I bought an '07 classic 2500 about a month ago. Right now it's bone stock (other than a push bumper) with about 30k...It even still has the cookie cutter wheels and tires. The previous owner was an elderly man who used it to drive around his ranch and occasionally hook up to a horse trailer.

I am thrilled about finally owning my dream truck...but I have to confess that I don't know much about them. I was really big into stock car racing for the majority of my life, until the year before I left for the Army when I went to a DHRA event in Indianapolis. After seeing the potential of diesel engines, I knew it was just a matter of time before I had one.

I was lucky enough to find this truck about 3 weeks before I left for Korea...So right now it's back home in the garage...my mom is driving it to work once a week so it's not just sitting there.

As soon as I get a couple paychecks saved up I want to start acquiring everything I'm going to put on it. I'm not worried about a lift yet...I'm after power.

Correct me if I'm wrong...my friends have told me to get EFI Live, exhaust, and a fuel pump first. They said the stock injectors are good enough. I'm not planning on maxing out the chip just yet...so I shouldn't need head studs should I?

I already plan on upgrading the transmission, in fact that might be the first thing to happen. What's the best deal on a 700hp+ transmission? Is 700hp+ enough?

In your opinion, what upgrades give me the best bang for my buck? I appreciate your help, and I look forward to becoming a part of your community.

1. Get the trans built w/ new TQ converter and deep pan
2. EFI Live w/DSP5
3. Lift pump
4. Exhaust
5. Beef up the front end

That will be a great start.

Thanks, JDiesel!

I shouldn't go with an entirely aftermarket transmission? A torque converter and pan is enough? My friend has an 06.5 and recently went from having a built torque converter to getting a completely new tranny...I forget what brand...I'll have to get ahold of him. Of course, he's got enough done to his truck that I'm sure he's pushing close to 650hp...I was with him when he beat an 06 GTO through 60 mph at a stoplight.

Thanks, JDiesel!

I shouldn't go with an entirely aftermarket transmission? A torque converter and pan is enough? My friend has an 06.5 and recently went from having a built torque converter to getting a completely new tranny...I forget what brand...I'll have to get ahold of him. Of course, he's got enough done to his truck that I'm sure he's pushing close to 650hp...I was with him when he beat an 06 GTO through 60 mph at a stoplight.




A rebuilt trans is ...aftermarket if you want to split hairs, they look the same on the outside ( minus ATS which is purple in color) but the internals are stronger. Stock trans are really only good for 90 hp over max ! If you push on her any harder you will limp the trans and start burning things up.

Its really up to you and your wallet if you want a new TQ converter, when I redid mine I slapped a BETTER TQ converter in....see my sig.

Not to push vendors or parts on you but, my Suncoast Gmax 6 w/ P.I "ML" TQ converter is a great combo. Next on my list is a Air Dog lift pump.


Also when you do decide to build it up, here is a good local shop in IN.... http://www.scheiddiesel.com/user_pages/home_0.shtml?page=Home

3 locations Terre Haute, IN Lafayette, IN and Effingham, IL

You have some of the greatest diesel performance shops 15 min from your hometown. Danville Performance and Fleece Performance Engineering to name a couple. They are both supporting vendors on here. Both will point you in the right direction.

Congrats on the purchase of a diesel and thanks for fighting for my freedom!

I live close to you in Danville. Not to far from Ultimate Trucks Plus

What do you want to do with it? how much power do you want to have?

IIRC I started out with an Intake then beefed up the front end which is an absolute must if you plan on going to the track.

Went with Superdiesel centerlink and sleeves.

Had a small efi live tune put in.

4in Turboback exhaust.

Had Transmission built.

EFI Live with DSP5

165gph Air Dog lift pump.

Have gauges and pod that haven't gone in yet. Realistically gauges should be a top priority if you are adding any power.

fix pump rub before it happens, block the egr, re route the pcv

Thank you all for the help. torquet, I've heard a lot of great things about Fleece...and I've seen several Fleece decals on trucks out and about when I'm home on leave. I've even heard that there are a few car clubs in the West Central area that know to not mess with any of these trucks on the road because they get their @$$es kicked when they try to race one haha...

JDiesel, my friend was talking about buying the ATS transmission, I talked to him earlier. He wanted to do that because he already had an ATS torque converter and was hoping he wouldn't have to buy another one if they could use the TC he already had.

