I am a female and a newbie and I need help.

My fiance just bought a 2005 Chevy 4x4 2500HD SLT CC LB D/A 6.6 V8 with a 373 rearend ration. All stock except new 32" tires.

He just purchased the Hypertech tuner and isn't very happy with it so far. He has it at level 2 currently. Hated it at level 3 - said it felt "too radical".

He is looking for something to adjust for the new tire size and help with performance when towing our boat and our 30 ft camper trailer.

He is a mechanic and knows a lot about vehicals but not much about these performance tuners/programmers. I have access to the internet at work and he doesn't so I am doing the investigating.

I have read several posts and still feel confused:help2: . Here are my questions:

1) What is the difference between tuners and programmers?

2) What is a VA Smartbox (is it a programmer or a tuner or neither?)

3) Based on the information provided, what would you recommend and why?

4) Is there a way to increase performance as desired without damaging the tranny and the allison clutch?

5) Is the performance increase enough to justify buying one of these if other modications and upgrades are not done?

Thanks in advance for your input!:help2:

If it makes a difference, here are the weights of the boat - 4,000lbs and camper trailer 8,000lbs.

We had a 1995 Chevy Truck before - don't know all the stats on it, but I know it struggled pulling the trailer. We haven't had a chance to pull the trailer since we bought our new truck, but have pulled the boat and it was great.

I've heard the Edge EZ is good for what it sounds like he is looking for. You shouldn't need guages and it doesn't have as much power as the full blown Juice so the tranny should be able to handle it. Here is a link to the instructions. It also has some info on the product.
http://www.edgeproducts.com/pdf/instructions/EZC1100_EZ_Duramax_LLY_032105.pdf

A programmer like the Predator is a tool to reprogram the factory program. The tuner like the Edge products fits inline between the ECM and injectors and othe parts of the electrical system. It modifies the signals comming out of the ECM to enhance performance.

For the thing's you wanna do i would reccomend the TTS tow tune i'm sure mcrat will chime in he's tried them all for a LLY. dave

I don't think the TTS is out the LLY

It is. dave

Diablo Predator tuner is what I'd suggest. The two main types of mods are tuners or modules. Tuners program the ECM and modules are onboard hardware. To do tire size you will need a tuner.

I would either suggest the TTS tow tune or like Kennedy said, the Predator. I don't know of any other tuners that will allow you to run a low setting in order to tow with the proper EGT's and such.. Welcome, congrats on the new truck and I think you will get tons of help here and find all the answers to the questions you have not thought about asking yet...

Thank you for all your replies. I will print out the information for him to look over.

Yesterday he removed the Hypertech tuner and is probably going to return it. I think he thought it would do something different than it did.

I appreciate everyone's help. We love the new truck. He is like a little boy after Christmas :)

Hypertech don't do tire size on a Diesel? My hypertech for my gas truck did tire size. If he don't like how radical the hypertech is on 3, then I don't think he needs any other tuners or programmers. Most tuners and programmers are way more radical than a Hypertech. If he wants something similar to the Hypertech, a Predator is an excellent choice. The 40hp tow tune is great and it has 3 more higher tunes that make your LLY fly!! It is much more radical than a Hypertech on the higher tunes and can fry your Allison on 85hp and 100hp tunes. What don't he like about his Hypertech? What did he think was so radical about setting 3?

The Van Aaken is a harness box, not a flash tuner. I sold my Predator, and bought a Van Aaken because I didn't want the high EGT's you get with the Predator, even on the 40 HP setting. Also, I didn't like the way it changed the responsiveness, and the shifting. The Van Aaken is much smoother, and on the 70 HP setting runs cooler than the Predator did on the 40 HP setting. I don't miss all the fluff that the flash tuner had. I leave the VA on 70, and just drive it. I don't care for the TTS tow tune primarily because of the cost, and the hassle of changing your ECM out if/when you drop the truck off for warranty. Food for thought.

Thanks bobo and sledman. I think it what he didn't like was the responsiveness and shifting (slipping between gears) that he didn't care for.....as far as radical I think it was the responsiveness......I asked him to explain and didn't really understand. I wasn't in the vehicle with him.

I think I will point him towards VA box mentioned above. That seems to be more of what he is wanting. As far as the change in tire size, he said he can change that at the shop.

Off to the Lake of the Ozarks for the weekend! Hope everyone enjoys theirs!

My hypertech does change tire size for my 05 duramax.

It sounds to me like what he didn't like was the shifting. It takes some time for the Allison transmission to re-learn the new programming, which is what makes for the delayed and abrupt shifting. That is discussed throughout this forum, as well as others. It should clear up after a while.

I have only had my Hypertech in for a couple of days and mine is already improving.

Out!