's Romulus engineering center. Info trickled in through the remaining months of 1997, culminating with a TDP editorial entitled "The Isuzu 2000 Project" that appeared here in January of 1998.

As an aside, GM shipped several 90's C/K body style pickups without engines to Japan in 1997. Many of those were turned into test mules, with some making their way back to the US. We received a few odd reports from TDP members in 1998 of GM pickups in the southwest that had odd sounding diesel engines.

In early 1999, I received a comprehensive GM document on the new Duramax 6600. I saw the engine for the first time in October of 1999, in that I got to test drive a couple of their early production protoypes right here in Montana. smile.gif

MP

[ 12-28-2004, 12:43 PM: Message edited by: More Power ]

OC_DMAX

12-28-2004, 13:32

So what do your "sources" tell you about model years 2006 and 2007 for the DMAX? The big change being in 2007 with the next emission step. Things have been kind of steady state. Looks like they need to update the Allison and then bump the HP/TQ.

I was at a Christmas party several weeks ago. Started a conversation with an engineer who works for Garrett in Torrance, CA. From the turbo perspective, they are changing some of the materials for 2007. Seems GM is spec'ing a higher EGT that the Garrett VVT turbo on the LLY will need to handle. I could speculate what the higher EGT's are about, but I will wait.

He also mentioned that Ford/IH will no longer be using the Garrett VVT turbo in 2007. They are going to a twin turbo set-up by Borg Warner. Things could get interesting.

More Power

12-28-2004, 14:04

I would bet that the current Garrett gets a refit. A stock LLY can routinely generate up to 1400 degrees EGT or a little more, which is rare for an LB7. The diesel industry is trying to avoid high exhaust/combustion temperatures due to NOX generation.

My guess is the Garrett needs to flow more at high power levels. This could also have something to do with the somewhat higher engine coolant temperatures seen in the LLY. As you may know, the LLY got a smaller fan pulley, which increases fan speed. Since the EGR is essentially disabled above 211 degrees engine temp, I doubt that contributes the higher average temperatures.

I really haven't heard much about 2007 emissions certified 6600's, except to say that GM has had running examples for nearly two years - running on imported diesel fuel.

Not to change the subject, but I've heard that Ford is getting a replacement for the 6.0L - to go along with the twin turbo setup.

MP