Guess I'd buy a Duramax

[RedRam1]

I guess I'd have to buy a Duramax IF I had to drive a totally stock truck. My clockspring gave up the ghost with 19,800 miles on the clock, DC had sent me two recalls, but I waited till the spring broke before breaking down and taking the truck in.



Since I was visiting the dealer (1st time), I had to partially de-bomb the truck. All I've got (besides boost/egt guage) is an EZ and 275 injectors. I'm still running the stock airbox/filter, and exhaust. Anyway, I put on my EZ at around 2500 miles, and injectors maybe a thousand miles later. Compared to lot's of guys here, I know my mods are very conservative, but I had forgotten what a HUGE difference they made. I never ran the truck with just the 275's before today, and I could not believe how doggy it seemed. I hate to think what it would feel like with the stock injectors. I honestly don't think I could bare to drive a bone stock CTD anymore.



Regarding bombing, consider this as a warning! Once you start, you will never be happy going back to stock. In fact it takes considerable restraint to stop... my clutch is the only thing holding me back from maybe an Edge Comp, and DD2's or 3's.

 

[Rob Thomas]

Originally posted by RedRam1

Regarding bombing, consider this as a warning! Once you start, you will never be happy going back to stock.

Well... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... . duh!!:-laf :-laf Yep, stock sucks.



Later, Rob

 

[Pit Bull]

I don't agree. I like the way this big heavy truck lumbers along. If I was looking for speed and handling it would not be a truck. Buy a sports car if you want speed and handling, they are designed for that purpose. I don't have a problem with anyone that wants to soup up their truck, (great sleeper vehicle) but anytime you increase power on these trucks you decrease reliablity and shorten the duty life of the engine and other components. Different strokes for different folks.

 

[RedRam1]

Pit,



I agree with you... to some extent. I use my truck as a truck, not a sports car, I have yet to get into any contest of speed, I've never even spun a tire intentionally.



I bought my EZ after riding in a truck that was basically identical to mine but with an EZ. The EZ just made the truck so much more responsive, it reved quicker, and moved the truck along, loaded or unloaded so much easier than when stock. I got a good deal on the 275 injectors, I confess adding these was overkill for my purposes, they did not add too much over the EZ alone, it was a noticeable increase, but not as dramatic as the EZ.



Before I rode in the EZ equipped truck, and subsequently bought one of my own, I could have written your post. However, after experiencing what the EZ could do, and researching here on the TDR and finding that the EZ does not increase fueling beyond the design parameters of the VP44, it just adds the fuel sooner, I had a fairly higl level of confidence that I was not overly taxing the injection. I rationalized the 275 injectors in the same fashion, they're original equipment parts in other ISB applications.



Even though I cannot disagree that the additional power puts some extra strain on the other drivetrain components, I believe the NV5600 and hybrid Dana 80 are up to the task. As for the engine it's self, I believe it is a pretty safe assumption that a Cummins ISB with just an EZ and injectors will wear out a couple of Dodge Rams.



I daydream occasionally, but will probably not do any more power enhancements to my truck, I feel that with my current mods, it runs the way it should have from the factory - take a ride in a similarly equipped truck, and see if you don't agree.

 

[Rob Thomas]

Originally posted by Pit Bull

I like the way this big heavy truck lumbers along.

Yea, me too!



I know it's a truck, but one flick of a switch, it's a sports truck!



Later, Rob

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

"I know it's a truck, but one flick of a switch, it's a sports truck! "





HEH!



Yup - and one unfortunate incident, and it's a PARTS truck!

 

[rubberneck]

EZ went on at 98 miles, injectors at 1800 and clutch at 2300 I could never drive a stocker, Hey gary, hows the propane research going on the new truck, are you gonna do it. I have been contemplating it for a while, just cant seem to take the leap.

 

[Animal]

GM is now bottom dog again!

RedRam1,



You need to rethink your statement, the stock power for 2003 makes the DuraMax the bottom dog again.



DuraMax = 300hp/520tq



Dodge = 305hp/555tq



Ford = 325hp/550tq



But GM has the best stock transmission, and you will pay more for the GM truck.

 

[LarryB]

ONLY 300 HP? Sheesh! What a pig! :-laf

 

[M Barnett]

I think Pit Bull has a good point. I have averaged 10,000 miles a year with my Dodge for the last 8 years. I am 57 years old. Its going to wear out much sooner with all my bombs. I should be about 107 years old when it needs its first rebuild.

Michael

 

[Jeff H]

I was born yesterday. Whats clock spring?

 

[schu777]

Re: Re: Guess I'd buy a Duramax

Originally posted by Rob Thomas





Yep, stock sucks.

Correction, the only thing that would suck is NOT having a stock truck! (As in not owning this truck!)

 

[RedRam1]

Jeff,



The clockspring connects the airbag, and stering wheel mounted electrical components e. g. cruise, horn, etc. to the vehicles wiring harness.

Most vehicles I have worked on have some type of a sliding contact, but, apparently our trucks have a set-up similar to a clockspring that winds/unwinds as you turn the wheel.



The sliding contact type sometimes corode & lose contact (I've had this happen on a couple of Toyota's), so I guess the clockspring may be a beter set-up... if only DC could make one that would hold up.



If you have a 2000, or 2001 truck, you should have received a recall. I don't think older trucks were affected, but am not sure.

 

[illflem]

Originally posted by M Barnett

I should be about 107 years old when it needs its first rebuild.

Michael, I think you should treat yourself and just trade it in then.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Rubberneck asks:



"Hey gary, hows the propane research going on the new truck, are you gonna do it. I have been contemplating it for a while, just cant seem to take the leap. "



Gotta wait until I get some more miles on the truck to eliminate as much lilelihood of engine warranty issues - then I'll probably go ahead and install it.



The comments critical of propane on the 24 valves seemed to peter out pretty quickly - especially when I specifically requested info related to other mods installed and circumstances where engine problems HAVE occurred with propane in use... Pretty easy to install magic boxes, disable the wastegate, install bigger injectors, THEN blame the propane when something breaks...





I don't really need much more power than the stock truck already has - and the only reason I wouldn't install the propane setup would be if I sold it in order to buy my own "magic box" - but certainly no reason to NOT use the propane system, since it's just sitting there ready for use!

 

[Mad Max]

I'd take the bus or buy an nice pair of sneakers first.

While I enjoy my ETH more in bomb'd mode vs. d'bomb'd mode, I'd still take it stock over a Maxi any 'ol day.



Until I see Maxi's in a cranes, excavators, Class 6 trucks, etc, it will remain an unproven commodity in my book.



MaX

 

[MCummings]

Anybody wanna chime in about that Duramax Motor in the Heavy Duty truck at Muncie ??



Anybody esle see it? It was a Cab and Chassis, lokked like you could put an easy 15 foot bed on it.



I didn't look close enough at it for long enough, I had enough things going through my mind at Muncie.



Merrick Cummings Jr

 

[RedRam1]

Max,



I agree... just having fun & thought I could start a lively debate with this thread. I would still take my stock ETH over the Duramax, or Powerstroke, I don't care for the complexity of the V8 diesels.

I had apparently become conditioned to the extra power, and forgotten how big a difference my fairly modest bombs made in the truck's performance.

 

[Mad Max]

I hear ya RedRam. When I take the box of I liken the experience to walking up stairs, and when you get to the top but think there's another step coming... it's like whoa... that's not right.



hmmm...



Better Off Modifie'D, it just feels right.



MaX

 

[MCummings]

Bombed is better.



Stock is not



BOMBer,

Merrick Cummings Jr