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Let’s take a moment and thank the internet for bringing us this exquisite black beauty of a GMC dually to us today. Without the web, we would never have known that New Jerseyite, Nick Wierzbicki, has built one heck of a sweet Duramax! Our search for another great truck led us to the Duramax Forum, where Nick’s build thread was getting a lot of attention. The subject of this thread was his 2008 GMC Sierra 3500HD, which he purchased in late 2014.
We reached out to Nick to get a better picture of the truck and what he’s been doing to it. Suffice it to say, this is one vehicle that showcases diesel enthusiasm — upgrades, upgrades, and more upgrades! Prior to buying the dually, Nick was driving around in a 2005 Silverado. It wasn’t what he truly wanted, as he explained in his thread opener, but Duramaxes were “out of the budget… at least [ones] with less than 200,000 miles.”
To put it mildly, the Silverado was a hooptie. All it had to offer was a blown-up 4L60E, a broken G80 rear locker, and a noticeable engine knock. To say Nick was completely fed up with his pickup would be an understatement. However, he had a stroke of good luck when his girlfriend notified him of a GMC Sierra sitting at a Ford dealership.
Background Of The GMC Sierra Build
“It was a trade-in at the dealership,” explains Nick. “It was supposed to go to a wholesaler on a Friday, but on the following Monday, it was still there. “Later that Monday, I was signing the papers.” At 72,000 miles, fully loaded, and in the CCLB configuration, this GMC was the answer to Nick’s prayers. He traded in his beater Silverado and got the truck.
The GMC Sierra Build Begins
The ink was practically drying on the title transfer, and Nick was already purchasing parts and giving the GMC Sierra a once-over. Most urgent on the to-dos were the rear brakes and seals for the transfer case.
From there, Nick picked up an oil pan and differential cover from MAG-HYTEC, AMP Research Powersteps, WeatherTech floormats, and new oil for the axles and transfer case. The old exhaust was cut out and replaced with an aFe Power exhaust system (later, a FloPro 5-inch straight-pipe exhaust with an MBRP 3-inch downpipe).
Nick’s advice for newbies? “Even with the smallest of budgets, you can have fun,” he said. “It just takes some skills, which can be learned along the way and through research and reading.”
For tuning the Duramax, Nick went with an EFI Live AutoCal, and had Rob Codlins provide specific tunes for the build. An Edge Insight was paired with the AutoCal, as it allows the user to easily switch between tunes (the Insight also works as a gauge to monitor various parameters). For the fuel system, water separation is often an important upgrade, and Nick uses a FASS Titanium kit.
The rear of the truck became a focus point. Here, Nick installed an impressive Diamondback ATV Carrier bedcover. “One of the reasons I bought the dually in the first place was for its payload capacity,” says Nick. “I planned on loading up two ATVs up top, and maybe pulling a camper, too.”
The modular nature of the Diamondback ATV bedcover made it a perfect add-on to the Duramax.
For that purpose, the bed cover was a godsend. It allowed the ATVs to be mounted, and still provide space in the bed for supplies, all without the need for a trailer.
With some lights, fresh front hubs, and a new aluminum driveshaft, Nick was well on his way to creating a masterpiece of a Duramax dually. The young man bought an ATTA 68-gallon undercover transfer tank to fit in the bed, and not long after, a set of MOVE DIY bumpers, which he had powdercoated. Light bars, pod lights, and rock lights were installed to give the bumpers additional utility.
Phase Two Of the Build
Winter set in, but not before Nick scooped up a bevy of new parts, including an SDP Y-bridge, a DDP metal intake, a Banks driver’s side intercooler pipe, new gaskets, ARP bolts, and more. “I also have a set of DRP transmission cooler lines coming,” his post reads. “I’m ordering a PPE transmission cooler soon as well. Prepping for a full EGR delete in the spring, along with going to Big Dipper for a built transmission. I’m getting everything in raw metal so I can get it all powdercoated by my guy, maybe do something cool.”
The bumpers were a particularly interesting chapter in the build. Made by MOVE, these were DIY bumpers that required the builder to complete all welds on his or her own, as well as taking care of paint and holes for wiring. Nick opted for the standard bumpers without push bars, and the end result was quite stunning.
After spring came, Nick took his Duramax to Limitless Diesel loaded up with underhood upgrades. “My back seat was loaded up,” he said. “I had a full SDP EGR delete with Y-bridge, PPE trans cooler, DDP trans cooler lines, LB7 up-pipe, MBRP 3-inch downpipe, ARP bolts for the up-pipe, all new gaskets, DDP PCV reroute, and a few other small things.”
Nick went to Limitless Diesel to get his engine taken care of.
Nick went and got the transmission overhauled like he planned, and was impressed with how well the truck ran. Not long after, the DDP 4-inch intake and Banks boost pipe were installed onto his GMC Sierra. Now, it was time to look at getting the truck lifted.
Nick opted for a six-inch lift from Zone Offroad, and went ahead and purchased new Moog upper control arms, Energy Suspension bushings, Rare Parts tie rods, idler and pitman arms, Bilstein steering stabilizer, and an Air Lift LoadLIFTER 5000 air spring system. Along with these upgrades were the new tires – 34-inch Goodyear Wrangler Duratracs.
The steering parts of the truck were removed; whether they came quietly or loudly depended on the part, but they all came out. Nick did all of the work on his own and got the truck looking drab to fab in a matter of days. “It was a lot of work,” he said. “I wouldn’t try it again on my own. A second set of hands would have made things ten times easier and much quicker.”
The truck as it stood around late October 2016. Already installed were the Air Lift LoadLifter 5000 air springs, Zone Offroad six-inch lift kit, Rare Parts steering upgrades, Energy Suspension bushings, and more.
Final Points
Nick had several acknowledgments to make for the success of the Duramax. “I’d like to first thank Evan at Limitless Diesel Performance in Dalton, Massachusetts for the transmission and installation of several parts. Move Bumpers, for putting together awesome DIY bumper kits. Diamondback Bedcovers, for building the best and most innovative bedcovers in the industry. JT Powder Coating, for excellent work on the powder coating. Main Event Emblems, for awesome custom emblems for the little extra pop on my truck. And FASS, for creating an awesome solution for fuel starvation and lack of filtration.”
