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3rd Gen High Performance and Accessories (5.9L Only)Talk about Dodge/Cummins aftermarket products for third generation trucks here. Can include high-performance mods, or general accessories. THIS IS FOR THE 5.9L ONLY!
If you had to do it all over again what upgrade would you start with? I was kicking around doing something to improve turbo lag, but exhaust caught my eye too, and well several other things. Any suggestions?
Not a lot. I got it about 5 months ago, and as near as I can tell they have done the lift and bigger tires. I have added an auto-start. Nothing under the hood except usual maintenance. It is the 2004.5
Transmission, then smarty, then turbo and exhaust manifold, then head studs , then exhaust
the tranny will be needing some upgrades if he adds tunes. HP and UDC PRO are way better then a smarty, not that smarty is a bad tuner. Why a turbo? An exhaust manifold wont do anything. Studs are not needed at this point and the stock exhaust is just fine.
Suggested an exhaust manifold with the turbo- assuming one would go with a t-4 set up over the t-3. Yes more filtration too- forgot that! Just changed my Donaldson filter- don't know how I over looked that
I would suggest a SRT-10 pillar and install a EGT gauge in there... Then a tune or pressure box (down the road both can be reused/stacked)... But start saving up for a transmission build...
The only reason I go against the grain and do the transmission build later is because after the transmission becomes more efficient it increases the turbo lag... After I did my tranny I had to reduce the torque management because it increased my turbo lag (less slippage and much heavier convertor to spin)... My transmission on a stock tune would make me angry to have to drive in city traffic all day long...
Unless you need it or want a different sound, I doubt a exhaust will give you any performance gain at all..
Get a programmer that you can grow with. Smarty or EFI Live are all the rage now it seems. This will help give your truck the instant pep you are looking for and adjustments to stay safe and build bigger power later...
This first upgrade will then force you to get the 2nd upgrade... Gauges , 3rd built transmission, 4th turbo, 5th injectors, 6th filtration and so on.
I would suggest a SRT-10 pillar and install a EGT gauge in there... Then a tune or pressure box (down the road both can be reused/stacked)... But start saving up for a transmission build...
The only reason I go against the grain and do the transmission build later is because after the transmission becomes more efficient it increases the turbo lag... After I did my tranny I had to reduce the torque management because it increased my turbo lag (less slippage and much heavier convertor to spin)... My transmission on a stock tune would make me angry to have to drive in city traffic all day long...
Unless you need it or want a different sound, I doubt a exhaust will give you any performance gain at all..
do not stack programmers. that is not needed.
Originally Posted by 2-Stroke
The first upgrade you ask?
Get a programmer that you can grow with. Smarty or EFI Live are all the rage now it seems. This will help give your truck the instant pep you are looking for and adjustments to stay safe and build bigger power later...
This first upgrade will then force you to get the 2nd upgrade... Gauges , 3rd built transmission, 4th turbo, 5th injectors, 6th filtration and so on.
Welcome to DTR.
EFI is for 06+ smarty is good, but HP and UDC PRO is the best custom tuning you can get, as long as you go with a good reputable tuner. HP and UDC RPO is comparable to EFI, but for the 03-05 trucks. why would you put better filtration in after you put new injectors in? you wanna put better filtration in right away to help your injectors last longer.
why would you put better filtration in after you put new injectors in? you wanna put better filtration in right away to help your injectors last longer.
Mine lasted 295k with stock filtration (I may be the exception and not the rule)... and granted they had some wear and needed a rebuild - but thats pretty good in my book! Just being selective over where you buy your fuel is just as important.
That initial ~$1,000 can go to better use I think...
Mine lasted 295k with stock filtration (I may be the exception and not the rule)... and granted they had some wear and needed a rebuild - but thats pretty good in my book! Just being selective over where you buy your fuel is just as important.
That initial ~$1,000 can go to better use I think...
that is very good for stock injectors, but on average they do not last that long. but you also had them rebuilt too. $1000 for better filtration? you can get a very nice kit for $260 and there are some cheaper ones out there. what better use can your money go towards then protecting your $2200+ injectors? '03-'12 Cummins Fuel Filter Kit
that is very good for stock injectors, but on average they do not last that long. but you also had them rebuilt too. $1000 for better filtration? you can get a very nice kit for $260 and there are some cheaper ones out there. what better use can your money go towards then protecting your $2200+ injectors? '03-'12 Cummins Fuel Filter Kit
I had them rebuilt at 295k miles when I rebuild the whole engine.
And yes filtration can be done for less. But with the sump kit and the air dog etc I was bumping 1g.
I can't argue the fact, filtration IS important... But if the OP is looking for the first step towards enjoying the truck, my vote goes to the programmer. Heck even trucks with filtration suffer injector failures. It's all a gamble and trade space on value. Your point is valid.
It's interesting that gauges are just barely touched on in this thread, but surely gauges, especially fuel pressure, boost and EGT, should be first?
from everything all have been telling me, i agree with stan.
gauges (psi , boost, egt)
then fuel filter or filter pick up pump combo.
from there go hog wild with some of the other guys suggestions.
trans, etc. but that is just two cents.
If you had to do it all over again what upgrade would you start with? I was kicking around doing something to improve turbo lag, but exhaust caught my eye too, and well several other things. Any suggestions?
12-17-2016, 01:20 AM
What would be the 1st upgrade you would do?
