theunit

Just bought a 07 5.9 just wondering whats the firsts step in upgrades you all would do BTW love the truck

CD in NM

Good question for your first post, welcome to the forum.

I am assuming your truck is stock with no aftermarket stuff? You need to fill out your sig and tell us more about your truck.

When I got my truck new in 2006, the first aftermarket addition I did was to add gauges. They were boost, pyro, fuel pressure and rail pressure. I chose those to be able to familiarize myself to the stock functions of my truck.

I also added that first month a KORE Leveling Kit with the Bilstein shocks, Bilstein Shocks to the rear, and Hummer Wheels with BFG At KO 315-70-17 tires. And, I also added the MagHytek front and read diff covers and the Fast Coolers Tranny coolers.

Figuring that I would do some more serious mods down the road after my warranty was gone, I installed and aftermarket intake (Ice Box) added a better flowing Intake Horn (GDP) changed out the plastic tube from the intake horn to the intercooler (BD pipe). Pretty much at that point in time I had a better flowing intake air system, and it DID get me much better fuel economy plus helped to lower egt's.

I then looked at the exhaust, the 4" stock system pretty much will handle quite a bit that you could throw at it with other mods later on, the only change I made to that system was to loose the muffler and install a muffler elimination pipe in its place (genos garage). This also added to better fuel economy.

Since there have been many known issues regarding fuel filtration being sub-standard, relativity to cp3 cavitation and injector failures, I started using a 5-micron filter in my stock cannister (Baldwin PF-7977) and added a 2-micron fuel filter system between the stock canister and the cp3 (GDP 2-micron).

I tow a lot, heavy loads, I didn't really like the amount of rear sag that the soft ride suspension gives, so, I added the Firestone Ride Rite Air Bags and the Helwig Sway Bar, I also added taller bump stops in the back helper spring contact points. Air bags keep you off or out of the helper springs, I wanted to have a medium point where both could provide a working function together. It was a good choice, because when you find their balance point you have 4 pressure points across a greater axle housing area. I also added the PacBrake exhaust brake, I tow a lot in mountains and steep grades, it has been the perfect addition for towing that I could have ever wanted, it has performed flawlessly for 3 years.

I have had my truck almost 4 years, have 45K on it, it has been pretty close to a perfect ride as anyone could ask for, I am more than pleased with it.

Recently I added the Fab Shop Header and it has also added to lower egt's and fuel mileage gains. Next weekend I am installing a Air Dog 150 fuel pump.

Once the Air Dog is installed I am going to be looking at changing out the stock clutch, stock hydraulics for the clutch, and adding a crank dampner. I have yet to decide which clutch I will be installing, in the research process reading a ton of threads about the clutches available for our trucks. Once I have the clutch done, I think I will put a hold on mods until I have decided about possibly adding a modded fuel rail, modding the cp3, adding a bigger turbo, and doing the cam and adding 90hp injectors. I am not looking for an undrivable truck by putting together things that are specific to one arena. My goals were to do mods that will increase performance within reason, upgrade those things that the factory has cheapened and are troublesome, and to gain better overall durability, function, and longevity while using my truck in many different situations.

Sorry that my comments have been so long, but as I see it, all this stuff is tied together with a little planning, each has it own right, but together they become something greater. Its not about just getting someplace, to me it is about how you get there and maybe even the fun in getting there. I do all my own maintenance and wrenching, I find it to be a relaxing break from the other things in life, but still challenging enough to make it interesting and fun.


CD

nelrod

I was too lazy to read CD's reply and also in a rush to leave. THE VERY FIRST THING I WOULD DO IS PUT A BETTER FUEL FILTRATION SYSTEM ON IT. CD prolly covered that, but I use a Baldwin 5micron for the factory canister and a Caterpillar 2 micron, you can use a fleetguard 2 micron also. Congrats. Does your 07 have the newer OD gear that is not as low as ours?

theunit

Yes truck is stock ,,,,, i kinda like it for now that way but fuel filters, exhaust and a chip is all its getting any time soon.. Thanks for all your help ....just want to be on the safe side of the power limits... i have the 5.9 in the wheel loaders ,and some other equipment at work been around those for years... just don't know how they differ from the truck..........

rockcrawler304

Congrats on the truck!

CD gave a lot of great info. That and just reading here and searching other questions will give you more information than you can possibly take in at one time!

theunit

anyone have any good info on the banks system for our trucks

soulezoo

We have a lot of info... very little of it is good.

Seriously, step back from the glossy ads and take a deep breath. There are better performing products for less money.

The Banks power sticker will give more power than the rest of the products combined.

soulezoo

For a good unit looking at your stated goals, get a smarty jr. for the programmer.

The filtration and gauge advice is a good start otherwise.

samsneeze

"The Banks power sticker will give more power than the rest of the products combined."

Hey Soulezoo you could not have said that any better. I just put a banks kit with the PDA and all that jazz on a friends 6.4l. Anyway after I finished it he took it for a ride and came back and asked me to turn the PDA level up off the low level he thought it was on. I told him it was all the way up he said a few choice works then caught his breath and said at least he has a nice PDA to show for his 900.00

Redsmoke

hey welcome to the forum
I think the way i would do it, that is if your just in to proformance not looks or Off road, is to start with:
-Air intake, it will increase Hp, better airflow into the engine, increase Fuel MPG.
-Go with programmer you like, Smarty, Edge, TST. But remember to be careful, as when you add more hp electronically, you need to add Fuel system FASS or else you will starve the injection system.
-Change your stock exhaust to 4" turbo back with no CAT.
What tranny do you have?? you should upgrade tranny according to how much more hp you plan on gaining. I didn't do any mods to my tranny and had intake and chip exhaust. I would tow heavy a lot and the next thing you a knew i blew the tranny up. my tranny was a 4spd auto.
Then i think your pretty good, but upgrades on this trucks can go forever and cost good coin. so be wise and do your research 1st. decided what how much power you wanna make

.boB

Before making any mods, determine what your goals are: Towing, street performance, off road performance, looks, etc. Without defining your goals, any suggested mods are merely an uneducated guess.