MichaelCTD1

Hi all,
I'm a little new to the CTD and this is my first post.
I'm looking to get a little better performance out of the truck mainly for drivability and towing, I don't need to smoke the tires.
Its a 03 2500 quad cab 4x4 with an 47re automatic and 3:73 gear. Bone stock with 25K miles.
From what I gather I need gauges, valve body & a chip or programmer.
Any recommendations? Do I need the VB.

HappyGA

Gauges yes, VB, not really necessary at this point, but after a box or programmer, you will be maxed out on your stock tranny before it really starts slipping. You of course can still add more, and use your foot as the govenor.

You can see what I have in my sig. I can slip the tranny on a hard run from stop. But I govern myself so as not to do that, cause I don't have the extra cash right now for a tranny....

SAVOY1964

I would go with a Tourque converter and Valve body along with gauges: boost, egt, and transmission temp. as to chips or programmers just about anything will work all depends on what you want to end up with.

madhat

Mike,
How much $$$ do you want to spend? I do not have deep pockets, I'm doing a little at a time. Check out my post, DIY air box mod, that will get you started, maybe a few ideas. I'm trying to start with all the supporting stuff first. Exaust, Air intake, gauges, then maybe a fuel pump and injectors. Then I'll start adding a little power. That's just me. Check out my photo gallery to see all the air box mod pics. Best thing to do, Take a couple of hours and just sit down and go through the forum. There is a ton of useful stuff in here.

Welcome to the club.

-madhat

MichaelCTD1

I was thinking of going with the Edge EZ with Attitude.
Money is limited so I thought I would start there. Hopefully the tranny would hold up okay if I keep up on the maintenance. I drive like I'm trying to conserve fuel so I usually take it easy. I just need a little more power to get over the mountain passes.
I'll check out the other low dollar mods as well.
Thanks for all the input.

morkable

The Edge "juice w/ Attitude is an excellent starting point, as it has most of the must need guages built in. It has nice smooth power, and will give you some extra fuel mileage. But beware, and start saving now, you will eventually (sooner than later) need tranny upgrades (especially with the 47re) .

Kevin

BigDave12768

Don't waste your money on gauges or a box. Start of with a cold air box. I like my Mac air intake. This will help the truck breath easier. You will notice some power increase with this and more turbo whistle. This costs about $230. Next buy a Rokktech crank sensor ($70). This will give you some nice extra low end power. Then get a bigger exhaust (400-600). The crank sensor is simple to install and so is the air box. So even with paying for an install you can get all this done for under a grand. Don't buy gauges or do any tranny mods if you just looking to pep up your S.O. After these 3 mods all which should be done if you are going to add a box. Then decide if you want a box and go into tranny and other more pricey mods. I am one of the few Banks guys on the site. And since you have the 47re I would highley recomend the Banks for all the safety features. Unless you plan on buying a 5k tranny. Then Bomb away

HappyGA

you do not have to do the roktech sensor before adding a box, as a matter of fact, all the sensor does is change the timing which almost all boxes/programmers do. The stock air box will support up to I believe it has been said 450hp, adn teh stock exhaust will also..

You need gauges, especially if you pull. boost is not that important, but can be helpful if you ever have a problem that might be boost related. EGT (exhaust Gas temp) is a very important gauge if you pull anything. Especially if you start adding power. You can melt down your cummins engine just by pulling a load up a hill in stock form....If I were you I would get a set of gauges for $300 (that is with an A-pillar pod to put the gauges in)..Then I would look at getting a mild box or programmer. After that, you will benefit form the intake and exhaust....

shambo

If you start upgrading you need a Pyrometer. Adding power and you will need a new Torque converter. get a economy box that does not add a lot of power then you won't be tempted. It is very addicting and so I have a new Transmission and Torque converter.

MichaelCTD1

Wow, there is a lot of opinions and options to consider.

morkable

lol,, yep,, get 10 people together and you will have 9 different opinions. I started out with my 03 like you ,, stock,, my first upgrade was a bully dog,, but now that I know more and have tried many differnt things,, I wish I would have started with the edge,,, it just is nice,, smooth,, builds a nicer power. I got about 60k Kilometers on my stock tranny with the bullydog on extreme all the time,,,

Kevin

displacedtexan

I agree with HappyGA, for well under a grand you can have a mild box and gauges. That will net you more power than intake/exhaust, and you can do them later if necessary. But the stock pieces will be fine with most boxes out there...

qzilla

For half of that he can get a box and gauges. It just depends on what you want. Heck for a grand he can dang near get a box/gauges/intake/and exhaust.

What you need to do is decide what it is you want. What you don't want and what you are willing to spend. Once we know that we can point you in the right direction.

So do you want gauges? If no then you need 65hp or less. On a 2003 truck you will not have egt issues at that level.

If you do not mind gauges do you want to do transmission modifications? On a 47re you cannot do more than about 65hp without modifications.

So in my opinion to get started without spending a chunk of cash you have 2 options.

Edge EZ

or for about the same amount you can have

Quadzilla XZT

and

Recon XZT gauge kit

or for a little more

Analog gauges

Now airboxes are great as is exhaust. But if this is your first dive into this area you need something that you can really see what you spent your money on. Once you see how it all works and you watch your gauges you can upgrade from there.

If you start small you may be 100% satisfied and never change anything. Or you have a small investment that you can get most of your money out of if you want to sell it and then you can go as far as you want.

The worst thing to do is push the envelope and bite off more than you can chew and tear something up. That will taint your thoughts about performance forever.

BigDave12768

Well than you and HappyGA must have some serious EGT issues early on. You are not going to get the all Hp out of a box with out airflow mods. Do the air intake/exhaust mods first. if not you will not be happy with the box since it will keep defueling you to bring down EGT's. So start out with the things need to run a box and see how you like that power increase. They are right you do not need a Rokktech sensor. But it's a nice cheap upgrade that will you give you more low end power. The problem with this board is some people have some very deep pockets and others don't. I personally don't. I do one mod a month a try to keep it less than 500. Your S.O will wake up with the mods I mentioned. The mods they mentioned will blow up your 47RE tranny real fast. People already started off by telling your tranny would need some help. So my suggestion is to go the safe route, Do the mods I mentioed and then get a Quad Zxt or a banks product. The things they mention would blow up the 48RE and they are a lot tougher tranny

BigDave12768

You see even the guy that works for quadzilla is saying the same thing. Do some air mods then buy a 65hp upgrade box. Yo will have no issues with your truck then. The only way to run the high hP stuff is to build a tranny. My buddy has an S.O. I have driven it. I can feel your pain. But your best option is to go the safe route. From what I understand the power from a Quad zxt is good and you get better MPG's. If you don't go the safe route you have to dish out 5k for a built tranny to run the edges and Quads