Just purchased a 3rd gen and need your advice.

[rrowdy]

I found a crack in my beloved '01' (a 53 block) at 216K and was looking for another older second gen but came upon a gorgeous '04.5 3500 Laramie that just turned 100K. The simplicity and familiarization with the older trucks was very tempting but the amenities and comfort of this Laramie won me over and I'm hoping I didn't make a big mistake.
Which gauges do you guys recommend and should I install a 2 micron filter in addition to the stock filter?
What about monitoring rail pressure?
My '01 has trans temp, lift pump PSI, boost and EGT. This truck is all stock with the exception of a K&N filter, it has an HO, and the factory 4" exhaust and a Cat. Is there any advantage to modding the exhaust? Do you reccomend any other mods?

My '01 will run circles around the '04 but at my age I'm more concerned about reliability so performance has become somewhat secondary.

Any advice is appreciated.

 

[cerberusiam]

Same gauges as your 01, you are monitoring the same things. Think of the CR as a more sophisticated powerful engine wrapped in a better platform than your 01 and you will in the groove.

Rail pressure and LP pressure are invaluable diagnostic and tuning tools, not necessary for driving by though. The basic boost, EGT, and trans temp are what you want to use constantly. The others are nice to have but not critical.

Better fuel filtration is a big one the CR's need. A 3 um between the factor filter and the IP plus extra WS at the tank will cover 99% of your needs with ULSD. Since your truck originally had an external LP and in-retrofit or better external LP will be a good investment. Many choices and designs but if I had to pick for efficacy and ease it would be a FASS with good filters in conjunction with the other filters.

Lose the K&N, either go back to the stock box with better air flow and a 4" pleat filter or a good dry filter with an Outerwear's pre-filter.

Stock exhaust is good to 600 HP, all you really need is remove the stock muffler restriction and it is more than adequate.

Add a Smarty and the 04.5 will run away and hide from your 01 with minimal tuning and tweaking. A Smarty touch would give a lot of gauges, a tuner without parallel, and adding UDC allows customized tuning.

 

[rrowdy]

Thank you cerber, I appreciate your input. As I understand it the only sensor needed is the EGT probe? Does the smarty receive all additional information from the OBDII or are there other sensors that need purchased such as trans temp and rail pressure?
I'll research this more but I think it's way more than I can use power wise without addition mods. I do like having all gauges in one small unit though.

Rrowdy

 

[cerberusiam]

Yes, all but the EGT is read from existing PIDS. I don't think there is an option for LP pressure so that would be a separate gauge. The trans temp is coming from the pan and subject to ECU manipulation so not the best to actually drive by.

 

[Mathes308]

I was told when I bought mine that a 12 valve would run circles around it.
I believed it at first because it ran smooth but defiantly didn't feel like it was all that strong.
Well a super dirty fuel filter and packed shut air filter did the trick, now it's a monster.

 

[rrowdy]

Yeah Mat,
The '04.5 is so quiet & smooth it's kind of deceiving. It does have plenty of power but I'm spoiled with my '01 at only 235 HP being able to outrun the '04.

Of course my '01 has a comp too and a lighter truck. Right now I'm just trying to familiarize myself with the 3rd gen truck. I haven't
changed the FF yet but have filters ordered and also a 2u final FF. I'll service the entire driveline then start adding mods.
Probably should've found an engine for the '01 but this 3rd gen was so nice and comfortable I fell for it.

Thanks for the input.

 

[Mathes308]

Same here, hated to step away from my 2nd gen but I'm glad I did, they really changed a lot for 03, even the bodies seem to last longer.
I bet I gained 100 hp with just the filter change, it was honestly a night and day diff.
Running the Smarty jr on 70hp, full timing advance and factory torque management and it was like getting a new truck.
3rd gen steering is much better, my 2000 drives like a bum shopping cart

 

[Tim1]

rrowdy, just wondering what you settled on? My 03 had the Banks 6 gun tuner with pillar guages and I had nothing but problems with it, so I removed it. Was told that a stock truck will not hurt itself. That said, still wonder if lift pump pressure(in tank now) and egt are necessary. Haven't missed a beat since removed Banks. Gets about 20 mpg, loaded, by paper and pen! Thanks Tim

 

[Mathes308]

So the topic came up the other day, guy was putting down my 3rd gen for not having the pep and takeoff like his 12 valve.
Here's what we found out, the common rails get torque management in their programming, this pulls power away when starting off and in lower rpms in an effort to save your drivetrain.
Got the smarty JR, love it. They put a lot of work into keeping your baby safe.
With the smarty you can reduce or eliminate the torque management.

Stock torque management makes the truck feel sluggish and overall low bottom end.
Take it off and the stock common rail will tear a 12 valve a new one.
I have since gone back to factory torque management (to save my trans)
Leave it set on SW3 70hp towing and set engine timing to max for lower EGT's and better MPG
26 HWY, 20 running to work.
16 towing 8000lb TT

Has enough power I never use full throttle.

Towed 16,000 lb trailer up a very steep grade, only needed 3/4 throttle, but even on the 70hp setting my stock 03 turbo can't keep up, egts were getting around 1200
But even then I made the grade at 45 mph so, eh.

 

[rrowdy]

Tim,
After installing an AD Raptor pump, 1/2" lines to the engine and fabbing up a mount for a water separator and 2u filter, it changed the truck.
I decided I'm not going to use a tuner, at least not yet. This truck now will run circles around my '01.
As for gauges I decided to stay with what I'm most familiar with and that is Analog. EGT, boost, Fuel pressure, trans temp, and maybe rail pressure for diagnostic purposes.

On your truck with the in tank pump, your chances of failure is much less however it's always nice to know, see and monitor what the pressures, EGT and trans temps are. If you're not towing heavy, you're probably good to go. I'm still trying to familiarize myself with this CR engine. I was looking at a '14 but got scared off with the price and all the Government imposed crap and electronics. This 04.5 is complicated enough for me.
I'm paranoid after reading these forums and If this truck causes me too many problems, I'm going back to a 2nd gen.

 

[Tim1]

Thanks rrowdy, I do not tow heavy at all, and never am lacking in power. My 12 valve had all the guages and power upgrades and really had to drive by the egt's, but lots of power. Once in the 03, I could never go back, just me. Tim