ok, i just got a 03 cc sb duramax and i have a few questions:
i used to have a WRX so i am familiar with turbochargers and performance things of that sort, but with my WRX i knew the limits, with my duramax i don't. so im wondering:
1. How much boost does a stock LB7 push?
2. How much boost can a stock LB7 handle?
3. How much horsepower can i add safely without having to worry about breaking the tranny?
4. I bought my truck with a hypertech and if i set it at stage 3 would i need to worry about breaking the tranny?
So those are my basic questions now here are some things i have been wondering about:
1. what is stacking? i get the idea it has something to do with using a tuner on top of a tuner, am i wrong? if im right how does this work? i mean there is only one ecu and eachj tuner is going to change its settings so wouldnt using two tuners cause problems?
2. i would like to get exhaust [currently running stock minus the muffler] so when i do should i get 4 or 5 inch or does it even make a difference?

now i know you guys are probably just gonna tell me i need to read and your right i do but this site is huge and i tried searching and i just cant seem to exactly find the answer's im looking for, but if you guys know exactly where to look please leave a link and i will go from there. otherwise school is wrapping up and studying is taking most of my time, so i dont have alot of time to search, so all of yall's help would be greatly appreciated and please let me know anything else yall think i should about duramax's cause as i said this is my first.

thanks,
brad

4in. would be plenty. I wouldn't worry about your tranny with the hypertech on level 3 but I wouldn't advise pulling anything there. As far as stacking goes I'm with you(lost). Just my 2 pennies

Another former WRX owner :cool2:

If the tranny goes build it!

1) 27 psi IIRC (been awhile)
2)stay under 32 psi
3)stock tranny will not last long adding over 80-90 rwhp. You won't break it, you'll just burn-up the clutches.....
4)see #3

1)One reprograms the computer the other tricks it by intercepting the signals. 100 + 100 = around 120 (Not 200)
2)4" best bang for the buck, 5" only helps if your pushing big (over 500) rwhp




Things you will need;
#1 EGT and Boost gauges.
#2 4" exhaust
#3 Tranny upgrade,
#4 If 4x4 look in to front end upgrades (superdiesel)

There's more but this will keep you busy for a while...

And welcome to The Place...

if your going to straight pipe your exhaust get the cheapest kind. i went with magnaflow but kept the muffler on and i love the deep throaty sound..

Thanks for all yalls help! Still not completely clear about the "stacking" thing but thanks for the info, i just dont exactly understand how intercepting the signals would work properly

thanks,
brad

a programmer basically will intercept the signal modify it and re route it back to the engines computer. this allows the signal to be changed and thus more power. chip stacking is installing one chip ex. a hypertech that sets a baseline hp upgrade. then you also install another chip ex. edge juice that changes the timing and other stuff to add more power on top of the origional chip. this can create a signifigant amount of power but finding the right chip combination is key. your stock tranny will not handle this power. some people get away with running the 150hp upgrade and some people tear up their trannys. hope this helps.

Stacking is when you use 2 tuners at the same time. For example. The Hypertech is a programmer that loads a program to the ECM via the diagnostic port. ABanks tuner is a harness-type tuner and consists of a preprogrammed box with cables that attach to the stock cable harnesses under the hood. When the harness-type unit is installed, the stock harness cables are unplugged from each other leaving two "open" ends of cables. Then, one of the Banks cables plugs into one side of the stock harness and the other Banks cable plugs into the other end of the stock harness, essentially putting the Banks box "inline" with the stock cable harness. Now you have a Hypertech program loaded into the PCM AND a Banks tuner plugged into the harness...2 power adders at the same time....this is called stacking.
JP

One other thing, this was just an example. The Banks box doesn't really play well with other tuners, but a very popular stack is a DiabloSport Predator and the Edge tuner. There are other programers that may work together, i.e. 2 PCM loaded preograms, but I'll let someone who has experience with that, explain.

Stacking is running a module that goes underneath your hood and using a programmer that plugs into the inside on your "port" where you can read codes and such. That make more sense? You can't run 2 programmers at the same time as you can't run 2 modules at the same time.

You can't run 2 programmers at the same time...
Is that still true with the EFILive stuff? For example, a guy could load a Predator tune and then tweak the parameters that the Predator doesn't address with EFILive, or would that be considered one programmer? Even if you change levels on the Predator it wouldn't change the parameters that EFILive changed, so, 2 programmers...right?
JP

thanks for the help, i understand now what yall are saying.

thanks,
brad

1) 27 psi IIRC (been awhile)
2)stay under 32 psi
3)stock tranny will not last long adding over 80-90 rwhp. You won't break it, you'll just burn-up the clutches.....
4)see #3

1)One reprograms the computer the other tricks it by intercepting the signals. 100 + 100 = around 120 (Not 200)
2)4" best bang for the buck, 5" only helps if your pushing big (over 500) rwhp




Things you will need;
#1 EGT and Boost gauges.
#2 4" exhaust
#3 Tranny upgrade,
#4 If 4x4 look in to front end upgrades (superdiesel)

There's more but this will keep you busy for a while...

And welcome to The Place...

Im with him on this, the tranny is always the weakest link to any car/truck/suv. The allison is a semi tough tranny aslong as it taken car of. If you are planning on putting more power on the ground, the tranny is the first place to start.

Im more of a gas engine guy, but as long a you EGT hot but not to hot is good. So I think a 4" is good, DONT chop it either.

If you have a 4x4, you'll want to envest in a solid front axle. The 9.5 and 10.5 IFS dont hold up real well under alot of tq. dont take me wrong the IFS can hold up well as long as you dont FLOOR it in 4x4 drive.