Safe affordable power

[Kdmann64]

I just bought my first Deisel. So far I love it.
My buddies have power strokes with the banks kit.
I want to add a lot of power to make it tow and fly. I want safe power though, i plan on keeping this truck for a really long time. So how can get the most bang for the buck and still be safe on my engine and tranny.
I want an intake, exhuast, and programmer at least. What should I buy? Should I just break down and buy the big hoss bundle and be done with it?

[K5Fury]

That would be a great start. The Banks kit isn't bad. You buy their bundle kit and pretty much get all of that in one shot.

[foreman00081]

try the hypertech power programmer, they claim it to be the safest tuner on the market because you can tow up to maximum towing capacity on all three levels of tuning safely. i got it for my dmax and set it for level 3(highest level) and man what a difference, this truck had balls before tuning but afterwards it immediatly felt like a different truck, the pickup is incredible and it pulls and hauls anything effortlessly. and so far, no engine lights and no noticable trans slippage or anything like that.

[Kdmann64]

If i went with hypertech or edge or something what is the best exhaust and intake for the money, though i read on one topic that the stock intake is really good. I like the banks because it is a ram air intake. but i bet its pretty expensive. how much is the hypertech programmer?

[foreman00081]

i got my hypertech on sale from www.truckaddons.com for $280 and it was the best money ive ever spent as far as bang for the buck. then i got an AEM brute force intake on ebay cause i came across one brand new for like 150 bucks. the intake didnt really give a big power gain but it did help to smooth out the power delivery and the truck seems to get up and go a little better and it sounds cool too. exhaust is next on the list but i havent been able to figure out which one to get. i know i want duals cause they look cool but there are so many different brands its hard to choose. pick up a copy of diesel power magazine, they have a good write up of the banks dual system on a dodge this month and they always have a lot of good info on the dmax's

If I remember right bullydog had a kit out that would automatically detune the truck if it started slipping the tranny. This would help the trans survive for a long while obviously, but the most important thing is you're never making more power than you can actually use, because once the trans is slipping all the power doesn't matter.

[B-rad]

the Diablosport predator is the best bang for the buck programmer for your LB7.the hypertech is alright but the predator is much better in my opinion.modify your stock intake it will be better than a aftermarket unit.The pinnacle power/Jardine exhaust off ebay is a nice exhaust for the money. i paid $305.00 shipped for mine and its turbo back. took me about 40-45 minutes to put it on

[dozerboy]

Originally Posted by chevy_man

If I remember right bullydog had a kit out that would automatically detune the truck if it started slipping the tranny.

But by that time it’s to late the damage is done. Relying on a tuner that has detuned shifts is a bad idea.

Originally Posted by B-rad

the Diablosport predator is the best bang for the buck programmer for your LB7.the hypertech is alright but the predator is much better in my opinion.modify your stock intake it will be better than a aftermarket unit.The pinnacle power/Jardine exhaust off ebay is a nice exhaust for the money. i paid $305.00 shipped for mine and its turbo back. took me about 40-45 minutes to put it on

X2

[LostBoy]

Originally Posted by dozerboy

But by that time it’s to late the damage is done. Relying on a tuner that has detuned shifts is a bad idea.

Most power-adders w/ a monitor will limit trans slip to some extent. If they could predict trans slip that'd be helpful, but since you're causing damage as soon as you start to slip essentially you're just limiting the damage done, by no means avoiding it. And once you slip your tranny, it only gets easier & easier to do it again.

[maclean]

I've heard for a long time that for every HP you add you loose a little bit of engine and power train life. Something Ten yrs off your life from smoking. Has anyone hit high milage on there Duramax's yet with a tuner? Also if a person had a tuner set to the roof but drove sensible (somewhat) whould it still wreek havic on you'r trans? Thanks Guys.

[GetMore]

Originally Posted by maclean

I've heard for a long time that for every HP you add you loose a little bit of engine and power train life. Something Ten yrs off your life from smoking. Has anyone hit high milage on there Duramax's yet with a tuner? Also if a person had a tuner set to the roof but drove sensible (somewhat) whould it still wreek havic on you'r trans? Thanks Guys.

Yes, the more power you use the more stress and wear on the engine, drivetrain, and other parts. Proper maintenance is important to help everything last longer. I don't know what the curve for power vs. longevity is. Remember that it is the amount of power that you use that is important. If you double the power the engine will put out, but never use more power than you did with the engine stock, the life should be the same.

As for the trans, yes, if you drive it sensibly you won't have any problems. FWIW, I know someone with an '01 that has gotten his truck to do 12 second quarter mile times. He launches in 4WD for traction, and he has put the tranny into limp mode due to slipping. Aim for 13 seconds or higher and you shouldn't have any problems, even if you have to use all that power.
Also, the Allison transmission is very strong, and the ECU for it is rather intelligent. If it senses slippage it goes into limp mode to keep it from slipping more and getting damaged. Turning the truck off and then back on again takes it back out of limp mode. They are a lot more forgiving than you might think.

If you want to go further you can have the tranny upgraded to hold more power. You will probably have to upgrade other parts on the truck at that point as well.

