Tricking out a new Duramax

06hd4me · May 3, 2006

Whats up? Im new to this forum and new to being a Deisel owner. I just bought an 06 HD2500 with all the bells and whistles. Im stoked about it so far! Ive put all the usual upgrades to the appearance so far, but now IM HUNGRY. What are your suggestions for add ons to make this thing screem? Exhaust, chips, turbo boosts, filters, etc............

Thanks in advance.

Shawn T · May 3, 2006

Edge A2 Juice w/Attitude and a pipe from Big Rolling Power. I would not mess with any hokey intakes on a diesel, your just asking for problems.

cowboybinkz71 · May 3, 2006

You can't chip a diesel anymore. Last "chip" was back in the Powerstroke trucks. Everything now is programmers and boxes. But that's neither here nor there, just a terminology thing.

First, there's 2 forums that you'll learn a lot more on (no offense to anyone here; these sites are dedicated to diesels.) First is www.thedieselpage.com (devoted to the GM diesels) and www.oilburners.net (general diesel forum and goof off place.

First, with a diesel truck, when you add fuel to add horsepower, you generate a lot more heat. With a diesel, the first mod needs to be gages to monitor what you're engine is doing...in this case you need a boost gage and a pyrometer. The boost is obvious, the pyro is so that you odn't melt the turbo. I"m an Edge Products believer. They offer top notch products. The Edge Juice with Attitude is your best bet because it's a total package. It's adjustable power gains (40 to 120 hp and 80-250 ft-lbs. torque) includes gages to monitor your motor, and offers protection. Go to www.edgeproducts.com to learn more abotu their product. Along with this, I'd add a free flowing intake and a 4" exhaust. I had MBRP on my Powerstroke and really liked it.

I had the Juice on ym Dmax when I had it and loved it. With the box on teh 90hp setting, AMSOIL air filter, and the factory exhaust straight piped I could black out an intersection if I lugged it. If I wanted to go fast, I could walk away from Mustang GTs and the fart-can mufler crowd, and I could hang with most Z28 Camaros. The Dmax and Allison is an excellent platform. Enjoy!

06hd4me · May 8, 2006

I appreciate the input. I will certainly check it out. Ive been wanting to add the cold air intake but K&N says they dont have it out for th 06's yet. And I really want to add that 4" exhaust sytem soon. Thanks for the info.

cowboybinkz71 · May 8, 2006

My cousin has an '06 and love it. I drove it a few months ago and if I had the money and need i"d definately have a '06 Dmax.

Now, some folks will say you should buy a stainless exhaust. I'm in south LA so the only thing I have to worry about is rust, but that's something that's going to take many years to happen. Unless you live in a snowy climate where they salt the roads in winter, or there's some other abrasive that your undercarriage will come in regualr contact with, save your money and go with the aluminized exhaust. It works jsut as good as the stainless, looks just as good, and will save you beaucoup $ that can go towards the Edge box.

As far as the intake and other stuff, I bought my Dmax parts from www.kennedydiesel.com who is a regualr advertiser adn supporter of TheDieselPage.com. He knows his stuff and won't steer your wrong.

snownyet · June 3, 2006

There are only a couple of programmers available for the LBZ, the bullydog power pup and superchips seem to be doing alright. Edge products says the end of summer for thiers and Banks sometime soon for thiers. Be careful, as awesome as the Allison transmission is, if you run one of these programmers and or other parts and dial in too much power you will damage it. Were talking power increases that can easily put your torque in the 850-1000 ft lbs range. If you follow any of the Diesel tech sites you'll notice many of the guys with alot of HP tuned into their trucks are running aftermarket built Allisons. Keep the power reasonable and it'll still be loads of fun and be dependable too.

cowboybinkz71 · June 3, 2006

The Allison can handle 800 to 900ft-lbs in stock form in all gears except OD and the torque management of the programmers defuel to prevent slippage. The Edge Juice on the highest level approaches these numbers. If you're going to run a box on the highest level all the time and/or plan to use propane, nitrous, etc then you're going to need an upgrade to the T/C and valve body in the trannie to reduce slippage.

BullyDog's products are for the most part repackaged Edge stuff. I've never used it simply becasue everyone says it's the cats arse and it's all over the place. I know for a fact that the Edge stuff is top notch and makes awesome power where you need it. The DiabloSport is a good product, but I've never used their programmer. I did have their PowerPuck on my Cummins and I was very pleased. Superchips IMO is a waste of money. They make a decent product, but for the money you cna get an Edge Evolution with many more features, faster upload time, and it makes more power and better power.

06hd4me · June 4, 2006

Man. You guys are getting serious here. Now Im confused with what to buy......I certainly dont want to load my torque up so high where I damage the trani.....So what does the average Joe do? I like everyones input and I keep hearing the Edge Juice is the way to go. But is it to much? I just want to smoke my buddies corvette!!!!!!! He says no way and I know my big ass truck will do it......

