Hello all,

I've been a member for a while now, but rarely come on the board. This truck is my daily driver and tow vehicle for my drag car pulling a 28' enclosed trailer, approx 10k lbs loaded.

I've had this truck since 2004 with 7k miles when I got it. It's got 156k on the clock now. This truck has the 305/555 HO engine with the 48RE auto trans and 3.73 gears out back.

Since getting the enclosed trailer back in 2009, it's pretty clear the truck could use some more power. Hills are especially troublesome as if I don't get a run on the hill I lose speed fairly quick till i get to the top. Even what look like mild rolling hills are a struggle at times.

Anyway, the truck is bone stock except for a drop in K&N air filter. Just yesterday I found the tail pipe hanging loose, muffler exit rusted through. I ordered a Galvanized MBRP turbo back exhaust system to replace the stock.

I've had thoughts of putting a programmer on the truck. BUT, this is a daily driver and I don't know how much longer I intend to keep it. The drivers bed side wheel arch is beginning to bubble with rust and it seems to be getting worse rather quickly.

To get to the point. I'd like to improve power with a simple programmer. I don't intend to install aftermarket gauges, and don't plan to change the converter, nor trans upgrades. I just can't see dumping alot of money on aftermarket upgrades on a 12+ year old truck.

Given this criteria, can I safely install a programmer, or am I better off leaving it as is and use it till I'm ready for a new truck>

I'm not fond of all the emissions stuff on the new trucks, plus trying to avoid a car payment again. But I have found a 2014 left over a local dealer has as what looks like a decent price. I'm trying to avoid going there and get myself all excited over a new vehicle. lol

Any insight on a programmer would be appreciated.
Todd

 

You can't have the power without the supporting mods... if you want to bump the power up, you'll need to add gauges and strengthen the tranny. The 03 and early 04's react differently to power adders than the newer trucks, so my advise may be somewhat off...

I would say if you don't want to add all the stuff, but just want a bump in power, you could go with a smarty jr and keep it on the economy or tow setting. If you want to spend a little more coin, go with something like an edge that has built in gauges, you'll only need to tap a hole for your pyro. I have not dealt with an edge for a while, but my memory if it is: it's a good plug and play box for lower levels, but they add more power by dumping fuel and gobs of timing on the upper levels.

Any more power than stock and you're asking for your tranny to go sooner. You'll do ok on low settings for a while, but plan to upgrade at least a torque converter in the future.

I'd say either plan to put a little money in your truck or look for a newer used one, 06 or early 07.

Water/meth is a good choice for a little power too, but we're not talking much, and it's a pain for long trips.

HTH...

 

The truck may be old, but mine has yours beat by a year and I still love it. with that low of miles on it, if I was you, I'd invest some money into it. But, if you have a little extra money, you can probably get $20k for that truck, judging by what they are going for around here, if it looks decent, besides the rust you describe.

But, as for a programmer, if you aren't doing gauges, but are pulling that trailer, you need to monitor things regardless. I would get a Bully Dog GT Diesel. That way you get power, and have gauges built into the monitor. If you need a good tuner regardless, you can't beat the Smarty Jr. for a starter programmer. I had one for a year or two, and it kept the egt's down, and had good power for taking 10k up the hills. Keep in mind, the 100hp+ that either of these will get you will wear on that trans pretty good with that many miles on it.

 

I'm not looking to make this thing a hot rod. I have a race car for when I wanna go fast. Just need a little more power for towing, nothing crazy.

 

I am not an authority on the Smarty Jr, but this is what I did on the advice of others. I have my Smarty Jr set on SW-1 (40 HP), TM-2 and TQ-4, POD 90 (less smoke). I pull a 12,000# 5th whl and it lowered my EGT approx. 250 degrees, which is the main reason I installed it. On a long grade, in hot weather, the EGT's are between 1200 and 1250 and boost is about 33#. The added power is also a plus. I have gauges and would recommend them, but if the Smarty Jr is set on a low setting you could probably get by without them.
John

 

Whats your spending limit????????????

 

I'd get the smarty Jr. and set it to tow. You'll be able to sell it when you get rid of your truck. You can mod your air box or install a 6.7L airbox for more airflow. K&N's are terrible you can see thru them. They filter better when dirty as the holes are blocked. The mods in my sig help me tow. My 03 gets great milage and pulls strong.

 

Thanks for the information folks.

I'm really on the fence with the decision of mods to find power for towing vs trading the truck in on a new 2014/2015 truck.

Just hard to justify spending $6-7k on a 12 year old truck that is just beginning to rust. Fix the one rust spot and another is sure to pop up elsewhere.

Granted the new truck puts me back into a payment and then there is the potential issue of emissions equipment and fuel mileage.

Hard to deny the new truck smooth ride as well as abundant power.

Maybe I should sell the race car and enclosed trailer then I wouldn't need a truck. lol

 

$1000-1200 would get me a smarty jr and a Edge digital gauge monitor.

Not sure I feel like spending the $$$ on a trans & torque converter.

 

Just a smarty jr. Set to tow and you'll be ok.

Anything you add will naturally be a little harder on the tranny as pointed out. Try to keep your foot out of it unless the torque converter is locked up. That will help save it. A lockup switch is easy to install for a few dollars and helps some.

 

Realistically you won't be able to add to much power without spendiing big money on a tranny.

A Smarty Jr isn't too expensive. You can buy it and try it and if thats enough power than great leave it at that. If not then you need to dcide if you want to start adding guages and tranny mods ot buy a new truck.

Swapping out the turbo to a HE351 from a 2004.5-2006 truck makes a big difference and lowers EGTs and can be found used for $300-$500. Its a great addition to the Smarty Jr.

 

Ditto on the turbo. I changed the turbo before any kind of tuner and it made for a totally better truck. It smoothed out the power, huge improvement on the top end and ran so cool (1100 max) that a pyro wasn't needed. Mine did great with a 10k 5er. only the biggest mtns required dropping to 5th. I love the 4.1 gears! It sounds like you have 3.73s... right?

 

start with the smarty and edge. As mentioned keep your foot out of it... Then just save for a tranny build someday...My stock tranny could of made it 100,000 more miles or maybe 3000 but the 48re/47re was stupid of chrylser to put behind the cummins when cummins said it wont handle it. those trannys were rated for a gas truck

My tranny had a very slight slippage and I started saving the cash and in no time I had a triple disc TC and custom tranny built to handle a 1000hp that I will never see out of my truck...