Okay ya'll... in the next month or so I am going to be purchasing a 4" turbo back with 5" Tip, transgo jr and a new programmer. I currently run stock exhaust minus the muffler, and a Bully Dog Triple Dog Programmer.

I've heard that EFI and PPE are the best as far as power goes. My question is for those of you that have upgraded your trucks already with the same things Im wanting to do to mine. What is a trouble free, easy install 4" turbo back exhaust? What can I expect to pay for the system?

Also, is there any benefit either way with PPE vs EFI? Is there any way for someone else to create a program for the EFI and send to me to upload to my programmer? Is there a considerable price difference in the two tuners? Im just concerned with hurting my tranny. And Im worried that I wont be able to create tunes that are worth a crap on my own.

And my last concern, is a transgo jr kit enough to protect my tranny from the PPE or EFI? Or should I also get a converter.

To help with your answers here is a lil about my driving style.. I pull a camper back and forth 300 miles at a time. So I need to be able to have a tow/haul tune available. But when Im not pulling my camper I like to go fast.. acceleration that is.. I try not to run too much over 120 or 130 since my truck on 33's dont handle that great at those speeds.. but I like to do burnouts, and making smoke when I pass people is something I like to do.. With that said, Im really asking for expierenced opinions, rather than just opinion. Thanks in advance ya'll.

 

Exhausts are pretty easy to install, the part part is just getting the stock one off, if you got a sawzall it makes a world of difference. probably the most difficult part is getting the down pipe clamp loose since it is in a tight spot. and greasing the rubber things so the exhaust hangers can slide in easier.

Pricing on the exhaust is truly up to what you want($250-750), i have a 5 inch MBRP aluminumized exhaust for nearly a year and no signs of rust, but i do live in Texas. Theres also the full stainless steel exhausts that have life time warranty and is real easy to clean, but all you really see is the tail pipe anyway. If you want loud, get a turbo back with out a kitty, some times it can throw codes, some times it might now, but theres an easy solution to that called a finger stick. or tune it out with PPE or EFI.

speaking of finger stick its a good idea to block the EGR too.


A transgo jr. kit is fairly cheap and labor is only like 1 hr if you have a shop do it. People have held 500 hp with just a t-go kit so ive heard. If your looking into a converter a suncoast 1057 (mcRat) converter is one of the best for going fast, i wish i had one sometimes. There is actually a good deal on them right now i know of.


PPE is a great tuner, it has a real fast d/l time and the tune and power are great. EFI live is a great programmer, if your looking into it id say buy it from McRat, you wont be tuning it alone, even though when you first read the truck it may look intimidating, theres plenty of people who know what they're doing that are always willing to help.



Well i did soem chatting with The Man, and he said so you might need some more upgrades for reliability reasons, in the 500hp range

 

hope this helps a little

 

if you really want to romp on the throttle all you want a SCIII or a SCIV with a 1057 converter

 

OK just my 2cents..The MBRP duals seem to fit perfect, I really like there band clamps..Now on the programmers. I think the best choice for them is PPE if u want plug and play, or EFI, If u are pc savy and have time to mess with it,, or a good connection with multipule tunes that work. I would say they are the ultimate dmax tuner...For ur tranny ..The transgo jr. will hold some awesome power with a stock tq in 1-4 but after that i would worry, depending on ur hp setting. I have mine on level 4 with PPE HOT +2 which i think is 225 engine hp...On my dashawk there is no slip from 1-4 and i have defueling on.. but i have noticed in 5th the tq slip starts so i back off...no limp yet, but it it only a matter of time if i don't get the SCIV, soon .ok now on to ur Bullydog. I had one in my 05lly ..No probs really, except everytime i checked the CODES

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OOOPS WRONG BUTTON.......I had a 1621 never failed. I have since learned this was almost with every truck that had them..Sorry long winded here. One more thing with a Bullydog pg is the adjustable tunes. It is fine to go from a big tune to a small tune but from a small tune to a big tune ur tranny should go thro the relearn process..with EFI AND PPE u have this function....

 

if your thinking of getting the ppe, id suggest that you look into the ats e power it is the same as the hot + 2 but it only costs $500. i thought that may help a bit.

 

Well this thread is a couple of months old, and since I first posted this, I have sold my Bullydog, and I have already installed a 4" MBRP Turbo Back staright pipe, and done te airbox mod, and a few other things..


As far as a programmer, the PPE is great.. I dont know much about the ATS E-Power.. Thanks for the info tough ya'll!

 

So KC, i was just wondering how you know the PPE is great?

 

lets call it "Research"

 

Keep in mind that EFI Live is NOT for the beginner and requires that you have a lot of intimate knowledge of how a modern turbo diesel engine functions and what all the sensors do as well as there associated units of measure. PPE is by far the best plug and play programmer for the Duramax that yields some big numbers. DirtyMax was running an off the shelf PPE tuner when they ran into the 8's. For a daily driver that see's time at the track this is the best way to go. If you have knowledge of ECM tuning and want to build monster tunes and arent afraid to make a mistake then jump on EFI Live. Just remember to take baby steps or you'll start breaking stuff purdy quick.

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Its actually not the same. The ATS and PPE worked together on the units so the ATS models have less features and the hot tuning isnt as strong as the PPE. Hence the lower cost.