Finally decided to do some mods

[SNorman]

I've had my 04. 5 truck bone stock for 2 years now and couldn't resist any longer. I just got a good deal on a Banks Ottomind6 with the pda monitor for 400 bucks from a guy selling his truck. I've read all the opinions on Banks around here and know it's not popular, but I like all the safeguards and monitoring built in. I still have a stock transmission and don't want to fry it.



I also ordered the PSM Air Box w/ AFE stage 7 filter and Cool Blue Hose. This setup out performed all the others in the test that was in the last TDR issue. I figured $325 for that setup was better than $550 for the AFE stage II & torque tube which rated about the same in benchmark test. I ordered these from Bryan at Diesel Power Products and was reassured when he told me he runs the same intake setup in his own truck. He gives a 5% discount to TDR members and is great to deal with by the way.



After lots of research on exhaust I decided to go with a 4 inch cat converter "test" pipe and a MBRP SS Highflow Muffler to let the beast breath easier. I ordered the exhaust from Diesel Performance Parts for $250. The guy I talked with runs this on his 06 with a smarty and said there was no need to spend the extra cake on a full system for little to no more gain.



For 975 bucks I got a programmer with full monitoring capabilities, intake, and exhaust. That's less than the new price of the Ottomind and PDA alone. I think I'm getting a lot of bang for my buck here and the money saved can go towards a Lorenz suspension and some 35" Toyo MT's. I plan to start putting some away for the inevitable transmission upgrade as well.



I'm afraid I might be starting down a slippery slope. Any advice from all you veterans out there.

 

[JFlagg]

Get some good boots, 'cuz its a VERY slippery slope!:-laf



Sounds like you did get a great deal too...

 

[JJPage]

Good Job! I believe your choice on intake and exhaust are solid.

As far as fuel boxes or programmers, each truck behaves differently.



Make sure you monitor your parameters with a good set of gauges, and make your own decisions on how you want your truck to behave.



Jess

 

[DerekW]

I've had my 04. 5 truck bone stock for 2 years now and couldn't resist any longer. I just got a good deal on a Banks Ottomind6 with the pda monitor for 400 bucks from a guy selling his truck. I've read all the opinions on Banks around here and know it's not popular, but I like all the safeguards and monitoring built in. I still have a stock transmission and don't want to fry it.



I also ordered the PSM Air Box w/ AFE stage 7 filter and Cool Blue Hose. This setup out performed all the others in the test that was in the last TDR issue. I figured $325 for that setup was better than $550 for the AFE stage II & torque tube which rated about the same in benchmark test. I ordered these from Bryan at Diesel Power Products and was reassured when he told me he runs the same intake setup in his own truck. He gives a 5% discount to TDR members and is great to deal with by the way.



After lots of research on exhaust I decided to go with a 4 inch cat converter "test" pipe and a MBRP SS Highflow Muffler to let the beast breath easier. I ordered the exhaust from Diesel Performance Parts for $250. The guy I talked with runs this on his 06 with a smarty and said there was no need to spend the extra cake on a full system for little to no more gain.



For 975 bucks I got a programmer with full monitoring capabilities, intake, and exhaust. That's less than the new price of the Ottomind and PDA alone. I think I'm getting a lot of bang for my buck here and the money saved can go towards a Lorenz suspension and some 35" Toyo MT's. I plan to start putting some away for the inevitable transmission upgrade as well.



I'm afraid I might be starting down a slippery slope. Any advice from all you veterans out there.

I was running banks 6 gun with speedloader on max settings and under full throttle I was limited to 70MPH or else the banks would detect slippiage and back off. but then again that banks was modded with one of my own mods to get slightly more out of it. and as for delete pipe and mbrp muffler there is more gains to be made in mpg and boost when you finally switch from that setup to stacks or just bigger pipe. I learnt that the hard way. but then again i built my own delete pipe when work was slow in the shop i was working at. as for the AFE stage 2 I havent read tdr issues since the whole "friendship" issue i got before the latest one out now. Did they test the AFE stage 2??? I like it and I may end up getting rid of mine in a few months. (dont pm for it cuz I will put it up for sale when I take it off when I get about 2 more thou over to NGM Diesel for twins).



