i ordered a bully triple dog gt tuner, and was wondering if i really need an exhaust probe. i really cant drill into the manifolds....too tight of an area.
i could maybe weld a bung to the up-pipe.....pipe from manifold to turbo.
or should i just not install a probe? i dont tow much, and just want the tuner for the occasional romp.

Its up to you. If towing I drop the power down to one or stock tuning if long steep grades. If romping on it I do not know what the that tuner does say on the most powerful tune. I say once you hit 70mph it be time to get out of it. Not sure how the 4L85E handles the extra power.

Brian

Its up to you. If towing I drop the power down to one or stock tuning if long steep grades. If romping on it I do not know what the that tuner does say on the most powerful tune. I say once you hit 70mph it be time to get out of it. Not sure how the 4L85E handles the extra power.

Brian

well i live in the midwest where roads are flat. i occasionaly tow a skid steer, but only within the city and not highway or high speed. i wont be racing the van, but just want the power on hand, in case i want to smoke someone, lol.
as for the trans, it should be ok. i wont beat on it, and if it does blow, i'll rebuild it. i have rebuilt a few gm transmissions.

You will be fine. Look at the trucks with 365 horse towing and they have no problems.

You will be fine. Look at the trucks with 365 horse towing and they have no problems.
really?
so i'd have to be pushing the motor hard and for an extended period to see high exhaust temps?

when a exhaust gas temps get real high, how long does it take for them too cool down?

I seen where some guys with stock trucks hauling camp trailers over mountain passes and not going over 1,300* EGT. You are not dumping enough fuel to get temps high enough to worry about. Temps go down when you take your foot off the long pedal on the right.
My Dad has gone over Homestake pass in his van hauling 8,000# at 90 MPH with no problems. His van is stock except for a small tune.

Put on a 4" turbo back exhaust and you will drop EGT 100*+ and pick up some MPG/HP.

i took the downpipe heat shield off out of curiousity, and to get an idea what it would take if i were to put a probe.

do the aftermarket downpipes bolt directly to the turbo? i assume the stock heat shield wont work. are the aftermarket downpipes wrapped for heat shielding?

got any recommendations for an exhaust? how do they sound? hear the turbo spooling more? i wouldnt want it much louder while cruising.

There is a flat spot on IIRC the drivers side manifold bottom rear for the probe to go.
Yes the down-pipe bolts directly to the turbo then the exhaust bolts to it. Diamond Eye uses a wrap but you will have no worries without it.
You may want to start with a muffler then delete it if you want more sound. If you want sound then go no muffler.
Yes you will hear the turbo spooling more.
You should be able to get a 4" exhaust for under $300. IMHO the best bang for your buck in upgrades.

i wouldnt mind louder while accelerating, and especially would love to hear the turbo spooling. but i dont want it loud while just cruising. so i should get a system with a muffler i assume. would i still hear the turbo spooling?

what about this kit? it says it has a quiet tone front pipe. what is that?
http://www.alligatorperformance.com/diamond-k4113a-0110-duramax4-turbo-back-exhaust-quiet-tone-front-pipe-p-2932.html

I am not sure if that quiet tone front pipe makes that big of a difference. I have not been around a truck with one.
You will still hear more turbo with a muffler. If you want more noise you can always take the muffler out.
I started with the Diamond Eye K4114A then went straight pipe from front pipe to tailpipe then I added the Diamond eye down-pipe.

I am not sure if that quiet tone front pipe makes that big of a difference. I have not been around a truck with one.
You will still hear more turbo with a muffler. If you want more noise you can always take the muffler out.
I started with the Diamond Eye K4114A then went straight pipe from front pipe to tailpipe then I added the Diamond eye down-pipe.

when you had the muffler installed, how much louder over stock was it? drone on the highway?
how loud is it now with a straight pipe?

Straight pipe and towing on the heavier side I get some drone. When I put on 500 miles plus in a day towing the drone starts to annoy me. Muffler over stock was not bad at all, straight pipe has some volume.

It is easy to pull the muffler and put in the pipe. So call up Alligator and just get it ordered already !