Should I invest in tuning my truck?

[jjdiesel]

I have an early '04 (305) with NV 6-speed trans that I'm thinking about tuning. I'm starting from scratch and would like to know what's involved and an approximate cost. Does a tune really make a significant difference? I have an up-graded turbo, a HY35W RX stg1, blueprint with upgrade comp whl, from Turbo Re-Source. I also have a SPS 6280 Phat Shaft 62 Super from Industrial Injection/Turbo sitting in my garage that I could easily install. Don't know which would be best for what I'm after.
I currently have the old Dynomite Diesel honed injectors, pretty sure I'd like to go BBi (don't know which ones?) and be done. I have secondary fuel filtration @ 3 micron.
It's my work truck, daily driver, so I'd like good fuel mileage and a little bit of performance for fun every once in a while. Towing a smaller RV may be in my future. What would you guys recommend? Appreciate any input.
My truck has 190k on it..it has been a fantastic truck, is in great shape with only routine stuff to take care of so far. I bought it new and plan on keeping it. Clutch has been replaced with a South Bend 1947-0-HD. TIA!

 

[GSP7]

What kind of tuning?

 

[AH64ID]

A tune makes a huge difference, if you get the right tuner and proper tuning.

IME you’d do best with BBi Stage 1’s and custom tuning for around 375-400 rwhp. It will work well with your turbo, clutch, and stated usage.

 

[jjdiesel]

A tune makes a huge difference, if you get the right tuner and proper tuning.

IME you’d do best with BBi Stage 1’s and custom tuning for around 375-400 rwhp. It will work well with your turbo, clutch, and stated usage.

Thank you!...just what I wanted to know. Of course now, the next logical question is where/who do I find the right and proper tuner?

 

[Regcabguy]

Thank you!...just what I wanted to know. Of course now, the next logical question is where/who do I find the right and proper tuner?

Calibrated offers this. https://duramaxtuner.com/featured-p...rdware-switch-on-the-fly-38390&sid=0IxO0lICPe

 

[Regcabguy]

I have an early '04 (305) with NV 6-speed trans that I'm thinking about tuning. I'm starting from scratch and would like to know what's involved and an approximate cost. Does a tune really make a significant difference? I have an up-graded turbo, a HY35W RX stg1, blueprint with upgrade comp whl, from Turbo Re-Source. I also have a SPS 6280 Phat Shaft 62 Super from Industrial Injection/Turbo sitting in my garage that I could easily install. Don't know which would be best for what I'm after.
I currently have the old Dynomite Diesel honed injectors, pretty sure I'd like to go BBi (don't know which ones?) and be done. I have secondary fuel filtration @ 3 micron.
It's my work truck, daily driver, so I'd like good fuel mileage and a little bit of performance for fun every once in a while. Towing a smaller RV may be in my future. What would you guys recommend? Appreciate any input.
My truck has 190k on it..it has been a fantastic truck, is in great shape with only routine stuff to take care of so far. I bought it new and plan on keeping it. Clutch has been replaced with a South Bend 1947-0-HD. TIA!

https://duramaxtuner.com/diesel-tuning/cummins-tuner/5-9l.html

 

[jjdiesel]

Calibrated offers this. https://duramaxtuner.com/featured-p...rdware-switch-on-the-fly-38390&sid=0IxO0lICPe

Thanks for that! Surely there's some competition for this..any others? Seems that there's more than one platform to use...any opinions on which is best?

 

[AH64ID]

I’ve always preferred the UDC Pro/MM3 tuning platform.

 

[GSP7]

I know squat about these "boxes". Ive heard of Edge, Extreme(or what ever its called), Smarty, Van Akin, etc etc . Trying to learn...

I’ve always preferred the UDC Pro/MM3 tuning platform.

Is that Smarty?

Is the one above https://duramaxtuner.com/diesel-tuning/cummins-tuner/5-9l.html all Smarty stuff also ? Is that one called 'Spade' a Smarty?

.

.

 

[AH64ID]

I know squat about these "boxes". Ive heard of Edge, Extreme(or what ever its called), Smarty, Van Akin, etc etc . Trying to learn...


Is that Smarty?

Is the one above https://duramaxtuner.com/diesel-tuning/cummins-tuner/5-9l.html all Smarty stuff also ? Is that one called 'Spade' a Smarty?

.

.

It's the same tuning platform and hardware as the Smarty touch, but doesn't come with any Smarty tunes.

Stay away from boxes, and stick to ECM programming.

 

[GSP7]

It's the same tuning platform and hardware as the Smarty touch, but doesn't come with any Smarty tunes.

Stay away from boxes, and stick to ECM programming.

https://duramaxtuner.com/diesel-tun...-mm3-hardware-cummins-cmb-5.9l-2003-2007.html

Im confused... Its says its a smarty...

and what is a Spade?

.

 

[AH64ID]

Im confused... Its says its a smarty...

and what is a Spade?

.

never heard of a spade.

The MM3 uses the same tuning platform as the Smarty Touch for custom tunes, Smarty’s UDC Pro.

The Touch comes with box tunes, the MM3 doesn’t.

 

[jjdiesel]

https://www.turbodieselregister.com... right tuner and proper tuning.,-IME you’d do
So John, is there a preferred business or person for good tuning? I would like to talk to them so that I buy the right stuff the first time. Any direction would be appreciated.

 

[Regcabguy]

never heard of a spade.

The MM3 uses the same tuning platform as the Smarty Touch for custom tunes, Smarty’s UDC Pro.

The Touch comes with box tunes, the MM3 doesn’t.

Spade is a handheld tuner of a company with pre-loaded tunes ready to load to a EFI receptive truck. It can also be re-loaded with other tunes.

 

[AH64ID]

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/threads/should-i-invest-in-tuning-my-truck.274265/#post-2720881:~:text=AH64ID said: ↑-,A tune makes a huge difference, if you get the right tuner and proper tuning.,-IME you’d do
So John, is there a preferred business or person for good tuning? I would like to talk to them so that I buy the right stuff the first time. Any direction would be appreciated.

I have been out of the tuning game for a couple years now and am not really tracking who is or isn't tuning anymore.

You want a tuner that will modify their base tune to match your mods and use, not a tuner that sells the same 3-5 tunes to everyone.

 

[jjdiesel]

I have been out of the tuning game for a couple years now and am not really tracking who is or isn't tuning anymore.

You want a tuner that will modify their base tune to match your mods and use, not a tuner that sells the same 3-5 tunes to everyone.

Understood. I appreciate the advice...I'll keep looking and hopefully come up with something. I'm surprised there's not a lot more response on this. Maybe the '04 is gettin too old!

 

[Killer223]

ppei Cory is a great tuner.

 

[jjdiesel]

ppei Cory is a great tuner.

Any contact info?