I HAVENT DRIVEN MY TRUCK since the injectors were put on *elbowing wade as i say it* but from what i hear about my truck shes pretty fun to drive and got some kind of power.



also consider snow performance stage 3 water meth with 8 gal.



ATS exhaust manifold



banks technicooler with high ram (although i am diggin the new ats intercooler pics cuz the flow design is sim to banks but with weigh considerably less but no matter i like the banks intake manifold flow design)



amsoil is a must cuz it simple maintance that extends intervals and improves mpg.



many other things and more still coming on market. but my build up of power was different than most. I was trying to push the stock turbo to some what of its edge cuz of the lightning quick spool up and couldnt afford industrial injection towing twins. and my main goal was to gain MPG by improving efficiencies for the sole purpose of bragging rights and preaching diesels to my buddies and people i meet. now its taken on more of a power twist.

 

[DerekW]

I've had my 04. 5 truck bone stock for 2 years now and couldn't resist any longer. I just got a good deal on a Banks Ottomind6 with the pda monitor for 400 bucks from a guy selling his truck. I've read all the opinions on Banks around here and know it's not popular, but I like all the safeguards and monitoring built in. I still have a stock transmission and don't want to fry it.



I also ordered the PSM Air Box w/ AFE stage 7 filter and Cool Blue Hose. This setup out performed all the others in the test that was in the last TDR issue. I figured $325 for that setup was better than $550 for the AFE stage II & torque tube which rated about the same in benchmark test. I ordered these from Bryan at Diesel Power Products and was reassured when he told me he runs the same intake setup in his own truck. He gives a 5% discount to TDR members and is great to deal with by the way.



After lots of research on exhaust I decided to go with a 4 inch cat converter "test" pipe and a MBRP SS Highflow Muffler to let the beast breath easier. I ordered the exhaust from Diesel Performance Parts for $250. The guy I talked with runs this on his 06 with a smarty and said there was no need to spend the extra cake on a full system for little to no more gain.



For 975 bucks I got a programmer with full monitoring capabilities, intake, and exhaust. That's less than the new price of the Ottomind and PDA alone. I think I'm getting a lot of bang for my buck here and the money saved can go towards a Lorenz suspension and some 35" Toyo MT's. I plan to start putting some away for the inevitable transmission upgrade as well.



I'm afraid I might be starting down a slippery slope. Any advice from all you veterans out there.

not to mention I bought my AFE stage 2 new on ebay so i could shop for the best deal and as i look at them at this very second they are only 389 plus shipping. and your getting better flow numbers than the other thing you talkeds about that uses a almost stock air box thingy with gutter pipe. also the torque tube your talking about is for those guys that buy the afe stage 1 and want to upgrade the stage 1 kit at minimum costs. the afe stage 2 kit has a section of plumbing that i feel flows more air volume that afe stage 1 with torque tube due to aerodynamics of the stage 2 plumbing.

 

[MAllen1]

the best improvement i've done to my truck (in terms of m. p. g and power to the ground) is a flexalite fan. I think the part # is 682, if memory serves me. they claim 27 horses, but, the ability of taking off the mechanical must mean that most of that 27 horsepower must hit the ground. I've noticed a 1. 5 m. p. g increase, which is better that advertised. The price on the part was in the 500-600 dollar range, but if u don't go over g. c. w. r, it is a possibility.

 

[Benson]

the best improvement i've done to my truck (in terms of m. p. g and power to the ground) is a flexalite fan.

I take it you have a 2nd gen. I don't think they are out yet for the 3rd gens. I may look into that when they are.

 

[Richeson]

Snorman I was wondering what you think of your Ottomind with pda? Was there much of a difference in power or mpg after install? Also, did you do the install yourself and if so how was it?