We have about $1500 to spend on the wifes' 2005 Duramax. What would be the items you guys would recommend buying first? I have done so much reading on programmers, exhausts and such in the past 2 days I am going crazy. She already has wheels and tires, so she wanted me to ask the people who already have done the performance upgrades what they would recommend. She does want to keep it reliable, though.
Thanks and like I said she just would like to know what you guys would do with $1500 and you were getting a new 2005 Duramax.
Doug

Transmission Upgrades!!!!:ro)

Detonate that 62 chevy is sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet:cool2:

Get the predator and don't go above 65hp. Then get yourself a Trippin overhead mount and a pyrometer and boost guage.

Put away the rest of the $1500 and do a transmission upgrade when you have it saved up.

I would say get a Predator, gauges, and an exhaust sytem. It will be like having a whole new truck.

Also vote a Predator. i would go "cat-less" and aftermarket muffler. Possibly a 4" and a "finger stick".

Take her to Hawaii ...:exactly:

save it for a trans...thats the hardest pill to swallow usually

New tires and rims for MY truck:D

Thanks for all the replies! It sounds like the Predator is the way to go. I guess we are just a little hesitant, because I read that someone limped at the 65 setting, though. If you get a Predator, do you have to get an exhaust? If you have 65 more horses with the Predator, doesn't adding an exhaust give you more horses?I hope these are not stupid questions.

1999Cobra- Hawaii is out of the question, mostly because it is her money.

BK Tool- after she is done with the performance items, I am sure if she has any money left over, she will give you the rest!

Put the money in the bank, keep adding to it and use the proceeds for your (or her) next truck.

:secret: If you really want to make your truck run good and last for many years there is only one way to go. Please send me a cashiers check in the amount of $1,500.00 and I will tell you all you need to know.:secret:
Dan

Given a choice and some decent shopping, my list would include:

1. Replace shocks with Bilsteins from Kennedy $260
2. Add Racor R60S fuel filter system from LubeSpecialist $295
3. Predator from a vendor here $400
4. MBRP 4" exhaust $500

Total $1455

And because everybody runs over budget:

Nice set of gauges $250!

vrod,

Your asking guys what your wife would like? :( Unless your wife is different than most I have encountered with the exception of the shocks she wouldn't have any idea why you spent the money on a Predator, tranny upgrade, or exhaust. :rolleyes: She would simply ask "Doesn't it already have a transmission and exhaust?" and "the truck is already fast enough". :p: Shocks are a must since the truck rides so much better. More power? Heck Mama JJ doesn't come close to pushing the stock hp/tq we have now! ):h

You didn't state what model of truck she has. If an LS things like heated seats, a vanity mirror with a light, and other creature comfort stuff may be high on her list though. Mama JJ and I didn't want to spend the extra money on the LT just to get these things, especially since we didn't want leather. :)

Most guys tend to graduate towards performance and mechanical stuff, while most of the ladies tend to lean towards creature comforts and aesthetics. :rolleyes: You might take her to a truck options store and let her look at creature comfort stuff, e.g. a nice console since ours totally blows; nice running boards; killer stereo; bed covers; etc. JJ's .02 cents worth. JJ :)

JJ,
My wife is unlike alot of people wifes' I know. There is no fooling her on performance upgrades, on anything. She rode sportbike for awhile (CBRF4i) and others. When she got her Harley V-Rod, the first thing she ask, is, if she could get a 28 tooth pulley to make it faster from the start. Then she wanted Screamin Eagle piepes and then a little more horsepower by going "topless!" It is just taking the top of the airbox off and getting another download to make up for the more air. She does have a V-Max 4 (snowmobile) that has around 135 horsepower, and wants to get pipes and a clutch kit for it. These are just a few examples of what she knows.
All the questions I have asked are from her, not me. We really don't have any idea where to get things installed and have no idea about diesels. She just felt, it would be better if a guy ask guy questions. She didn't know if being a woman, if guys would answer her. In the other forums (V-Rod and V_max4) they have excepted her very well.
Her truck is an LT model. Day by day she gets more excited about getting it.
I have to say there is alot of people that would seem to help out, on this forum! There has been alot more replies, then I ever thought. Thanks again and if there is more keep them coming.
Thanks,
Doug

My wife also suffers from "a need for speed". She has had a Juice, now a Predator, an air intake, and a 4" exhaust on her crew cab 03. A couple of days after I got done installing my EGT gauge she asked what it was for. After I explained she asked "When do I get one?". It is a whole lot easier for me to get the wifes approval to play, but it usually cost me twice as much because I have to buy her whatever I get!

