advice with first mods

[bjohn118]

just curious as to what you guys are doing as base preliminary mods for your engines. i haven't had a gas truck since i was 16 and alternatively i haven't had a truck with less than 600 horse at the wheels for 6 years i know what to do with diesels being as i have built all mine and know the ins and outs on them. i have saw the catch can and i am going to do that but I'm also wondering what other little mods there are to protect the engine or make it operate a little better. now I'm not an idiot i know the big three exhaust, intake, and programmer. but I'm looking for other things or little tips and tricks that you guys do, i have some pretty big plans for this truck so anything will help. thanks in advance I'm looking forward to your replies

 

[meadows]

what are your goals for the truck? do you tow? drag race? go mudding? 2 or 4 wd? need more info.........

 

[BlkRamRt]

180 tstat and if you get a tune go to Hemifever for that. You named all the major componets for the engine. go with long tube headers instead of shorties, you will gain more power all around. another thing buy everthing from Moes Performance. Matt is a great guy and has awsome customer service.

 

[bjohn118]

dont tow i have a duramax for that and i plan to street race and drag race with it and no i never go mudding the most mud this thing will see is driving in one of our fields on a gravel road and i dont really have a goal honestly i know im eventually going to do a procharger kit but that stuff will be down the road so in conclusion i want the thing to be fast as possible but still be daily driven and be a sleeper but right now im just looking into little things like the catch can or i saw on one a guy had a little filter off to the drivers side of the motor i honestly don't know what it was but i have looked at egr deletes for it and all that and just trying to figure out what is best to do and what i should do. its difficult for me because i know exactly the first things to hack off of a diesel and the first things to reroute and change on a diesel but am clueless on a gas engine.

 

[BlkRamRt]

if you plan on procharging it later on forget about the CAI save the couple hundred dollars and buy something else. another thing you can add on is a 2800-3000 stall converter. do you have a regular cab or quad cab?

 

[bjohn118]

im not asking how to make the thing a 1000 horse power i guess what im asking what can i do to prolong the life of the engine, make it cleaner, not have restrictions on it, just make the motor happy right now. kinda like you do with your wife ya gotta make her happy and comfortable before you can go for the gold. and you gotta keep her running happy or else you arent happy at all.

 

[bjohn118]

if you plan on procharging it later on forget about the CAI save the couple hundred dollars and buy something else. another thing you can add on is a 2800-3000 stall converter. do you have a regular cab or quad cab?

that was my plan i wasnt going to waste the scratch on it im a welder so i can make something for the time being but i never did think about the converter any recommendations? and on the trans subject how much abuse can these puppies handle and its a crew cab short bed

 

[ladiesman217]

Everyone is going to recommend that you do some type of stall torque converter.
I just put one in my truck a week ago.
From the input I have gathered, since you won't be towing anything go with a 3k stall converter.
Two good brands out there are circle d and edge.
I went with an edge 2800 since I do tow a jeep sometimes.
Depending on what year you have gears are either cheap or ******* stupid expensive lol. Looks like you have a 2013 so get ready to pay a bunch for them.

 

[BlkRamRt]

Do you have the 6 speed? as to what i've seen these trans cannot take more than 450-500hp to the wheels. there is a few guys running the stock trans but will have to upgrade it sooner than later. As for the torque converter talk to Matt and he can set you up with an Edge TQ.

 

[Hemi450hp]

The smaller complimentary mods would be a catch can, 180* thermostat, and electric fan. When it comes to tuners, either of the Diablo Tuners w/ Hemifever custom tuning have shown us the most powerful and most consistent gains. Exhaust after the headers is completely up to you as these don't typically show more than an 8-10hp gain at most...just go with whatever sounds best to you. As for headers, I would definitely go with a 1 3/4" longtube setup. Even with boost, the 1 7/8" setup is a little bigger than I like because the 1 3/4" will give you more usable tq. Onto the tq converters, if you don't tow and want to race, then a 3000 stall is the way I would go. Each of these are built specific to your truck, so we need to set it up according to the mods you have or plan to have in the near future. A converter that hits 3000rpms on a stock motor is actually going to flash around 3300-3400 on a truck with full boltons and tuning.

 

[meadows]

i agree with the above. If FI is your poison do tuner, tstat, headers (long tube), efan, better tires, and start saving for a transmission. What rear gear do you have? LSD?

 

[bjohn118]

Do you have the 6 speed? as to what i've seen these trans cannot take more than 450-500hp to the wheels. there is a few guys running the stock trans but will have to upgrade it sooner than later. As for the torque converter talk to Matt and he can set you up with an Edge TQ.

yes i do have the 6 speed

 

[bjohn118]

The smaller complimentary mods would be a catch can, 180* thermostat, and electric fan. When it comes to tuners, either of the Diablo Tuners w/ Hemifever custom tuning have shown us the most powerful and most consistent gains. Exhaust after the headers is completely up to you as these don't typically show more than an 8-10hp gain at most...just go with whatever sounds best to you. As for headers, I would definitely go with a 1 3/4" longtube setup. Even with boost, the 1 7/8" setup is a little bigger than I like because the 1 3/4" will give you more usable tq. Onto the tq converters, if you don't tow and want to race, then a 3000 stall is the way I would go. Each of these are built specific to your truck, so we need to set it up according to the mods you have or plan to have in the near future. A converter that hits 3000rpms on a stock motor is actually going to flash around 3300-3400 on a truck with full boltons and tuning.

that is exactly what im looking for and i have been looking at headers and exhaust. but my question is with long tubes what is going to be necessary with doing them exhaust wise and will i still have or need cats or would i want to remove them? i have also been looking at a trinity.

 

[bjohn118]

i agree with the above. If FI is your poison do tuner, tstat, headers (long tube), efan, better tires, and start saving for a transmission. What rear gear do you have? LSD?

i know it is the limited slip but im not sure on gear ratio it is a lone star edition whatever the hell that means and i have been looking into nitto nt420s tires.

 

[bjohn118]

also looking into lowering the back of the truck to level it out and putting a set of 20 inch bmf reaprs on it. and is there a kit for the electric fan or what are people doing for it

 

[Hemi450hp]

that is exactly what im looking for and i have been looking at headers and exhaust. but my question is with long tubes what is going to be necessary with doing them exhaust wise and will i still have or need cats or would i want to remove them? i have also been looking at a trinity.

The ARH longtubes are designed to bolt right up to your factory exhaust or any other catback exhaust for that matter. This makes for an easy install that does not require any welding or any additional piping.