Looking for lots of different responses...

[quadzilla]

Okay Everyone,

Here is the age-old question you get from almost everyone. I have been on the site for about a year now. I am looking for performance advice. I know there are vendors on here who like their product, and that is fine. I want to hear a bunch of different opinions. But be as thorough as possible when telling me why a particular mod would be beneficial. Dont just say "Get some DDIII's and Bombs Away man!" Not that anyone here would say that, but you know what I mean.



Here is my situation:



'01 QC 4x4 ETC, Auto. , 3. 54 gears, 305/70/16 tires on stock rims, stock exhaust minus the muffler, K&N in stock airbox (little snorkle thing that goes to the fender from the airbox is removed), JVD Box, waste gate blocked and MAP sensor fooled, EGT, Boost, Fuel Pressure gauges (Boost taps the intake assembly just before the heater grid, Fuel Pressure is between filter and VP44, EGT probe is pre-turbo). Everything is stock.



I want to stay with the 33" tires, and am not really up for a gear change yet. I use my truck as my daily driver as do most of you, so driveability is important. I use it to occasionally haul my GTX or another vehicle here and there. Eventually want to get a 5'er, but no immediate plans. I like to drive it spirited. I am not building it for drag racing, but like a friendly street bout from time to time. I want something that is quick. It is already fun to drive, but want some more kick. My thoughts are injectors (stage 2 or 3), Trans upgrades (TC and VB) larger exhaust, and maybe turbo upgrade.



Please let me know what you think will be best for my situation. Being as they won't all be done at once, try to let me know what order to do them in to maintain driveability and reliability, and also to make the next mod the easiest. Let me know what brands you prefer and why. Ballpark costs would be helpful for budgetary purposes. I know specific pricing and brand touting are not suited in this forum, but general references and possible website links would be helpful. Vendors can feel free to email me with their suggestions. I would like a truck that can do 13's or 14's in the ¼ mile, if possible. Any suggestions for additional mods, or mods different than the ones I am thinking of would also be appreciated.



This is your mission, if you choose to accept it. I am looking forward to many responses, and differences in opinions are both welcomed and appreciated.



Bombs away!!!!



--Craig

 

[Bob Wagner]

let me be the first to ask

Do you plan on running a bug screen?



Its been debated before

 

[Mactruck]

You & I are on the same mission. My truck is about the same as yours with the exception of an EZ. My plan is to upgrade my Trans w/ an 89% TC & VB from DTT and at the same time addDD II's in about a month. Eventually I may upgrade to a Power edge Comp Box or even a FMS box from Blue chip but the wallet can't take that much of a hit. It will be in the FAR future. (Although Nicole keeps bugging me for my EZ ). I will be definetely be replacing my exhaust after the winter with a Jannetty Racing 4" exhaust because I fear the EGT's will be getting high with the combo of DDII's and the EZ. I'll also be adding a fuel pressure guage real soon!



I guess my aim is to be pleasantly Bombed without going overboard (is there such a thing )



That is my plan in that order. Hey at least I have a plan

 

[Diesel Freak]

Since you have the JVD box. I would suggest that you address the transmission first. You are at the limit (possibly a little over) for the stock transmission. Seccond would be a turbo. A Piers modified HX35 with a 12 cm housing on an auto would be real nice. After your transmission and air demands are met, check your fuel availability. You may need to reduce the restrictions in the factory fuel system. I hear that DD2's are great all purpose injectors. They give 80 hp on a stock engine, you would see more due to the JVD box.



A you know BOMBing is a ballance, if you make a modification here, you will also need to make a modification somewhere else to see the full potential of the previous modification. If you keep this in mind, you will have a very sweet running machine.

 

[LSMITH]

Craig, you are going to need some serious $$$$ to get to where you are looking. The first thing I would do is disconnect the JVD and save the transmission so it can be upgraded. Not trying to be a jerk or a know it all, but the stock transmission cannot hold that box.

For the power to get into the 14's with a QC 4x4 you are going to need DD3's at least. The transmission already needs upgrades, a TC and a VB for sure. You should also include a transmission temp guage in the plan. To run the JVD and a set of big injectors you are going to need a big turbo and a 4" exhuast or face really high EGT's. To run the DD3's or bigger and the JVD you are also going to need to address the fuel system, banjo's and a pusher pump at the least, full replacement would be better. You should also swiss cheese the air box or get a pyscotty type of setup at this point. Just a guess but you are going to need over 450HP to get into the mid 14's and well over 500HP to get to the high 13's. Propane would be very cost effective to get the next 50-75HP over the box-inj-turbo combo( I will not run it on my truck, but you might). Propane scares me to death, but lots of guys do it with little or no problems.



My very best advise to you at this point would be to choose an EXPERT vendor or maybe two, tell them what you are looking to do and work with them. Stay with the same vendor or two, they get to know you and your truck and can help you better than the special of the week vendors. When in pursuit of mega power a few bucks saved will not be worth it IMO. Personally I would recommend Diesel Dynamics, Piers, and DTT.

Sorry for the ramble, but those are my thoughts on what I would do.



Mactruck, I think you will be pleasantly surprised to see that you do not have EGT trouble with the DD2's and the EZ. Not trying to talk you out of a 4", but you will not need it even with the tight TC.

 

[quadzilla]

Great advice, so far..

Great advice so far guys. This is what I was looking for. Since this fell to the second page, I am bumping it back to the top to see if there are any others who might want to chime in... .

 

[Big P]

I'm on the same quest as you, looking for about 400hp at the wheels. Lucky for me I live about 7mi away from a great performance diesel shop, Jannetty Racing. I figure I'll need DD3's and a more aggressive box. When I got my truck I thought I'd keep it stock for a while, ya right, the BD was on in just over a month.