I would delete egr if your state doesn't check and definitely get studs if you want to tune. If you do not have any problems with head gaskets leaking you may be able to just delete egr and mild tune. Then remember push it real hard you going to hurt it but play easy probably fine. Bulldog193 probably loving truck now! That's good bulletproof update!

 

Still have a few more upgrades to do; coolant filter, blue spring, and a set of gauges (either scangauge or edge insight). Truck is running great but I have noticed a longer cold start with a puff of black smoke, don't want to hijack this thread with that issue though.

 

I was thinking that I am going to get an EGR delete/oil cooler kit ASAP, but was wondering if I should also have gaskets and studs done. I would not run a tune until I got the studs and gaskets done, just wondering if anything else was recommended at this time. I would have to buy a tuner to tell the truck that the EGR is deleted right?

 

How long are you planning on keeping this truck and how are you going to use it, heavy towing or daily driver? Do you want to run a tune or are you happy with the stock power?

I plan on keeping my truck for several years and the $5000 that i spent on everything was ony going to cover around 4 or 5 months of payments on a new 6.7.
My truck is really just a daily driver right now going back and forth to classes, but in the summer it gets worked a little harder and I occasionally have to tow a piece of equipment or something. While the mecchanic and service manager didnt push me into doing studs they did say that if it was theirs they would stud it.
As far as the CEL from and EGR delete, it has been around 250 miles since I got mine back and I dont have a check engine light. I dont have a way to check codes on my own yet but the only way to clear the EGR CEL is with an SCT tunner, by using the SCT to turn off the CEL you are not loading a tune onto the truck. The SCT is around $350 from what I've seen so if it does throw a code I will hold off and just deal with the light being on for a while.

 

I am either going to keep the truck for a couple months, or like 10 years.... no where in between... depends on how it runs.... how could i check to see if the head gaskets are good or not right now? if the head gaskets are not good I would plan on doing studs while I got the head gaskets done... I think EGR delete is #1 on the list right now

 

There is a way to tap into the coolant return line that runs from the radiator to the degass bottle. There are several videos on youtube showing how to do this and what the gauge readout should be. By watching the gauge as you drive you can determine from the pressure if the head gaskets are failing or if the egr is cracked.