On a side not, I have ran my LLY Predator on the highest setting for a couple of days now. I have really been pushing it watching my new EGT gauge. I have not limped the Allison yet. I will not leave it here much longer. I plan to run the 65HP setting.

RDL and vrod, you are truly 2 lucky men! :ro) What I wouldn't give to not spend hour after hour explaining to Mama JJ why we need an E/J w/attitude, Rancho shocks, etc. I'm shopping exhaust, she wants a hot tub! :o:

You are truly blessed! JJ :lol:

Rick and Doug,

I too have a wife like that!! When snowmobiling, if the guys are riding 670's or 700's, that what she rides. And she knows her way around a tool box too! They only way to tell it's a girl is when the helmet comes off and the hair goes down. If you need a good truck to look at sometime, mine spends a lot of time in Mechanicsburg and Hanover during sprint car season! There's also going to be a GTG outside Philly in few weeks too; you may want to check it out.

Sprintmod1's got one too! AAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!! :eek:

I love my wife, I love my wife, I love my wife............ :secret: :secret: JJ ):h

sprintmod1 - Thanks for the offer to look at your truck. I will make sure if we are ever going to be in those areas to get in contact with you.

Rick & sprintmod- I am glad you guys know what I am talking about in the wife. She just really likes power and speed.

JJ- Thanks for the "you guys are blessed" I really know I am. She is still a woman though. She did want me to tell everyone she doesn't cook. I am sure you still have a great wife!

Doug

JJ, I'm sure you have a great wife too.

Vrod, I mentioned it because I usually go through York on my way to Lincoln Speedway; can't wait until 2/26 to get here!!!

Oh, and my wife COOKS!! :cool2: :muahaha: :grd:

I just thought I would throw in a picture of some of her toys. She also has a 500 Sportsman. She knows it is not that fast, but she sure loves to go muddin with it.

Now your even startin' to make me feel a little jealous. We sold or motorcycles last year to buy a blower for the boat. Got to get to the dive site quick you know!

Vrod, that picture is just not fair; sold our snowmobiles after 2001 season since I had injured my back and was just in too much pain to ride anymore. Bought the camper to spend more time at the race tracks and cut down on some of the driving. But, we are also doing 70-80+ races per year now! I can go anywhere anytime and she is always the first one in the truck! I am truly blessed!

Rick - Hopefully she doesn't see this post and want to sell ours for a blower

Sprint- Sorry about your back. We got out of sledding awhile ago then she wanted one to ride around the farm, so she picked the one in the picture out. That is alot of races a year. I am not sure of the different classes that are ran in sprints. I do know one guy that races (Mark Strickler) (Workshop Yamaha) We will have to go sometime, I never watched a race.

Back to the performance part of the truck. Should we get an exhaust to help out with the programmer? If the exhaust gives you more horsepower, and the Predator is set at 65, is there a chance of the "limp"?
Doug

vrod, i have been playing with exhaust mods on my LLY. Mostly for lower EGT. Check out my post here.
http://dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=24221

"JJ- Thanks for the "you guys are blessed" I really know I am. She is still a woman though. She did want me to tell everyone she doesn't cook. I am sure you still have a great wife!"

I have always considered Mama JJ to be the perfect woman, best thing that ever happened to me! ):h And then you just had to go and post those pretty pictures of those toys! :o:
JJ's ggggggggggrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeeeeennnnnnnnnnnnnnn with envy! :damnit1:
Oops, got to order flowers for my sweety! :naughty: JJ :)

Hang in there JJ. Some of it may rub off on her.

vrod, running any programmer without EGT gauges isn't going to just limp it, it may fry it, the LLY that is! I just had the EGT probe installed for my E/J w/attitude and it is pretty amazing how fast these engines crank up the EGT's. I can hit 1100 on a good hard acceleration on level 2 with ease. I'm curious to see how the EGT's are when I tow the 5ver this weekend. If they run pretty high its either going to be "water injection depending upon how high the boost runs" or "new exhaust" if the boost stays below 16psi most of the time.

