03 LB7 Duramax, Tell me what I need!
 

I just purchased a 2003 GMC Sierra 2500HD extended cab. It has 195,000 miles on it and is bone stock. It runs like a top, the Allison shifts smooth as can be, and looks like it just came off of the show-room floor. It has never pulled a thing in it's life, but that is about to change. I won't be pulling huge loads, just a stock trailer with some calves in it about once a month. I am wanting to do a little bit to the truck, not necessarilly for the pulling, nothin too ridiculous though. I've heard good things about a PPE programmer or maybe the ATS. I am putting a 4 inch straight pipe on it and probably will get a cold air intake. It would be nice to be able to roll some smoke too. I'm just looking for a little advice from anyone that is willing to give it.

EFI Live would be a good thing to look into. maybe a lift pump. it all depends on what YOU want :tu:

welcome to DB

efi live, ppe, banks, bully dog, quadzilla, hypertech, superchips, or any small little programmer will so also, untill the big bites you lol

the intake can be modded for free.

I have the same year truck. But a single cab ZF-6 tranny. I have had great experience with the predator programmer, a BD flowmax lift pump, straight pipe exhaust, and a Brute Force intake. Lots more turbo sound, a fair bit of smoke for tail gaters, and loads of power (for the amount of cash) Full throttle launches in 2wd are useless(blows the tires off) just IMO.

PS: I will tell you from experience, no matter how flashy it looks....don't go with edge. I spent about 4 weeks just trying to get the juice w/ attitude to work and then I gave up.

i like my superchips flashpaq for mine. i do same as u, little towing but mainly dd.

only reason i went witht he flashpaq is i got it off craigslist for 100 bucks.

no smoke unless i stop on it from a stop with the flashpaq turned all the way up. and even then it is just a puff.


i also would do the intake mod to the stock box. works well, little more turbo sound after i put the drop in k&n in it too.

You must of had a bad unit. The edge is very simple and only takes a couple of hours to install (Running the pyro takes the longest). I have been using my edge for two years now and am very satisfied with it :tu:

I had the same problem with the edge with attitude on 6spd.:humm: Ive also ran Bully Dog and now have a PPE. Ill personally never get away from PPE unless of course I go EFI live.:tu:

hands down go with efi live if u want big power

i had hypertech not a very good programer im tuned with EFI Live now and i love it

idk i have the edge with the attitude i think it took me like an hour to hook it up 4 plug ins and run a wire to the cab the egt wire definatly takes the longest. 4 what you say you want the chip for i would say go with the edge its a good chip for your money and it power at your fingertips with the attitude monitor. the ppe and ats programers are good but there not on the fly ajustment witch would be something you would like. and efi live is way up there with the big power and need to no what your doing with it or it can really f*** stuff up. i mean thats just my opinion. hope this helps

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i have also found a website www.kennedydiesel.com and there they have a bunch of things that modify your stock parts to make them better some of them are mods to the air intake and fuel pump and in my opion help out quite a bit considering they dont cost anything and are just upgrading parts you already have.

air intake is easy and its a good mod.

the fuel pump mod can ruin your day if you dont know what you are doing.

Ive got a slightly used PPE Economy Programmer for your truck.


Luke

thats def true idk i never tried the fuel upgrade i have a fass system but would still like to tackle it sometime soon.

Go with some EFI tuning, lift pump...I would recommend a air dog for the extra filters, S&B intake will be your best bet for the price, 4" or 5" exhaust..4 is fine though, some gauges to watch it all and you should be set. If you want to get a little bit more into it, upgrade your transmission so you can put more then 90 extra horses on it, and get your front end solid. From there you can call it good

I modified my air box (kennedy) and now my filter just plugs with bugs and snow when it is falling. I have a windshield washer fluid bottle I cut up in front of it now to keep the bugs out. It plugged so hard with snow in a blizzard the it shattered the top of the MAF sensor.

If all you want is to hear the turbo whine plug the resonator off.

For just towing don't add too much more power unless you plan on upgrading the TC and Transmission.

When the front steering wears out upgrade it if you plan on keeping the truck for awhile. I recommend exaxt because that is what I used. I haven't had the alignment adjusted in over 50k and that is with driving on washboarded gravel roads all the time.

Search for transfer case rub. Read the horror stories then order a kit to fix it.

Save up for when the injectors go bad. They will. It is a matter of when not if.

[QUOTE=bftrain;593365]I modified my air box (kennedy) and now my filter just plugs with bugs and snow when it is falling.QUOTE]

wow iv never heard of that i have no problems with it mine works great. im also pushing a 125 hp over stock right now and my tranny is still holding up so i mean you dont really have to worry about that right now those allisons can take a lot. but i would at least look at putting tie rod sleeves in there relatively inexpencive and help out your front end alot.

i wouldnt say the allison can take alot, the torque converter cant handle big power, and the stock clutch packs cant take much more torque either :s:

i tuned one of my friends trucks and he makes 400hp on his lly, it can take some power, but sometimes it cant take the driver lol

lol ya im pushing 425 hp and want to jump it up to 550 hp but i no the tranny wont take that

You guys must be lucky. I limped mine the first WOT run I did on a +75 tune.

ya idk iv had good luck idk well see how much more it can take i just got the hot unlock code for my edge juiced i have 2 pulls left this year that i want to hit up and maybe a couple more well see how much more it can take. the ats isn't planned till over the winter or early spring after plowing.