The Allison can handle 800 to 900ft-lbs in stock form in all gears except OD and the torque management of the programmers defuel to prevent slippage. The Edge Juice on the highest level approaches these numbers. If you're going to run a box on the highest level all the time and/or plan to use propane, nitrous, etc then you're going to need an upgrade to the T/C and valve body in the trannie to reduce slippage.

BullyDog's products are for the most part repackaged Edge stuff. I've never used it simply becasue everyone says it's the cats arse and it's all over the place. I know for a fact that the Edge stuff is top notch and makes awesome power where you need it. The DiabloSport is a good product, but I've never used their programmer. I did have their PowerPuck on my Cummins and I was very pleased. Superchips IMO is a waste of money. They make a decent product, but for the money you cna get an Edge Evolution with many more features, faster upload time, and it makes more power and better power.

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cowboybinkz71 · June 5, 2006

I had the Juice module on my Dmax ('01 2500HD EC 4x4). This was just the box, not the Attitude monitor. Other modes were a straight-piped stock exhaust and an AmsOil filter in teh stock box. With that module on Level 4 I was able to flat out smoke a Mustang GT and would be able to hang with a Z28 Camaro. If you want to beat a C5 you'll have to look at propane and/or NOx. I'd also highly reccommend a 4" exhaust and gages if you're going to run on the top levels for any length of time. As far as the trannie...I never once had the Allison slip when I was racing or pulling. I"d use the Level 4 setting for fun and stuff, btu most of the time I ran on Level 2 casue at the time I was pulling a horse trailer to rodeos and a flatbed loaded with 15k work of hay. Don't tow in anything over Level 2 cause the EGTs will be through the roof and you will potentially slip teh trannie in the upper gears.

For reference the Juice will run about $700 by itself.

cowboybinkz71 · June 5, 2006

Oh yeah, with the Juice on Level 2 and above it was sooooo easy to do a burnout. Just powerbrake the truck a bit (I'd usually get it up to about 1200 or maybe 1500 rpm) and build a little boost. Dump the brake and stomp on teh fun pedal and watch the smoke billow. My truck would spin out first and second and then would start moving right as the 2-3 upshift happened.

duramaxHD · June 7, 2006

If you want to beat a C5 you'll have to look at propane and/or NOx
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you dont need propane and nitrous to beat a C5. ;)

before you start worrying about drugs, get a built trans. If you have a built trans you will be able to smoke anything on the street with a good tune, nothing else.

Edge is being a little generous when they say the Allison can handle 900 ft lbs of torque in 1-4th gear....

also check out www.dieselplace.com another good Duramax site.

Ben

gmdieseltech · July 14, 2006

I bought my Dmax parts from www.kennedydiesel.com who is a regualr advertiser adn supporter of TheDieselPage.com. He knows his stuff and won't steer your wrong.

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Far cry from what i've noticed, read and heard...

Propane and NOS should be needed to beat a C5! look at the pwoer to weight ration of both vehicles.

i prefer to do my shopping at places that specialize in the duramax, also i try to support the shops in my local area.

Be wary of posters trying to direct you to other web sites or forums, or offering to good to be true sounding testimeonials or claims.

cowboybinkz71 · July 18, 2006

A reference to another website that specializes in a specific niche is a bad thing? I fail to see why someone should be wary of a reference to one of the best sites out there wiht tons of intel on the Duramax trucks. I used to be a paying member there so I have first hand experience, even though it is 3 years old. The site in question that you copied was a vendor and supporter of www.thedieselpage.com when I was there that I had good dealings with.

Is that a problem or are you concerned that someone may go to another site that has more practical information on the original poster's question?

duramaxHD · July 19, 2006

Propane and NOS should be needed to beat a C5! look at the pwoer to weight ration of both vehicles.

as I said before, not a C5. You can beat one with a built trans and programmer/box. Nothing else needed, save for tie rod sleeves...

my ET sucks; I was dealing with fuel pressure issues and have not been to the track since. 13.2 is near a C5, and I dont have propane or nitrous. However my trap speed is unusually high, 104mph. 104mph generally equates to a 12.7-12.8 second crew cab duramax (mine is roughly 7,150 pounds, 33" tires/18" wheels)

youd be surprised about the power to weight ratio as far as a "chipped" dmax vs. a C5 Corvette. Remember torque is what gets vehicles moving. These trucks can make 500 rear wheel hp / 1000 rear wheel ft lbs of torque on a bone stock engine, with just a tune in the ECM.

gmdieseltech · July 26, 2006

I used to be a paying member there so I have first hand experience, even though it is 3 years old. The site in question that you copied was a vendor and supporter of www.thedieselpage.com when I was there that I had good dealings with.

Is that a problem or are you concerned that someone may go to another site that has more practical information on the original poster's question?

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you said it "paying member".

Readers should NOT have to PAY to read ADVERTISEMENTS, and Artciles, Reviews and Forum Posts that are ADVERTISEMENTS in disguise!

Very Dishonest & Unethical operation and mislaeading info over there, so it's very strange to see anyone point someone in that direction.

Getting back to the topic, upgrading the trans is a must beofre adding NOS or LP.