Hello everyone! I just picked up my Pewter 2003 Duramax/Allison 3500 Dually Crewcab last Friday & thought I would join in the forums since it was recommended to me by a fellow gear head. I typically post on www.ls1tech.com under the same handle & I'm into F & Y body cars. This truck will serve as my daily driver to/fro work & my car hauler to get my 2002 Trans Am to the race track.

I was wondering if you have a newbie guide for all the basic info? My time is limited so searching & reading oodles of posts is going to be difficult for me since I work so much & don't have internet at work. If someone can point me in the right direction I would appreciate it :)

A couple questions I have at the moment are:

I have a LS with no remote doors...are they easy to put in? I have extra key fobs from other GMs....or is it just easier to get a good aftermarket alarm with actuators?

Anyone add the steering wheel radio controls to their truck? How hard is it & what do you need?

What are the free/cheap mods for performance/fuel economy?

Good all around tires for a truck that sees lots of highway miles. Keep in mind I have a dually. I plan on getting some Alcoa's probably but I'm going to stay with the 16" tires for cost. No big wheels here. I hear taller tires will get better fuel economy, but you guys have been driving these things a lot longer than I have.

Thanks for any help you guys can offer!

-Marc

Welcome to the site! :ro)

The best mod you can do for your truck is ........?

Alot like the Edge product with the attitude which will monitor you EGTs ( exhaust temps), your boost and help prevent tranny slippage. Alot like the Banks but that doesnt offer tranny protection nor the different readings.

Sit back and enjoy your new ride. Fun to drive IMO!!!!!!!!:)

Ben

For tires you should look into cooper atr's there a reasonably priced tire that you can easily get 60,000 miles out of. Run a bottle of Injector cleaner through your tank every once and a while. Watch your fuel filter and make sure you replace it every 15k or so, try to go to GMDieselTech.com and get the newer double pleat filter. If your looking to make your truck a little faster I would suggest Banks for power, depending one the size of your wallet you can make your Duramax do some pretty crazy things with a six gun bundle from them. As for alarms I have one in my truck I would suggest viper there priced well and very reliable plus some of em can start your truck. I would waste your time with the steering wheel controls, your just going to waste alot of money on them and youll think there a waste of money in the long run, just get a new head unit with a nice remote control. One more thing, if your ever going to put a chip in your truck, install exhaust and an intake first to prevent damage, also your better off getting either the banks or edge because they can both limit egt's.

Great starting info, thanks! I've already been looking into the Edge & I like having it all in one unit. I saw the new Edge that is coming out in June on the truck show on Spike a couple weeneds ago that has the GPS, camera & all the other stuff in one unit. I'm hoping it won't be TOO pricey because having all those in one unit appeals to me. So far, she drives great, just some clanking noise coming from around the left shock tower....maybe it's the steering linkage, I read that some years had one that clanked?? Also need to take it back to the dealer & get an alignment & brakes done in the front (squeeling) but so far she feels solid. My car fax on her came back clean too. It was originally from GA.

keyless entry, my question would be do you have power door locks, if so its a question of getting the correct transmitters, key fobs, and programing the body control module to add the function.

steering wheel controls, not easy but anything is posible, its a question of gettingthe parts, steeirng wheel form a truck not a trailblazer, and the air bag coil witch includs the pass throu for the controls. then programing.

Wheels and tires i have found hummer H2 take offs vary popular, minner cutting needed and cranking up on the tortion bars

Welcome to the site! :ro)

The best mod you can do for your truck is ........?

Alot like the Edge product with the attitude which will monitor you EGTs ( exhaust temps), your boost and help prevent tranny slippage. Alot like the Banks but that doesnt offer tranny protection nor the different readings.

Sit back and enjoy your new ride. Fun to drive IMO!!!!!!!!:)

Ben

Umm, the banks defuels if it senses slippage bro.

Umm, the banks defuels if it senses slippage bro.
Thanks for the update.
Ben

keyless entry, my question would be do you have power door locks, if so its a question of getting the correct transmitters, key fobs, and programing the body control module to add the function.

Wheels and tires i have found hummer H2 take offs vary popular, minner cutting needed and cranking up on the tortion bars
Keyless: Yes, I have power windows & locks but I went & got a quote for some alarms. I can get a nice Viper installed for $200 or a Marksman that has more features & comes recommended from the owner of the shop as being a better alarm. He carries them both...the Marksman is also $200 installed & has the paging feature & tells what triggered the alarm (door, shock senseor, etc.) I'm going to look around at alarms a bit more before making my final decision.

Wheels & tires....Not sure that H2 stuff is going to work out on my dually?


Picked up some Husky liners for the front yesterday....didn't have the rear cab ones in stock. I'll probably order those later, the back cab won't see near as much use as the front but I'll eventually get them.

I need to fab up a sub box pretty soon too, the Bose is ok but it lacks bass. Anyone have any schematics of sub enclosures for the crew cabs?