First off, you guys are a bad influence. Less than two years ago I was driving an '87 Ford with a stock 302 that wasn't fast enough to get out of it's own way. Now I've got a D-Max, and I wanna rod it!

So, Mike L. and I've been talking about doing my trans while I'm on spring break from college. I completely respect his opinions, but I'd like some more advice as well. My theory is that you can't be too informed!

I plan to run 80 to 100 additional RWHP for normal daily driving. However, I'd like to be able to run up to an extra 200 RWHP (when available for the LLY) without hesitation.

I tend to be easy on my vehicles; this truck is my baby. Reliability and longevity are key issues to me--I'd like to build the trans once, do it right the first time, and drive the thing for 100,000 + miles like this truck was designed to.

So far, Mike L. and I've discussed using a TTS triple lock, Transgo kit, and stock clutches. We've also talked about basically doing a Suncoast III with a TTS converter.

What do you guys think? I am on a relatively strict budget, but I can afford a Suncoast III if need be--I can eat Ramen noodles for a while. :)

Ramen noodles I have found to be a false sense of economy for a bachelor. I prefer the delux mac and cheese. Although much more expensive(even than regular mac and cheese) I find that its salt content isnt that of the romen noodles so you can get buy with just washing down a meal with 1 beer. Romens on the other hand require considerable liquid to get the tase outa your mouth and quench your thirst. And with a box of delux mac and cheese(1.50 and cheap stores) you can add a can of tuna fish or some hot dogs or get a can of spam and throw some of that in there and get 2 meals outa 1 box and be pretty filled. It really offers more bang for the buck than the romes that requre quite a few of em to fill you for any lenght of time. I prefer the delux over the regular mac and cheese because it tastes better and with the delux you dont have to have milk and butter on hand.

LOL, thanks for the advice... on food. Got any ideas on the tranny? :)

Ramen noodles I have found to be a false sense of economy for a bachelor. I prefer the delux mac and cheese. Although much more expensive(even than regular mac and cheese) I find that its salt content isnt that of the romen noodles so you can get buy with just washing down a meal with 1 beer. Romens on the other hand require considerable liquid to get the tase outa your mouth and quench your thirst. And with a box of delux mac and cheese(1.50 and cheap stores) you can add a can of tuna fish or some hot dogs or get a can of spam and throw some of that in there and get 2 meals outa 1 box and be pretty filled. It really offers more bang for the buck than the romes that requre quite a few of em to fill you for any lenght of time. I prefer the delux over the regular mac and cheese because it tastes better and with the delux you dont have to have milk and butter on hand.
:muahaha:

Ramen noodles I have found to be a false sense of economy for a bachelor. I prefer the delux mac and cheese. Although much more expensive(even than regular mac and cheese) I find that its salt content isnt that of the romen noodles so you can get buy with just washing down a meal with 1 beer. Romens on the other hand require considerable liquid to get the tase outa your mouth and quench your thirst. And with a box of delux mac and cheese(1.50 and cheap stores) you can add a can of tuna fish or some hot dogs or get a can of spam and throw some of that in there and get 2 meals outa 1 box and be pretty filled. It really offers more bang for the buck than the romes that requre quite a few of em to fill you for any lenght of time. I prefer the delux over the regular mac and cheese because it tastes better and with the delux you dont have to have milk and butter on hand.
:funnypost :Nothing_f

Buy as much trany as you can afford if you plan on adding big power. If you just want to run a strong juice box or something and you know you will never go over that the you can get by with much less. If you havent bought a programer yet and can wait a bit I would say wait on it and the trans to see how some new things shake out.

I would wait on everything a bit on making any decision on programer or trans. If you cant wait IMO get a low TTS tune and be happy with that, Steve will eventually get some big yet drivable and refined power outa the LLY, it just may take a bit longer than those that rush thier stuff to market.

Give the trans world a bit more time to develope if you can wait.

If you cant stand to wait tell Mike L. your credit card number and to fix you up and let you know what he put in and what the damage($$$) is later.

I'm in the same boad coyotekid. I'm looking to add up to 200hp but mostly drive around with lower hp added. I've been contemplating the SC III and IV. The III is probably the right way to go for longevity IMHO over just the transgo and TTS converter. Good luck and keep us posted on what you decide.

Did you gather that IMO I would leave it stock and wait to make any decisions if possible?

Talk to Nick(the founder) IIRC he ran a transgo and a TTS single disk for a long time with lotsa passes and lotsa HP

I also wouldnt bounce around power levels. Drive around with it set to what ever the highest HP you will run. All the bouncing of power levels can confuse the allison IMO. Get it trained for kill and leave it there. Unless the weather is really crappy I'm always set to kill.

Thanks for the advice. I do understand what you're saying about waiting for new technology to develop.

On one hand, I'd like to wait, but on the other, it seems like when I use that theory, I end up waiting forever for the next bigger and better thing!

Example: I waited three years for the Yamaha four strokes to develop. A new one came out, so I didn't buy one the first year so they could get the bugs worked out. I finally ordered a WR426 in '02. They quit making them the end of that model year, and now they're up to 450s!

Trust me, I'm not getting impulsive here, but I won't be able to afford the next latest and greatest all the time. I need to build it right once, and then leave it that way until I sell the truck 6-7 years down the line.

It's just like the 6 speed Alli for next year. Sure, mine won't be the latest and greatest, but it suits me just fine. See what I'm saying?