How to increase power, lower EGT, for towing and daily driver

[brillmtb]

Ok, I am an MD and can tell you how to manage your cholesterol or impotence successfully but I am getting some mixed messages on the best, cost effective approach to meet my needs hence I turn to you experts. This is what I want to do and what I have explored for my 2003, 5.9 stock truck (well I have a smarty jr).

1. Increase power so I can tow my artic fox better up hills and at altitude. I am in Reno and fly fish up and down the mountain ranges. I would be afraid to try to get my new 12K trailer up some of the grades I took my 5K trailer.

2. Don't have MPG suffer too much if possible

3. Increase reliability, i.e. I will upgrade my transmission, perhaps studs if I go with the compound turbo option I have been researching or any other HP increase as I don't trust the 48re in a situation where I might increase the HP by 100 and put my foot down going up a 7% grade.

4. keep it simple, stupid for someone like me (KISS principle)


So, what are the best ways to approach and achieve my goals. I submit I will upgrade the transmission and TQ but for the power increase and decreasing EGTs what is the best path. Compound turbo, injectors, methanol, etc. Please keep in mind this is a daily driver right now and that and towing are my preferences. Thanks in advance.

 

[Bob4x4]

If i was an MD i would scrap the 03 and drive a 16.No more no less

 

[brillmtb]

If i was an MD i would scrap the 03 and drive a 16.No more no less

Funny, but I think the 5.9 is a great motor and I have not extra stuff that will cause issues such as complex electrical, def, extra smog stuff, etc. trust me I was tempted to get the 16 but was not yet convinced it would be better than my rig with upgrades and......I bought my wife the new car, MDX and what a state of the art that rig is. I live in snow country and driving it on hwy 80 during a snow storm was impressive. Couldn't get it to slide or spin wheels. Almost no fun to drive but for an SUVs I will take it up against a sports car any day. It even distributes more power to outside wheels in a corner. Now you know why my wife says....keep the car....you like it too much. I still love my truck as it gets me to campgrounds in style and my 12 yo son and I went motorcycling near mammoth last week. Can't do all that without a good truck.

 

[TCDiesel]

Do the transmission 1st, then revisit power options. If you go fully built trans it will behave much different then OEM, it will up/down shift more aggressively, also when moving form P to D or R it will be more harsh. DD use around 450hp is safe with upgrades, My guess when all said and done it will cost about $10K.

Spec the trans for your needs and future HP.

 

[brillmtb]

Do the transmission 1st, then revisit power options. If you go fully built trans it will behave much different then OEM, it will up/down shift more aggressively, also when moving form P to D or R it will be more harsh. DD use around 450hp is safe with upgrades, My guess when all said and done it will cost about $10K.

Spec the trans for your needs and future HP.

Agree that the transmission is a must first or I will not be able to enjoy the power increase. Is methanol by itself a real option to lower EGT and raise power?

 

[cerberusiam]

I was tempted to get the 16 but was not yet convinced it would be better than my rig with upgrades and......

Oh, it will be, it WILL be. :-laf:-laf You could keep the 03 for tooling around the boonies and the '16 for the grunt work in style.

You are probably going to want a Smarty Touch with more capabilities, compound turbo's, new manifold, new injectors for the engine. Transmission is pretty solid if you don't bag on it too hard with more power but it will need a rebuild, good TC, and might as well get a billet input shaft for good measure. Do NOR cheap out on the TC and billet input or you will regret it, there are all manner of TC vendors out there with amazing prices. What is amazing is they are still in business from the junk they sell.

 

[JKosten]

I have been very happy with the transmission that HMS Diesel built for me. That matched with EFI programming gave me a clean running 500hp truck that just works. They work directly with a TC builder and use very high end parts.

They used Goerend parts and I have already put over 10k miles on it since last year. It drives like a completely different truck: predictable and reliable.

And a built transmission shouldn't be more than 6k-7k with billet parts and labor. If so, get an itemized list quote and post it up.

Also look at upgrading your exhaust. A full flow exhaust will drop egts. I installed a FTE muffler and dropped average egts between 75 deg cruising and 150 deg under load. The best part is the truck is not any louder than stock and there is not a drone noise in the cab.

http://www.ftediesel.com/store/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=24&idcategory=7

 

[CToney]

03's are great trucks. I love driving mine. I tow a lot with mine. I've done a few things to it to tow better. Nothing crazy. A smarty touch with a custom tune. PM AH64ID about one. 50 hp injectors. Exhaust manifold, 4" exhaust, modified stock 351 turbo. The 351 turbo will really help get and get the truck to wake up. I went from 26 psi to 37psi and it really wakes things up. Buy a used 351 and send it to Turbo Resource for a rebuild and to get modified. I bought a cheaper modded turbo but it wasn't the same from those who I've talked to. If you like you could do a cam and such but I think you'd be happy probably with a modded 351 and built transmission.

 

[Bob4x4]

Keep in mind most mods that are being discussed here will fail the Cali smog check required every 2 years

 

[MarkEkberg]

Your worried about hauling 12K up some hills? Your truck should do that no questions asked in stock form.

My 03 in stock trim hauled 33K up a 9% grade for 13 miles recently. Did not have to beat it to maintain 25mph. I was very happy.

If your hauling heavy, just slow down a bit to save your equipment. You will get there soon enough and your truck will be happy too. The fish will be there an extra 20 min later.

 

[AH64ID]

As it has been mentioned do the trans first.

I would then look at a Smarty Touch with custom UDC tuning. Towing heavy at elevation takes slightly different tuning than most peoples use and that is where UDC excels.

Depending on what you are looking for as an end goal you could easily stop there or it could just open Pandora's box. You should be able to easily support 300-325 rwhp at elevation while towing heavy on the stock turbo. If you want more power than that you will probably have to look into a turbo upgrade.

 

[p-Bar]

Hey Doc agree with the above for your cholesterol I would have that trans rebuilt with Goerend parts , if you can get to SoCal Inglewood Transmissions is the best (I pull a 14k and I wouldn't before I got the rebuild done) . For your low T The Smarty Touch as AH64ID says is a nice setup ( i Use Smarty Jr.) Watch other programmers because to high of T is bad for your system . Don't listen to those guys saying get rid of it .

 

[Motorhead]

I think that Bob4x4 had the best solution and I say that seriously. The new trucks have a lot of the issues that the first '07.5 suffered, worked out. The 6 speed auto, either the 68RFE or the Asin gives you the extra gears to be in the right RPM for the hills.

 

[brillmtb]

Would a compound turbo change smog check ability

 

[JKosten]

If the turbo kit did not have an E.O. number a smog tech should fail it on a visual inspection. I am not aware of a E.O. approved twin turbo setup.

 

[Bob4x4]

Would a compound turbo change smog check ability

No it would not pass smog nor would it be a good choice for some one who claims to be a doctor and does not work on his own truck

 

[Regcabguy]

Bob4x4 fixes them for a living. Get the '16.

 

[yak50]

Doc , no disrespect intended, but shouldn't you be asking about exhaust brakes? you have plenty of truck to get up those hills, lts the coming down is your issue!

 

[brillmtb]

I put disc brakes on my artic fox with an electric over hydraulic actuator and yes, this "doc" did it himself. heck, I take my daughter and son with me when I work on things, its good for them to know. I hit 200k so I need to think about transmission and I would really like more power and less egt. Don't know if a single turbo upgrade and suncoast transmission may meet my needs vs a 65K truck

 

[Bob4x4]

I love my 05 and it does a great job at everything I ask of it but if I was knocking out doctor pay i would be rockin a 16