I Have a chance to get another 3rd gen. It is a 2006 quad cab DRW 4x4 with 8000 miles. I currently have a 2003 SO with 52K miles (see sig) These trucks are not easy to get here so when the deal for my 03 came around I jumped on it but I am not sure that it is the best platform for bombing. Valve seats, cylinder head flow, transmission (the 47re was a problem, now solved) The lack of oil squirters for piston cooling, and the amount of power that could be gained by tuners are some of the issues that come to mind. I have not done anything major to increase power on my 03 yet and I believe most of the bolt on stuff can just be switched over to the newer truck. These are questions I need some help with.

1, Which truck would be would be a better platform to start out with for performance mods? The 06 already has 90 hp and 150lbs tq more from the start. I was planning on ATS twins, Flux 2s, and a smarty.

2. Are the transmissions interchangeable with just maybe switching valve bodies? The 03 has a TV cable and the 06 is electronic. (If it is possible I would order a Goerend valve body for the 06. (This would be one of the deciding factors)

3. What are the pros and cons for either truck?

 

Personally, I like the 03-04 better. We don't have any problems making power with the 03-04 motors. Mine was 870 before i wanted to change things, and Reb's was 1,289. So, you don't have too much of a disadvantage. 03 trucks really respond to injectors. Head flow is the same for all of the heads, they are improved over the vp trucks though. I think the 03-04 pistons can take more abuse also. They have more material in them.

 

Thanks for the reply. Your hp #s make me dream. I am not looking for that much power it sure must be nice. I might just keep both trucks but just looking at which one is better to bomb.

 

I thought the later heads do flow better than the 03-04?

Sinbadd, if you're looking at an '06 to bomb just make sure it's not an 06.5 (made in June 2006 or later).

 

Put the 06 head on the 03, I did

 

I don't think they flow that much better. It's not like you are going to swap it and be like, "Oh my gosh, why did I wait so long to do this?" If you are going to take off the head, just stay with the stock one and do some work to it. Put all exhaust valves in it, change the valve seats, open it up a little, and if you want to go crazy put a ZZ Customs plenum on it. This is basically the only way to do the intake ports.

03-04 trucks like duration. A really simple and mean setup is a stage 2 cp3, Don's stage 2 injectors, a Smarty, EZ, a TST, and a Super B Special. You can do all of this with the stock head and be good. Maybe toss in a set of studs (depends how much timing you throw at it). Also, you'll have to go to a Glacier or Airdog. This setup is good for around 600 wheel.

 

Go for the '03. You can make just as much power and get better mileage too. I wish I converted my '03 to an auto instead of buying my '07. Dollar for dollar it would have been cheaper, plus the older truck was screwed together better. Build quality and material quality on the '06 and up trucks reek of cost-cutting...

 

Bottom line is that it is easier and cheaper to reach a certain level of power in the 06. This is by virtue of three things primarily: An ECM with more space in it for electronic tuning; very slightly larger injector tips (the bodies are the same) and the 3rd injection event; a little bigger turbo.

If you are planning on injectors, turbo and smarty anyway-- you just negated the advantages the 06 has over the 03 and they will be pretty close to equal in the end.

The 03 has the advantage of only 2 injection events which allows it to get better fuel mileage.

 

Thanks for all the replies everyone. Does anyone know if transmissions can be interchanged if that is what I want to do? The has a throttle valve cable and from what I understand the 06 is electronic. Would it just take a Valve body swap? I will probably keep both and hotrod the 06 but keep the 03 as the family car if I can swap the transmissions.

 

When I was told the 06 truck was available I assumed that it was also a quad cab. It turns out that it is a regualar cab dually which I would think should be around 500 pounds lighter than my quad cab. I would like to take a truck to the drag strip and figure the lighter truck would have the advantage and because it is a regular cab it would have to be the hotrod (not the family car). Now I need to know if the transmissions can be exchanged between the two trucks. I don't want to spend another $7700 on another trans.

 

You'd have to change the valve bodies.

 

03 it has a cable pulll type of trans too....Dave called it the TV cable style. It has a manual arm that gets pulled by cable and is connected to your throttle. So the more you hit the throttle the higher pressure in the trans. I think the newer trucks are run electronically and that is why trans controllers are needed. 04' models too by the way.