RDL, I see where you put an EGT gauge on one of your LLY's. Were you surprised at how high/fast the EGT's climb? I had no idea. I've read that unlike gasoline engines with diesels you can just keeping adding more fuel and producing more power. Too much and you cook the pistons and turbo. Gulp! :o:

Good discussions today on the DP forum. Later. JJ :)

JJ, you talked me into the egt gauge. Now my wife wants one. Just to let you know, with a "kitty-less" muffler-less stock exhaust with the Predator on 100 HP I have not been able to break 900 on the EGT. That is from a standing start to the top of 4th gear full throttle at 65 degrees ambient. I don't trust the stock Ally with that kind of power in 5th. I should be towing this week on the lower settings. I will keep you posted.
PS; You can have your wife talk to my wife if you need to.):h

Rick: Those are some interesting egt numbers. I can easily see 1200 with my juice at level 1. I towed my boat up a 6% grade this weekend and saw 1300+. Granted my exhaust is cat back. The ambient temperatures were about 38 degrees. I realize my overall setup is a bit different however those numbers seem low.

Eric

Eric, thats what I thought, but I drove 150 miles today and never over 900 degrees. Predator on kill. The gauge is a brand new Autometer Pro Comp gage with the probe in the pass side exhaust manifold. It reads just above zero when I first start it. I can rev up the motor and see the temp go up. I have a K&N filter and the 3.5" exhaust "kitty-less" with no muffler. I hope it's right. Is there anything I could have done wrong?

JJ & Rick, I had put my egt gauge in way prior to adding the juice. I was amazed how fast you can run the temps up even in stock form. Just going up a hill pulling the trailer it would start pushing 1200-1300 and if you added fuel it would go up even more. I was amazed at how just backing off the throttle a little would cool it down. By adding the 4" MBRP, I have seen a drop of about 150 degrees across the board even after adding the juice and running it on level 2 and level 1 in tow/haul.

Rick, I think something may be wrong with your probe or gauge. I see just under 300 degrees on idle within 30 seconds of starting. I also let it cool down to about 300 or so before shutting it off especially after towing. Are you sure the probe is correct depth wise?? Make sure it is not pushed all the way in that it is against/touching the opposite side of the manifold. It should be centered in the manifold. Are all electrical connections tight? Something just does not seem right.

RDL stated "You can have your wife talk to my wife if you need to.):h"

Are you nuts??? They'll be "tag teaming" us both before too long! ):h Isn't it amazing that 2 women can meet for the first time and both still agree their husbands are no good, lazy $%^&*() es! :exactly:

RDL, your EGT readings are very suspect, especially given the altitude and stress you put your trucks through. Everything sounds normal as far as warming up goes, but the high EGT's are too low. My readings are almost identical to Sprintmod1's. Check your connections, make sure the probe isn't in too far, etc. Sometimes the gauge dial can get moved around and not display accurate readings. :rolleyes:

BTW, I'm surprised you are still running K&N's after the results of the air filtration study. My unifoam was covered with gook(techie term) and is back in the box, OEM reinstalled, no change in EGT's or MPG'S. Later. JJ :) <!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

I have the egt probe that has the ridge on it so it itself determines how deep it goes. I did thought there might be a voltage supply problem, so I have the gauge control box hooked directly to the battery. I would also think if the face had rotated that my temp reading would be way off at startup, and it is not. JJ, bear in mind that these readings are MT only on flat ground. This is our slow time of year and I haven't towed with it yet. I think I will call Autometer and see what they say.

RDL, do all your trucks have gauges?? Are all the trucks reading the same temps or just this one. Something is suspect somewhere. Can you swap the low reading gauge into another truck and see what it reads on that truck?

Only one of my trucks has a gauge right now. I will ad a second one soon.

Thanks for the info! We are really still not sure about getting the program after some of the threads we read today. Sort of getting a little "scared". It doesn't sound good to me, if you can limp in the 2nd setting. I really am hesitant. I just don't know.
I have gain so much information, over a period a 3-4 days, my head is spinning.

So are my new tires out of the question then?:lol:

Not yet! We still haven't made our mind up yet. I will contact you if we do not buy some of the things we wanted too and find out were to send your money!
Doug

Transmission Upgrades!!!!:ro)

What is this transmission upgrade you all are talking about? You have me worried!

Thanks for all the help! I guess through reading all the info on here, we are going to wait and see what Edge has to offer for some of the glitches. There is something I like about the box, rather then the programmer.
I will keep everyone updated on my wifes' new truck and what she decides to do with it. We are still trying to find out the best exhaust to buy!
Thanks again and many thanks to all that gave us an opinion on things!
Doug

VRod...

I already gave the tire place my ship to address, so if you could please give me your "bill to" address, I can finish getting my new tires):h

parent723, IIRC a transmission upgrade is recommended if you are going to put more than 100hp with any programmer and plan to run it hard. The stock allison should be fine below that, especially if you don't "dog it"! JJ :)

Hmmm... What To Spend 1500.00 on?

How about Juicegrips(TM) Certification?

What exactly does limp mean ...?