If I add the 6673 air filter and put on a aftermarket exhaust must I do a tuner at the same time? I ask because the local diesel shop recommended I have him install the bully dog system with the exhaust. Well money is a bit tight so I plan to install the intake, exhaust, and maybe even a set of airbags on the back axel. The bully system he recommended was like $750 installed and I would just rather wait a while before I spend that much money. So do I HAVE to install a tuner right away or can I wait until money is more accessible?

 

Changing intake and exhaust does not require any PCM calibration adjustments. Your engine will run fine on stock programming.

FYI....when budget allows, you may want to consider custom calibrations since they will cost a lot less than $750 and will be more specific to your vehicle.

 

Hey Jamie.

Do the 6637 and muffler delete for now if you are pinching pennies at this time. You will be happier with custom tunes for your truck. I don't remember if you told me where you live. If you are close, you could come to my shop and we could install the 6637. I have 3 new sitting on my shelf with a piece of black 4" exhaust pipe to install it.

 

I live in Sioux Falls. I do have a superchip programmer right now but I know I will need more in the near future.

 

Yeesh... your guy is not looking after your best interest.

• You don't need to chip just because your truck can breathe
• Bully-dog is one-size-fits-all. Pleh. You might appreciate a less-expensive unit that's dialed to your truck - when you're ready.

Sorry to say, you won't be really ready until you get gauges. The stock tune shackles the engine to a safe behavior no matter how heavy your right foot is. "Chipping" your truck will break the engine free of such constraints and it then falls upon you to not turn your engine into smoking goo. The only way you're gunna know when your're sneaking up on the grime reaper is to have gauges where it counts.

 

Jamie:

Follow the advice here on FTE...it has come at great expense as well as time investments. 6637, do it! Opening up the exhaust with either a muffler delete, straight-thru muffler, or 4" system...do it! Sell your Superchips programmer, and buy gauges. Then, when YOU are ready financially, buy a real chip/programmer. You will thank FTE for all of this later. AND, it's not about "Our way is the only way," or "you aren't cool if you don't do it our way." It's the tried-and-true "safe" way to get your truck to run well without potentially causing costly issues down the road.

If you are looking to build the biggest, baddest hot rod truck on the road...well, then guys here can help with that too, but that's not the common motivation on this site.

 

Too many distractions... you posted before I hit "Enter". Superchips? I've heard good things about those. Again... when you're ready, there are other options.

Do you have gauges?

 

skip the bullydog garbage. do the air filter and exhaust.
when you are ready to do a tuner, get a GOOD one with gauges for the same $750

 

Only gauge I have so far was installed prior to me buying the truck. It's a transmission temp gauge. All well and good except the gentleman that had the truck didn't install it well in my opinion. It works when it wants and not at all at times so I do not trust it at all. I'll be replacing it soon and start installing the other gauges I need as I get the time and funds. What gauges do I need and what should be priority?

 

priority is an exhaust gas temp gauge, otherwise known as a pyrometer.
a boost gauge is nice to have too, but really all you need is a pyrometer.
i have a stock trans temp gauge in the dash. it is good enough for my needs.
in my pillar 3 pack i have a boost, EGT, and air pressure gauge for the onboard air.

 

Yeah, skip the Bullydog garbage. I had one on my truck prior to getting a CUSTOM tuner. My DP-Tuner BLOWS the Bullydog out of the water in every way.

The only thing the Bullydog is good for is the gauges it offers and thats about it.

Like everyone else, put on the air filter and exhaust, then save up for a gauges and last, a custom tuner.

You will thank us later...

 

JMHO here but the 1st thing I'd be doing is find a different shop to deal with

 

My signature is a den of links - click around.
There are two chips that the "big boys" play with:

• The TS chip, which has an army of good programmers.
• The Moates chip, used by DP Tuner.

Many of the serious programmers have their own dynos to test their tuning programs to taylor them for the customer's demands. Towing a 40-foot fifth wheel? Get a real tow tune that pampers transmission and keeps the EGTs down. Looking for better economy when empty on the open road? There are economy and daily driver tunes that can improve MPG, but are more apt to increase the fun factor without added fuel costs. Wanna put a ricer in the rear-view mirror? Race tunes are hot, but they'll give you a heavy dose of seat sink for short runs. That first link in my signature shows a 0-80 MPH run on the flat with no wind and stock injectors/turbo... with my economy tune.

Canned tunes are like watching a political ad on TV this year... plenty of show, but you're left wanting on the go.