What mods would you consider for your wifes vehicle?

[GOT-Torque]

What modifications would you consider installing on your wifes daily driver to increase performance but not degrade the drivability of the vehicle (This is for the cummins powered excursion in my sig). I'm definately going to get some sort of box (haven't decided on one yet) because of the on/off ability, possibly a SPS62 turbo and slightly larger injectors? I am going to atleast stud the head and possibly o-ring it since it isn't installed in the vehicle yet.



Would porting/polishing the head have any negative affects at stock power levels? Less port velocity?



What do you think?



I have to get this project going soon, due to the recent addition to our family (kid # 5), the wife is driving my truck everyday :{ until we get the family vehicle done.

 

[RustyJC]

To me, the key words are "wife's daily driver". If it were me, I'd keep it as stock as possible (recognizing that it's a conversion) from the standpoints of reliability, driveability and serviceability. If you're unavailable and it goes tango uniform, can a qualified Cummins mechanic or (gulp!) Dodge dealer analyze the problem and get it back on the road? If not, are the wife and kids going to be stranded without wheels?



That's why my wife's Durango stayed box-stock, had an extended warranty and supplementary roadside assistance. I was out of town when the in-tank fuel pump quit - she called our dealer and everything was taken care of.



Just something to consider.....



Rusty

 

[GOT-Torque]

Very good points, however none of my vehicles ever see the dealer and I plan on keeping it that way. I should add that if the vehicle is ever going to be more than 2 hours from home, I would be driving. Its her vehicle during the week, our family vehicle on the weekends.



You are right saying that reliability, driveability are the most important... however next important is smokeability

 

[DieselFiend]

Wife truck would have welded gaurd rails all the way around the truck.

 

[RustyJC]

Very good points, however none of my vehicles ever see the dealer and I plan on keeping it that way. I should add that if the vehicle is ever going to be more than 2 hours from home, I would be driving. Its her vehicle during the week, our family vehicle on the weekends.

If you're available 24/7 to keep it running, that's great. Unfortunately, I may have to travel on business, sometimes internationally. Murphy's Law really works - if my wife ever has car problems, seems like I'm on the other side of the Atlantic ocean!



Rusty

 

[Boondocker]

It sounds like you want power for you and safety for her. How about a unit that offers both, such as the Edge A2. You can set protection levels for transmission slip, EGT, turbo cooldown timer, won't overfuel on a cold engine, plus the gauges are built in. Just tell her to run it on the lowest level and use the backup monitor so she doesn't back over the shopping cart. I don't have personal experience with this unit because it doesn't apply to my 2nd gen truck, but the features sure sound nifty.

 

[GOT-Torque]

welded gaurd rails all the way around the truck

ha ha, very funny, but also a good idea :-laf



I would love to put a buckstop on the front... .



The edge attitude sounds pretty good with the gauges built in.



Shouldn't have to worry about slipping the transmission, got a goerends TC, ATS valve body and standalone controller, and still trying to decide how many of the shafts need upgraded (atleast the input) before I go up to Dave's to have the work done on the transmission. Also got a billet flexplate.

 

[05mxdiesel]

show us some pics of the mighty excursion with the Big C conversion. sounds like the ultimate family ride/tow rig. The edge A2 would be ideal but women are sometimes smarter than you think with electronics. In a couple of months you see all the soot on the back fender and wonder why the rear tires have more wear than the fronts.

 

[bmoeller]

How can anyone forget a GPS unit. If she can't read a map, at least get one that will talk to her. :-laf

 

[mhuggler]

Mods for the wife's truck? How 'bout a Smarty on SW#0!(half power) :-laf

 

[oilrunner]

What modifications would you consider installing on your wifes daily driver to increase performance but not degrade the drivability of the vehicle?



A YOUNGER FELLA SHOULD DO THE TRICK! Hey, just kiddding, I couldn't resist your post was just too tempting.



Seriously, I would trow on a quality air filter, AFE Proguard 7 or something similar. Maybe, 4" turbo out exhaust and call it a day.

Use the extra money to buy her some flowers, dinner, a couple drinks and then. Heck, you know, have yourself a good time and still save $$$



Just MHO... ... .

 

[johncameron]

Mods for the wife's truck? How 'bout a Smarty on SW#0!(half power) :-laf

I was thinking smarty too but not on half power

 

[Cattletrkr]

1. 5 point harnesses all the way around

2. Ejection seats w/parachute

3. exhaust brake--stuck in on position... that'll give you your desired smoke

4. No mirrors, they don't use them anyway, why have the extra drag

5. well, ok... 1 makeup mirror, but that's it

 

[GOT-Torque]

How quickly can you change settings on a smarty? Is it like my edge comp box where you just press the button to increase or decrease it on the go?



And yes my wife already understands the electronics, she has fun with the truck in my sig below already :-laf , she is driving it until I get this Excursion put together.

 

[Smokin Joes 2500]

show us some pics of the mighty excursion with the Big C conversion. sounds like the ultimate family ride/tow rig. The edge A2 would be ideal but women are sometimes smarter than you think with electronics. In a couple of months you see all the soot on the back fender and wonder why the rear tires have more wear than the fronts.

Yeh, I wish Dodge would build something like this, just cant make myself go blue-oval... .

 

[bmoeller]

Yeh, I wish Dodge would build something like this, just cant make myself go blue-oval... .

From what I've heard, they do, but not for the US market. Dodge made a D-50 crew cab dually. This of course, depends on the accuracy of the info I saw.

 

[MHorne]

You know awhile ago someone posted a thread revealing the "2008 Ram Charger. " It will apparently have the cummins in it and be around the size ox the excursion and suburban. I saw the picture and it looked good but i don't know if they will in deed come out with it. They really need to cause ford and chevy rule that big vehicle market. Anyway lets hope but i'm with you doing the power upgrades to the wifes vehicle. I will do the same when i get her that type of vehicle for her.

 

[AMink]

Upgrade my wife's daily driver? Get rid of the Expedition and get another Mega! Other than that, it's hopeless. I don't think I could get a Cummins in there. If I could, it would squash the Expedition.

 

[GOT-Torque]

Megacab would be nice but there's two problems.



# 1 - Way too expensive



# 2 - Way too small, can only seat 6

 

[MD500E]

My recommendation would be smarty on level 1 and a TST. Smarty will wake up the low end and greatly improve throttle response and the TST will take care of the horse power and have the adjustability. You cant go this far and have a stock motor!!! :-laf I would love to build the same truck for my wife.