I was thinking that instead of throwing money into tuning, chips and power stuff why not do the weak spot first? For the power I want to add I was thinking a Suncoast stage 3. i drive a 07 classic d-max. Does this sound logical because I know from past experience that if it runs hard, I'll drive it hard. So opinions/advice is greatly apppreciated. Thanks

oh yeah i have a couple very good buddies who are gm techs, and are very intimate with allisons.

Sounds logical to me. I don't think there is a right or wrong answer to your question. Many people seem to be satisfied with a 40-60 hp program and the stock alli will not bat an eye at that power level. Then there are those of us who get addicted to power and stock alli won't cut it. If you know you are going to need a tranny may be better off getting it over with right away.

That SCIII will take anything that can be done with a dmax and stock internals.

If i could do it all over again thats where i would have started. I wasted probably a good 500 dollars on a banks kit that im trying to sell for 350. Now i got efi and i love it and want more power but cant go no further without frying the tranny. Just make sure whatever you do/buy, thats exactly what you want. just my .02

Or depending on how quick you can gather some cash you could get a tuner first then get your tranny done... Your tranny will blow eventually but if you're going to rebuild anyway then you could have fun sooner! :D

but you take the chance of smoking more internals of the trans than a normal sc3 kit replaces so in the end it costs you even more to buy programmor first than when the trans is smoked fix that.

yea just go with the trans. i wish i would have done it that way. now i have EFI Live and i dont like to play with more then 80hp over stock. i cant wait to get my trans done.

thats a good way to start. you could get a transgo jr. and a triple disk converter and hold a very decent amount of power with no problems. my cousin went that route on his new LMM and has held a 500hp tune so far with no problems, and he drives hard.

you got the right idea there, get the tranny done then the skys the limit. there is so much potential in these trucks and just an 80 horse tune is not enough if youre a guy that likes to run hard and have fun. i got a small tune first cause i never thought id do the tranny then one thing led to another and i had the tranny built, best thing i ever did. now i can run big tunes and it is soooo much fun.

I would at least consider a stage 4 kit, although the stage 3 is a strong tranny the stage 4 cost only about $500 more and It leaves you room to add a turbo and or nitrous later if you choose. If you know your never going to do anything but tuning and mabe a lift pump a stage 3 will take that with a smile.

where are you located? you may be pretty close to some good trans guys.