Good Morning All,

I think I just made a great decision! I just purchased an '06 megacab CTD with the 6 speed coming over from my tired 7.3 powerstroke. It is time to learn a totally new truck and all the mods. I found this site and it appears similar to the Ford site. The people there were well versed on their trucks so I trust you are all also. So time to ask a few questions!

Starting form a stock truck, what are the best mods as far as bang for the buck along with which products for each mod are the best? I am assuming that it is similar in the fact that a chip, gauges, exhaust, and intake are basically standard. So what are the best products for each along with any other mods people recommend? My application will be in the realm of towing mainly so I am more after mileage than wild performance. Also looking for opinions of going to 19.5" wheels for safety and slight mileage increase. Any information would be helpful! Thanks

 

First off, welcome to the wonderful world of the CTD. I think you'll love your new truck more every day. Mine is a little over a year and a half old and to me, it's the best vehicle I've ever owned, and there have been alot...
As far as towing mods go, you are correct that guages, intake and exhaust are always a good place to start. There are a few good tow boxes and programmers. I recommend Quads' XZT box. Good power in a box that's affordable and does it all easily. For a programmer, I recommend Diablosport Predator. Inexpensive, 3 power levels, data logging, and just plain fun... There will be many opinions, these are just mine.
Keep reading, doing searches, asking questions and you'll make it easier for yourself to make an educated decision for what is best for you and your truck.
Goodluck...
I don't think those 19.5's will help mileage at all... probably hurt it. Those are some heavy wheels/tires.

 

Welcome to DTR

Get yourself a cup of coffee and sit down for awhile. You have just made a huge transition from the darkside and it will take awhile to sink in.

We'll be here to help.

 

I have my coffee and am searching as we speak. Just as the fords.....there seem to be a ton of little mods people have come up with along with the "boxed" mods. I guess I am looking for opinions on all types of mods along with the standard ones keeping in mind I am out for towing and mileage more than smoking performance. Are there things that can be done to the ECM to increase or change things around, not even sure what, just a thought. Keep the info coming please!

 

Look into a Smarty.

 

I have seem some stuff on the smarty but it appears that is more for performance versus the quadzilla towing box?? Also debating on digital gauges such as the attitude or the two boxes that quadzilla has or the good old fashioned gauges?

 

For simplicity and features look at the edge with attitude... turbo timer, gauges, lots of safety features... for big power look to TST or Smarty or both!

Welcome! And please do us a favor and fill out your signiture, so we know what you got...

Do some reading and you will find the options are almost limitless!!!
Any change in tires from the stockers will normally give you less MPG's.

just my .02

 

this is sound advice. I love my edge. also likely a good air intake and some exhaust to round it out. I have made many long trips at highway speeds, with and without loads and have been pleased with my mileage. 18-20 without and 14 with up to 10k

 

Welcome to the great CTD and DTR

 

Thank you for the welcomes. I will fill out signiture as soon as I figure out how. So I take it the edge with attitude is better than then the quadzilla set up? So a good air intake......that goes without saying, but what is good for the CTD for the money. Open up the exhaust......I thought the '06 came with 4" already, can you just delete the muffler or cat or both? Which is the better delete? Is a fuel pressure gauge a good idea on the CTD and if so does the edge product allow that option? I thought I recall that CTD has a weak lift pump....should this be replaced off the bat to prevent any future problems? With regards to tires/wheels I was considering the 19.5" for the extra weight carrying possibilities and potentially the mild mileage gains if any. The tires appear to be the weak link in carrying ability on the CTD? Options?

 

Congrats on the change. The first tuner you should look into is a smarty. this is the only programmer that doesnt void your warranty and has a ton of power. some go with a muffler delete ($55 on rpmoutlet.com) and some go with an after market mufller. Im waiting to get my delete then see how loud it is before I decide whether Im taking the cat off (which Im sure I will). Air intake get a dry setup like an AEM. your stock fuel system should be fine until you get deeper into modding. Hope this helps.

 

Treangen,
Welcome,

Top of page on left USER CP Find edit Sig.....

I also just came over from a 2000 Ford F250 with a 7.3 could not bring myself to buy a 6.0 So far I "Love this truck"
And I am slowly starting to get the MODS on it.......
Good Luck and dont forget , the search button can get you almost everything you ever wanted to know......

 

Everything at this point is helpful since I hav no idea on the CTD only my old 7.3 Powerstroke. Is the smarty more geared towards high performance? I am more into the mileage. IS the muffler and.or cat delete just a sound thing or is it performance related too? What type or gauges, digital or the old style? If digital which ones? So is a fuel pressure gauge a good idea? As far as intakes....are they needed on dodges or is the stock air box sufficient? With regards to the lift pump I was talking preventative maintenance in replacing the pump right away? Good idea or bad?

 

I am looking away throught he search function.....anyone have any input?

 

Changing the muffler to a donaldson netted me a 100* drop in EGT.

There are mods that can be done to the stock air box for minor gains, but are cheep/free.

There are TONS of options/opinions on boxes, just search different box names and find out what the users say about them. Most boxes that are adjustable have both tow and perf settings.

After reading till the screen looks funny, you will learn there is a knowledge curve, but (most) everyones comments have some merit.

My last suggestion is to keep questions specific or you will get tons of off subject answers........I should know

JRG