Alrighty guys. I finally got my triple disk TC, and DTT transmission rebuild kit along with all of the bells and whistles put in (besides the output shaft.) Been driving it for about 6 months and it feels very strong! A bit of minor gear hunting around 20-30 mph in traffic, but I'm guessing that's because of the shift kit trying to stay in a lower gear? The thing is a monster, and snaps from gear to gear nice and firm...

After a little bit of saving, I'm ready to take it to the next level. The engine is bone stock. I have an Intake, Boost, Tranny Temp, and EGT gauges, and a Banks Six Gun (Came on the truck, it's fairly impotent, but does a fair job. Keeps a lot of opposition humbled.) I have been looking at the smarty S-06. Had a few questions before I make the plunge into it.

1st off, I read all over the place that a fuel pressure gauge and rail pressure gauge is a must. How high does that smarty have to be before you run along the lines of the gauges being an absolute necessity?

2nd, is there anything else I need to do before getting the smarty? Injectors, CP3, etc.

3rd, what setting would you best recommend for the current upgrades on my truck? I plan on standing on the skinny pedal every now and then. (Gotta put the Powerstroke, and Duramax guys in their place, right?)

 

Before investing in any programer, see if you can go with
efi live, every thread I read said you won't be sorry.

The main thing before stepping up in power is a built tran.
The other stuff can wait till you can afford it.

 

I had a Smarty (and honestly loved it)...however, I echo "Blueboy". Get rid of that Banks and take that money to a good EFILive tuner (plenty out there to choose from...personally, I went with an autocal unit from Zach at Starlite Diesel...VERY happy!). In short, you quickly realize that with EFI, the opportunities to improve your tune are endless as you make upgrades over time. (The gauges you described are already installed...correct?) After your tuning upgrade, I would start looking at a FASS lift pump for your next upgrade.
Congrats on the new trans...with a good tuner, your going to be smiling ear-to-ear!!
Later...

 

These upgrades are much like a dog chasing his tail.

Get one, it requires another and so forth.

With the trans in place, you can do a lot before needing injectors.

Just remember that anything that adds more fuel (efi/smarty) will need something to feed the fuel (airdog/fass/mitusa maybe a cp3 upgrade as well) and something to effectively use that fuel (turbo)

That can end up being a lot of $$$.

Start by having a budget/goal in mind and fit your goals to that budget...

The fuel gauges you ask about are not "required" per se in the same manner an EGT gauge is, but helpful in tuning/troubleshooting.

And be rid of the Banks popgun.

 

Well put soulezoo...
The wife is about tired of hearing "after this ONE thing I will be done..."
She is starting to read right through that one ; )

 

Thanks guys! After doing a bit of reading, I think the EFI might be what I'm after, after all! This was further reinforced the other day when I was driving to McDonalds at lunch... Got stomped by a jacked up Cummins at a red light. He wasn't dumping much smoke, so I'm assuming he had EFI tuning.

Funny how something like that makes you see how impotent that Six Gun is....

 

Exactly...smart play!

 

Hence my "pop-gun" comment.

And the Banks is a pressure module... shortens injector life.

I do have a "Banks Power" sticker on the tailgate though... better for sandbagging guys that think I am powered like you and I embarrass them. At track of course.

Plus I found out on the Banks multi-colored, multi-page advertisement fold out that the sticker alone is worth about 25 extra HP at the dyno!

 

Funny, "in my rookie years" I slapped that banks sticker on my truck with I bought their CAI...didn't take long to realize that this served as more of a target for fellow diesel fans than a warning! HA...

 

exactly...

More than one victim came to me afterward with words to the effect of "man, I saw that Banks sticker and knew I could get you-- you obviously have more goin' on than just Banks, right?"

 

Hilarious...
Tell em'..."heck yes, this thing has a big fat exhaust and aftermarket intake...she's LOADED with goodies!!"
*Again, I thought I was really doing something when I added these things...(rookie!) Soo, I am not one to pass judgement ; )

 

That said, it is fun to see the shock factor of that poor SOB that just got shamed/ shocked by a 8k lbs. truck leaving his new 5.0 "stang" like it were in reverse.
That makes it worth every penny!!

 

Funny you mention the mustang 5.0.

My son has a video of one of my races against a 5.0. As he's videoing, the guy in the 5.0's girlfirend is standing next to my son. You can hear her in the video complaining "what's that stupid truck doing out there? My boyfriend needs more competition than that POS"...

After the start you hear her yell "WHOA"!!!!

You never, ever see the 5.0 in the video frame for the whole race until the very end when he finishes a full 2 seconds behind me...

Sorry mods for the thread derail...

 

Awesome!

When I first got my Smarty I was messing with a ricer import and the guys passenger kept telling his buddy to go for it and was laughing......... At the next stop his buddy wouldn't even look at me and the driver just did a quick thumbs up and asked what I had done. I said it was stock and he knew I was lying!!