mods??? what next
 

2003 6.0 120,000. daily driver. Egr delete (freeze plugs in the old cooler, 3,000 miles ago), new oil cooler (3,000 miles ago), cleaned turbo with egr/oil cooler, upgraded egr cooler to oil cooler hose (orange to blue), blue spring mod (today), zoodad (today) ordered fuel filter today. 4 inch mbrp turbo back. I have gauges but have not installed them (oil temp, water temp).

Problems so far... coolant puke from egr cooler to oil cooler. replaced that and deleted egr cooler and upgraded oil cooler at the time, also cleaned turbo. ficm is going and maybe an injector?? rough start, puff white smoke only when cold, but that's it. idles at about 500 rpm. feels like a lose of power compared to my 05 6.0

what I want to do.... chip, stud, gauges.

question for everyone.... worth putting my gauges in? or buying a edge cts to monitor things, since I plan on chipping. what's everyone's opinion if I throw a sct x3 with custom tunes with the cts without studs?? Also would you stud before a chip, or chip run until a bolt stretches, than stud after?? what other mods would anyone suggest? thinking about the ccv mod.. and possibly upgrading to the 58 volt ficm...

open for any suggestions, comments, insults to my theory's. im new to this thread

SCT with gearhead tunes only way to go IMO and studs would be smart but I've been running SCT custom tunes on my 06 for years no problems with head gaskets so far also I would recommend switching to synthetic oil if you want to put cold air on it it won't make much of a power diff but easer to deal with than factory air box

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Also CCV mod I wasn't Impressed with on mine and took it off 58 volt FICM is also a nice add on :)

I will be testing the ficm tomorrow, but I am pretty sure that bad boy is causing me problems. Does the upgraded ficm really make a difference?? I also heard you need to get them tuned??

And the 05 has a cold air filter on it, and I don't like how dirty that filter gets all the time.

Also what tunes did you get with the stock head bolts? I'm looking for a little more power, without doing to much damage.... and are you running any gauges?? if so what kind

I'm runnin street tunes and extream street tunes from innovative diesel right now on it but my buddy got gearhead tunes on his 2003 and I like the way the drive better than my IDP tunes he also ran IDP tunes and there good but gearhead is better, I believe IDP sells a hot 58 volt FICM that's flashed and ready to drop in truck you WILL need to tell the custom tune guys that you are running a 58 volt FICM yes not a noticble power increase but truck seems to run smother and better fuel mileage goes good with custom tunes, I run auto meter gauges trans temp EGT boost and fuel pressure make sure to buy fuel pressure gauge lack of fuel is detrimental to injectors