thanks for all the kind words guys... i made it to new york and just got internet back tonight... the truck is still sitting at jim hudson gmc in columbia and will be getting another new engine... i cant believe how this has all gone down
right now im still not sure if i will even bring the truck to new york or just buy a beater to make it through up here... i really hate to put a rust free southern truck through all the damn salt etc but i still might... the drive up here in a uhaul was less than ideal but i made it with all of my stuff...
as for the new engine letting go, i was driving up 26 and the check engine light started flashing... a couple miles later, i was going up an incline and the trans shifted out of overdrive- understandable towing a 6x12 enclosed trailer up an incline- and when it shifted again the thing revved to ~5k and then shut off... coasted into the rest area 6 miles west of 77 and when i tried to restart the engine it was basically locked up... i let it sit for a few minutes and got it to crank but it was the same thing as the 6.0... 20lbs of oil pressure and knocking... by the time i got it off of the roll back, it wouldnt even turn over due to the amount of load required to turn it over, it just killed the lights and clicked... dealer confirmed the bearings went to shit and told me it would have to come out again... tried to stick me with labor claiming a parts-only warranty and i told them to go blow themselves and that they needed to fix it and no other answer would suffice... and the saga continues... one day, i'll drive it again! lol