Hello. I am new here and I looked several pages back and didnt get all my questions answerd.

I am helping out a buddy of mine who just bought a 94 C3500 w. a 6.5L.

We are going to re-do the exhaust, but I was had a question about the stock downpipe, is it any good? I saw on SS Diesel a 3" DP, and wonderd how that compares to the stock one.

Also, is there any good programmers for this year/model diesel? Or is there any other mods that we may want to think about?

Thanks for your help and patients w/ me, I am a still learning about GM diesels.
-Stouff:)

The stock downpipe is just fine, if you like trying to push a golfball through a garden hose.

Seriously, no, it isn't fine. If you do nothing else, get rid of that downpipe. GM sort of flattened / crushed it to make it fit in there good, and the result if a LOT of exhaust restriction. Mine looked like somebody took it off, ran over it a few times, then put it back on, and the truck ran better instantly when it was replaced.

As for programming, everybody has their favourite, but I got my chip from Bill Heath, and I'm really happy with it.:cool2: I also got the Turbo-Master - yeah, I know you can make your own, but for about $100, his bolts right on and it works great, especially in conjunction with the new chip. Big power increase!

Jim

air in and exhaust(straight pipe for sure) out first, then some gauges (boost and egt) turbomaster (heath or make your own), and get rid of vac pump. also 96+ water pump and cooling mod. Thats the basics, been a long time since i was at stage 1.

Truck in sig now for sale

Downpipe and remove the catalytic convertor should be top on the list. A full exhaust system will pay for itself in fuel savings and engine heat/wear savings in a relatively short period of time. A PMD cooler should be near the top of the list too.

Ive done some of the above and just added a chip from Heath . That was a big upgrade .

DEFINATELY get rid of the downpipe...the next step, before a turbomaster, or chip MUST be gauges, to prevent overboosting, and to moniter EGT's...

simply changing the downpipe and opening up the exhaust (I'd go with 3 1/2 if I did it again, but have 4" now) will make a HUGE difference.

The stock downpipe is just fine, if you like trying to push a golfball through a garden hose.

Now there's a perfect description of it... :funnypost

Now there's a perfect description of it... :funnypost

Ok, well that sounds alot like my POS stock DP on my 97 Powerstroke

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y203/AlaskaRedneK/HPIM0222.jpg

....... Anyways, thanks for the advice. I am pretty familiar w/ upgrades for Powerstrokes, but obveously have much to learn about GM diesels.


Thanks for your help!

Also, where would we aquire a tuner for this truck?

-Stouff

you cant get a tuner, but you can get a prom for it from heath, westers (CR seems to like him) or other diesel shops.

you cant get a tuner, but you can get a prom for it from heath, westers (CR seems to like him) or other diesel shops.

Whats a "prom" and what is the address for heath or any of these other stores?

Thanks,
-Stouff

The PROM they are referring to is a computer chip that plugs into the bottom of the ECM (behind the glove box on that year I think). The PROM holds the settings for fuel, boost, etc., for the computer. There are several companies out there making them, including each of the shops that I linked to below.

Here are some good links for parts etc:

SS Diesel Supply (http://ssdieselsupply.com) (My personal favorite)
Heath Diesel Power (http://heathdiesel.com)
Kennedy Diesel (http://kennedydiesel.com/) (Lots of good stuff in the "Tech Tips" section)

Good luck with the truck

PROM = programmable read only memory.

The "chip" that stores the data that your ECM needs to function. "Read only" indicates that the computer can not be re-flashed. The PROM is removable from the computer and needs to be erased before it can have a new data program burnt into it.