Denver Area Shop Recommendations

[aeberhar]

Hello,

After recently spending $1200 at a dealer for a ICP sensor and regulator replacement (boss hog died on I70 at the top of Floyd Hill), I've started to think more seriously about other maintenance upgrades for my truck. At 89k miles on the stock EGR cooler, I'm probably on borrowed time already. I'd like to find a good shop that knows these engines very well and can help me do most (but probably not all) of the upgrades listed here:

Write Up: Bullet-Proofing the 6.0L PSD.

Even in the best of circumstances I don't see how this will be a small bill, so I want to make sure I'm not throwing a lot of money at a poor shop or technician. Does anyone have suggestions (in the Denver area)? BulletProof Diesel recommends Twin Peaks Diesel, but I don't have any prior experience with them.

One thing I'm a little spooked by was this story in Diesel Power. Unfortunately, it doesn't name which shop in Colorado did the initial (totally botched job):

Dream Duramax: 2003 GMC Sierra 2500 - Diesel Power Magazine

Thank you,
Andrew

[colo_dually]

Howdy, there are a few members on the local group that might be able to offer some advice in the matter.

I'll put a link to this in the local Truck Chat thread:
CSP Truck Talk

I'm afraid I've been out to the state so long, I don't have good recommendation for you.

[aeberhar]

Originally Posted by colo_dually

Howdy, there are a few members on the local group that might be able to offer some advice in the matter.

I'll put a link to this in the local Truck Chat thread:
CSP Truck Talk

Thanks! I missed that.

[gaanewman]

Andrew, I don't know how many people have repsonded. But, I like to throw you my 2 cents worth. I take my truck to Keller's automotive in Aurora. They've done good work and will match or beat anybody's quote. I recently (this week) had the front bearing hub replaced. I was quoted 550 by a shop in Parker, I went to Keller's they beat it. I was in and out in less than 1/2 a day. There's 3 shops - Parker, and 2 in Aurora (Smoky Hill and Girard). I use the shop on Girard.

[Stroker7.3]

Diesel Repair and Performance on Pine Lane and Parker rd. the only shop that has ever touched my truck, there lead mechanic worked for ford for twenty years knows almost everything about ford diesels.

[aeberhar]

Thought I'd post a follow up here. As luck would have it, about two months after the first round of repairs mentioned above (ICP sensor and regulator), and after thinking about bulletproofing the other 6.0 trouble spots on my truck, I was forced into action when the EGR cooler blew. The truck didn't show the classic symptoms of EGR failure and the dealer (the closest option that didn't require a tow) told me I needed a new turbo. That didn't sound right to me (or anyone else I talked to). At any rate, I called around for shops that could not only fix the EGR mess (or rather delete it), but also put in a tuner, check out the turbo (just to be safe), and replace the oil cooler.

I'll admit the initial diagnosis of turbo trouble steered me to a shop that did a good volume of turbo swaps (ATS). I didn't really consider ATS seriously until I learned that they'd opened a second location in another garage that specializes in Fords (the main location seemed a little Ram-centric). Technically the shop name is Truck Transmission and Turbo Specialists.

They did an outstanding job fixing the problems. My truck feels better than new. Service and work quality were top-notch. Price was a little steep but overall I felt I got what I paid for and then some.

They did a great job on another repair earlier this year (ball joints, tie rods, etc.). That job was spendy as hell ($2k) not to mention boring (unlike the tuner from the first job), but again they did a great job requiring no return trips for corrections and service was great.

I think it's safe to say there are several great diesel mechanics here in the Denver area and you should choose the one you like based on your own factors, but I guess the one lesson I've learned here above all else is avoid the damn dealer. The Ford Focus mechanic working on your SuperDuty probably doesn't know much more about it than you do. To say nothing of their prices.

Thanks again to everyone who commented here.

[MacDougall]

Originally Posted by aeberhar

Thought I'd post a follow up here. As luck would have it, about two months after the first round of repairs mentioned above (ICP sensor and regulator), and after thinking about bulletproofing the other 6.0 trouble spots on my truck, I was forced into action when the EGR cooler blew. The truck didn't show the classic symptoms of EGR failure and the dealer (the closest option that didn't require a tow) told me I needed a new turbo. That didn't sound right to me (or anyone else I talked to). At any rate, I called around for shops that could not only fix the EGR mess (or rather delete it), but also put in a tuner, check out the turbo (just to be safe), and replace the oil cooler.

I'll admit the initial diagnosis of turbo trouble steered me to a shop that did a good volume of turbo swaps (ATS). I didn't really consider ATS seriously until I learned that they'd opened a second location in another garage that specializes in Fords (the main location seemed a little Ram-centric). Technically the shop name is Truck Transmission and Turbo Specialists.

They did an outstanding job fixing the problems. My truck feels better than new. Service and work quality were top-notch. Price was a little steep but overall I felt I got what I paid for and then some.

They did a great job on another repair earlier this year (ball joints, tie rods, etc.). That job was spendy as hell ($2k) not to mention boring (unlike the tuner from the first job), but again they did a great job requiring no return trips for corrections and service was great.

I think it's safe to say there are several great diesel mechanics here in the Denver area and you should choose the one you like based on your own factors, but I guess the one lesson I've learned here above all else is avoid the damn dealer. The Ford Focus mechanic working on your SuperDuty probably doesn't know much more about it than you do. To say nothing of their prices.

Thanks again to everyone who commented here.

Thanks for the update and a friend of mine uses truck trans and turbo as well and seems to like them as well. I do not like ATS at all so i personally will never use them, but i have heard nothing but good about truck trans and turbo. but with that said i always take my truck to performance wise diesel off of I-70 and ward and they do a fantastic job and do what the can to accommodate you.