[LostBoy]

Originally Posted by GetMore

Yes, the more power you use the more stress and wear on the engine, drivetrain, and other parts. Proper maintenance is important to help everything last longer. I don't know what the curve for power vs. longevity is. Remember that it is the amount of power that you use that is important. If you double the power the engine will put out, but never use more power than you did with the engine stock, the life should be the same.

As for the trans, yes, if you drive it sensibly you won't have any problems. FWIW, I know someone with an '01 that has gotten his truck to do 12 second quarter mile times. He launches in 4WD for traction, and he has put the tranny into limp mode due to slipping. Aim for 13 seconds or higher and you shouldn't have any problems, even if you have to use all that power.
Also, the Allison transmission is very strong, and the ECU for it is rather intelligent. If it senses slippage it goes into limp mode to keep it from slipping more and getting damaged. Turning the truck off and then back on again takes it back out of limp mode. They are a lot more forgiving than you might think.

If you want to go further you can have the tranny upgraded to hold more power. You will probably have to upgrade other parts on the truck at that point as well.

I agree for the most part w/ your 1st paragraph, not so much w/ the rest. In general (rule of thumb, not 1-size-fits-all) the stock allison is good for about 100 ft/lbs torque increase over stock.

It will go into limp mode if it senses slippage, but that by no means keeps it from getting damaged. As soon as you experience significant slippage (enough to throw it into limp mode), you're causing damage. Limp mode limits the extent of damage done by not allowing you to continue slipping for a long period of time, but is not an all-out protection in that it doesn't prevent an initial slip.

If you limp it once, you just made it a great deal easier to do it again.

[GetMore]

I'll agree with you. What you say makes sense.

FWIW, I think the '01 I was talking about has an exhaust, intake, and three tuning boxes, but is otherwise stock. For normal driving he only uses one tuning box. It's still rather impressive at that point, but I think the '06 is about equal to that, now.

[joshgoetz11]

I have a 04 and the best programmer so far for the My truck is the bundle kit from banks. Ive had the edge and was alright but decided wanted more power, also my cousin has the edge and jsut a couple months ago it gave up on him and some serisous issues occured to his truck. Across the street from me a guy that works for bullydog has a duramax and cummins, the duramax has yet come close to being able to keep up the cummins on the other hand does but he has it re-geared and tranny done. Edge is an awesome power programmer for dodge and POS ford, but as for duramax go with Banks or PPE. I got my truck dyno and im putting out about 450+ hosepower and around 880 ft torque at the rear wheels. Now yes that is a little to much for the allison, but at the same time if your ever towing the best levels for the banks is around level 3 and 4, daily driving i have it on 3. ricer or other deisel or the foumas hemi thats seems to not put out much in my mine(had one done that, and done with it for good) i put on level 6 and smoke everyone away.. Banks is aweosme for race and towing, i have a 40 weekend warrior and it pulls the trailer with ease. Its always feel good pasing up another deisel pulling a small tralier and then when you get next to them get it some gas and smoke them away. Banks if you also live close you can call and ask them if they can re-flash the programmer for the race mode, thats what i have and its amazing. Banks is the way to go. Might be alittle pricy but plenty of websites sell the kit for very good price, specailly for everything you get and warranty, and make sure to get the speed loader casuethats what wil save your tranny and at the same time a little more power.......


04' duramax banks bundle 450+hp 880ft torque to the wheels.

[dozerboy]

If your happy with Banks that is fine but they're a waste of $$$ especially the Big Hoss Bundle.

[duratothemax]

Originally Posted by GetMore

As for the trans, yes, if you drive it sensibly you won't have any problems. FWIW, I know someone with an '01 that has gotten his truck to do 12 second quarter mile times.

he did NOT run a 12 second quarter mile on a stock trans...I am telling you that right now.

Banks =

[duratothemax]

Originally Posted by joshgoetz11

04' duramax banks bundle 450+hp 880ft torque to the wheels.

I have never seen any harness box short of a VA "Stoopid box" make more than ~410-420 at the rear wheels. Edge dynos around 380 and change I think, I doubt Banks is much more. The amount of fuel required to put down 450 rear wheel hp would have the Banks's EGT limiter scrambling to defuel. What kind of dyno? Are you sure the dyno operator knew how to correctly dyno a diesel? Is that a corrected for STP number?

[maclean]

I just bought an Edge with Attitude for my 02. The first time at around 70 Miles Picking up speed it through th Tranny in to limp mode.

[duratothemax]

Originally Posted by maclean

I just bought an Edge with Attitude for my 02. The first time at around 70 Miles Picking up speed it through th Tranny in to limp mode.

are you sure it was a trans limp?

[LostBoy]

Originally Posted by duratothemax

he did NOT run a 12 second quarter mile on a stock trans...I am telling you that right now.

Banks =

Originally Posted by joshgoetz11

make sure to get the speed loader casuethats what wil save your tranny...

It WON'T save your tranny - It doesn't prevent a slip, only limits the extent of the damage done by preventing you from continuing to slip it - Once you start to slip extensively, you're already doing damage & making it easier to do it again in the future.

I like Edge, but is it just me or have more & more issues been coming up over the juice just dying on the Dmax 1 year down the road?