Im debating between a turbo (powermax), injectors (190cc) or a torque converter. what do yall think i should get and what kind of torque converter is best in your opinion. my dad has a banks and its good but im not big on banks at all. if its one of the best though i dont mind putting it in there because right now he kicks my a** on the top end. im open for all opinions. Thanks!!!

 

What motor does your dad have? I'm running a stock torque converter with no problems and he won't kick MY *** on top end. I'd go with the powermax first, but that's my opinion.

 

Fuel first > Injectors
Oxygen first > Turbo

I think you need BOTH to see the real value. I have 155cc injectors with a stock turbo. IMO, I am not getting the full benefit of the 155's with the stock turbo. Not enough boost to give her the bang she wants.

But I am a novice and my shade tree has no leaves right now.

 

I kind of agree. I have the powermax with stock sticks and know that there is much more potential power that could come from the powermax with bigger sticks.

I really didn't see a difference with the powermax alone. When I got new tunes for the powermax I saw a bit of difference as far as smoother better power, but I switched tune writers too, so that could have been the big difference.

Next up is definately 155 sticks and an Airdog II though.

 

dad has a duramax lbz. i love my PSD and i love his duramax just sucks that he keeps beating me after 60mph. i know his truck is lighter and he runs 3:73 gears but i feel like im runnin like a stock truck after i hit 60 mph. i have no top end power. i only have about 1k to spend right now so whatever i do i can only do one mod. thats why i was debating. im not doing this just to keep up with dad its also for fuel benefit when i keep my foot out of it and just kinda nice to have the extra power. i like doing upgrades! just keep in mind its not really to beat my dad its more of just a power and fuel savings thing. i know im not going to get much fuel savings but i should see a tad bit

 

I wouldn't do it for that. You might be whistlin Dixie. These are performance modifications first that you are talking about. That's what they are designed for. You might see a benefit with fuel savings, if you do great, if you don't, that's how the ball bounces at times.

Now, I have to ask, let's say you do TC first (or the turbo) would you still eventually do the 190mm^3s? If so, you are going to have to do more to your tranny then just the TC. I would also do the billet input shaft and beef up the direct clutch as that is the one weak link in the TS tranny.

If this were me (and I have done these modifications on my own truck, except with different products and/or sizes), I would do the supporting (but not fun) modifications first. Even if done on a stock truck it helps out, but when you go to the big boy mods, you don't run the risk of down time on some of the stock parts crapping out on you due to the stress of a bigger turbo or a bigger set of sticks.

EDIT: I forgot to answer this question. For tranny parts, I'm partial to the Suncoast stuff. You can get them to build a TC for you for a race application, towing, or have it more like stock. Just depends on you. However, I will add this, even though I really like their products, when you try to do deal with them directly, their bed side manner really lacks. I think they only want to deal with their dealers, not with the end customer. I think they make really good products, but unfortunately, their customer service really does suck and I don't think it was an isolated case either as another user on here mentioned the same experience with them.

 

yea i know its a performance mod. i have seen some fuel mileage out of some and some i havent. if i dont its not a big deal i know where i can get the most out of my fuel and thats going back to stock tires but thats a different topic. yes im eventually going to do the 190cc maybe 175cc being that a tow alot durning the summer. im not to worried about the tranny yet being that it shifts great and i have a buddy that ran 190cc injectors on his truck with 46's and was giving his tranny hell and it went a good 2 years before it crapped out. the TC is more for top end power and i know if used right and tranny tuned correctly i can get better fuel eco. not much but some. now tex what supporting mods are you talking about? i thought i have done all the supporting mods that i need for the injectors and turbo. tranny i know is a different story but ive heard that the stock ones can handle what im trying to do. my goal for this dually is 500hp. im at 400 right now. and also i have heard the same thing about suncoast. when i need a tranny though im taking it to BTS to have it done. not ats but BTS!!

 

508 is where my DRW is at and my tranny lasted 1 year. Now I do haul ~16k frequently, so that might have contributed to it's shorter life span.

Supporting mods I was referring to was the tranny as that does need to be bulked up to support what you are wanting to get it. Some last longer then others I have no doubt, but do you want to risk it going out at the worst possible time while towing? I haul horses, that's one type of cargo I don't want to have stranded on the side of the road or having a tranny shift wonky in traffic. You have to also remember that issues like this take time, it might be working great now, but you are still causing damage/stress to it. Now you might not, but you might, won't really know unless you tear into it.

I never knew my tranny was going south on me until I noticed during the winter it was going from less then 100 degrees to 170 within 15 minutes empty in below freezing ambient temps. It was still shifting fine I might add.

All other supporting mods based on your siggy seem to be covered, but the TC, billet input shaft and beefing up the direct clutch are what's left. In my opinion.

 

ok i was afraid that i still had something left to do on the motor. yea mine shifts great and my temps are staying really low but i think thats because im runnin BG's tranny fluid and i have it flushed every 25k. i haul anything from horses to massive loads of scrap metal. honestly when the tranny goes it goes. my dads crapped out pulling a d5 dozer up a grade that i dont think a semi would have attempted. really the tranny was fine just toasted the tc and now has no problems. thats the only reason why i thought of maybe doing a TC and leaving the motor alone for a bit and helping the tranny out. if you know what i mean

 

anyone else have any ideas or opinions? thanks to those who have responded!

 

I would take Tex advise, and do the tranny. The TC isn't really the week point in these it's really more the direct drive clutch. I would recomend doing the suncoast kit with a billit input shaft, and TC first. However if you don't want to go that route then I would do the powermax first. Then start saving for the tranny rebuild kit. I wouldn't just change the TC you won't really be taking care of the problem area, and will more than likely be taking the trans out again.

 

the tranny isnt a worry right now just looking for upgrades. when i do a real tranny upgrade its going to be a BTS. he stands behind his product and has a hell of a warrenty. i just thought that maybe a upgraded TC would get me better top end power when it locks.

 

Not trying to hijack here, but any idea on hp/tq numbers on a 6.0L with fireringed heads, studs, 240cc injectors, aurora 5000 turbo, banks intake, water/meth injection, AFE stage 2, and an SCT with custom tunes?

Im sure im missin somethin here....

 

550-650 depends on the tune. also depends on weight tire size and some other things

 

If you can get it to spool I'm thinking 650-700 easily with that much fuel and water/meth. Is this an already built truck or are you just thinking about it?