Jack Bauer, although I do love racing, that won't be the main thing I have in mind for the truck. I'm rebuilding my '93 B4C Camaro when I get back home, and that'll be what I take to the track. If I don't run out of money between the truck and car I want to buy a boat, so I don't want to screw up the ability to tow something heavy. Also, my grandfather has a large enclosed trailer for his '68 Camaro SS and we'll be going on a few roadtrips a year pulling that around...basically I don't want to sacrifice towing ability for track performance.

Kilo...I've never had a problem with having too much power, haha. But I also plan on keeping this truck around for a very, very long time. So the more I can do to it without the raising the risk of blowing it up the happier I'll be.

Thank you for the tip tennykimble...I didn't know anything about pump rub. Are there any other problems with these trucks I should be aware of?

Do a suncoast gmax-6 with a new converter. A new fleece cheetah and intake, an airdog, tuning with efi, exhaust, maybe an intercooler and gauges. That'll give you a solid truck with an easy ~640 rwhp. Also, either sleeves or new tierods are a must! I like the kryptonite rods alot.

Trans first! The beauty of the GMAX kit is that is as user friendly with 400HP as it is with 900HP. Start there and add some good tuning and your looking at a very relible 500HP truck. Add a lift pump and some other supporting mods and you can creep on past 500. Now as far as your home town and surounding counties... Your going to need more than 500HP to make a point ;) I promise.

Give me a call at the shop if you ever get a chance and Ill talk you thru some more things that you can do and help give you a base to start. Then maybe we can work something out so you have something to look forward too when get back from Korea. :D

I know phones can be hard to come by, so if you need to shoot me a PM and Ill give you my e-mail.

I'm back! Well for another week, anyway, as part of my midtour leave. I thought I would fill all of you in with what I've had done over the last week or so.

I got in my (stock) truck at the airport and still loved to drive it...But I knew that I couldn't bear it being that way for too much longer. With a bunch of money burning a hole in my pocket, I decided to get to work.

I went to Danville in search of EFI Live and some goodies and was told that EFI Live has a 3 month waiting list, and I won't be home when I want to get it done, so I settled with buying the PPE Hot+2E for $600, about $300 less than I could find it anywhere else. I also bought a Magnaflow 5" turboback and an AEM intake.

I installed the intake when I got home and had the Magnaflow put on the next day (I don't have access to a welder and I wanted it spot welded). Soon after that I put the #3 tune from my PPE and my truck was already like night and day.

I had ordered some Nitto Terra Grapplers and some pro comp wheels from 4wheelparts.com and soon after realized that my dumb ass ordered 2 ply tires, so I had to cancel that order, but as luck would have it I found a better deal yesterday at Scheid's. The only problem is that I don't have lugnuts yet so I can't install.

For the suspension I am just ordering torsion keys and shock extensions...I only need to clear 285s and I'm not too worried about having a tall truck, because I still plan to tow a boat when I can get the money to buy one of those ;)

Also while at Scheid's I made the decision to buy a FASS system...I know you all recommended the other one but the FASS was in front of me and I only have another week before I'm back in Korea and I want it on the truck. I plan on putting that in about 15 minutes after I respond to this.

Now...next I want to do some transmission work. My friend has an ATS TQ converter he said he would sell me for $450, but he had never used it and bought it used from a guy that had it on a 600+rwhp truck, and he said it may have a few pulls on it. What do you guys think about that? If it was okay it could save me a bunch of money, but then again if it is already fried then it would be a big waste of money. How painful is it to have a TQ converter rebuilt?

Thank you for your time. If I get the wheels and tires put on and my windows tinted maybe I'll clean it up one day and post some progress pics!

Moved to other performance discussion

chaas, I would have the converter "cut open" to check it out. Any decent converter manufacturer can check it out for you and perform any necessary repairs. You could also ship it back to ATS and have them do it. When you install the converter you should do the tranny........looks like you are going to shorten its life.

Personally, and others have different opinions, but personally I think you made a big mistake going with the PPE. When I got my truck it had an Edge Juice/Attitude on it. After doing some reading I switched to EFILive and wow...just wow!! What a huge difference custom tailored tuning to your specific truck makes. It is all in whatever you want and decide though. I bet you're loving that PPE, but later down the road you might be spending the money again for EFILive. I was also down at SDX...might've seen you there. Congrats on the truck!! They are a lot of fun!!

PPE is just a temporary thing...I'm having Danville do EFI Live tuning to it, but they're backed up until October and I return to Korea on Sunday. I'll call them a couple months before I'm back for good and have them do their thing, and I can't wait.

Good man, you will not be disapointed with EFILive. I also want to thank your for what you do for your country...I myself wouldn't have the courage to do something like that. I'm 17 and I plan to stay in my little town and run my dad's farm.

We can help with EFI if you need some help...