Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Need Advice on Upgrades!!

[bbodammer]

Hello all,



Love the TDR and my '02 2500 4x4 s/b 4:10 auto purchased last july. I want to start upgrading and am not sure where to start. I would love to start on the exhaust, but am not sure what sounds the best and runs the best. I love the "look" of duals and am thinking about it. Any suggestions? I also want to look into some injectors and a power box. I'm not sure how much a stock transmission will take Any suggestions would be great!!! Thanks again!

 

[01smokinram]

Upgrades

Welcome to the world of bombing. First off the exhaust is pretty much straight forward. How loud do you want it and how much you are willing to spend?As far as power upgrades go it's the luck of the draw on how well your transmission holds it. I've of people putting an ez on and it start slipping. Injectors will put you over your transmission capacity. Check this out- www.wildcatdiesel.com www.smokindiesel.com www.tstproducts.com www.bullydog.com Have fun and be careful how much boost you push.

 

[tmckenzie]

I would reccomend gauges before anything. I did a few mods to my truck before I put gauges in and I wish I would have had the guages in first just to see the results as far as boost improvements and exhaust temps changing. Consider guages cheap insurance. As far as exhaust I agree with 01smokin its personal preference, but if you are a backyard mechanic its not hard to make your own exhaust if your looking to save a few pennies. Happy bombing!!!!

 

[Oil Burner]

I'd start with gauges: transmission temp, Boost, EGT and Fuel Pressure. Then go to exhaust. The gauge money is very well spent. I am saving for the rest of my gauges before going to a big exhaust.

just my . 02

-Jason

 

[Tom G]

Ah The Dark Side

Hi bbodammer:



O. K so you want to spend about $6,000 right. I mean any less and you are probably wasting your time LOL



Just kidding of course. I agree with several other members - gages are a MUST and a fun thing to have. Nothing better than putting the pedal down and watching the needles swing, yea baby. Even thou they are fun when first installed they will become more IMPORTANT later on.



So yes - a good set of gages THEN



Next I guess I would go for a box [well thats what I did at least]. Easy to install in about 5 minutes and you don't even get your hands dirty [your engine is spotless right?]. I installed the Diesel Dynamics True Torque Power Module (TTPM). It is a modified version of the other box so many of the members here have installed. Several others exist like the VA, Power Puck, Van Aken[sp?], etc. Lots of choices and lots of good products.



What I like about the TTPM box is the ability to run in the modified timing curve only position [thats where I keep mine]. It gives a small increase in MPG and cut my Exhaust Gas Temperatures (EGT) about 75-100 degrees which will be important later on when you start adding some additional fuel to your beast.



You must however be prepared to fix your automatic transmission. I can not tell you how lame the RE47 tyranny is. Had mine to the dealer, checked and recorded all pressures and it still won't hold more than stock power. Any power increase above stock will cause the torque converter and/or other parts to shudder and/or slip. Therefor I never run the TTPM box in a power mode setting. To make a long story short - If you are planning on injectors and/or a box you had better plan on some auto tyranny upgrades also. Which reminds me I need to get that taken care of soon.

 

[bbodammer]

Thanks

Thanks everyone for letting me know just how bad the auto transmission is:{ . I will look into some gages first than put about 8,000 into my transmission LOL. I am still curious about the exhaust. I should be able to at least mess with that right . Any suggestions on that would be great. I pull a 16 foot lawn trailer that weighs about 7,500 so I don't want it too loud. I want it to turn heads so I'm willing to invest a little to make it rumble. Thanks again for all the help!!

 

[78repowerwagon]

I have straight pipes on both my trucks. One has a 3. 5 inch down pipe then 5 inch the rest of the way with a turn down. It gets noticed and is very loud. My other truck has 4 inch from turbo to axle and dual threes over the axle and exiting behind rear tires. It is very loud outside, but nothing more than a growl inside with windows up and no drone. About as loud as the motor noise under your feet.



Trans mods depend on what power level you want to end with. You dont need a $4000 transmission to hold 300RWHP.

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

I can only emphasize what I have said before ... "On a stock truck NO MATTER WHO YOU USE will make the Butt 'O Meter smile!"



Really you won't believe the difference a real trans makes on a stock truck.



Guages , Exhaust , trans, Fuel System , Injectors , Box , Turbo , even Bigger injectors , Twins , Cam , Head , seccond mortgage , no exhaust , forget the injectors buy six funnels with ball valves, TRIPPLES , nitrous , nitrus plumbed out in-10An ,stock in good year , forget insurance and get a Sr22 , and uhh oh yeah A CUP SMOOTHIE! #ad

 

[DWest]

exhaust

The Jardine exhaust is easy to put on as all the hangers are welded in place for you. It's a little loud for my taste so save space for a 2nd muffler in front. Also, only install it or any other system with band clamps so you can change it around if you need to. My peak boost jumped 3-4 lbs. Turbo spools up a little quicker to. Rip Rook has a good thing going too in the exhaust set up. DW

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

If you come to May Madness next month, you can talk to a lot of folks including vendors. See the events forum, national and southwest discussi aas.

 

[Mtngoat]

When I bought my truck I thought that I would just do a small performance upgrade and that would be enough. BUT, I kept reading the TDR and driving my truck and finally realized I was dreaming. With an automatic, I quickly learned from the TDR that the trans WILL have to be upgraded eventually, and common sense says gauges.

I would pay attention to the TDR guys,- gauges and transmission first, from then on you don't have to worry about what your mods are. Just do it. Just my . 02 cents. .



Robin