DIY Mods?
 

I am considering buying an '05 Chevy diesel running with a 2wd auto. It is a crew cab with a leather interior and 71,XXX on the clock. The body is straight and clean minus a few scratches. The truck is at the pre-owned section of the Chevy dealership about an hour and a half from my home, but I want to get some info before I use all that fuel going there.


Here is what I am starting this thread for: I was wanting to know what I could do for durability, MPG's, and of course POWER. I know I need to fix the cooling issue and probably add some upgraded intake parts. I am looking for something to rod around town in, haul family and friends, and haul a few horses to the vet every 2-3 months. What do you think I should do, bombers? Should I throw in a huge power tune and a nitro tank in an attempt to break 650 horses for a grand?
http://i.ytimg.com/vi/BXaOvlu6vNA/0.jpg


Should I give it a lift and some nice Alcoas with a more mild tuner for 450 horses?
http://photos.ecarlist.com/ME/Vf/GH/.../wM/xw_640.jpg


Give me your opinions bombers!!

I'd say a mild tune.... 650HP is a LOT for this truck... You'd need to do some serious engine/trans work for that!

650 isnt possible for a grand

I know, it was an exaggeration. I should have put a few grand.


I found a tuner called the Banks Six Gun with Banks IQ that should give me a jump towards my goal. Here is a link to an online one that I did not see until after I ordered it. In this link, click on the online report at the bottom of the page and flip to page 21 to see the power it should be able to give me. Here ya go!Banks Power | 04-05 Chevy/GMC - 6.6L Duramax LLY>>Six-Gun® Diesel Tuner & Speed-Loader®

I did find a nitrous tank and the entire kit for hoses, fittings, controller, etc. for $550 from Jegs racing and it could get me from 50hp-150hp depending on whether I get a few other parts for it from jegs or not. Here is a link to it: NOS Diesel Nitrous System - JEGS

I did some research online and found out this thing makes 315 horses from the factory as it sits. If I get that nitro tank and tuner, I can achieve anywhere from 420-520 horses depending on if I get the extra parts from jegs.

whoa whoa whoa!!!!!!

OK stop where you are and listen!
forget banks crap and forget this nitrous nonsense(you dont need to inject anything to make well over 500hp with a Dmax), ok now thats out of the way lets get started!

with what you're planning I would recommend a PPE hot xcellerator for tuning (or EFI Live if you are willing to learn to tune it) both are about $1000 or so

and you also need to realize that if you add more than 100hp over stock the transmission will not stand up, so if you want over 400hp you need a beefed up trans!!!! and that will cost you about $3500-$5500 depending on how you go

you also should be running a lift pump to keep the CP3(injection pump) happy and supplied with fuel

there are other things but thats at least a start in the right direction:tu:

So far it sounds like your trying to win an Olympic sprint race before you can even walk. I agree with BWR. You can get away with an exhaust and a tuner of your choice (I would recommend a pretuned ecm from Nick at duramaxtuner.com.) They come loaded with tunes that are safe for your stock trans, will run better than any (out of the box) tuner, and costs about $450 if I can remember right. Then you can worry about the trans if you are still hungry for more power. This is the route I will be taking with my 04.5 lly. EFI live will give you some fun while you save for a nice tranny.

Thanks everyone!!! I agreewith what 12vRambo and BrightWhiteRam said, I thinhk if do get something on this line, I will get something along the line of something from ATS. I did find this that might be about what I need to start with: ATS Allison LCT-1000 Complete Transmission I want some opinions on this tranny. Do you think this would be good to start out with? I did notice that it said to call for price. What that REALLY means is to call my banker and ask what kind of mood he is in.:lol88: What do yall think?

In my opinion, ATS is absolute trash.....

you want to buy a complete transmission? buy from suncoast

Sun Coast Diesel Transmissions - GM/Allison LB7 & LLY GMax Transmissions 2001-2005 | Catalog Products | Sun Coast Diesel Transmissions

if you're not afraid to do it yourself you can always buy this
Sun Coast Diesel Transmissions - GM Allison LLY Gmax-5-3 Kit 2004.5-2005 | Catalog Products | Sun Coast Diesel Transmissions

Sun Coast Diesel Transmissions - GM Allison 1057 Torque Converter- Triple Disk 2001-2010 | Catalog Products | Sun Coast Diesel Transmissions

and this
Sun Coast Diesel Transmissions - GM Allison Tech Manual 2001-2010 | Catalog Products | Sun Coast Diesel Transmissions

there are other converter options as well

And PPE makes nice kits to upgrade transmissions as well

Chevy Transmission : Pacific Performance Engineering, Innovations in Diesel Performance

Stay away from ats

X3

I take it ATS is frowned upon in this scenario. I have heard a lot of good thoughts on suncoast, but I am still exploring options at this point. i appreciate everyones help and opinions!! Anyone else??

Not that im for or against ATS but what did they do to get so much negative attention? I though they were a decent company. (However I'm also going to run a suncoast tranny)

From what I remember they were involved in some very nefarious business practices, I heard horror stories about guys running their gear and having it break right away with no honoring of the warranty due to "misuse" of something that was advertized to be able to take abuse....

one guy I know had a lot of issues with his ATS parts as well

not to mention their ratting on other companies to the EPA building emissions deletion kits(this was alleged, but from what I hear about the owner of ATS it is most likely true)

plus there are better products out there for much better prices, and they dont have that ugly purple paint all over them:argh:

Thanks for the information. I had heard mixed feeling about them but I put ATS in a category with Banks as over-rated and over priced products. That being said, the Banks Monster dual exhaust w/ muffler on my dad's 04 LB7 does sound very nice. (Was on truck when bought)

to be honest most all diesel kits sound pretty much the same because they use the same straight through style of muffler, dual systems from anyone else would sound just as good, and cost you less:tu:

Ya probably but it was on there when he bought it so we didn't have much choice there. :w2:

Does anyone know if straight piped Dmaxs sound good? My 17 year old brothers 95 12 valve Do*g$ and my 60 or 70 something neighbors 97 power stroke both have straight piped exhausts on them and I love them both for the deep rumbling sound. Did anyone notice that the powerstroke I mentioned is owned by a 60 something or 70 something year old put a straight pipe on his truck? He is a teenager trapped in an old mans body.

Back to the subject..... Thanks to everyone for their time and info!!!:tu:

I love the way mine sounds

Is there any sound difference between LLY and LBZ?

shouldn't be much, the LLY shares the same Garrett VGT, and thats what really makes the exhaust sound so distinct